OUR SPIRIT...”For God did not give us a spirit that is timid, but one of Love, Power, and Self-Discipline.” (2nd Timothy 1:7)
Petitioning: The Most Reverend Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, The Archdiocese of Hartford, The Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis (OEEC), Provost Sr. Mary Grace Walsh PHD, St. Martha Parish Finance Committee, Rev. Fr. Robert Villa, pastor of St. Martha Church
WE, the undersigned faculty, staff, SMS families, and concerned citizens of Enfield, CT are respectfully requesting that all the above named rethink the abrupt closure of St. Martha Catholic School in June 2020. Our goal and focus of this petition is to have St. Martha School remain open for one more full academic year (2020-2021). During this time, we can adequately and rapidly address the financial viability of our school, changing the climate, yet continue to serve the needs of our school family. Our school’s mission, deeply rooted in our faith, will still remain paramount throughout. Our goal is to have St. Martha School become a financially sound and self-sufficient entity. As a newly-developed autonomous, Catholic educational institution, we will survive independently of any parish funds. We NEED this upcoming full academic year to implement this. Our families matter, our children matter, and the role our school plays in the community matters! We will diligently and urgently work towards this new focus to ensure its financial stability, increase enrollment, and satisfy the new dictates of our school. One academic year is ALL we’re asking; proof of success is what you will see.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 14, 2020
April 13, 2020
I have been staring at my phone constantly because the emails from families struggling with this news are just heartbreaking and honestly keep me up at night. I am trying to organize a group to sit down with the diocese people because they have been so quiet and we really need them to see that this school is not just some line item in a budget but a home for our kids.
Reached 100 supporters
April 13, 2020
April 12, 2020
Look at these numbers climbing up and honestly I am so dizzy thinking about how fast this is moving because we are almost at 250 signatures and need that surge right now. Please tell everyone you know because if we hit that milestone it shows them we are not going away quietly at all.
April 12, 2020
I can see the counter creeping up toward that hundred mark and it keeps me up at night wondering if the archdiocese is even looking at the screen. Please blast this out to your contacts right now because we need to hit that goal before the meeting so they finally start taking our plan seriously.
125 Comments
Please consider keeping the school opened & let the families take care of it.Enrollment was up this year & I think it was headed in the right direction to keep enrolling new students. Father Villa & Mrs. Gonzalo’s have worked so hard for this.
Making such a closure decision, without a chance for the community to help, in the middle of a pandemic, seems too abrupt and arbitrary. Our kids have thrived at this school and it deserves one more academic year to establish its viability.
If the Catholic Church is to survive, we need to give our children a good Catholic education. Keeping St Martha School open is a positive way to assure our Christian beliefs are carried on.
My 3 grandsons, and my daughter-in-law and her family are or have attended SMS. My grandsons are thriving, and the staff, especially the principal, are working long hours to keep this school family together. Please rethink your decision to close.
Involved with the school as a parent, volunteer, parishoner, and employee for almost 20 years. The current leadership at the school is working hard to make it independent and is making great strides to that end. Give them the next school year to show their success.
I’ve observed the classrooms and could see the heart and soul that teachers and students poured into their school. I ask all parishioners, parents, teachers, students and Father Villa to call upon Our Lord through the saint of impossible causes, St Rita of Cascia. She showed us that an impossible cause is not yet a lost cause.
We should do all we can to keep catholic education alive.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
OUR SPIRIT...”For God did not give us a spirit that is timid, but one of Love, Power, and Self-Discipline.” (2nd Timothy 1:7)
Petitioning: The Most Reverend Archbishop Leonard P. Blair, The Archdiocese of Hartford, The Office of Education, Evangelization and Catechesis (OEEC), Provost Sr. Mary Grace Walsh PHD, St. Martha Parish Finance Committee, Rev. Fr. Robert Villa, pastor of St. Martha Church
WE, the undersigned faculty, staff, SMS families, and concerned citizens of Enfield, CT are respectfully requesting that all the above named rethink the abrupt closure of St. Martha Catholic School in June 2020. Our goal and focus of this petition is to have St. Martha School remain open for one more full academic year (2020-2021). During this time, we can adequately and rapidly address the financial viability of our school, changing the climate, yet continue to serve the needs of our school family. Our school’s mission, deeply rooted in our faith, will still remain paramount throughout. Our goal is to have St. Martha School become a financially sound and self-sufficient entity. As a newly-developed autonomous, Catholic educational institution, we will survive independently of any parish funds. We NEED this upcoming full academic year to implement this. Our families matter, our children matter, and the role our school plays in the community matters! We will diligently and urgently work towards this new focus to ensure its financial stability, increase enrollment, and satisfy the new dictates of our school. One academic year is ALL we’re asking; proof of success is what you will see.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 14, 2020
April 13, 2020
I have been staring at my phone constantly because the emails from families struggling with this news are just heartbreaking and honestly keep me up at night. I am trying to organize a group to sit down with the diocese people because they have been so quiet and we really need them to see that this school is not just some line item in a budget but a home for our kids.
Reached 100 supporters
April 13, 2020
April 12, 2020
Look at these numbers climbing up and honestly I am so dizzy thinking about how fast this is moving because we are almost at 250 signatures and need that surge right now. Please tell everyone you know because if we hit that milestone it shows them we are not going away quietly at all.
April 12, 2020
I can see the counter creeping up toward that hundred mark and it keeps me up at night wondering if the archdiocese is even looking at the screen. Please blast this out to your contacts right now because we need to hit that goal before the meeting so they finally start taking our plan seriously.
125 Comments
I am currently a seventh grade student at St, Martha's, and not only have I learned what the true meaning of a good education is, I also learned the true meaning of family. We support each other here, and we will fight for another year, no matter what it takes. Stay safe!
Please consider keeping the school opened & let the families take care of it.Enrollment was up this year & I think it was headed in the right direction to keep enrolling new students. Father Villa & Mrs. Gonzalo’s have worked so hard for this.
Making such a closure decision, without a chance for the community to help, in the middle of a pandemic, seems too abrupt and arbitrary. Our kids have thrived at this school and it deserves one more academic year to establish its viability.
If the Catholic Church is to survive, we need to give our children a good Catholic education. Keeping St Martha School open is a positive way to assure our Christian beliefs are carried on.
My 3 grandsons, and my daughter-in-law and her family are or have attended SMS. My grandsons are thriving, and the staff, especially the principal, are working long hours to keep this school family together. Please rethink your decision to close.
Involved with the school as a parent, volunteer, parishoner, and employee for almost 20 years. The current leadership at the school is working hard to make it independent and is making great strides to that end. Give them the next school year to show their success.
I’ve observed the classrooms and could see the heart and soul that teachers and students poured into their school. I ask all parishioners, parents, teachers, students and Father Villa to call upon Our Lord through the saint of impossible causes, St Rita of Cascia. She showed us that an impossible cause is not yet a lost cause.
We should do all we can to keep catholic education alive.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I am currently a seventh grade student at St, Martha's, and not only have I learned what the true meaning of a good education is, I also learned the true meaning of family. We support each other here, and we will fight for another year, no matter what it takes. Stay safe!