The petition
We, the undersigned, do hereby respectfully request His Excellency, the Most Reverend, David R. Choby, Bishop of the Nashville Diocese, to approve plans for the construction of a Catholic High School in the Rutherford County area. The necessity for a Catholic high school located south of Nashville has been an ongoing need for several years. With the increased population and growth in Rutherford County alone, as reported by national publications and the Rutherford Chamber of Commerce, the need continues to grow in intensity. The steady increase of family enrollment in the Rutherford and Coffee County parishes further justifies the need for a Catholic high school. For as Pope John Paul II said, "The future starts today...not tomorrow."
Although there are several good public high schools available in Rutherford County, those families who wish to see their children educated in a Catholic setting have been relegated to send their children to Father Ryan High School in Nashville, thereby placing stress on the family. This effort requires that children must ride a bus both morning and afternoon, traveling one hour each way. In addition, families are asked to drive their children to activities and events that require them to travel an hour each way to meet the school’s expectations. These efforts take away significant quality family time, which is already being stressed in a fast-paced society. While families are trying to meet the needs of their older children, younger children are being neglected. A high school located in Rutherford County would allow families to have their children educated in a Catholic setting closer to home, thereby reinforcing the Christ-centered family environment that the Catholic Church advocates. In fact, Pope John Paul II reminded us often that in today's society "the nuclear family has lost its identity and function." Additionally, we simply wish to build the integrity of the Christian family through this effort.
Jesus tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, received; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks the door will be opened.” [Matthew 7: 7-8]
Please, we prayerfully ask, open the doors to a Catholic high school located in Rutherford County. This decision would afford more students the opportunity to receive a Catholic education closer to home. We pray that God blesses our efforts here and our children’s future.
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Petition sponsor
ST. JOSEPH'S COALITION
Concerned Catholic parents who desire a quality Catholic education for their children...closer to home.
St. Joseph, patron saint of families, please pray for us.
IMPORTANT UPDATE (6.01.08): This petition and the efforts to seek support from the Nashville Diocese for a Catholic High School in Rutherford County was created by P.D. Yoko [www.pdyoko.com], parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Murfreesboro in conjunction with a handful of parents who felt let by the Holy Spirit to provide a Catholic upper grade education for their children…closer to home.
At the same time this effort began, Ms. Yoko was establishing and building the Life Teen Youth Ministry at St. Rose Church, and therefore, unable to donate as much of her time on this effort. However, you should know that Ms. Yoko has faced a few brick walls at every turn. Attempts to get other parishes involved have been met with pessimism and silence. Requests to place announcements in bulletins about this effort have been ignored. Even her parish refused to advise parishioners of the effort when asked for support. Ms. Yoko has been advised by various credible sources that a Catholic High School is not justified when there are two schools in Nashville that have not reached maximum capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Yoko were advised by Bishop Choby personally that he would not be building another Catholic high school in his tenure. However, these events have not deterred Ms. Yoko.
If you are genuinely interested in building the momentum for this movement, we need your involvement. We can’t do it alone. WE NEED 2,000 SIGNATURES….or more! If you are interested in lending a strong voice in getting the word out to other parishes and families in furthering the effort for this petition, please feel free to contact us at
saintjoecoalition@gmail.com. Please identity specifically what you are willing to do. For example, if you have family at other parishes, ask them to spread the word for this petition and effort. If you have a good rapport with the Diocese, step forward and offer to accompany the coalition in a meeting with the Bishop when this petition has reached its goal and is ready to present. If you are an excellent statistician and researcher and love putting together facts and figures in justifying action, please step up to the plate.
Above all, pray. Pray fervently that this effort will bear fruit and multiply. Our children deserve nothing less.
Links
NOVENA TO ST. JOSEPH, PATRON SAINT OF FAMILIES
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotional...
EDUCATING IN VIRTUE
http://www.catholiceducation.o...
WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION CAN LEARN FROM CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
http://catholiceducation.org/a...
MENTION GOD? Don't you dare!!
http://catholiceducation.org/a...
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