SJS Strong

4 years ago Featured

I attended St.Joseph’s for 10 years and ms lau got me through many of my debilitating learning deficits and was my best highlight at being at Sjs. She is a absolute blessing and having some misogynistic man who contributes nothing to the students firing the women who actually work and make the school what it is is disgusting. I’m tired of evil men abusing their power and putting down hard working women. This is the patriarchy at work and needs to be disbanded. The women deserve better.

Mrs Conroy and her team exemplify dedication, care and personal attention. They were instrumental in immediately attending to my daughters needs when contacted by this concerned mother. My daughter was new to Virginia and the school this year and met with many challenges. She and I were both greatly comforted by immediate action. From the moment we arrived here, we were never met as strangers. We were met with open hearts. It is profoundly unacceptable that Mrs Conroy and her team are being removed! I have not yet enrolled my daughter for the upcoming school year. May my voice become a roaring echo for all us parents and our children as we stand together and fight for Mrs Conroy, Mrs Lau and Mrs Beltran! They deserve the same dedication, care and concern that they have extended to our children. May God surround them in an army of angels of protection and grace! And may the God of truth shine an ever brighter light where needed most!

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Luke 12:2. As I’ve reflected on the matter involving Fr. Tom, the SJS community and certainly Mrs. Conroy and her team, I’ve tried to find some comfort in scripture, just as the church inspires us to do. However, as many of us still reflect on the decision to remove by all accounts a remarkable principal, I think we all agree it’s going to take more than scripture to help us understand not just what happened, but what is going on at the school we love. After all, in the dead of night we were told by e-mail that our principal, our leader who spends weekends at the school screening new students and playing the organ at school Mass, was being let go in favor of a “new Catholic model.” I’d like to know, what new model will that be? Someone who is around less? Someone who isn’t revered by her students? Someone who doesn’t embody every Christian value our school represents? These questions remain unanswered because no one is talking to us. In fact, we’re not seeing the kind of leadership and spirituality we’re used to seeing displayed by Mrs. Conroy. Specifically, I’m a bit dumbfounded at the notion of a “thorough investigation” having been completed by the diocese. First, this issue is barely a month old. Second, it’s been mere days since concerns and observations have been brought to light. Serious concerns that involve potential misuse of survelillance on school grounds and verbal hostilities toward administrative staff. So dare I say, with all due respect, that it is somewhat laughable to say that a “thorough investigation” of a matter of great significance to parents and children alike has been conducted. Let’s be honest, it hasn’t. These are questions that require answers. Our children deserve nothing less. “He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are

8 years ago Featured

Father Tom has shown his disdain for the school and the staff there. He needs either counseled or outright removed. Mrs Conory is one the best things to happen to SJS. Father Tom has overstepped and made a huge error. We have left the parish and are considering pull our child out. Funny how you waited until the intent forms were sent back before announcing your "investigation" SJS Strong.

Bishop Burbidge, Dr. Bigelow, , Fr. Ferguson, Fr. Davis and Father Tom: ALL of you should be ashamed of yourselves with how you have handled this very serious situation at St. Joseph School. Fr. Tom is the pastor and leader of our school and church. We look to him for guidance and leadership. Fr. Tom has ABANDONED his parishioners and parents (and kids) of the school. He has not returned any phone calls or emails from parents....NOT ONE. He will not accept or make any meetings to speak with parents. He refuses to give any information regarding the new Catholic Model and vision for our school. We are paying tuition for our childrens' education and deserve to know what this new model and vision will entail. What is it going to take for ALL of you to open your eyes and see what is going on at St. Joe's? You cannot and we will not let you wash your hands of this. Does it take parishioners/parents to stop making donations to the church? DONE. Does it take parishioners/parents to withdraw being members of the church? DONE. Does it take us parents/parishioners going to the newspapers, tv/media, and getting this in the public? Do you really want your offices and the catholic church to have such negative publicity regarding a priest behavior? I most certainly would think not. The SJS concerned parents are only growing in numbers and only getting louder. We are NOT stopping until we get action taken from your offices. We will be heard. SJS Strong! Peace, Love and God Bless All of you. We are praying morning, day and night for you.

Mother to 3 SJS students

My response to Rev. Ferguson: Reverend Ferguson, This email is in response to the letter you sent to the Saint Joseph School (SJS) Community on February 26, 2018. In your letter, you indicated that the Diocese has received numerous correspondence from concerned parents since Fr. Tom Bourque’s (Fr. Tom) untimely decision on February 12 to pursue a different Catholic leadership model for SJS. One such piece of correspondence was addressed to Mrs. Jennifer Bigelow, Ed.D, and contained the concerns of several SJS parents. The Office of Catholic Schools confirmed receipt of this letter on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 1:04 PM. It should be noted that to date, Fr. Tom has provided no clarity or context regarding his vision for SJS, and has ignored all requests for meetings with concerned parents and school organizations. In your letter, you stated that due to the nature of some of the concerns and accusations the Diocese has received, the Diocesan Office of Human Resources “thoroughly examined” the issues raised in accordance with office policies, and interviewed numerous members of the school and parish staffs. This examination, by your estimation, did not find evidence to substantiate the allegations made by some within our community. For purposes of this communication, I can only speak to the issues raised in the letter submitted to Mrs. Bigelow. That letter did not contain accusations or allegations; rather, it clearly and concisely detailed legitimate concerns with regard to: (1) communications to the SJS Community; (2) the character, commitment, qualifications, and suitability of Fr. Tom to oversee SJS; and, (3) the safety and well-being of SJS students. The letter also respectfully requested clarification and transparency in several key areas. The concerns and requests contained in the letter to Mrs. Bigelow are serious and deserve a professional response. To the contrary, your letter was condescending and dismissive. It also failed remarkably t

8 years ago Featured

Current member of SjS - afraid of retaliatory actions against me if I give my name.

I must confess to being uncomfortable relying upon hearsay and second/thirdhand information to determine what happened here. I would love to hear Father Tom’s account of the situation. But since Father Tom has not provided his version of these unusual events nor an explanation for his surprising actions in any detailed or meaningful way, I’m left to draw my own conclusion. Based on the irrefutable evidence that Father Tom has no interaction with the school, the students, or any of the activities that previous pastors routinely attended, I find it reasonable to conclude he is, at best, disinterested in the school. At worst, he is openly hostile to it. In either case, this is not a healthy situation for the students. The school should be the focal point and centerpiece of the parish. It is the unique value that St. Joseph’s Parish has to offer that the many surrounding parishes without schools cannot provide. It should be led by a pastor who actually values a school and wants to lead it. Perhaps Father Tom would be a wonderful pastor and administrator at parish with no school. But it is clear he is not the right person to lead a parish school. As for the recently response from the Vicar General on the investigation of a hostile workplace, I think it’s fair to point out the dubious record the Catholic Church hierarchy has when it comes to investigatory matters. Simply put, the church has not earned the benefit of my doubt. And in concluding this investigation so quickly with such convenient results while providing no transparency in the process or “showing their work” in how these conclusions were drawn, my skepticism has certainly not been allayed. As a longtime parishioner and an SJS parent, I find it clear that the St Joseph’s community would best be served by a new pastor who values and cherishes the unique opportunities of leading a parish school. Sincerely, Leonard Giuliano

8 years ago Featured

In fear of retribution I can't use my real name. However, I firmly believe Fr. Tom is misusing his power as pastor. His own insecurities and instability have now ruined the lives of three incredible administrators.

8 years ago Featured

Dave, Thank you for your comments. Would you allow me to share your letter with others? - Amy

I sent this email over the week, hopefully it will be acknowledged. Dear Most Reverend Burbidge, Ms. Bigelow and Father Davis, as the father of two SJS graduates, grand father of three current students and, most importantly, husband of an amazing woman who has dedicated almost three decades to catholic education in the Archdiocese of Arlington, almost two decades of which were/are at St. Joseph's. My wife has been described as "the heartbeat that made O'Connell tick" during her years there and "the face of St. Joseph's". Her Irish sense of humor, warm personality and devotion to SJS has led to, literally, hundreds of students enrolling at SJS. I can personally count dozens of parents who told me that their kids are in SJS because of her. She does all the tours and is, as described, the face of St. Joseph's. She went through the disastrous last few years of the Cargill administration where her life was threatened by the former principal's husband and the school literally went on a down hill slide. Then Cindy Conroy arrives and, with the help of a great administration and teaching staff SJS was finally back in good, faith filled hands. You only have to walk into the lobby to feel God and the love in the school. The past few months have been a nightmare. I have to console my wife almost every night after she comes home in tears after an hour and a half round trip having been abused, demoralized, demeaned and put down. She only keeps going because of her love for SJS, her support of Cindy and her unyielding passion for the children. During that time, she was moved from her office by Father Tom and put at a desk which is basically in a hallway. Father Tom has shouted at her, ignored her and, basically made her feel worthless. One thing you probably have not heard is that Father Tom has instructed the parish office staff to not help at the school window if needed even thought a large percentage of the traffic is on church business. There have been days when my w

8 years ago Featured

Fr. Tom has failed the SJS school community in multiple ways. There is no turning back. He needs to be removed.