Protesters call on bishop to rethink school closings

Hundreds of protesters from six Long Island Catholic schools braved the snow outside St. Agnes Cathedral last Saturday afternoon in an effort to keep the schools open.

More than 300 parents, students and alumni of Sacred Heart in Merrick, St. Catherine of Sienna in Franklin Square, St. Ignatius Loyola in Hicksville, St. John de Baptist LaSalle in Farmingdale, Prince of Peace in Sayville and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst waved signs, chanted and prayed, hoping to persuade the Diocese of Rockville Centre to reverse its December announcement that the six schools would close at the end of the school year.

Bundled up in winter coats, the protesters marched down Quealy Place. “We’re here to save the future of Catholic education on Long Island, particularly the elementary school-level education,” said Karen Wollweber, whose three children attended Sacred Heart. “By closing schools, you’re diminishing the [number of] children that can be afforded a Catholic education.”

“We’re just here to say to the bishop that maybe there’s another way,” said Lisa Cataldi, who has three children at St. Catherine of Sienna. “All of our individual schools have a different plan that doesn’t include shutting down the schools. So that’s all we want — we want a chance to present the plans to the bishop so he could review them, and maybe we can find a different way.”

Since the announcement, made in a letter from Bishop William Murphy that was posted on the diocese’s website, Murphy has declined to meet with parents to discuss possible alternatives.

“Our schools are doing well,” Wollweber said. “In the past five years, [Sacred Heart’s] enrollment has increased, our subsidy has decreased and our fundraising has increased. We just don’t understand. We want a chance to talk to the bishop and to appeal our case.”

Sean Dolan, director of communications for the diocese, released a prepared statement in response to the protest that read, “The bishop and his colleagues who share responsibility for Catholic schools look on today’s vigil with understanding and deep respect for the people who gather in front of the cathedral to express their feelings and their concern for their children. We share the same commitment.”