WALKERTON — Bishop John M. D’Arcy announced last weekend to parishioners and staff at St. Patrick Parish, Walkerton, that next fall, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will merge St. Patrick School with St. Michael School, Plymouth.
In making the decision, D’Arcy said, “We have kept St. Patrick School going as long as possible, but it is no longer educationally viable. We need always to do what is best for our students.”
In March 2005, D’Arcy shared with St. Patrick parishioners a decision he had made after extensive consultation that the parish school would close at the end of the 2005 school year.

The following June, however, D’Arcy announced to parishioners that due to the efforts by members of the parish to reach part of the goals which the diocese set out for them — so St. Patrick’s could be sound both financially and educationally — the school would remain open for three more years.
“As you know, I have been very patient on this matter,” D’Arcy told parishioners, “and three years ago a number of people at St. Patrick urged that the school be continued. I accepted this under certain conditions and agreed that we would continue for three years. One of the conditions was that we have an enrollment of 55 students from Kindergarten through sixth grade. We never attained that. At the last open house on April 1, no one came. At that time there were only 28 students pre-registered. This has now risen to 40 students. Therefore, I have concluded that it is best for the students if we place as many as we can in St. Michael School, Plymouth. Simply put, they will get a much better education in that school. We have kept St. Patrick School going as long as possible, but it is no longer educationally viable. We need always to do what is best for our students.”
D’Arcy said he had met at length with his education advisors on the matter — namely Fr. Stephen Kempinger, CSC, superintendent of schools; Mary Ann Bachman, associate superintendent for the South Bend area; and Trudy Nawara, principal of St. Michael School, Plymouth, who also has been serving as acting principal at St. Patrick School.
The diocese plans to attempt to place all the students at St. Michael School, which has a current enrollment of 182 students in grades K-8,
St. Michael is not at capacity and is expected to be able to include the St. Patrick School children.
D’Arcy said, “I also wish to make clear it is the policy of the diocese that all former teaching staff that is from a school experiencing this type of change will be given first priority in interviewing for any openings in any diocesan school. According to those polices, we do not tell the parishes whom they must hire but we do indicate they must interview all teachers who come from schools that have been closed.”
D’Arcy made the following additional points in his announcement:
• In the past 13 years, St. Patrick School has had a drop in enrollment to as low as 39 students this year from a high of 68 students 11 years ago. In addition, religious education classes for students not attending a diocesan Catholic school has seen a decline in enrollment to 50 students this year from a high of 73 students 11 years ago.
• Because St. Patrick is a relatively small parish of 312 families, the cost per pupil is very high. During the current academic year, it amounts to $6,500, while the average cost per pupil throughout the diocese is $4,038.
“Finally, I wish to make clear that St. Patrick Parish is not closing,” D’Arcy said. “I am meeting currently with our Priest Personnel Board. It is my hope and intention that when we make our full assignments in June, we will be able to place a fulltime pastor at St. Patrick. Our present shortage is severe; but, to repeat, it is my intention to see that a fulltime priest is present in Walkerton no later than early July.”
He explained that he is very  grateful to Fr. William Kummer, pastor of St. Michael Parish, Plymouth, for his presence in the parish and for continuing to act as administrator.
“I am also grateful to Fr. Edward Fernando who has continued to provide weekend Mass and who has been present from Wednesday through Sunday at the parish. And more recently, Fr. J. Steele, CSC, has been present and will be present for the next few months so that the Eucharist is celebrated on weekends and also during the week. I know many in the parish will greet the decision to close and merge the school with sadness. Others will welcome it. And I know before the good Lord that I believe I have done the right thing,” D’Arcy concluded.