Dear Editor: After reading the recent Tablet article (May 12) regarding the merger of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy and Queen of All Saints Catholic Academy, I noticed some omissions and a good amount of information that did not accurately reflect the process. I have included some things I composed for our alumni explaining the situation.
Judging from the reactions of parents, students and alumni, I have realized the need to reach out to our community.
I would like to assure you that we did everything possible to keep SFX at 763 President Street. SFX was and remains financially stable. A re-branding campaign, approved by the diocese, was in place to help increase our enrollment, and as you know, we had just completed capital improvements to the building and an upgrade to the facilities, including new WiFi and classroom furniture to go with the Chromebooks we purchased for our students.
The diocesan rationale includes the fact that our students come from over 40 different zip codes. They consider this a weakness while we consider it one of the strongest indicators of the quality education we provide. They cite our low re-registration numbers, ignoring the fact that they match last year’s numbers, when we ended with over 120 students, and that the site they have chosen for the merger has even fewer students re-registered than we do.
We fought this decision with everything we could and were even excited about the possibility of a merger at SFXCA, where much of the necessary infrastructure was in place.
The decision of the diocese and the Board of Members (the pastors of the aligned parishes) was based on the financial needs of the parishes in question and in direct opposition to the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
St. Francis has been my home since I sat next to Mrs. O’Connell’s desk as an infant. It was the place where my parents met. From kindergarten through eighth grade, it was responsible for my education.
There I learned to “make good choices” from Ms. Debbie Dello, to “give God his time” from Sister Kathleen, and to value my community above myself from my incredibly talented mother, Ms. Virginia, in the after-school.
I was taught every day by the likes of Marie DiGenova, Michael Colasuonno, Sister Margaret, Ann Gregory and Eileen Glodowski. I learned that friendship knows no racial, social or economic barriers. I learned that God is never finished with us. I learned that I was good enough as I was, and that I could grow into anyone I wanted to be.
Thereafter, it was my first place of employment and the place I discovered my passion for teaching. To this day, I cannot walk those halls without remembering Christmas plays, morning handball, and those stunningly fashionable uniforms. I cannot walk into the classrooms without all of your faces materializing in the desks.
Nothing I now believe has developed without the stamp of 763 President Street. I know so many of you feel the same way. I cannot accurately describe to you how painful it is to preside over the closing of my home.
If many of you feel betrayed and hurt, please know that I do as well. That said, know that we are all part of a family and that no decision to close a building, even one as vaunted as SFX, can affect that. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for so hallowed a school.
With a piece of us missing, but together, we continue to bring to the world what St. Francis gave to us – nuanced faith, sharp intelligence, unconditional love.
Brendan Gorman
Brooklyn