Published: January 15, 2009 11:51 pm      

St. Patrick School to shut doors

Another Roman Catholic elementary school is closing in June, leaving four in the Johnstown area.

Families connected with St. Patrick School in the city’s Moxham section now are coping with where to send their children next year.

“It’s a sad, sad thing,” said Charlotte Kleman, whose son will graduate in June but whose daughter has two years to go.

Citing declining enrollments and poor economic conditions, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced plans to close St. Patrick School via a written statement released Thursday.

“In a spirit of prayer and openness and after much discussion, a decision was made to close ... the school,” Sister Donna Marie Leiden said in the statement.

Leiden, director of education for the diocese, said the closure was decided Tuesday at a meeting of the St. Patrick parish council, school council and diocese education officials.

“All present were in agreement that the parish and the school community have worked hard over the years to maintain the school,” Leiden said in announcing the closure.

“This is not the first time that the closing of St. Patrick’s school hasbeen considered,” Leiden said in her statement.

“Our study shows that a steady decline in enrollment and these difficult economic times cause us to arrive at this decision.”

Diocese officials declined further comment when contacted Thursday.

Spokesman Rob Egan has left his job, and the diocese has not hired a replacement, a diocese spokesman said.

The reaction from city officials was one of regret.

Councilwoman Ann Wilson, whose three children previously attended the school, said the closure will have widespread impact.

“It’s going to be a loss not just for the immediate St. Patrick community, but for the entire area,” she said.

Diocese officials began taking a close look at all of Greater Johnstown’s Roman Catholic elementary schools last winter.

West End Catholic, which closed in June, left five schools: St. Andrew and Cathedral Catholic in Upper Yoder Township; St. Benedict in Geistown; Our Mother of Sorrows in Westmont; and St. Patrick.

Egan said at the time that reviewing the elementary schools would be “an ongoing process.”

“We all expected the school to close, but it’s still a really sad thing, and it’s still a shock,” Kleman said.

At the high school level, Bishop Guilfoyle in Altoona, Bishop McCort in Johnstown and Bishop Carroll in Ebensburg have become independent, nonprofit corporations.

Diocese officials said the St. Patrick pupils will be assimilated into the four remaining schools.

“We feel confident that the four remaining schools in the Johnstown area have the capability to enroll all of the students presently attending St. Patrick’s School,” Leiden said.

“Every attempt will be made to help the students and the families with their transition.”

“The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is committed to the continuance of Catholic education in the Johnstown area and will work with the stakeholders in Johnstown to adopt a proactive plan for the implementation of this vision,” she said.