Thursday, June 25, 2009

ARCHDIOCESE — At a time when school budgets are being strained by an economy in deep recession, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has distributed nearly $1 million to 16 Catholic high schools.

“We are happy that circumstances have allowed us to make this gesture of solidarity for our schools,” said Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk.
Each of the 16 schools has been sent a check for $59,375 — a total of $950,000.

The schools were all participants in the archdiocese’s High School Equalization Fund. Starting in the 1978-1979 school year, parishes of the archdiocese financially supported Catholic secondary education by each paying into the fund $100 for every parishioner attending a Catholic high school. The money was collected by the archdiocese and distributed to the high schools.

The fund was phased out over three years, concluding with the 2008-2009 school year. The $950,000 payment to the schools represents a final distribution that terminates the fund.

The 16 schools are Elder, LaSalle, McAuley, Archbishop McNicholas, Archbishop Moeller, Mother of Mercy, Mount Notre Dame, Purcell Marian, Roger Bacon and Seton in Greater Cincinnati; Archbishop Alter, Carroll and Chaminade-Julienne in the Miami Valley; Bishop Fenwick in Franklin; Stephen T. Badin in Hamilton; and Catholic Central in Springfield. Private Catholic high schools and Lehman High School in Sidney never participated in the fund.

“When you get a check in the mail for a significant amount of money you weren’t expecting, it’s good news,” said Al Early, president of Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati. “We have needs and the money is going to be put to good use. It will help us help families who have needs.”