Trinitarian Father Daniel Houde, pastor of Incarnation-St. James Parish, Ewing, has given his blessing for a growing group of parents, parishioners and other supporters to come up with a plan to save the future of the parish school.

The effort follows the announcement Feb. 21 that Incarnation-St. James School will have to close its doors at the end of the school year due to declining enrollment and rising costs.

Father Houde, along with Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Patricia O’Donnell, school principal, jointly signed a letter that was sent to the school community and communicated to parishioners at Mass Feb. 20 and 21. In it, they state, “It is not possible for us to continue to provide the excellent Catholic education that Incarnation-St. James School has been known for during the past 55 years.”

A request to close the school was issued by Father Houde to Bishop John M. Smith in early February. In a letter accepting Father Houde’s decision to close the school, Bishop Smith wrote, “I know that you and the parish leadership did not arrive at this decision lightly. Incarnation School has been an important part of the parish ministry for a very long time and the dedicated teachers and administrators of the school have contributed so much to the academic and spiritual development of our young people.”

The bishop stressed, “Please know that you and the good people at Incarnation-St. James Parish are in my prayers during this difficult time.”

The announcement sparked a very strong emotional response among the parish and school community, Father Houde reported in a subsequent letter he sent to selected individuals who had asked him for time to develop a solution to the school’s financial and enrollment challenges. Responding to the sense among community members that some opportunities to preserve the school had yet to be explored, Father Houde wrote, “I have listened to these statements with a prayerful, listening mind and heart.

After much prayer and consultation with Sister Patricia … I invite you to begin a grassroots effort to Save Our School!”

The SOS group has met twice since Father Houde’s endorsement of their efforts, and is working to develop strategies that will both raise needed funds and boost enrollment, according to group members. Father Houde has given the group a deadline of March 31, thereby allowing adequate time for families to make alternate arrangements should the school still have to close.

Preparations were launched by the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools when the original announcement was made that the school would close.

The diocese has taken steps to facilitate placement of ISJ students in other Catholic schools. The six remaining schools in Mercer County are all prepared to welcome ISJ students, JoAnn Tier, secretary for Catholic education reported.

In discussions with the faculty, diocesan representatives addressed resume writing and severance benefits. Tier has announced that any ISJ teacher applying for an open position in another Catholic school of the diocese will be given first consideration.

ISJ School has distinguished itself among its peers for its development of technology in the classroom and its extensive social outreach programs.

The school has been the subject of a string of articles in The Monitor, and was featured in a recent video report published online by The Monitor regarding the school’s use of SMART Boards in the classroom. (To view the video click here).

The school has experienced the same enrollment declines seen by many of its counterparts across the nation, which are widely acknowledged as attributable to the poor economy. Its current enrollment is 168, a 65-student drop from the enrollment five years ago, and a steep drop of 42 from last year’s enrollment.

The average enrollment for the Catholic schools in Mercer County is 290.

Anyone who wishes to support the effort underway on behalf of ISJ School is invited to contact Sister Patricia O’Donnell at 609-882-3228; [email protected]