Posted: $util.date("h:mm a MMM d, yyyy",$story.contentLiveDate,$timeZone)
Reporter: WOWT

Proposed School Closings

The Archdiocese of Omaha has released another draft of how it may consolidate parishes and schools. Deacon Tim McNeil says this is the second version of the study and that there will be another review with the public before recommendations are made to Archbishop Lucas in late May/early June.

Here are some of the plans as outlined by the Archdiocese: Holy Cross, Our Lady of Lourdes, Ss. Peter and Paul and St. Thomas More schools in Omaha, and St. Bernadette in Bellevue, would serve as five sites for the consortium of schools.

The first draft had suggested six possible anchor schools in the consortium, including as possible sites St. Gerald in Ralston,
Assumption-Guadalupe in Omaha and the site of the former St. Peter Claver Cristo Ray High School in Omaha.

Ss. Peter and Paul, Holy Name, All Saints and St. Joan of Arc schools would remain open instead of being closed.

Ss. Peter and Paul would be one site of five for the school consortium.

Holy Name, All Saints and St. Joan of Arc would remain open, instead of being closed, but submit five-year plans with specific benchmarks for enrollment and finances.

Holy Ghost and St. Stanislaus schools would be closed, as suggested in the first draft, and the latest proposal also suggests closing Assumption-Guadalupe School.

Their students would be assisted in enrolling in one of the five consortium schools.

Holy Family Parish would remain open instead of possibly closing as suggested in the first draft.

Its ministries – including a food pantry, clothing distribution and lunch program – would continue onsite, with the archdiocese and parish
leadership reviewing its status in two or three years.

St. Frances Cabrini, St. Joseph and St. Patrick parishes would merge, as suggested in the first draft, with St. Frances Cabrini and St. Joseph churches remaining as the worship sites.

The second draft of the proposals suggests steps toward completing the mergers, with St. Frances-St. Patrick merging in one year and
moving to one worship site within three years, while the two parishes implement a collaborative relationship with St. Joseph Parish over three years and complete that part of the merger within five years.

St. Bridget and St. Rose of Lima parishes should merge, as suggested in the first draft, with St. Bridget serving as the site for worship and parish activities.

The second draft also suggests St. Francis of Assisi Parish sharing a pastor, staff and pastoral council with the merged St. Bridget/St. Rose parishes while remaining its own parish entity and continuing to develop Hispanic ministries.

St. Anthony Parish and Ss. Peter & Paul parishes would merge, as suggested in the first draft.

The second drat also suggests St. Mary Parish sharing a pastor and
staff with the merged St. Anthony/Ss. Peter & Paul parishes.

St. Adalbert and Our Lady of Lourdes parishes would merge in one year, as suggested in the first draft, with the primary center for parish administration located at Our Lady of Lourdes.

St. Philip Neri and Blessed Sacrament parishes would merge within three years, as suggested in the first draft.

Merge Sacred Heart and St. Therese parishes.

The Hispanic community at St. Therese will relocate to Holy Name Parish.

Large group meetings on the plan are set for Tuesday, May 8.

“The plan currently under review is a step ahead to offering long-term, strategic decisions that will position parishes and schools so they are thriving vital centers of ministry, successfully carrying out the mission of Jesus in north and South Omaha now and into the future,” said Deacon McNeil, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha.

WOWT Mobile Web Home

Gray Television, Inc - Copyright 2002-2012 - Powered by Gray Interactive Media

Full Site - Contact Us