Community members fill the Saint Mary’s High School parking lot to show their support and commitment in finding a way to keep the school open. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
WESTFIELD – Members of the Westfield community came out in droves Saturday morning to show their backing for Saint Mary’s High School after it’s recently announced potential closing.
Supporters held signs, recited prayers and shared their stories in the high school parking lot while Springfield Diocese Bishop Mitchell Rozanski met inside the building with Fr. Frank Lawlor, the Parish Finance Council, the Saint Mary’s School Board, the Parish Board, and others.
“We’re hoping the Bishop can see the faces of the students, the families, the alumni, the politicians and community members that are here so they know the support the school has, and that’s been here for over 100 years,” said Matt Collins, the schools former athletic director. “We want to make sure it can stay another 100. We’re willing to do whatever we have to do to keep it alive if we’re given the time.”
Jack Lamirande, Jake Butler, Aiden Burke, Seamus Smith and Brady Collins, all Saint Mary’s students, hold a banner while waiting to see what kind of results come from the meeting between Springfield Diocese Bishop Mitchell Rozanski and Saint Mary’s school officials. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
Collins said that one of the biggest things they need to do is increase enrollment and efforts to do so are already underway.
“Since the announcement two weeks ago, we already increased the freshman enrollment from what was reported as nine, to 14,” said Collins. “We actually had another kid enroll yesterday, and we had a junior come in and enroll as well because they believe in the school and they believe this is possible.”
Peter Miller, Saint Mary’s alumni, said he believes the recent negative decision to potentially close Saint Mary’s needs to be put behind them.
Gabe Hill, a fourth grader at Saint Mary’s Elementary School, holds up his sign after climbing to the top of the jungle gym in the school’s playground. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
“I think if the community at large sees, from events like this, all of the positive work that’s being done by these folks and that St. Mary’s is the special place that it is, that it will call for some people to say, ‘Hey there’s something special going over there and I think I’d like my kid to be a part of it,’” said Miller. “I think this brings attention to a lot of the positives that St. Mary’s has.”
Al DiLascia, chairman of the Committee for Cathedral Action, also believes focusing more on what Saint Mary’s has to offer is what’s going to get families interested in enrolling their kids.
“You have to have a positive approach,” said DiLascia. “Whatever the current state, it doesn’t matter. It’s what it can be.”
DiLascia has done research on over 30 successful Catholic schools and what it is that makes them successful. He said the work done by the CCA was a major part of the driving force that made the new Pope Francis High School a reality.
The chairman recently spoke with the superintendent of Catholic schools in Omaha, Nebraska, after being told the schools there were some of the most successful in the country, and has drafted a 13 step proposal on how to make St. Mary’s successful.
He plans on outlining this proposal for St. Mary’s to review and plans on sharing it with The Westfield News in the near future.
A number of students from the high school and elementary schools were also in attendance at the peaceful demonstration, showing that commitment to the school is alive and well within the current generation enrolled there.
“We might not get an answer today but we hope to hear something positive,” said Jake Butler. “We will continue to do the same things and show our support.”
When asked for comment, Bishop Rozanski’s office issued the following statement to us, “As promised Bishop Rozanski did spend a little over an hour Saturday morning listening to members of the St. Mary’s parish, finance and school boards express their thoughts and concerns regarding St. Mary High School. The meeting was cordial and informative. Bishop was provided a proposal by supporters of the school and he agreed to respond to this within a week’s time.”
