By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent
Schools have been a priority for Merrill parishes since 1800s
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This is Ira Rebella's second year as principal at St. Francis Xavier School in Merrill. (Photo by Sally Bachar) |
MERRILL -- Over two centuries one thing has remained constant amomg Merrill's Catholic community -- dedication to providing a good Catholic education to its youth.
St. Francis Xavier Parish was first formed in the late 1800s. The school was established in 1898 on the corner of Third and Logan Streets, opening its doors with four nuns from the Dominican Order in Racine. The school continued in the same building until 1961, when a new school was built on West Eighth Street.
Prior to that, however, a decree issued on July 1, 1956 by Bishop Joseph J. Annabring divided St. Francis Parish and established the new parish of St. Robert Bellarmine. Students from both parishes continued to use the St. Francis school facilities until St. Robert's opened its own school in September 1959.
The two schools continued until 1969 when, for financial reasons, St. Francis was forced to close its school. Consequently, St. Robert's enrollment increased until its building was no longer adequate to house all the students.
Desiring to offer more courses, the two parishes combined their facilities in 1977 to form "Merrill Catholic Schools." The St. Robert building accommodated grades 1-5 and St. Francis housed the middle school with grades 6-8. It was a good move for both parishes. St. Francis facilities were once again being utilized, providing a gymnasium for the upper grades, an art room and library in addition to classrooms while St. Robert's, benefiting from less crowded conditions, was also able provide much needed classroom space.
The change, however, was only temporary. In less than 20 years the two parishes were once again merged into one parish, taking the mother name of St. Francis Xavier. The St. Francis buildings were sold and the middle school moved back to the St. Robert's facilities in January 1996.
Despite these major changes and upheavals that have taken place through the years, the school has not only survived, but thrived. The present enrollment is 189 students from pre-K through eighth grade.
Ira Rebella, principal and administrator, believes the school is very competitive with the public schools and provides the students with an excellent academic curriculum, in addition to providing a solid background in the Catholic faith.
"If you are sending your children to a Catholic school then we should be teaching those things that make us Catholic," said Rebella, whose own six children were educated in the Merrill parochial schools. He is encouraging more of the faith practices that have sometimes fallen by the wayside in the concern to provide a good academic education. The children attend Mass together at least once a week and special opportunities are provided for the reception of the sacraments, recitation of the rosary, stations of the cross and other devotions.
At the end of the hall, next to his office, are two life-size statutes of Christ and the Blessed Mother and a marble holy water font, all from the original St. Francis Xavier Church, blending the past into the present while building for the future.
"The education of our youth is important," said Rebella, "and it is the responsibility of the church to assist parents in educating them. The fact that we have been here such a long time shows that the Catholic community of Merrill has taken that responsibility seriously."
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2002