(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- There’s good news for a Catholic school that was told in recent weeks it would have to shut down after this academic year. It’s staying open.
St. Francis of Rome School Principal Phillip Jackson made the announcement Wednesday to his 170 students, their parents and teachers -- to great applause.
The reversal of the closing decision is due to the generosity of the Big Shoulders Fund, St. Anne Parish in Barrington and St. Francis of Rome parishioners.
“I cannot express my feelings for this. I can’t. I’m sure many of you were in the exact same place. I was getting all choked up in church this morning listening to the kids sing and thinking, ‘We can continue doing things like this,’” he said.
St. Francis of Rome School in Cicero will be having a party Saturday to celebrate its 100th birthday, and what a celebration it will be, according to Jackson, who expects hundreds of alums to be there.
Parent organizer Betty Paz says parents made sure their voices were heard learning a few weeks ago that St. Francis of Rome and St. Odilo Schools in Berwyn would close after this academic year.
“We were not going to allow someone’s decision to close SFR,” Paz said. “We needed to make sure that we came together and this decision was not going to break apart the family and community that we have built in St. Francis of Rome School.”
Archdiocese Schools Supt. Greg Richmond made the announcement official at a school assembly. He was joined by Josh Hale, president and CEO of Big Shoulders Fund, which is making a major effort to financially back the school and its future.
Hale said he’s sure people 100 years ago had some of the same uncertainties about whether a Catholic school could be viable in the community. He says the same thing happened recently.
“A few weeks ago, another group of brave people—principal, parents, guardians, people from the archdiocese and so many were concerned again. Many said it can’t happen. How can we bring it back? But you persisted.”
Parent Christine Clark was among many parents overjoyed at the news.
“We’re a family. We fought to keep the school open and our words mattered.”
Her daughter, Aimee, a seventh-grader, said she had been devastated when first told the school would close. It’s a different story now.
“We’re all really grateful and happy that everybody was able to work together to make this happen.”
Principal Jackson intended to meet Wednesday with the pastor of St. Odilo Church in Berwyn to talk to him about encouraging St. Odilo students to register for the next academic year at St. Francis of Rome, which is on 14th and Austin.
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