I live along the Bayshore of NJ. It is a beautiful place to live with wonderful family activities. There is a strong Catholic school tradition here. In recent times the economy has made it increasingly difficult to send children to Catholic Schools. I as well as many others make hard decisions and budget to allow our children the gift of a Catholic School Education. However enrollment has dropped. 3 schools in the area have less than 200 children in their school. The Diocese of Trenton and Bishop Smith were left to make a decision on the viability of the schools. The Diocese spent a considerable amount of money on a consulting firm from Wisconsin to determine whether the schools would be able to survive. In my mind I wonder why the money was not spent to advertise the schools and the benefits of what they have provided over the years. Wouldn't the money have been better spent with a strong PR firm?
I now am forced to wonder if the Bishop ever was truly committed to keep Catholic Education strong here in the Bayshore. He has closed 3 schools displacing over 400 children. The other schools in the area are either too far away or at capacity leaving parents with no Catholic School option. By combining the 3 schools enrollment would be robust but that was not considered an option. I wonder why? One of the schools increased enrollment this year to 216 and was able to raise an additional $100,000 in donations. That was accomplished in spite of the school receiving word that the diocese would be closing it. I can only imagine how much could be accomplished with any support at all from Trenton. St Joseph in Keyport NJ had offered to run the school independently of the diocese. Bishop Smith dismissed this option as he felt it would provide too much competition to Diocesan schools. It is puzzling how the school is not viable at first but then is too much of a threat to the other schools.
I teach my children to respect the hierarchy of the Church. However it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Not only do we think this decision is a poor decision. We have no serious explanation from the Bishop as to why it is being made. It seems to many that there are ulterior motives to closing the schools I am left with nothing to say to dispute their assumptions. I want to believe that the Diocese believes as much as I do that the children are the future and life blood of the Church. It's actions do not provide any support for that belief. I wonder whether the Bishop is indeed committed to Catholic Education. He has not shown it during his tenure. Many wonder whether he is more interested in the valuable Bayshore property than in enriching young minds and souls.
I would encourage Bishop Smith to address this troubled Catholic community and stop ignoring the outrage that is becoming a preoccupation in a number of the parishes of the Bayshore.
