Save Great Falls Catholic Schools

A Catholic high school that is less than 25% Catholics and a financial drain on this dioceses.

I’m wondering who came up with this. I feel like it’s ramming an idea down the throats of parents and members of the Catholic community of the already established schools.

No information to the people, who would be expected to support this! Not happy to lose my high school & all those memories to “a dog, blue & green colors & not even the word Catholic in the name of this school”!

I hope the family’s and organizations that so generously created endowments for the individual schools pull them immediately. They weren’t intended for St. Patrick’s Academy

If these schools involve Catholic education, why was the Catholic community as a whole not involved with the process? One person making this decision is wrong.

OLL class of 93. Do not approve

I'm proud that I was raised through our Lady of Lourdes and very grateful for my parents, alumni also, to allow me the chance to say I'm not in any agreement with the Bishop. We as a parish poured out hearts and souls in this Catholic Church. To not even speak about this with all the parishes members/supporters stripes me of what I learned from Our Lady of Lourdes. The chance for a child denied from an education there because of tuition increase sickens me. Don't take these rights away from the youth, elderly, and public. Think of how many people would and could be helped without this unnecessary merge. In so many ways this is wrong. So Bishop, listen to your society, listen to God and reconside.

I don’t like the new name

Please hear us

Thank you for sharing your perspective. Many in the community feel the same—wanting greater transparency, communication, and a voice in decisions that deeply affect our schools. Speaking up is an important step toward meaningful change.

Thank you for supporting this petition. Throughout this experience, I’ve come to realize that many others are also unhappy with the changes but are hesitant to speak out. I believe there are many more who feel the same but don’t have a way to voice their concerns. While I’m not sure about holding a referendum, this petition is meant to show the bishop that the community cares deeply about our schools, wants to preserve what we have, and feels that communication has been lacking. Please continue sharing this petition.

You’re not alone, Mike. While I understand that these are private schools and have the legal right to make their own decisions, those actions still carry consequences—mainly they’ve led to fear and uncertainty.

Rapid and radical changes, especially when paired with limited information and communication, naturally lead to fear. There have been claims that Lourdes and Central are operating at a loss, yet this has not been formally communicated, nor has a detailed plan for moving forward been shared. We are simply requesting more time to allow for transparency and open dialogue.

Your insight is appreciated. Thank you.

I agree. More information is needed from the schools. Unfortunately the information presented has not been well calculated, minimal and last minute, leaving many fearing the unknown.

More information is needed.

I am concerned about the ability of the lower middle class being able to afford the new system. Even greater concern about the poorest within our communities. What if anything is being planned so these are able to secure a usable education or are they just considered collateral damage and ignored

I will no longer make donations to the Catholic Schools without having a voice in it’s decisions.

We need to hold a referendum on how the parishioners view this idea.

All parents are the whole educators of their children; which includes their choice to send a child or children to a private school. For many it is not easy for a family to make this commitment yearly. Many of the children have grown together as classmates and friends. They have a unique identity which becomes a part of our children. To change or ratify this unique identity is more being a Catholic. It is belonging to ones heritage and history which cannot be simply forgotten. Our Lady of Lourdes is because of faith and the determination to encourage our children and families always at OLL.