Last week, the Buffalo Diocese announced they would be identifying options for potential mergers of schools and parishes due to the financial challenges that the COVID-19 Pandemic has caused. The Diocese says there has been a sharp decrease in parish revenues, as well as an anticipated decrease in donations to the annual “Fund for the Faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a press release, The Diocese says that it will not be in a position to continue the subsidy provided to Catholic schools given the current environment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notre Dame High School will not be affected by the lack of subsidies or the potential mergers of catholic schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1992, Notre Dame High School ceased being a diocesan school and became an independent high school according Wade Bianco, Notre Dame Principal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2017, Notre Dame has receive no subsidy dollars from the Diocese of Buffalo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Thanks to our current families, generous alumni and supporters, as well as an aggressive “Faith in The Future” Capital Campaign initiative which generated over $4.5 million for our school, we have the capacity to provide our students with a comprehensive educational program in a totally renovated, state of the art facility,” says Bianco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for our students and staff. As part of this campaign, the Notre Dame High School Endowment has been created, securing the long term viability of our school.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The independent Catholic school has a base of alumni and friends who continually support the school on a yearly basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Notre Dame is strongly positioned to maintain its’ vibrancy for years\u00a0to come thanks to our long range fiscal planning, enhanced strategies specific to marketing and enrollment management.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bianco says the school continues to pride itself on being a small school with large school opportunities including an athletic program that has won 87 Section V Championships, an award winning fine arts program, and a business program that regularly has students advance to the national finals of the DECA competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We continue to provide multiple academic scholarships, and aggressive financial aid packages that make the Notre Dame experience affordable to all that wish to attend from the 21 school districts we currently draw students from. Almost the entirety of our diverse student population continues on to college and a typical senior class generates $4.6 million in college scholarships.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Diocese says it will assess the implications of the issue and will work collaboratively in developing options that will enable the continuation of Catholic education across Western New York. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According the press release, the Buffalo Diocese is home to approximately 571,000 Catholics, spanning almost 6,500 square miles and includes eight counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are 161 parishes, 49 Catholic schools, over 360 priests, 546 women religious; 129 permanent deacons;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Last week, the Buffalo Diocese announced they would be identifying options for potential mergers of schools and parishes due to the financial challenges that the COVID-19 Pandemic has caused. The Diocese says there has been a sharp decrease in parish revenues, as well as an anticipated decrease in donations to \u2026<\/p>\n