St. Michael's parish plans pilgrimage to St. Inigoes

School charged with raising $300,000 by end of year

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Members of the St. Michael's parish community plan to make a pilgrimage from St. Michael's Catholic Church in Ridge to St. Ignatius in St. Inigoes on Sunday. It's meant to bring the parish together as it strives to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep St. Michael's School in operation for the next school year.

"A pilgrimage is symbolic of life," said the Rev. Lee Fangmeyer on Wednesday. "We have a destination and we work together to get there," he said. There will be praying and singing as members walk the five miles up Route 5, he said.

Earlier this month, Fangmeyer told the parish and the parents of St. Michael's students the school needs $575,000 to pay for debts for this year's school year and to be able to open in the fall of 2010.

If approximately $300,000 can be raised by the end of this year, the parish could be able to keep working to fully raise funds without having to announce that school will close next fall, he said.

"The $575,000 is the total we need to raise to keep our head above water," Fangmeyer said. "The number is big and was put out there as something we have to look at."

"I don't want the wrong message out there to our friends and donors," said David Lowe, parent of a student at St. Michael's. It is not an insurmountable challenge, he said. Fundraising continues all year long. "It's not as hopeless as it sounds when [Fangmeyer] speaks," Lowe said. "We are going to get $300,000 by Dec. 31."

So far in this fundraising drive, there are $180,000 in pledges, but only $15,000 of cash on hand. Pledges are fine, but the school needs actual cash flow more than anything else, Fangmeyer said. "It's payroll to payroll. What will really help us right now is cash up front."

The Catholic school has an enrollment of 158 students and a staff of 25 and will cost $927,203 to operate this year. Tuition and fees bring in just $418,000.

Fundraisers and other sources of income help offset that difference, but there is still an immediate deficit of $143,000, which Fangmeyer said he wants to eliminate first.

The school cannot keep operating in the red, he said.

The school has room for 269 students, but in the past 10 years the highest enrollment was in 2001-2002 with 172 students. The operating cost was reduced from last school year by $180,000 already, including $160,000 in pay cuts accepted by the staff. "This is true sacrifice and deserves to be applauded," Lowe said.

The school had to raise $300,000 last year at this time to stay open. That goal was met with the aid of a single donation of $150,000 from an anonymous foundation. There was an impression though that after that money was raised fundraising efforts stopped, Lowe said. New efforts were added throughout the year.

Holy Angels-Sacred Heart School in Avenue also had financial problems last year and closed for good in June.

"Do we have enough that we can get through?" Fangmeyer said. "I have friends of mine from my former parish in Montgomery County to partner with us" along with the school's local parents.

The Archdiocese of Washington has been providing support as well, but now St. Michael's owes it at least $143,000.

The parish contains about 400 families, Fangmeyer said.

As the parents and parish members work to raise funds, he said, "I'm very impressed by the gifts and talents of people. It's all pulling together — it's all forming."

St. Michael's School first opened in 1918 and a modern building was erected in 1950. A new wing was added in 1999.

jbabcock@somdnews.com