A few short weeks before my arrival here in Milford in 2017, I learned with most of you about the closing of the former Milford Catholic Elementary School. While I was not familiar with the school, I was disappointed that there would not be a Catholic school as part of my new parish. Within that first year, I met with representatives from our diocesan Catholic School Department who knew of my disappointment and asked if I would consider trying to open a school in the Milford area.
While I was eager, I was also cautious for I did not want to re-open the school that had closed months before knowing that there was still a lot of hurt and disappointment from that closing. So, I set out with a vision for a new school with a new identity. To that end, I gathered interested and supportive members of the community to form a Task Force and to set about facing the challenge of trying to open a new Catholic school in Milford. While we were enthusiastic, the response from the community was just over a dozen responses, so we shelved our plans at that time. The struggles of the current pandemic have given new interest and impetus to the idea of organizing and opening a new Catholic school for Milford.
There are three hurdles before us in order to realize this dream. First, is to prove to Bishop McManus and the Diocese of Worcester that there is interest and viability in a new Catholic school not only in our parish but in our wider area. The second is to find the resources and funding to establish and solidify this school for several generations. Finally, we will need to find an appropriate and viable location to house an initial school for pre-school through Grade 4 for 120 students that could grow in five years to be pre-school to Grade 8 for 175 students. If you have children or grandchildren of school age and would consider enrolling them in a local Catholic school your input is critically needed now for us to pursue this dream. Please complete this survey before March 10, 2021. Your answers will be tabulated for our future direction and decisions. We know that your time is valuable so we appreciation your consideration and interest.
