Well, a black day in my life: My children's parochial school, Holy Angels, is shutting down at the end of this school year. It basically came down to demographics: Not enough white Catholic children in the area (which is caused by a legion of things, contraception, ignorance, and defections leading the way, all brought about by lukewarm Catholic teaching for the past 40 years). We have a ton of Mexican Catholics in the area, but they either won't send their children to Holy Angels or can't afford it (though tuition is relatively low; my tuition bill this year for five children: $6,000). Gross administrative incompetence (alright, shockingly gross administrative incompetence) and diocesan indifference hastened the fall, but without inroads among the Mexicans, the demographics were going to get us sooner or later.
It was rough telling our children yesterday. Their options are now public schooling or home schooling. We're exploring both. I'm leaning toward home schooling. The way I dramatize it, we're the last Catholic family in America, and I have to start the re-building process. I'd rather nurture a drop of devout Catholic water than swim in the ocean of lukewarm Catholic water that caused our school's downfall.
In the meantime, I am broadcasting on all AM frequencies. I will be homeschooling every day at mid-day, when the sun is highest in the sky. If you are out there... if anyone is out there... I can provide food, I can provide shelter, I can provide security, I can provide beer. If there are any serious Catholics out there... any loyal Papist... please. You are not alone. (Link to understand joke; see third box from top)
