January 18, 2005 - Archdiocese of Boston to Move Staff to Our Lady
of Presentation School Building in Brighton
(Boston, MA) January 18, 2005…The Archdiocese of Boston today
announced that the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese, currently
located at One Lake Street in Brighton, will next year move to Our Lady
of the Presentation School, which is scheduled to close in June of 2005.
In June 2004, the Archdiocese made arrangements to sell the Tribunal
building at One Lake Street to Boston College in June of 2006, thus the
need for a new location for the Tribunal. Archbishop O’Malley desired
that the Tribunal be close to chancery, centrally located in the Archdiocese,
and accessible by both automobile and public transportation. Our Lady
of Presentation School fits all of these criteria.
The Metropolitan Tribunal of Boston is charged with the administration
of justice, as a court of first instance and as an appellate court, for
matters of the public good brought before the Church. Although most cases
brought before the Tribunal involve questions of marital nullity, the
court also acts as the competent forum for other issues, including penal
matters.
Rev. Mark A. Mahoney, J.C.L., Judicial Vicar for the Archdiocese of
Boston expressed his appreciation for this announcement saying, “I
am grateful to Archbishop Sean in making provision that the important
ministry of the Tribunal may continue in a central and accessible location
and understanding the sensitive needs of those whom we serve as the ecclesiastical
court of the Archdiocese.”
As announced in June 2004, Our Lady of Presentation School is scheduled
to close at the conclusion of the 2004-2005 academic year. The decision
to close Our Lady of Presentation School was made after thorough consideration
of the future viability of the school in light of enrollment declines,
rising operating costs and increasing deficits. Initially, the school
was slated to close at the end of the 2003-2004 school year, however,
the Archbishop decided to extend the closing date to June 2005 in response
to the parents’ request for additional time to find suitable placements
for their children. This closing extension was made possible by the generosity
and commitment of Secretary of State William Galvin who provided access
to funding that could be applied to shortfalls in operating expenses
for the current academic year.
Archdiocesan officials are working with Our Lady of Presentation School
to assist with the transition process including gathering information
regarding the availability of space in seven neighboring Catholic schools
and placing faculty and staff on a priority-hiring list to assist them
in securing employment in other Catholic schools.
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