St. Alexander's in Villa Park to close despite enrollment push

VILLA PARK – St. Alexander Catholic School in Villa Park will close its doors at the end of this school year, leaving parishioners, faculty and families only until May 29 to say their final goodbyes to the nearly 90-year-old community landmark.

"It's a very concerning time," said Edward Flavin, director of communications for the Diocese of Joliet.

The school previously faced a possible closure due to low enrollment five years ago but was able to stay open through the community’s fundraising efforts.

However, despite the school and parish's efforts to increase enrollment in the last few years, the school's numbers have fallen short, Flavin said.

Prior to the announcement to close, 87 students were registered to attend St. Alexander's next year, but the school needed a minimum of 113 students to stay open, he said. At the end of this school year, the school had 103 students.

"For the last six years, the enrollment goal has been 200 students, and the school has never had at any point more than 130 students in the last six years," Flavin said.

Rev. Mark Cote, pastor of St. Alexander Catholic Church, made the final decision May 23 and announced the closing during the weekend's Masses, Flavin said.

"It was disappointing," said John Barrett, a father of three students at St. Alexander's. "It's a school my wife and I felt good about sending our children to."

Barrett is just one of many parents who are looking to continue their children's Catholic school education elsewhere.

Flavin said he and Rev. John Belmonte, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Joliet, are aware of the sudden loss families are facing, and they will work with them to find placement in other Catholic schools.

Barrett said he is planning to send his children to St. Pius X Parish School in Lombard next fall.

Marty Brown, a father of two former students at St. Alexander's, compared the school's closing to experiencing a death in the family. Brown, who spoke at a May 19 rally held by the St. Alexander's community to show support for the school, said the rally felt like a family gathering and a vigil for a loved one.

"You just have to be present. You just have to be there," he said.

To begin the healing process, parishioners and families asked to walk through the school's hallways one last time May 28.

Other end-of-year plans include a final school Mass, awards ceremony for students and a school dance May 29, Brown said.

He said the dance is the community's way to try and rejoice in this time of sadness.

"It won't get better, but it will get easier," he said.

School Principal Glenn Purpura and Cote declined to comment.