Catholic school blessed with many successes Art class at OLOL

COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has earned an outstanding reputation for producing quality, respectful, family- and community-oriented students by providing a strong academic curriculum.

The small parochial school in the Edgewood district of Coal Township has generated thousands of graduates who have become very successful in numerous professions and continues to stress the importance of morals, discipline and religion affiliated with a Catholic-based education.

Lourdes, which has always possessed a "family" atmosphere, also is well-known for attaining great success in its sports programs over the years, particularly in boys and girls basketball, which have captured numerous District IV championships and won PIAA Class "A" state titles in 1990 and 1994, respectively.

Although the school has changed in various ways in 50 years, its mission and spirit have remained the same. Lourdes has been a constant in the local community, despite challenges parochial schools face today due to a significant decline in population and increased financial responsibilities.

The most recent significant change occurred in 2006, when Lourdes became a regional K-12 educational facility, with the facility's name being changed to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School. Queen of Peace Grade School was incorporated into the high school building in the 2006-07 school year, while Holy Spirit School in Mount Carmel became part of the building consolidation the following year.

The change was primarily made to keep all Catholic school students in this area of the Diocese of Harrisburg housed in one facility, and to make better use of the high school, which has experienced an alarming decline in population since reaching a peak of more than 800 students in the early 1970s.

Currently, enrollment at the high school, which includes students in eighth through 12th grades, is 176 (85 boys and 91 girls). Elementary school enrollment, which includes students in pre-kindergarten through seventh grade, is 251 (128 boys and 123 girls). While the high school numbers continue to pose a serious challenge, elementary enrollment has increased from 188 to 251 since the consolidation three years ago.

Sister Margaret McCullough, who is in her second year as school administrator after previously serving as elementary school principal at Lourdes and Queen of Peace Grade School, realizes the challenges she faces in maintaining the high school, but remains optimistic that the high school will remain open for many years.

"Our predecessors of St. Edward, Shamokin Central Catholic and Mount Carmel Catholic high schools laid the foundation for the spirit of Catholic education that lives on in us at Lourdes," McCullough said. "I am actually very proud of our overall enrollment of 427 students, considering the small area we live in that serves Catholic education. It's a credit not only to the parents who make sacrifices to send their kids to Lourdes, but also grandparents and other family members who support Catholic education, many of whom are alumni of Lourdes or its predecessors. They are truly part of our extended family at Lourdes."

McCullough added, "The feeder schools in our area started to die out when parishes were forced to close their own schools, and in 1995 when parishes were merged in the coal region. Lourdes has become a bigger expense to parishes over the years. Demographics and a struggling economy in our area also have contributed greatly to the significant enrollment decrease at the high school.

"But I am optimistic about the future of Catholic education in our area." she said.

"We need more outside funding from our alumni and we plan to mount an aggressive fund-raising effort to combat the financial challenges we are facing. The expenses are difficult because we are drawing from a limited number of people. I'm sure more people want to come to Lourdes, but can't afford it,"McCullough said.

In addition to Sister Margaret, the high school employs 18 full-time and two part-time faculty, while the elementary school employs 13 full-time and six part-time teachers in addition to two full-time aides.

The school employs a total of 16 office staff members, cafeteria workers and maintenance personnel.

There are four Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit teachers assigned to the school and one Title I instructor.

Sports programs offered at the school include 7th and 8th boys and girls basketball, boys and girls high school soccer, boys and girls high school basketball, football, golf, volleyball, softball, baseball and cheerleading.

The school also has a cooperative agreement with Mount Carmel Area School District for cross country, wrestling, swimming and track.

Attorney Francis Bach of Mount Carmel, who serves as president of the Board of Education at Lourdes, is very proud of the Catholic education he and many members of his family have received over the years.

Bach, a 1965 graduate of Mount Carmel Catholic High School who played sports at Lourdes during his senior year, stated, "The quality of education Lourdes' students receive is outstanding. The faculty and administration have always had a strong commitment to preparing students well for college and life in general. The faculty is very caring and giving, and always make themselves available to help students in need. The volunteers and friends of Lourdes also have contributed heavily to the success the school has experienced over the years. And the coaches are very dedicated and stress the importance of character in their teams, many of which have won championships."

Bach and his wife, Mary, have four children who are all Lourdes' graduates - Attorney Jonathan Bach (1991), Attorney Mary Stacey Bach (1993), math teacher Beth Anne (Bach) Snyder (1997) and Jeanne Marie (Bach) Looby (2001), who is an account manager for the American Red Cross.

"My four children all went on to Catholic universities after graduating from Lourdes, where they received a quality education that helped them make a smooth transition from high school to college. Because of the education they received at Lourdes, they weren't intimidated by the academics on the college level."

Bach, who has been a member of the board of education for more than 20 years, said the feedback he has received from people in various professions including lawyers, doctors and college professors, has always been positive regarding Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School.

He said alumni at Lourdes always recall the "family atmosphere" they experienced during their high school years and still feel part of the Lourdes' family today.

Bach said he has always subscribed to the idea that parochial schools provide quality, Catholic and affordable education.

The attorney, who also serves on the Diocesan Board of Education in Harrisburg, quickly dispelled rumors circulating that Lourdes plans to close in the next few years.

"Lourdes has been consistently providing a quality education for 50 years and will continue to do so for many more years in my opinion," he said. "The school is very viable, healthy and alive, and I expect it to be around for many years."

Bach also talked about how generous people have been to Lourdes in establishing endowments, scholarships and memorials, which reflect their love for the school and Catholic education. "People continue to keep Lourdes in their prayers and through their day-to-day giving," he said. Bach, who is one of 11 children, described Lourdes as a "multi-faced diamond" that has many people making it shine.

Bach said his entire family are firm believers in Catholic education. He has had relatives attending Catholic school since 1935.

Bach, who is a former public school teacher, is in private practice after retiring as an attorney for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

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