St. Bernardine School to Close After 98 Years in Forest Park

Forest Park officials on Tuesday recognized the village's only Catholic school for 98 years of service in the community before it closes its doors June 7.

The Village Board passed a resolution recognizing St. Bernardine School, which opened nearly a century ago at 815 Elgin Ave. and will graduate its last 8th grade class on Thursday, May 31.

St. Bernardine Principal Veronica Cash in January announced the school's plans to close due to declining enrollment and the amount of money needed to operate the school, according to a January Patch report.

In the school's early years, the sisters "taught the love of learning to many generations of families," the resolution reads.

The Office of Catholic Schools in 2012 took over St. Bernardine School through its Archdiocese Initiative Model (AIM), according to the resolution, and realized the school's financial needs would require a substantial subsidy the Archdiocese could not provide.

"We honor the educational commitment of St. Bernardine School throughout its great history, and with a heavy heart, recognize the need for the closure yet regret its future absence," the resolution reads.

Forest Park Mayor Anthony Calderone will attend a ceremony to honor the school and present the village resolution at a June 2 school closing Mass and reception. He said Tuesday, "It's kind of a bittersweet period of time in Forest Park," when any educational institution closes its doors. 

A message about the school closing Mass on the St. Bernardine School website reads, "Although the doors to our school are closing, our memories and the friendships we have made will remain with us for a lifetime. We want to celebrate all the experiences we have had together while we move forward with confidence and hope."

St. Bernardine School will graduate its final 8th grade class Thursday, May 31. The closing Mass begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 2 at St. Bernardine School, 815 Elgin Ave., Forest Park.