st paul school to close (part one)

yesterday, the liturgical celebration for the universal church was “the conversion of st paul.” until i received this email announcement, i did not realize how true this encounter of st paul would be for the parish school of my childhood:

St. Paul Catholic School in South Seattle Will Close June 2021; School Will Reopen as Early Learning Center

Seattle, January 25, 2021 – Today, St. Paul Catholic School in South Seattle publicly announced the difficult decision to close its K–8 program. After months of deliberation, this decision represents the consensus of the School Commission, regional Pastoral Council, Archdiocesan School Board and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne.
“This is a very sad day for everyone,” said Kristin Dixon, the Superintendent for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle. “No one wants to see a Catholic school close. However, the distressing reality is that there is a point at which a school is no longer sustainable, despite all the efforts from the parish community, our offices and outside funding from generous supporters like the Fulcrum Foundation.”
The school, which serves students from South Seattle, Renton, Tukwila and Kent, will complete this
academic year offering students both in-person and online learning experiences. School leadership and the archdiocesan Office for Catholic Schools will work with current St. Paul families to help transition students to one of six nearby Catholic schools, if desired and space allows.
“Each, in our own way, will need time to mourn this loss. A part of us as we know it will be coming to anend,” said Principal Dan Sherman. “The entire family of St. Paul School and Parish will find ways to
celebrate the achievements and history of something that, for years, has brought much pride and many
triumphs to a distinctive neighborhood. I am very proud of this school community and so grateful for the opportunity to be part of it.”

A look to the future
While St. Paul’s K–8 program will end, the school leadership, in partnership with the Office for Catholic Schools, is exploring ways to configure a new early learning center on the St. Paul Parish campus. The hope for this new “St. Paul Center” is to serve families with children from birth to age 5. The new early learning center will start registration for 3- and 4-year-old preschool-age students this spring for the 2021–2022 school year.

About the Archdiocese of Seattle
The Archdiocese of Seattle encompasses all of Western Washington, stretching from Canada to Oregon and from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. There are 72 Catholic schools, 169 parishes, missions and pastoral centers in the archdiocese, with more than 500 weekly Masses celebrated in eight languages.
Archbishop Paul D. Etienne leads the archdiocese with his two auxiliary bishops, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg. For more information about the Archdiocese of Seattle,
visit seattlearchdiocese.org.

more musings on this topic in my next post

until then, let us pray:

O God, who taught the whole world

through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul,

draw us, we pray, nearer to you

through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today,

and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen