Catholic Schools from the Diocese of Little participated in a “Pennies for St. Peter” service project collecting $8,995 to assist with keeping the school open through May 2012.
Catholic School Superintendent Vernell Bowen presented St. Peter Catholic Church’s pastor, Father Anil Thomas, with a document following Mass on Jan. 31 recognizing the Catholic schools’ contributions.
When the principals in Catholic schools heard that St. Peter School would close in December 2011 if the school could not collect $175,000 in seven days, a drive to collect pennies was suggested by Kimberlee Felix, principal of St. Joseph Catholic School in Paris, Ark.
Bowen invited all Catholic schools in Arkansas to participate in this proposal as a service project. Sixteen of the thirty-one schools participated.
This service project coincided with the celebration of National Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 4. The theme was Catholic Schools: Faith, Academics and Service. Students in Catholic schools are taught that service is giving of one’ s time and effort to help others as an expression of faith and good citizenship.
The Catholic schools of Arkansas, the parishioners of St. Peter Catholic Church and the generous people of the Pine Bluff community have contributed more than $170,000 since Thomas issued his Seven-Seven-Seven challenge in November. These contributions ensure that the school will remain open through May 2012.
Parents have been asked to enroll children by March 1 so a decision can be made for next school year. Thomas has set an enrollment goal of 100 students in order for the school to be viable and to open for 2012-13.