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Photo by John Soltes
Vincent Marasciulo protests outside Assumption School in Wood-Ridge Friday, March 26.
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By John Soltes / Editor in Chief
WOOD-RIDGE (March 26, 2010, 9:30 a.m.) — Hundreds of protesters, including many parents, students and alumni of Our Lady of the Assumption School in Wood-Ridge, turned out to voice their opinion about the Archdiocese of Newark's decision to close the educational facility in June. The protesters led a march through the local streets of the borough and held a rally in the school's parking lot.
"We were absolutely blindsided," said Sue Dressel, a mother of an Assumption student. "We're going to fight it."
There was much crying and consoling on the sidewalks. Alexa Scaravilli and Gianna and Vincent Marasciulo hoisted signs that read, "Save Our School."
The Rev. Brian P. Cullinane, O.F.M., pastor of Assumption, spoke before the crowd of angered parents and children. In an earlier interview with The Leader, Cullinane said he was similarly blindsided by the news from the Archdiocese.
"The school is a vital part of our Assumption community," he said in a phone interview. "To lose the parents and children ... they give life to the parish."
Cullinane said there were some discussions about the future possibilities for Assumption and three other area schools (St. Joseph School in East Rutherford, the Academy at St. Mary in Rutherford and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Wallington). At just about the same time Assumption heard the news of its pending closing, St. Joseph received notice that it too would be closing in June.
Jim Goodness, a spokesperson for the Archdiocese, said the reason for the decision to close the schools was because of decreased enrollment and increased costs.
But Cullinane said Assumption School is not subsidized by the
Archdiocese. It receives its funding from tuition, alumni donations and
the collection from the church's parishioners. "Plus the Parents Guild
raises $90,000 per year," the pastor added.
Assumption currently has an enrollment of 185 students, from pre-K3
to eighth grade. Both Assumption and St. Joseph are Franciscan parish
communities, a special order in the Roman Catholic Church.
Several parents expressed their interest in moving their children to Corpus Christi School in Hasbrouck Heights, if Assumption's fight to stay open proved unsuccessful. But, Cullinane said he wasn't sure if that was a viable solution. "I think Corpus Christi is pretty much filled," he said.
"I am heartbroken," he added. "I truly believe in Catholic education."
