CHICAGO (December 5, 2002)

Officials of the Archdiocese of Chicago today announced the launch of a capital campaign feasibility study to determine the potential to raise funds for a proposed new co-ed Catholic high school in Orland Park, Ill.

The study, which will be conducted with the help of a professional development consulting firm,
is the next step in a planning process to serve the growing needs of Catholic families in southwest suburban Cook County. Construction and related costs for the new school are estimated at $35 million. Archdiocesan officials expect that if construction of the school moves forward, it will be funded by contributions from individuals, members of the local business community and others who support Catholic school education.

“I support the mission of the committee and its recommendation to proceed with a feasibility study. It is a logical and appropriate next step toward meeting the increasing demand for Catholic education by a growing population of families with high school age students in southwest suburban Cook County,” said Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Archbishop of Chicago.

“As we continue to plan for the future of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, it is clear that additional institutions such as the proposed new high school in Orland Park need to be considered, researched and planned,” said Cardinal George. “I am very pleased to report that the planning group for a southwest suburban high school is moving forward in the process by initiating a capital campaign feasibility study. This project is a wonderful opportunity for all who believe in the value of Catholic secondary education to invest in the future of our youth by creating a Catholic high school to serve the growing southwest area for generations to come.”

Planning began in 1997 led by Most Rev. John R. Gorman, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago for Vicariate V, who was assisted by laity and pastors in the southwest region of the Archdiocese to explore the need for a new high school.

The current executive committee of the study, chaired by Rev. William T. O’Mara, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton parish in Orland Hills, Ill., has worked with professional research consultants to outline the need for the new school.

The work of the committee is an outgrowth of DECISIONS for the Future of Our Church, a strategic planning process initiated by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin to examine the long-range needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The DECISIONS process, carried out over several years, resulted in a series of new directions for the Archdiocese, including plans to ensure the availability of Catholic schools in all areas of the Archdiocese and to create financially realistic means to support Catholic school education in the Chicago area.

“Our research has confirmed that there is a high demand for a coeducational Catholic high school in the southwest area of the Chicago metropolitan area,” said Sister Kathleen Tait, O.P., assistant superintendent for Archdiocese of Chicago high schools and a member of the executive committee.

The results of the research study, presented to the Cardinal by the committee earlier this fall, included data and direction on potential enrollment, type and size of facilities needed, and financial projections for construction, start-up and initial operating expenses.

“This proposed new high school would be established with a strong Catholic identity and would be aligned with the essential mission of all our Archdiocesan schools – Catholic, excellent and vital,” said Cardinal George.

Advancement Partners, Inc., a Dublin, Ohio-based professional capital campaign management and development consulting firm retained by the Archdiocese, will conduct the feasibility study.

Pending the outcome of the capital campaign feasibility study, the next steps will be to reach consensus on how best to fund the new school, develop a governance structure and execute a capital campaign. Based on the success of the campaign, final decisions would then be made on financing, organizing the school’s academic programs, designing the facility and construction, according to Tait.

Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools
The Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago play a critical role in the life of the community by providing academic excellence and faith formation for 117,229 students of many races, faiths and backgrounds in the 290 elementary and secondary schools in Cook and Lake counties. There are more than 6,400 teachers in the Catholic school system who instill values, teach discipline and achieve strong, consistent academic results in the Archdiocese of Chicago's 248 elementary and 42 secondary schools. Visit the Archdiocese of Chicago Website at http://schools.archchicago.org