A Sense of Ownership

The following letter to the editor of the REPUBLICAN & Herald in Pottstown, PA, captures a sense of ownership that Catholics are beginning to feel and act on.

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03/04/2007
Diocese must look at bigger picture

To the Editor:

When the news of the diocese deciding the future of Cardinal Brennan [High School] reached alumni from out of the area, one response was “No, that is ours!’’ That statement pretty much sums it up for all of us. There is a sense of love, pride and ownership for this school with all of us that is too important to lose.

I am a 1971 Cardinal Brennan graduate. I have four brothers and sisters, their husbands and wives, and children who are all proud to say they are Cardinal Brennan alumni. My father, Pat Kempsey, now 80, was athletic director and educator for many years at this fine school. His loyalty and pride of Cardinal Brennan and his support and love for the parents and students to this day is precious.

My purpose is to convey the love and loyalty of so many families like mine.

We all understand finances, but we need to look at the bigger picture, too. A “New and Improved” Catholic School Program, as proposed by the synod, is the right thing to do. How we get there should be a thoughtful, compassionate and open process that includes all the children in the diocese.

The synod’s hasty process exclusive to Cardinal Brennan students and teachers misses the mark. Through our Catholic education we’ve been taught to question. The diocese should be proud of that. Rather, parents are being asked to sit back and hold their tongues. Submit questions prior to a meeting? That is insulting. So, as an alumnus, past parent and board member, I have some important questions of my own.

Are you aware that Upper Schuylkill is now in its fourth year of a regional, prestigious and exciting state revitalization program with a sustainability plan to 2011? This includes the boroughs and volunteers of Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and Shenandoah. Goals and objectives are to aggressively improve the quality of life, economic development, architectural design, historic preservation, marketing/promotions, business recruitment, but most importantly, attracting and retaining our best and brightest and preserving our strong heritage and culture.

Cardinal Brennan plays an important role in this revitalization plan as does North Schuylkill, Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley. Our present families and those new to our region through our revitalization efforts deserve to have a choice when selecting a high school education for their children. Don’t take that away.

Over the years, church leadership in Upper Schuylkill County has been weak. Many of us have had devastating experiences as a result. To some, and particularly our children, Cardinal Brennan High School is the only nurturing, Catholic entity that has remained consistent. Are you willing to take this from us and lose more of your faithful? Are finances more important than us?

Have you considered the value of volunteer hours that have sustained Cardinal Brennan to this point? As an estimated example, the parents, alumni and friends who designed, developed and maintained the Cardinal Brennan athletic complex for all these years has to total at least 500,000 volunteer hours. Volunteer hours are rated at over $17 an hour currently. So, that dollar value is $8,500,000. Are you willing to risk the loss of these hard working and committed parents and friends?

Some of the diocese’s best and brightest priests and leaders have come from northern Schuylkill County and Cardinal Brennan. The new Mother General of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary is my classmate and a 1971 graduate of Cardinal Brennan, Sister Lorraine Ann McGrew. The top-ranked Catholic diocese in the United States, Knoxville, Tenn., is headed by our very own Bishop Joseph Kurtz, a Mahanoy City native, former priest of the Allentown Diocese and Cardinal Brennan alumnus.

I ask our Upper Schuylkill families and friends to support the parents, teachers and students of Cardinal Brennan at their important meeting at 2 p.m. today in the Field House as they enter into serious dialogue with diocesan officials in an attempt to save this precious educational institution.

As for the diocese, please look at the bigger picture and appreciate our personality, loyalty and heart by approaching this with thoughtfulness, compassion and openness.

Cardinal Brennan High School belongs to each and every one of us.

Patrice Kempsey Rader

Executive Director

Upper Schuylkill



©The REPUBLICAN & Herald 2007