Parochial Schools

I read with interest both Rick's post on the demise of parochial schools and the article in today's times to which it refers.

I can't speak for other urban areas, but as a product of a Brooklyn parish and its parochial school, I can say there is much truth in the observation that parishes were something like "mini-states," that, as Rick expresses it, were often more important to urban geography, and to city-dwellers' identity, than the conventional markers and boundaries."  Virtually everything in our lives revolved around the parish.  Not only were we educated in the parochial grade school, but all of our activities - scouts, sports, Great Books Club, etc. were run by the parish, as was a teen youth center and various other activities for adults, teens and children.  The priests and nuns were constant presences in the streets of the neighborhoods or in our homes for meals or coffee.  As a result, our faith was not just something we learned in our religion classes or in church, it was in the air we breathed.

When asked where I grew up in Brooklyn, I'm still as likely as not to respond by saying: "Sts. Simon and Jude."  (Amusingly...although perhaps only to me....as the child of a NYC police officer, the other way I typically identify Brooklyn neighborhoods is by precinct number.)

For all the complaints I've made over the years about various aspects of Catholic school education, I think something is lost with the closing of so many parochial schools.  But I think perhaps more may have been lost with the demise of the parish as a central part of the lives of parishioners.

Susan