An outpouring of support from the Mater Dei Prep community in Middletown has resulted in $1.5 million generated for the “Save the Seraphs” campaign, a group that formed in February to save the school. The group announced April 17 that the fund reached $1 million in pledges March 26 and began collecting on those pledges when it received its 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. To date the fund has collected 306 of the 440 pledges and has $952,000 in cash donations.

Father Jeff Kegley, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Middletown, confirmed that Mater Dei Prep will close as a parish high school at the end of the current academic year. Plans are being developed to present to the Bishop of Trenton to reopen the school as an independent, private Catholic high school for the next academic year.

In a message sent to the school community Feb. 3, Father Kegley had cited a multi-year deficit as the cause for the proposed closure. “Over the many years, Mater Dei Prep has been running large financial deficits and enrollment numbers have not stabilized to the point of sufficiently supporting the school’s viability,” he wrote. “It had been the hope of the parish finance council and myself that these trends could be reversed,” Father Kegley stated.

Encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of support from the school and parish community to keep the school open - via social media messages, television news reports, phone calls and emails - and after consultation with the parish finance council, Father Kegley announced that time would be given to allow the fundraising group “Save the Seraphs” to build an effort on behalf of the school. A deadline of April 15 had been given.

Quoting Canon Law 800.2 that reads: “All Christ’s faithful are to promote Catholic schools, doing everything possible to help in establishing and maintaining them,” Father Kegley encouraged everyone to work together to help keep Mater Dei Prep open.

Fundraising events by the Seraph Fund continue to support the school’s future. Upcoming events include a benefit concert by Brian Kirk & The Jirks with special guests “The Magic Taxis” at Red Bank’s Count Basie Theater April 30. Tickets are on sale through the Count Basie Theatre box office. Special events such as these will give alumni and friends opportunities to continue supporting Mater Dei Prep.

In addition, Mater Dei Prep is currently registering students for the Class of 2019 and scheduling next year’s classes for returning students. Families interested in enrolling students in Mater Dei Prep are asked to contact Dennis Tobin at (732) 671-9100, ext. 12, to begin the registration process.

For information on the Seraph Fund, including upcoming fundraising events and how to make a donation, see seraphfund.org.