Indian priest closes last black Catholic school in US

May 12, 2012: An Indian priest is forced to close a 123-year-old Catholic school for black students in a US city for lack of students for admission. St. Peter School in Arkansas would close on May 25 as only 37 students signed up out of the required 60 to open.

Divine Word Father Anil Thomas took the decision as the parish was not able to subsidize the school and keep it open. "We don't have any money to run the school next year and we don't have enough enrolment.… It is very hard, but we don't have the resources," the priest told his small staff May 4 before publicly announcing it to the media and school board and sending home a letter to parents.

"I told you it is my feelings (to keep the school open), but I can't work with my feelings," he added. All Catholic schools use tuition to cover the majority of their operational expenses, said Vernell Bowen, superintendent of Catholic schools.

St. Peter Church, with only 75 registered families, supported the school through monthly collections and paying the water bill, but did not give the school a direct subsidy, he said.

Father Thomas, who was assigned to St. Peter Church in August, said he was convinced that something good will come out of the sad situation. He said he was concerned about the students and teachers of the school.