This school closing is a terrible blow to Lawrenceville

Another Catholic school closing, another family in tears -- this time it's Dawn Narr and her 10-year-old daughter, Bailey, of Lawrenceville ("School Vigil," June 11 photo). They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but only one word could describe this picture -- touching. With rosary beads in her hand, a mother comforts her daughter over the closing of her school.

The Catholic faithful of Lawrenceville have taken many hits recently with the closing of three churches, and now they have taken the hardest hit of all: the closing of St. John Neumann, the last Catholic school in Lawrenceville. With the closing of its doors, it will put an end to Catholic education in the neighborhood.

My questions are these: How can inner-city neighborhoods survive with the closing of church after church and school after school? How many good young families will move and how many young families considering moving in will do so now that there is no neighborhood Catholic school? It is something that the Diocese of Pittsburgh should think about.

June 11 was a very bad day for Lawrenceville. After more than 125 years of Catholic education, the last bell was rung, the last page of a book was turned, the last laughter of a little child was heard, the last prayer said.

To Dawn and Bailey Narr, if it is any consolation, many people and the good young families of Lawrenceville are shedding tears right along with you, for it is truly a very sad time indeed in the history of Lawrenceville.

LARRY POLLOCK
Lawrenceville