Parents, staff scramble to save Lincoln Park Catholic school from closing

Due to low enrollment and funding, St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School in Lincoln Park could close at the end of the school year, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit.

But before that, the community is rallying to save it.

In a letter to those with ties to the school and Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, the Rev. David Bechill and Principal Melissa Manczak said that the archdiocese told them the school must increase funding and student enrollment.

The school responded by launching the Fund our Future 2024-2025 campaign. The deadline is Wednesday.

“For those unaware, St. John Paul II Catholic school offers a classical curriculum that emphasizes truth, beauty, goodness as it has been revealed to us by God,” said Bechill and Manczak in the letter dated April 22. “Despite the excellent education we provide, we have recently been informed by the Archdiocese of Detroit that we must substantially increase enrollment and funding at our school or we will face closure.”

As of Sunday, the school had raised $85,000 of its goal of $120,000, according to school officials.

The campaign’s goal also includes increasing enrollment from 85 students to at least 110 students for the 2024-25 school year, Manczak said. The school plans to launch a program called Classical Connect, targeting homeschool students who want hands-on learning and to participate in the school's Catholic community.

“We are grateful to God for the overwhelmingly positive and supportive response to our efforts to right-size the school budget so we can open next year in a sustainable and fiscally responsible way,” Manczak said in a statement. “As part of that process, the parish and school community recently launched the Fund our Future Campaign."

The archdiocese supports the parish and school conducting the fundraiser, Manczak said.

The priests in charge of St. John Paul II will make the decision if the school will close, said Holly Fournier, associate director of communications for the archdiocese. The priests will also determine when they will make that announcement.

“The Archdiocese of Detroit expects our schools to have balanced budgets to ensure good stewardship of resources and long-term sustainability,” Fournier said in an email. “This can include things like enrollment or fundraising goals, but ultimately, those budget details are set by each school. Accordingly, St. John Paul II established their budget for the 2024-2025 school year and has been working, with our support, to meet it.”

Other Catholic schools in Metro Detroit have faced enrollment declines and funding issues.

Earlier this year, St. Germaine Catholic School in St. Clair Shores learned that it would close at the end of the 2023-2024 school. Despite the school community increasing enrollment and exceeding fundraising goals, priests moved forward with the closure.

Manczak addressed those concerns.

“Father Bechill and I recognize there has been some hurt and confusion in our community as our situation is compared to recent news about St. Germaine,” Manczak said. “It is important to know that the circumstances are different for each school. Father Bechill and the entire parish and school community are engaged in practical solutions to advance a sustainable path forward for our school.

"As principal, I share in that commitment and passion for our vision, as Pope Benedict XVI said, ‘The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.’ Join us in equipping the next generation of great Catholic leaders.”

Those interested in enrolling or donating to St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School can visit the school's website at www.jp2catholic.com. The school also is holding a Fund Our Future Online Silent Auction on its Facebook page until 8 p.m. Tuesday.

St. John Paul II Classical Catholic School was formed in 2019 after a 2011 merger of John Paul II Catholic School, Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic School, Mount Carmel Catholic School and Wyandotte Catholic School was dissolved. According to the school's website, it offers a classical liberal arts faith-based education with emphasis on subjects including literature, reading, writing, Latin and critical thinking.

Fournier said that in light of a closure, St. John Paul II School and the Archdiocese of Detroit would help families learn about other Catholic school options. Other options in the Downriver community include St. Frances Cabrini Grade School in Allen Park and St. Pius X School in Southgate.

Jennifer Nelson is among parents hoping to keep St. John Paul II open. She said she was shocked to learn of the school’s possible closure.

“This is such a treasure, especially to have in the Downriver area,” she said.

Nelson's daughter, Adelyn, is in fifth grade and has attended since she was in first grade.

“All the kids have formed a bond,” Nelson said. “And even new kids that come in too, they have the bond. I think that, too, she enjoys the adoration that they have. The quiet time before for Jesus, in His presence. And also, they're taught things like hope, and I think the virtues, too, helps deal with everyday things that they come across, certain things that may happen, the good and the bad."

She said she’s confident the school will raise the funds it needs to stay open.

"... I've already seen God's hand in this,” she said. “And I think that sometimes things might seem like they're not going the way that we were hoping. So when we all heard about this. Oh my gosh, it was such a shock. But I think God has a bigger plan and I think this is spreading awareness about our school but also about the classical curriculum that kind of brings God into every subject and just shows the beauty and goodness.

"It has an emphasis on virtue and how you treat other people and also self-control and fortitude, patience, perseverance. We’re living in right now. (We're) just not giving up because good things, beautiful things, are worth fighting for. And that's what we're doing.”

cwilliams@detroitnews.com