South Philly Review

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To the Editor:

I am a longtime parishioner of Stella Maris, as well as an alumni of the school. I am angry and heartbroken at the closing of our school, however, today I have reached my limit.

I was reading the article online that was published last week (“Parting ways,” April 22) and came across a comment by a person who refused to list their real name and went on to make libelous statements against Principal Sister Lawrence Elizabeth. This person accused her of discrimination, and worse yet, of stealing money to benefit herself. I am appalled at the audacity of this person. I worked with Sister Lawrence for many years in many capacities and never have I seen anything but love and dedication from this woman; not only for the school, but for every child in it.

One of my roles was treasurer of the Home and School Association and I will tell you that she spent every penny that was raised to better the school. She installed fans in the classrooms, purchased new desks and chairs, installed science and computer labs just to name a few. Beyond that she attended every function and knew every child. It was once a joke that the children loved to be sent to the principal’s office because she would give them candy.

She is a warm and loving person who has put her heart and soul into the parish. It has been a pleasure and an honor to know her and to work with her. She is a true Christian. As a parent, I would like to thank her for all she has done over the years and for taking such good care of our children.

Jacquie Graham Swanson
Class of 1978
South Philadelphia

To the Editor:

I’m the one who “drank the Kool-Aid.” Let me explain.

Some traits of human nature cannot be denied. Accepting responsibility is difficult. We often live in denial and we need someone to blame.

Responsibility: It has been five years since there was sufficient registration at Stella Maris to warrant a second class for any grade. Children don’t enroll themselves into school, so who chooses to enroll them in a public or charter school year after year? Did we decide not to raise our children as Catholics? Is it the tuition? If Church and collection baskets are empty and tuition is subsidized by the church, wouldn’t the amount the church has to subsidize increase?

Denial: Catholic schools across the nation have been in crisis. Catholic schools are primarily funded by Catholics through their churches. We don’t like going to church, we don’t like tuition increases and we definitely don’t like being asked for money. Remember Monsignor Connelly and Monsignor McLoughlin asking for money? When casino nights, bingo and spaghetti dinners for $10 a head were packed, the pews remained empty on Sundays and we continued to pull our children out of Stella Maris year after year.

Blame: Father DiMaria is to blame for telling us his main purpose as our pastor was to guide us to Jesus Christ; for calling a meeting of school parents two years ago to explain the history of Catholic education and its dependence on the overall health of our dedication to our church (amid disrespect and ignorance that was absolutely astounding); for offering us a win-win way of raising school funds (SCRIPS); and he is definitely to blame for rebuking what the majority of us had been thinking for years: “Catholic schools are not here as a safe alternative to public schools.”

But what do I know? I’m the one who “drank the Kool-Aid.” Remember Jim Jones? The preacher who staged a mass suicide with his followers by having them drink fatal poison mixed with Kool-Aid? While recently sharing with someone how I saw Stella Maris’s closing as an unavoidable conclusion to years of struggle in a much broader picture, I was told: “You drank the Kool-Aid.” I’ve also been told I’m lucky that my son is graduating this year, so it doesn’t affect me. Now, who’s drinking Kool-Aid? This affects our neighborhoods, communities, families, faith — our future.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link; we’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. If we call ourselves Catholics, we should know that no pastor single-handedly controls anything. Yes, God is in our hearts. What are we doing to uphold that relationship. Pass the Kool-Aid.

D. Di Pasquale
South Philadelphlia

Escalating expenses

To the Editor:

I, honest to God, cannot get or understand the minds of those who dream up — and even worse implement — the horrendous and crippling idea to raise prices and costs on just about everything. If nothing else, don’t these people read newspapers? Do they not go shopping? Have they not been putting gas in their cars and not feeling the shock of the unceasingly and ever-so-obvious-to-anyone-with-even-half-a-damned-brain that we are in a ruinous, budget-busting resession?