Michele Madigan Somerville,
an OTBKB reader, responds to OTBKB's recent posts about the controversy at Saint Saviour
Elementary School. Somerville is an award-winning poet. Her book, Black
Irish, is forthcoming from Plain View Press. A short essay by Somerville will appear in the New York Times' online Op Ed series, "Happy Days."
I’m a member of a
neighboring Brooklyn parish with no children attending St. Saviour School.
As a former educator who taught for three years in parochial schools, I know
that that when they do it well, Catholic schools do a very good job of educating
children, Catholic and otherwise, for a fraction of the resources public schools
send. I take special pride in the Roman Catholic school model, because, in
my experience, at least in NYC, the diocesan schools have embraced the
diversity of the city and have, in many ways, excelled the public schools
in this regard.
an OTBKB reader, responds to OTBKB's recent posts about the controversy at Saint Saviour
Elementary School. Somerville is an award-winning poet. Her book, Black
Irish, is forthcoming from Plain View Press. A short essay by Somerville will appear in the New York Times' online Op Ed series, "Happy Days."
I’m a member of a
neighboring Brooklyn parish with no children attending St. Saviour School.
As a former educator who taught for three years in parochial schools, I know
that that when they do it well, Catholic schools do a very good job of educating
children, Catholic and otherwise, for a fraction of the resources public schools
send. I take special pride in the Roman Catholic school model, because, in
my experience, at least in NYC, the diocesan schools have embraced the
diversity of the city and have, in many ways, excelled the public schools
in this regard.
The scenario you describe at St. Saviour is a sad
one. If your characterization of Father Murphy is accurate – if indeed he
does not visit the school, if he truly described visiting the school “as a
drain”– then he is falling woefully short in answering the call to
priesthood. The chief obligation of a priest is to serve as model for
Jesus on earth. A pastor who is indifferent to the children in his school
is failing to reflect Christ’s love and conducting himself in a disgraceful
manner. Being a Roman Catholic pastor is a hard job. Perhaps Father
Murphy is ill-suited for this work, or burned-out. Father Murphy has
the right, in a technical sense to hire and fire as he sees fit, but he has a
moral and ethical obligation to stand before his fellow members in the Body of
Christ — the St. Saviour School community –and explain this decision in a
loving and respectful way. It is possible,indeed it is likely —
that he was simply ordered to fire this principal. It is
also quite possible that he
has been explicitly forbidden to speak candidly about
this. Unfortunately, this is how things the Catholic Church often
operates.
one. If your characterization of Father Murphy is accurate – if indeed he
does not visit the school, if he truly described visiting the school “as a
drain”– then he is falling woefully short in answering the call to
priesthood. The chief obligation of a priest is to serve as model for
Jesus on earth. A pastor who is indifferent to the children in his school
is failing to reflect Christ’s love and conducting himself in a disgraceful
manner. Being a Roman Catholic pastor is a hard job. Perhaps Father
Murphy is ill-suited for this work, or burned-out. Father Murphy has
the right, in a technical sense to hire and fire as he sees fit, but he has a
moral and ethical obligation to stand before his fellow members in the Body of
Christ — the St. Saviour School community –and explain this decision in a
loving and respectful way. It is possible,indeed it is likely —
that he was simply ordered to fire this principal. It is
also quite possible that he
has been explicitly forbidden to speak candidly about
this. Unfortunately, this is how things the Catholic Church often
operates.
Even wonderul pastors like my own are being
forced to make dramatic cuts. Parishes have been hit by the financial
downturn. The diocese has been laying the groundwork preparatory to school
and parish closings for a few years now. Many of our churches are over a
hundred years old and are architectural masterpieces containing priceless
art. The cost of maintaining these buildings threatens to bankrupt even
the most prosperous of parishes.
forced to make dramatic cuts. Parishes have been hit by the financial
downturn. The diocese has been laying the groundwork preparatory to school
and parish closings for a few years now. Many of our churches are over a
hundred years old and are architectural masterpieces containing priceless
art. The cost of maintaining these buildings threatens to bankrupt even
the most prosperous of parishes.
This current fiscal crisis casts a new light on the
time-honored custom of withholding of contributions as a means of protesting
policy. It may good for parishioners to bear in mind that in some cases,
those who wish to do so can direct collection dollars to the school and not the
church by noting this preference on their checks. (Churches are supposed to make
every effort to honor this.) During this time, when so many churches and
parish schools are closing, it is crucial that active Catholics advocate and
protest judiciously and with caution.
time-honored custom of withholding of contributions as a means of protesting
policy. It may good for parishioners to bear in mind that in some cases,
those who wish to do so can direct collection dollars to the school and not the
church by noting this preference on their checks. (Churches are supposed to make
every effort to honor this.) During this time, when so many churches and
parish schools are closing, it is crucial that active Catholics advocate and
protest judiciously and with caution.
Perhaps your pastor imagines contracting a more
malleable, less expensive principal may be a good way to cut costs.
Perhaps Fr. Murphy is taking the lead from public schools wherein there is a
trend to hire less experienced (younger) educators because they
come cheaper and are more malleable. Perhaps the pastor has a different
direction in mind for the school. It sounds as if your pastor simply
may not want a school in his parish.
malleable, less expensive principal may be a good way to cut costs.
Perhaps Fr. Murphy is taking the lead from public schools wherein there is a
trend to hire less experienced (younger) educators because they
come cheaper and are more malleable. Perhaps the pastor has a different
direction in mind for the school. It sounds as if your pastor simply
may not want a school in his parish.
Parents of children enrolled in these schools need
to be aware that a parish school operating without its own pastor’s full support
and protection is extremely vulnerable at this point in time. Protest and
demonstration can only work up to a point in any dispute with the RC church
because in the end, it is always the bishop’s call. Fortunately there are
priests (bishops included) nuns and lay Catholics who are open to what their
fellow Catholics think and feel. I exhort all involved in
this conflict to keep abreast of local church politics to whatever extent
is possible as they work toward keeping St. Saviour School vital. Members of
Saint Savior’s Parish Pastoral Council may a good resource in this struggle
because often parish council members gain a sense of what the
direction of the diocese is before the rest of the parish can know.
to be aware that a parish school operating without its own pastor’s full support
and protection is extremely vulnerable at this point in time. Protest and
demonstration can only work up to a point in any dispute with the RC church
because in the end, it is always the bishop’s call. Fortunately there are
priests (bishops included) nuns and lay Catholics who are open to what their
fellow Catholics think and feel. I exhort all involved in
this conflict to keep abreast of local church politics to whatever extent
is possible as they work toward keeping St. Saviour School vital. Members of
Saint Savior’s Parish Pastoral Council may a good resource in this struggle
because often parish council members gain a sense of what the
direction of the diocese is before the rest of the parish can know.
I also hope that teachers and especially students
are taking part in the letter writing campaign and in the protest. Teachers are
the best resource for what the problems in school administration might be. As
for the children; there is an extremely valuable
lesson in this. These children need to know that the church belongs
as much to them as to any bishop. My sense is that Bishop Frank
Caggiano, who according to one of the pasrent's letters, handles school
matters, is an unusually soulful (pun intended) and highly intelligent
bishop, and one not likely to be “drained” by interaction with the children
of your school. I expect that you will receive thoughtful response from him on
this matter in good time.
are taking part in the letter writing campaign and in the protest. Teachers are
the best resource for what the problems in school administration might be. As
for the children; there is an extremely valuable
lesson in this. These children need to know that the church belongs
as much to them as to any bishop. My sense is that Bishop Frank
Caggiano, who according to one of the pasrent's letters, handles school
matters, is an unusually soulful (pun intended) and highly intelligent
bishop, and one not likely to be “drained” by interaction with the children
of your school. I expect that you will receive thoughtful response from him on
this matter in good time.
I wonder whether these diocesan powers that be are
aware of how many Catholics leave the church as a consequence of the kind of
disrespect the families at St. Saviour are currently enduring. The
diocese and pastor of St. Saviour Church may have the power to hire and lay
off the school principal, but that the church belongs, nonetheless, to those
families and that parish community.
aware of how many Catholics leave the church as a consequence of the kind of
disrespect the families at St. Saviour are currently enduring. The
diocese and pastor of St. Saviour Church may have the power to hire and lay
off the school principal, but that the church belongs, nonetheless, to those
families and that parish community.
I will keep St. Saviour School Community in my
prayers.
prayers.
Michele Somerville
Kathryn,
Fr. Murphy does not ensure the children are comfortable. These are children in the very earliest stages of thier education and development. Very impressionable times for them for sure. He NEVER visits them. They “Drain Him”! This I have heard from his own lips. Do you have children at this school to be able to speak to Fr. Murphy’s interaction with the Parish’s own school children?
Maggie,
Your assurances of Fr. Murphy’s intentions and character are misguided at best and suspect at worst. You have no insight to his vision as he has not given one to anyone and as you stated on the other blog, no knowledge of Mr. Flanagan at all. Thier careers of achievement and sucess do not paralell. Fr. Murphy is not even a close second.
I know Fr. Murphy. There is no doubt in my mind that his decision was arrived at prayerfully, intelligently, and humanely. He’s a man who devotes his life to building, not tearing down. If his vision for the school does not include the current principal, then Amen and Adieu to Mr. Flanagan. You had a good, long run.
Firstly I was wondering where the original article Ms. Michele Somerville was citing could be found. Also anyone who has attended one of father Murphy’s family masses can tell you that while he might not claim to have a way with children himself, it would be hard to believe otherwise. He ensures that all children feel comfortable and welcome up by the altar, often saying if you can’t walk have someone carry you. He tells jokes and funny stories during his homilies and tries to teach lessons that are valuable to all ages. If this sounds like a priest out of touch from his youngest parishioners I’d like to meet one who wasn’t.
Thank you for your insightful message. You have touched on many points that have been echoed throughout this ordeal i.e. perhaps a Pastor who feels “drained” and openly admits to “not working well with school-aged children” is ill-suited for a parish with an elementary school.
The beginning of the next school year is three months away and the fate of our children’s education has yet to be decided. Fr. Murphy has often said when addressing parents “I don’t know how you do it!” This is very obvious by the way he has handled this whole situation. Mostly by the fact that he has, to date, yet to acknowledge or address the parents in any way, shape or form. His only mention was a line in the bulletin about changes in the “three” schools. Lumping the non-renewal of Mr. Flanagan’s contract in with the HS and School of Religion.
Faith based education is important to the parents of Saint Saviour. As a Pastor Fr. Murphy should acknowledge the importance of the schools role in molding a life of faith in a young child. That which is taught at home should be reinforced in school and most certainly in Church. Explaining such disregard and un-Christian like behavior to children is no easy task. The children and parents alike feel pushed aside and abandoned.
Thank you very much for providing your commentary on the unfortunate situation at Saint Saviour’s. Unfortunately, our Parish Council was not consulted with at all before Father Murphy unilaterally decided not to renew Mr. Flanagan’s contract. He only advised them at an emergency meeting called the evening after he advised the faculty of his decision. We are confident that, given Bishop Caggiano’s prominent role in the Diocese Catholic Schools, he will investigate this matter and determine what is in the best interest of our children and our School, i.e. offering Mr. Flanagan a two or three year contract to return as principal at Saint Saviour’s Elementary School.