Greenwood parish begins initial preparations for new school

By Brandon A. Evans

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein has approved plans for SS. Francis and Clare Parish in Greenwood to begin raising funds in the hope of building a grade school.

The plans, discussed for months in the parish and formed by a survey of parishioners, were recently approved by both Father Vincent Lampert, pastor, and the archbishop.

The parish, which contains about 850 families, has been growing each month by about 12 to 15 families—since July 2003, the parish has added ­
225 families.

The growth is consistent with the surrounding area. About 7,000 new homes are scheduled to be built in White River Township in the next five years, and 2,000 of them are within one mile of the parish grounds, Father Lampert said.

Currently, he added, there are between 500 and 600 children in the parish who would fit the age bracket for an elementary school.

Robert Richardson, chairman of the school feasibility committee and now of the school commission, shared the results of a survey that was sent to every parish household.

Of the 35 percent of families who responded, more than half agreed that a school ministry at SS. Francis and Clare Parish was needed, while about one-fourth disagreed.

Nearly half of those surveyed also said that they would increase their tithing to support a school, and fully two-thirds said that they would participate in a capital campaign for the school.

The results of the survey were shared with the parish during open meetings in April.

Plans for such a campaign are now in the works, Richardson said, and will be ready by this fall.

The desire for a school has been evident in the parish for a long time, Richardson said. It was Father Lampert who decided that it was time to thorough look at the matter and make a decision.

Currently, the parish is closely studying how much money to raise and space requirents. Richardson said it will be a multimillion and multiyear project.

“We’re looking at every little detail that you can imagine,” Father Lampert said.

Richardson said that the proposed school would probably start with pre-kindergarten through second- or third- grade and work up to eighth-grade.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity,” said Annette “Mickey” Lentz, executive director of Catholic education and faith formation for the archdiocese. “It’s been a conversation piece for a long time.”

She said that it shows the continued interest that parents have in providing a Catholic education for their children, noting that interest and support for the proposed school are both present in the parish community.

“The people in the South Deanery will benefit from another school,” Lentz said. “I think the numbers are there, I think the need is there.”

Currently, many families living within the boundaries of SS. Francis and Clare Parish send their children to Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood or St. Barnabas School in Indianapolis.

But Father Lampert stressed that building a new school is not about taking students away from the other schools.

“We’re not looking to compete with neighboring parishes,” he said. “We’re asking the question: ‘Is there a need for a third grade school in this area?’ ”

Given the unanimous consent of the parish pastoral council, the pastor, and more than half of the parishioners, the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” †