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PARISH SCHOOL INITIATIVE

As your pastor, I always enjoy talking with you about our parish school. We are a family

here at Saint Peter the Apostle and over the years we have shared many experiences. As we

work to secure Catholic School education here in Parsippany, we have challenges and many

assets. There are three strong parishes here and our three parishes will begin working

together with you to create a strong new Catholic School education model. We want to work

collaboratively with all of you because your ideas are important in shaping the future and we

will be seeking them.

We want Catholic School education to be accessible, sustainable and affordable in

Parsippany. Father Martin McDonnell, pastor of Saint Ann’s and Father Frank Ferraioli,

pastor of Saint Christopher’s and I are working together because we want this project to

grow strong and secure. Our task is to build a school model which aligns our resources to the

“how”, the “when” and the “where” of delivering Catholic School Education services in

Parsippany.

Both of our parish schools will continue providing excellent Catholic education as they are

doing now for the new 2008-2009 school year, beginning in September. Our new plans will

take shape and be implemented for the 2009-2010 school year.

Joint partnership matches our belief that Catholic Schools are a vital part of the teaching

ministry of the Catholic Church. Our Holy Father, Benedict 16th made that very clear during

his visit. Our mission together is to find the best ways to organize how we provide that

education so that we serve all of our families and encourage new families to join.

Three parishes working together as good stewards, collaboratively hope to strengthen

education as well as family social and spiritual ties within our community.

New ways of delivering wisdom, faith and knowledge need to be developed so that our

assets will be equal to the task of keeping Catholic education alive and current. We will

review and reshape our structures to ensure that we flourish in the 21st century. This will be

a win-win situation as long as we keep our eyes on the prize and work together in a positive

way.

You are our partners in this initiative. We will appoint committees with representatives

from our three parishes to study, plan and develop our Catholic Education model for the

future. This is the best way to secure education that suits your needs. Our diocesan

education teams including Rev. Paul Manning, Vicar for Education and School Superintendent

Frank Petruccelli fully support this project. Our school Principals, parents, parishioners and

Sister Rita Fritzen, OSF, assistant superintendent of schools will work together on this

project on a continuing basis.

We will use the parish bulletin, the pulpit and our web site to keep you informed as we

progress.

Please pray for and be committed to this project. We encourage anyone with ideas to write

to Sister Rita Fritzen, OSF at the Diocesan School Office, 777 Valley Road, Clifton, NJ

07013. Sister Rita will coordinate comments and suggestions.

As we continue to serve the Church in Parsippany, we want to model the Person of Jesus

Christ, teach the gospel and evangelize our culture. With the support of our three parish

communities working together, we will respond to our challenge of creating a Catholic School

model in Parsippany that serves our people well in this new century.

Changes in Catholic Education Models

Frequently asked questions

What is going on? What is our task?

Our task is to create a sustainable Catholic School model for the 21st century.

In this task, we model the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ and his Church.

How will we do this?

Our communities will work together…pastors, principals, parents and all

parishioners from Saint Peter the Apostle, Saint Ann’s and Saint

Christopher’s will assess the needs and hopes of our families to create a

school system that will serve three parishes. We will work with the support

and encouragement of the Diocese of Paterson creating our own unique

learning community.

What does that mean to each parish and school now?

We grow in strength through the active participation of three parishes. Each

of the parish schools will continue to provide an excellent Catholic education

just as they are doing now during the 2008 – 2009 school year. All of our

news plans will take shape and be implemented in the 2009 – 2010 school year.

How will the communities work together to create this new model?

We will form a steering committee with diverse representation from every

parish and school including but not limited to: pastors, principals, teachers,

staff members from parishes and schools, priests, school families and

parishioners.

Beyond committee members, will others have an opportunity to offer

suggestions, ask questions and express concerns?

Yes, information will be gathered in a variety of ways. Sister Rita Fritzen,

OSF, Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Paterson, will

be assisting continuously during this project. Anyone may write to her at the

Diocesan Schools Office – 777 Valley Road – Clifton, NJ 07013. She will

coordinate and compile information and questions. We will communicate in

question and answer format and other updates using the pulpit, bulletin and

websites.

What procedures will determine staffing of our Catholic School model?

Many factors influence staffing including enrollment and class sizes. We will

assess the needs as our model takes shape. The procedure itself is governed

by diocesan policy. Our goal is to build a team of the most qualified,

experienced; faith filled and dedicated staff possible to nurture our children

and families.

How will our current school buildings be used?

Form follows function so this has yet to be determined.

Will transportation be provided?

Our current transportation contract will continue for the next 4 years. We

will also form a transportation task force to explore ways to maximize our

families’ options.

What happens to the traditional parish school model we love?

The essence of Catholic School education remains timeless: faith formation,

academic excellence and a nurturing environment that respects and maximizes

the potential of every child. This is not a depersonalizing process. We are

working to secure the future of Catholic education in Parsippany.

How will this new model affect my present relationship with my home

parish?

The parish remains for each family the center of worship, receiving the

sacraments and service. Your relationship to your home parish remains the

same. There will also be opportunities to build social and spiritual ties with

fellow Catholics in Parsippany as the parishes work together in joint ownership

of a Catholic School Model.

Within the school setting, will the pastors work together providing for

the spiritual needs of the children?

Not only the pastors, but also the Directors of Religious Education, priests

and teachers will continue to support and serve the spiritual needs of the

children.

This is the first in a series of responses to questions. Clear and mutual

communication is very important to serving everyone’s needs.