St. Mary’s School will stay open

St. Mary’s Junior/Senior High School will stay open, thanks to the promise of a large sum of money from an anonymous donor, Father Thaddeus X. Stachura, headmaster, told The Catholic Free Press Monday.
Father Stachura, pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, said he made the decision because of the promised donation – which he hopes will support the school beyond next year – and so students would not leave in search of another school.
“You just can’t wait,” he said, noting that the end of the semester is approaching, then the end of the school year. He said Bishop McManus had said the school could stay open if it had sufficient funding and enrollment.
“I’m optimistic,” Father Stachura said. “I think God’s going to bless us.”
The pastor said he told parishioners the “bare bones” of the story – that they are on good financial footing and the school will stay open – at Masses last weekend. He said he wants others to keep giving too. Students were informed Friday, he said.
Father Stachura said that at an October open house 15 to 20 people expressed interest in sending students – mostly incoming freshmen – to the school next fall. The school’s supporters are very optimistic about a Jan. 8 open house, he said.
At Masses Nov. 16 and 17, Father Stachura announced that the junior/senior high school would close at the end of the school year because it is losing money. He said the elementary school would remain open.
Bishop McManus gave supporters 75 days to come up with a plan to make the school viable.