Sep 9, 2009 5:58 pm US/Eastern
Boston Archdiocese Keeps Catholic Education Alive
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Children filing from Mass to Catholic school. It's a scene once common in South Boston-- and part of the neighborhood's living history.
Listen to Margaret Foley and her niece Marie Laundry.
"I graduated in 1947 from Gate of Heaven," said Foley.
Said Laundry, "I graduated from St Augustin's but my children went to Gate of Heaven and my granddaughter goes to Gate of Heaven. Well, now she goes to South Boston Catholic Academy."
That's the new school that opened here this week-- now the only Catholic elementary school in the neighborhood.
It merges the old Gate of Heaven and St Brigid's schools.
Parents from both schools said they're excited about the new school.
"We knew it was going to come. Change is difficult for some people, but it's a good change. It brings the neighborhood closer," said Suzanne McGarrell.
"It was a little hard because I went to St Brigid's, so that was my school, but I certainly welcome the Gate of Heaven families," said Tracy Fiasconaro.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley presided over a Mass for students and parents and toured the school.
"These mergers are sometimes painful but it gives us new life, new growth, greater resources to be able to give an even better education."
The Campaign for Catholic Schools has raised almost 50-million dollars in the last 18-months to strengthen its changing school system, said Mary Flynn Myers, vice president for development.
"We're the second largest educator of children in the country. 99% graduate from high school and of those 97% go on to college, and when you compare that to other graduation rates, we do quite well. Yet in some communities Catholic schools aren't as vibrant as they should be."
Still to be raised-- 23-million for the five-campus Pope John Paul the Second Catholic Academy in Dorchester and Mattapan-- three million for Trinity Catholic in Brockton-- and five million for St Ann School in Gloucester-- the only Catholic elementary on Cape Ann.
Said O'Malley, "Certainly people know our schools are successful at giving a fine education."
A message Catholic leaders are hoping sells itself.
362-students are enrolled in the South Boston Catholic Academy. Ultimately, the school hopes to enroll 450 in grades Pre-K through 8.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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