Dear Sister Janice Morgan SSJ and Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester, Upon the public announcement of the intended dissolution of Nazareth Academy and merger with the Aquinas Institute, many Alumnae and Friends of the Academy have struggled with feelings of incredulity, sorrow, and even outrage. Rochester’s loss of Nazareth Academy is more than just the loss of a Catholic High School. Nazareth Academy is a community of women spanning generations, dedicated to academic excellence and service to their communities. The closure of the Academy is a death sentence to generations of young girls for whom the way out of poverty and struggle may have been provided to Nazareth Academy. The world is still not kind to young women, especially those who are not adequately educated, and thus unable to provide for themselves. Each alumna of Nazareth Academy will tell you the story of how the fortitude of character that she learned at our school is the key factor in her success today. Eliminating Nazareth in this city would take away a strong agent of social justice from a community that is desperately in need of it. Each of us is cognizant of the struggles Catholic Schools face regarding enrollment and finances in the current environment. As Alumnae of Nazareth Academy, we are incredibly disappointed that neither the School nor the Order notified the Alumnae of the true extent of the financial difficulties the school was facing. We were not asked to lend our time and talents in finding ways to preserve and expand the school we love so dearly. This flagrant disregard for the alumnae and their wishes give the appearance that Nazareth and the Sisters of Saint Joseph as organizations no longer feel that the mission of educating young women is viable or necessary for the betterment of society. This is not acceptable. We, the Alumnae and Friends of Nazareth Academy, do declare our intent to lend our time and efforts to saving Nazareth Academy. We will turn our efforts towards founding a new school for girls in Rochester, NY based on the principles that shaped our years at Nazareth Academy. Respectfully Yours in Christ, The Undersigned.