Catholic schools to close in Chicago, reorganize this fall

Chicago, Ill., Mar 22, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The Archdiocese of Chicago announced the closure of four more elementary schools Monday in order to create a regional school in the southeast suburbs of the diocese.

The Archdiocese of Chicago has been developing a new model of regional Catholic schools in the last several years in order to address declining student enrollment, rising education costs and a budget deficit.

The four schools set for closure this September in the most recent reorganization include: St. Victor and Our Lady of Knock in Calumet City; Queen of Apostles in Riverdale; and Holy Ghost in South Holland.

One regional school, drawing from six parishes will be reopened, as an east campus at the existing St. Andrew the Apostle in Calumet City and a west campus at St. Jude in South Holland, reported The Star.

The two campuses will have their own principals, and the pastors of all six parishes will serve on an advisory board to oversee the school.

These parish schools aren’t the only ones affected by the reorganization. Earlier this month, the archdiocese announced the closure and reorganization of three other elementary schools.

More than 20 Catholic schools have closed in the last two years and more schools might face similar reorganizations in the near future, said archdiocesan spokesperson Diane Dunagan.

A major fundraising drive to build a Catholic school endowment fund will begin later this year. The archdiocese has also considered asking parishioners to tithe, reported The Star.