HARRISBURG, Pa. – Three Lancaster city parishes, in partnership with the Diocese of Harrisburg, announced that they are combining resources to continue offering Catholic education to city students. To make the best use of these limited resources, Resurrection Catholic School, supported by St. Anthony of Padua, St. Mary’s and St. Joseph parishes, will cease operation at the end of the current school year. The financial resources used to support Resurrection will now be combined to support families choosing other local Catholic schools, making the best use of these resources and allowing the parishes to remain financially sound.
The decision to close Resurrection comes after years of work to improve the economic standing of the school. The precarious financial situation, coupled with significant capital improvements needed for the Resurrection school building, has created an unsustainable situation. Years of work with consultants, Diocesan representatives and ad-hoc committees of stakeholders and advancement professionals have not made enough progress to alter the school’s financial trajectory.
“The commitment to Catholic education in the city of Lancaster is strong, but the limited resources available have made operating Resurrection financially unsustainable. To continue offering Catholic education in the city, we must use these limited resources in a means that best supports our families and allows our parishes to remain financially sound,” said Fr. Matthew Morelli, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish and head pastor of the school.
Resurrection Catholic School has faced operating deficits for several years, due in part to stagnant enrollment, and the three parishes supporting the school have also been met with high subsidies, which has been detrimental to the parishes’ other ministries and could place the parishes in precarious financial situations. While this closure is heartbreaking for the Resurrection community, the pastors and the Diocese will be supporting families and staff during this period of transition.
“In the coming weeks, the school administration and the Diocesan Office of Catholic Education will assist families with transitioning to another local Catholic school for the next school year, if that is their wish. The Diocese is also committed to working with the faculty and staff in securing new employment in other Catholic schools. In addition, we will help families choosing public education to coordinate with their local school district to ensure a smooth transition,” said Dan Breen, Secretary for Catholic Education and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese.
“Everyone in our community has worked so hard to make Resurrection a safe and nurturing environment for our students to encounter the love of God. They have accomplished amazing things and have changed so many lives. Every day, our staff, faculty, and administration sacrifice so much to share the love of Jesus Christ with our children who need it most. We should always be thankful for all they have done. Personally, it has been one of the greatest joys of my priesthood to be part of this amazing family,” said Fr. Morelli.
Resurrection Catholic School, a preK through eighth-grade school, currently has 102 students and 22 staff. The school was founded in 1991 as a consolidation of Saint Mary’s, Saint Joseph’s, and Saint Anthony’s Catholic schools. These schools have served Catholic families for more than 166 years in the city of Lancaster. The decision to consolidate was made by Bishop Nicholas Datillo to ensure that families in these parishes had access to a primary and secondary Catholic education. Resurrection Catholic School is housed in the oldest continuously operating Catholic school building in Lancaster County.
The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Harrisburg enroll nearly 10,000 students and they continue to be recognized for their rigorous academic education while providing moral and faith formation according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. To learn more about Catholic education in the Diocese of Harrisburg, visit www.GoCatholicSchools.org.
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