Church Closings

SS Peter and Paul School is closing because of declining enrollment

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

PLAINS TWP. – After 110 years of educating and instilling the Catholic faith in students, SS Peter and Paul School is closing its doors next week.

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SS Peter and Paul School student choir members sing during the last children’s liturgy Friday morning.

S. John Wilkin/The Times Leader

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SS Peter & Paul School students pray during the last children liturgy Friday morning in Plains.S.John Wilkin/The Times Leader

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Teachers, administrative staff and students couldn’t hold back their tears during the final student liturgy Friday morning in the SS Peter and Paul Church as they said goodbye to their school “family.”

“The closeness here is unbelievable. The faculty, the parents, the students – everyone works together. We are all very close-knit,” Principal Lucille Procopio said as she fought back tears while describing what the school and church mean to her.

Five of the school’s eighth-graders have walked the halls of Peter and Paul since pre-kindergarten. Students said they are grateful for the friendships and memories they’ve formed over the years.

“Our school was like a big family and everyone knew everybody,” eighth-grader Kaitlyn Donnelly said. Classmate Mary Kolojejchick added that everyone bonded as friends because the school was so small.

The Rev. Joseph Greskiewicz acknowledged this was a rough time, but reminded everyone that change happens for a reason.

“Whatever God has in store for us will be better. Everything has a time and a purpose,” he said. He encouraged people to cling to Jesus because Jesus “is one rock that doesn’t change.”

SS Peter and Paul School, a member of the Holy Redeemer System of Catholic Schools, is being closed because of declining enrollment, according to a press release from the Scranton Diocese.

The school, founded in 1899, once boasted an enrollment of 516 students with 14 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. The school now has 138 students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight, Greskiewicz said.

For his 19 years of dedicated service to the parish and school, Greskiewicz was presented by staff and students with the school’s large hand bell that started and ended each class day.

Procopio received a bouquet of flowers and an album filled with pictures spanning her last 12 years at the school

Other awards of appreciation were presented to the school’s teachers, administrative assistant and Procopio.

Teachers are awaiting notification of which schools they will be reassigned to.

Although children may no longer walk the halls after next week, the building will continue to educate as the parish plans to hold adult education classes there, Greskiewicz said.

Alumni, friends, staff and students are welcomed to attend the school’s closing Mass at 6 p.m. Friday at SS Peter and Paul Church. A social reception will follow in the social hall.

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Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.