The following is text of a March 22 statement from Alfredo DiLascia, chairman of the Committee for Cathedral Action, in response to recent decisions made by the Springfield bishop about the future of CHS.

(Mr. DiLascia also penned a March 23 op-ed column for the Springfield Republican offering insights and recommendations on a new Catholic regional high school in Western Massachusetts).

Cathedral at the 11th Hour
Prior to 2008, the Diocese had Holyoke Catholic all but closed. What prevented this were four heroic alumni who spearheaded a high energy grassroots campaign to save their school. The Diocese relented due to very strong pressure and built Holyoke Catholic on a residential street corner, with no campus, inadequate parking, no athletic fields, no gymnasium, and other high school facility shortcomings. That was their answer.

Regarding Cathedral, it was abundantly clear that a circle of high level clergy, lay people, and others who offer paid services to the Diocese wanted to close Cathedral. They encircle the Bishop and for the last several years have been allowed to exercise undue influence and power. They attempted to poison the water with a constant stream of negativism concerning Cathedral, and they still are being allowed to do so today.

Where are we today? They are going to combine Holyoke Catholic and Cathedral into a “regional high school.” What they don’t mention is that Cathedral was already a regional high school. They took information from a limited number of “stakeholders” and now have retreated to secret, non-transparent planning from which they will spring upon us their final decision. Remember, these are many of the same people who were dead set on closing Cathedral. After they announce their plan, it will be too late.

I had a chance to serve on a marketing committee for Holyoke Catholic. What I saw from alumni who served was a deep and vocal passion for THEIR school. I believe that much of this passion was stirred by the fact that they almost lost their beloved school. Even though we have prominent alumni on our CCA committee we frequently asked ourselves…. Where are the Cathedral alumni? Why aren’t they speaking up? Why aren’t they taking action? Well, now, more than ever before, this is the time.

Do you know where the new school will be located? Will it only be a ‘right-sized’ small school and not what we really need for the next 50 years? Will it have the full athletic and other facilities that the students deserve? Will the full ethical and moral amount of insurance and FEMA monies be applied to do the job right? How will the school be managed? Will we follow the same path as before or learn from the some 25 successful Catholic secondary schools that have been provided the Diocese. By their own admission, Catholic schools in the Diocese have been failing under their leadership. They don’t have to!

Now, more than ever, before they announce their plan that you may not like, is the time to speak up and voice your opinion. This includes all Cathedral alumni and Holyoke Catholic alumni … and everyone on this e-mail distribution. Send it to others, as well. Don’t complain later. Act now. You can make a difference if you act now…but not after they announce. It will be too late.

How much do you care about Cathedral? About Holyoke Catholic? About Catholic Education in the Diocese of Springfield?

Send a Letter to the Editor at:  letters@repub.com

or, with respect, send a letter to:
Most Reverend Bishop T. Rozanski
Diocese of Springfield
76 Elliot Street
Springfield, MA 01102

Thank you and God Bless,
Alfredo DiLascia