St. Cornelius Catholic School in Richmond closes

Due to a declining enrollment, St. Cornelius Catholic School in Richmond, a member of the Lumen Christi Academies of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland, will close. Parents, faculty and community members were notified July 6.

Rodney Pierre-Antoine, executive director of Lumen Christi Academies, wrote, “This was a difficult decision to make as it comes in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Families will be aided in transitioning their children to Catholic schools in the area, including St. Paul Catholic School, a Lumen Christi Academy which is two miles away from St. Cornelius. This aid includes honoring BASIC grants and, if the student transfers to a Catholic school in the Diocese of Oakland, FACE scholarships. Faculty and staff will also be given the opportunity to consider positions in Catholic schools in the Diocese.
 
“There is no more effective way to form the whole person – intellectually, morally and communally – than to infuse a rigorous academic program with the timeless message of Jesus Christ, and deliver it in a safe, respectful atmosphere,” Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, said. “We remain committed to that vision.”
 
The other six schools in the Lumen Christi Academies, which serve almost 1,300 students, will continue. Since the network was founded two years ago, the schools have seen updates in curriculum resources, sustained professional development in partnership with Loyola Marymount University, streamlined financial operations and secured grant funding for capital projects.
 
“We treasure our memories of how St. Cornelius School has served the Richmond community and honor the students, faculty, staff, alumni and parishioners who have contributed to the school’s long legacy. While St. Cornelius School will not continue, its positive impact on the parish and community will endure,” Pierre-Antoine said.
 
More information about the Lumen Christi Academies can be found at https://lumenchristiacademies.org/.