The Archdiocese of Chicago released the following statements since the last Catholic New World press deadline. St. Edmund Parish, located in Oak Park, in coordination with the Archdiocesan School Board, Office of Catholic Schools and Archbishop Cupich, has made the decision to close St. Edmund School (pre-k through eighth grade) at the end of the 2015- 2016 academic year. St. Edmund School has been affected by declining enrollment and fiscal difficulties in recent years. School leadership, the school community and the archdiocese have worked hard to restore the school to viability, however, despite best efforts, finances and enrollment have not improved. The Archdiocese of Chicago remains committed to providing strong Catholic schools throughout Cook and Lake Counties. The archdiocese commends St. Edmund School’s dedicated leaders, faculty and staff for their tireless work to instill a rich Catholic identity into an academically excellent community. We will be celebrating the school in the coming months and also keeping the school’s memories and contributions alive, even after the doors close. We will also work with affected families to find alternative ways for their children to continue their Catholic education. Please join us in praying for the St. Edmund School community. There is a conversation taking place between St. Margaret Mary School, 7318 N. Oakley Ave., and Northside Catholic Academy, 6216 N. Glenwood Ave., about St. Margaret Mary School joining the Northside Catholic Academy partnership along with the other affiliated parishes. Catholic education would still continue on the St. Margaret Mary School campus but under the banner of Northside Catholic Academy, which is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School and has experienced increasing enrollment over the past few years. The planning process is expected to be completed by mid- February. St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish leadership and representatives from the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Catholic Schools met with St. Alphonsus Liguori parishioners and school families on Jan. 14 to discuss the current status of parish and school finances, as well as enrollment in the Mount Prospect school. St. Alphonsus Liguori school and parish is moving forward with its fundraising and enrollment efforts for the 2016-2017 academic year. The terms of the school fundraising and enrollment drive include a fundraising target of $400,000 and a committed, registered enrollment of 135 students. The fundraising target must be collected in full before or by Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. The committed, registered enrollment of students also needs to be completed before or by Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. During the Jan. 14 meeting, parish leadership shared that todate the parish has secured $340,000 in pledges and a committed, registered enrollment of 15 students with registration paid. Following the Feb. 8 deadline, parish leadership and Office of Catholic Schools representatives will reconvene to discuss the results of the fundraising and enrollment drive. If all of the drive terms are met, St. Alphonsus Liguori School will remain open for the 2016-2017 academic year. An announcement will be made on Feb. 12.
St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero to remain open St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero received welcome news March 6 when the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that the school, which was slated to close in June, would remain open.
Marian’s Sister Mary Jo using newfound fame to talk about God Before she was a sister, Sister Mary Jo Sobieck was an athlete. Sister Mary Jo, 50, started playing softball, basketball and volleyball in elementary school, and she was a three-sport athlete all through high school and her first two years of college. She dropped basketball for her final two years, but stuck with softball and volleyball.
Loss of state Invest in Kids scholarship program forces closure of two Catholic Schools The pastors of St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero and St. Odilo School in Berwyn announced Jan. 18 that both schools will close in June of this year, bringing an end to a combined total of 196 years of Catholic education at their locations.