Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published June 22, 2007

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Students, parents and teachers gather around St. Mary Magdalen's altar to pray.

Hazel Park — The last day of class at St. Mary Magdalen School in Hazel Park was a sad one for teachers, parents and students, but it still went out with a bang — and a bounce, and a snow cone.

After class let out for the final time last Thursday, students celebrated with a parking lot party that included a moon bounce machine and a snow cone station, among other activities, to end a "fantastic year" on a "positive, happy note," said principal Alvin Rader. The decision to close the school after nearly 75 years had been made earlier that week because of rising costs, demographics, competition from local charter schools, and the economy, said pastor Fr. Bede Louzon, OFM Cap., in a letter to parishioners and parents.

"As pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish, it is my decision to close our school," he said via the letter. "This decision was prepared with the consultation of the Pastoral Council and based on our financial situation."

The letter says that enrollment had dropped from about 110 to nearly half that. Fr. Louzon's decision was later approved by the archdiocese.

St. Mary School, which taught students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, hosted its last communion service earlier that day. After the Gospel reading, during the reflection, director of religious education David Troiano asked students and parents to share what they would miss about the school. Students suggested their friends, teachers and art class, although "lunch" got giggles from the other students.

"Everyone in the school is like a family," one student said.

Gathered around the altar for the Our Father, many students, parents and teachers hugged and cried together. After the service, students received awards for academic achievement.

Then, Rader and school secretary Elizabeth Swanchara opened a time capsule from 1983 they'd found while cleaning out the school. Original instructions were to open the capsule in the year 2008.

Inside were a figure of the alien E.T., popular in the movie at the time, with a note explaining that the eighth-graders had broken off one of E.T.'s arms; students' pictures; a grammar book; a confirmation stole; and a 1983 copy of The Michigan Catholic, among other items.

Lisa McPherson, a St. Mary parent, said she'd miss the extended school family. "All the children love this school," she said. "We have so many good memories."

Parent Anne Mantha remembered years of being involved in athletics, going to fish fries, and coaching the drama team. "It was the cornerstone of a lot of children's faith and education," she said of the school. "It strengthened my family and my faith."

Instead of focusing on what could've happened, she said, we should focus now on "what we're taking away from there, and what we're passing on," she said.

"I just feel blessed and honored that I was a part of that school, and the parish-school community," she said. "I don't think our lives would be as fulfilled or enriched now if we hadn't been a part of that."