School began once again this September. For many parents and parish members, this was a painful time. In May, with only 80 children registered for the Fall, I had to make the difficult decision to close Saint Andrew the Apostle School. Faculty, parents, children, School Board members, all had made great efforts to keep our school open and viable, but this was not to be.

In August I attended a meeting of all pastors and principals of our schools. A very simple truth was enunciated: “Two-thirds of Boston Catholics live outside of Route 128, while two-thirds of the Catholic schools are within Route 128.” As true as this fact is, it does not lessen the personal hurt, anger, and frustration of parents, faculty, and clergy. We had hoped that Saint Andrew’s School could attract more students to its excellent education. The parents made an enormous effort over the past year. The faculty and administration gave of their talent and generosity to the task of educating our children. And the students grew in wisdom, age, and grace before all of us and God.

Sacred Heart Parish draws together many different Catholic communities: school parents and their children; the parents and children seeking religious education programs; ethnic groups from more than twenty Latin American countries, several West African nations, Eastern Europe, and the islands of the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans; seniors; young couples newly arrived; and families who have been Sacred Heart parishioners for a number of generations. We all gather at Sunday Mass.

I ask each of these communities to extend help and support to the members of Saint Andrew the Apostle School. The closing of the School affects people deeply. As a church, we have to be especially hospitable in the months ahead. Catholic schools and parishes offer people membership in a community which is larger than the family.

Whether we speak of Sacred Heart or St. Theresa’s, Holy Name or Our Lady of Lourdes, each community is vital. We cannot tell someone to find a new home, a new school, a new parish just like that. Officials say things like: “Two-thirds of Boston Catholics live outside of Route 128 while two-thirds of the Catholic schools are within Route 128.” That fact is no answer to the pain that one feels with the loss of a home, or a school, or a parish.

Sacred Heart Parish began its relationship with Saint Andrew four years ago, in 2001, when Saint Andrew Parish closed and merged with Sacred Heart Parish. St. Andrew School continued to operate as part of Sacred Heart Parish. In June of 2005 we had to close the school. This is a great loss.

The parish’s response has to be personal, not just business. Parish members have been deeply hurt by what has happened. This cannot be changed, but the personal response has to be one of charity. Christians care more for the other person in need than for their own needs. This alone distinguishes each of us as a follower of Christ.

I want to recognize and express my deep gratitude to the principal, faculty, staff and parents of Saint Andrew the Apostle: to Ms. Sheila Kukstis for her excellent leadership and service as principal for the past ten years; to the faculty who worked together in a most professional manner for the education of our young people. I thank each of them by name: Mwikali K. Ajuoga, Jay Barbuto, Mary C. Brown, Carly Caprio, Kristen Chaplin, Caron Chiusano, Bonnie Deady, Dot D’Amato, Aimee Francis, Patricia Hill, Nancy Hunt, Wendy John, Cheryl Murphy, Betty Principe, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, and Amy Watson; to the support staff at Saint Andrew the Apostle School for their constant and excellent work to make all of the educational efforts work well: Angela Butler-Smith, Barbara Cullen, Lyse Forte, John Harding, Denise MacIsaac, and JoAnn Welch; finally to the parents of our children for their generous and faithful support of St. Andrew the Apostle School.

Many parents deserve accolades for the efforts put forth on behalf of Catholic education at St. Andrew’s School. In particular, I want to thank the members of the School Board: Jerry Algere, Nelson Bolan, Antoinette Coakley, Mike Gillis, Mary Fran Hughes, Beatriz Lorenzo, and Ellie Yuen. They have served very well for many years. By connecting home and school, they have excelled in building up a community focused on the education of the children of Saint Andrew’s School.

May God bless us as we move into this new school year! We pray that our young people grow in wisdom, age, and grace before God and all of us.