Alumni Links

A Letter from the St. Monica Class of 1976

On June 20, 2026, 38 classmates and friends gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the St. Monica Class of 1976. We know you would have liked to attend and reconnect in person, but understand prior commitments or other circumstances made that impossible. Please know that you were missed.

John Lajka and his sister, Missy, created a wonderful reunion video, which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/ej92dtxhLhI?feature=shared

Every time a classmate's photo appeared on the screen, someone in the room would say, “I wish they were here.” We hope you enjoy the video and feel a part of the celebration.

When we decided to hold our reunion at St. Monica, we also agreed to use the occasion as an opportunity to support our beloved school. That night we raised donations through raffles, auctions, and direct gifts from your classmates. 

Please allow me to share a brief story and appeal.

I spent more than 40 years working in Human Resources, including the final two years of my career with the Archdiocese of Chicago. In that role, I supported 42 parishes stretching from Golf Road to the Wisconsin border. One of my most difficult responsibilities was meeting with teachers and staff at five schools that were closing due to low enrollment. It was a heartbreaking experience. Four additional schools are scheduled to close this year.

In each case, the parish council, pastor, and representatives from the Archdiocese met with parishioners and school families. The closure was announced, tears were shed, questions were asked and answered, and the reality of the situation began to sink in. In the weeks that followed, many communities worked tirelessly to raise funds to save their schools. Some raised as much as $500,000. While those efforts were admirable, they came too late. What struck me most was that many school boards and families had not recognized the warning signs years earlier, and did not take action sooner.

The good news is that St. Monica is not on any closure list. The school currently serves approximately 220 students, and enrollment in the lower grades continues to grow. It benefits from strong leadership, an active school board, and solid parish support. However, like many Catholic schools, it still faces ongoing financial challenges and could benefit from additional resources.

Your support can help fund classroom programs, teacher development, facility improvements, and scholarship assistance for families in need.

To support these efforts, we have established a giving site:

 https://trellis.org/supportstmonicaacademy 

Please review the giving options and consider making a donation. If our class—and other graduating classes—can come together in support of St. Monica, we can help ensure that the school remains a strong and viable educational option for future generations.

Much has been written about the closing of Catholic schools across the United States. Several factors continue to contribute to declining enrollment and school consolidations:

Demographic Changes
Chicago and many surrounding communities have experienced declining birth rates, smaller student populations, and the migration of middle-income families—historically the foundation of parish schools. When we attended St. Monica, families with four or more children were common. Today, the average family size is closer to two children.

Rising Tuition Costs
Catholic schools were once subsidized by large numbers of priests and religious sisters serving as educators. Today, schools rely primarily on lay teachers. Rising salaries and operating costs have steadily increased tuition, placing greater financial pressure on working and middle-class families.

Catholic schools operate with very lean budgets. I can assure you there is little waste. As you know, Catholic school teachers generally earn less than their public-school counterparts. Many choose schools like St. Monica because of the faith-based environment, supportive families, and strong sense of community.

Declining Church Affiliation
Lower Mass attendance, shifting religious practices, and the lingering effects of the clergy abuse crisis have reduced the number of families choosing faith-based education. Encouragingly, the Archdiocese reports that Mass attendance has begun to increase at many parishes.

Increased Competition
High-performing public schools, charter schools, magnet programs, and specialized educational options provide families with strong tuition-free alternatives.

Loss of Scholarship Programs
The expiration of Illinois' "Invest in Kids" tax-credit scholarship program eliminated an important source of financial assistance for lower-income families seeking a Catholic education. The program provided an average scholarship of approximately $5,900 per student.

On the giving site, you will find several ways to contribute. Please consider making a gift at one of the suggested levels or in any amount that is meaningful to you. Every donation helps.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Our class Facebook page contains reunion photos and videos, and classmates regularly share news, updates, and information about informal get-togethers. We encourage you to visit and stay connected.

Finally, we purchased reunion gifts for all classmates. Please enjoy this small gift and know that you were missed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and for considering a contribution to St. Monica.

Stay well,

Sean Murphy
St. Monica Class of 1976