I firmly believe in sending my kids to Catholic school (despite being able to write a novel on all the neuroses I developed being a poor kid in a wealthy school). This belief is reinforced on a daily basis by teaching in the public school system. I promise not to rant right now about public schools. We've been going to St. Benedict since moving to Seattle. It's a nice little community and the priest has a soul patch. My sister, Sally, and I did some parish shopping before settling on St. Ben. However, I have had a nagging feeling from the beginning that the school is not as strong as I would like it to be. I don't have any concrete proof. It's more of a gut thing followed by not being overly impressed by an open house I attended.
Enter St. John. St. John is in walking distance to my house. It is a larger parish with a larger school, meaning more resources. Looking at the website alone and ignoring all mission statements, you can tell that this is a good school that has its act together. Word around the neighborhood is that it is hard to get into the school. I talked to someone in the school office and she basically said: yes it is hard to get into but if you join the parish immediately you can probably get into the kindergarten and have a good shot at the preschool.
So here I am trying to make huge life decisions for Linus when he isn't quite 2.5 years old. I almost feel like one of those crazy Manhattan parents who need to get their kid into a top preschool. The parish registration came in the mail today. I am wracked with guilt over leaving St. Ben's, but deep down I know that by choosing St. Johns, I am choosing a stronger education. St. John has a different priest since I did my parish shopping. I like the new priest. He seems very sincere and gives interesting and relevant homilies. Dave will support whatever I choose. He humors my Catholicism.
I am giving myself the rest of the week to think about it.
I remember the families that were "in parish" for St. Charles but actually attended mass every week at St. Leo's. If joining St. John's now will help Linus get the education you want, I think you should do it and not feel guilty. You might discover you actually like it, especially with the new priest. You can always go to mass at St. Ben's when you feel like it. I know part of it is where you are choosing to throw your monetary support, and wanting to be ethical about it. But unless they give you a hard time about the tuition exemption, it's nobody's business but yours.
ReplyDeleteI think you should follow your gut, even if that means making a change.
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