South Philly Review

To the Editor:

You never appreciate what you have until it’s gone. We have all heard this saying and have all experienced the feeling. The latest rumor that a historical landmark in South Philadelphia, Stella Maris School, will be closing this year is a sign of the times and the decline of God in people’s lives.

My wife and I were two of the original children to attend this great school when it was built in the 1950s and followed that by sending our three children there, as well. Of course, when we attended it was for free because of the amount of nuns that taught and the amount of practicing Catholics in the parish that contributed to the collection.

Now we have about 30 percent who attend Mass and a low student enrollment. Always increasing the tuition is not the answer because it drives poorer families away. The pastor is caught between a rock and a hard place. He needs more money as costs for everything continue to rise. Where are the people who attend Mass at Christmas and Easter? Imagine if they showed up every week; this school would not be closing if they did. These very same people get upset when they need a funeral or a wedding Mass and the pastor is not too obliging because he never sees them at Mass and they seldom contribute. Then they get upset when he charges them for such a Mass. He’s obligated to them, but they’re not obligated to him.

Another factor regarding the low enrollment in the school is the parish has not had an infusion of young couples staying in the area. I can’t say I blame them because the area is not what it used to be. Just walk around some of the streets and you’ll see what I mean.

Our taxes go to the public schools that would not be able to function if it weren’t for the Catholic schools. Imagine what would happen if they all closed. Where would these children go? How about South Philadelphia High? That’s a wonderful school if you like going through metal detectors every day. If you watch television and the news today, you’ll see this is exactly what our society wants.

God is out and everything else is in. This nation was founded on Christian principles where people were proud to boast of their religion and have it as part of their education. We have allowed our society to change as, over the years, liberal groups have infiltrated our traditions and made everything politically correct.

Catholic schools stand for all of the right things in this world and to see them close one by one is a travesty. I hope people come forth to save this historical site or will it become another empty building to remind us of a decaying time.

We won’t know how much we miss it until it’s gone. The neighborhood will never be the same. God bless Stella Maris.

Johnny be good

To the Editor:

During this winter for the ages, it’s easy to lose your temper with neighbors. There are those who don’t shovel their sidewalk; those who put chairs in the street to save parking spots; and those who let you shovel out a spot and then use it as their own. Yes, there are plenty opportunities to talk about neighbors, but sometimes there are too few opportunities to recognize a good one. The 2300 block of South 11th Street has a great one who needs to be recognized. His name is Johnny Johnson.

John is your basic good Samaritan. Although probably going on 65 with some health issues of his own, John has been the first out on the street after each of the snowstorms to shovel in front of his house and all the homes on his side of the street. He has often gone out of his way to assist me with such things as carrying groceries or putting out trash cans.

I’ve witnessed him assisting other neighbors with everything from snow removal off their awnings to digging out their cars. Other times, I’ve watched him clean the sidewalk, the streets and even clear a path to the sewers to keep our block looking good.

If I even try to help him, his wife, Margie, will tell me, “Pete, go inside. John will take care of it!” And, he does. Every time.

If the Review had a category for “Best Neighbor” in their annual “Best of” issue, Johnny Johnson would get my vote.