Letter from Bishop regarding school merger

February 18, 2020
 
Dear families of students at Holy Name and St. Peter-Marian Jr./Sr. High Schools
 
When I accepted the proposal to merge our Catholic high schools in Worcester and to open a new high school, it was because I am committed to offering an option for an excellent Catholic secondary education in the city. I also accepted the recommendation that this be done in time for the next school year, despite the challenge to make a number of crucial decisions quickly.
 
Allow me to express my confidence in the leadership of our Catholic Schools Board, its committees and our Central Catholic Schools staff who are working tirelessly to get this done in the timetable which was outlined prior to the Christmas break. They are doing everything possible to make this an outstanding school from the first day it opens its doors. I approved the recommendations which have been announced up to now and I am confident that they will be presenting the necessary decisions to address the fears and concerns that many of you are voicing such as location, staffing and curriculum.
 
I recognize that change is difficult and painful, but I also know that drawing that pain out over an extra year would have ultimately been detrimental to our goal. Now is the time for cooperation and assistance to make this new school a reality.  There is no turning back any more than we can turn back the clocks of time to live in another era.
 
This transition is clearly difficult for some families, and there is a grieving process as we must say goodbye to things that were dear to us. Facing a loss, however, does not mean we must despair. Our Catholic faith continually reminds us that we must rely on the virtue of hope in the divine providence of God. Join me in putting this process into God’s hands in prayer, asking that the Holy Spirit continue to guide us with the gifts of wisdom and right judgment so that the rich tradition of Catholic secondary education will not just survive but flourish in the years to come.
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester