Citing the need to reach out to a growing Hispanic presence in the city of Bridgeton and in western Cumberland County, Bishop Joseph Galante announced last week that a new K-8 elementary school would open in September in the city of Bridgeton.
He said the new school, Our Lady of Guadalupe Regional Elementary School, would be located on Pearl Street in Bridgeton, which is the current site of Immaculate Conception school. The diocese announced last month that Immaculate Conception School would close at the end of the school year due to declining enrollment. The school will serve the Bridgeton parishes of Immaculate Conception and St. Teresa of Avila, as well as St. Michael’s, Cedarville and St. Mary’s, Rosenhayn. Bishop Galante said the new school would reflect more fully the diversity of the population in Bridgeton city and the surrounding area.
The western Cumberland County area has been experiencing significant demographic change. Total population has increased largely due to the growth of the Hispanic population. From 1980-2000, the Hispanic population surged 122 percent while the Anglo population declined 13 percent. Today, according to Census data, Hispanics and African Americans together make up 40 percent of the population, up from 24 percent two decades ago.
Bishop Galante said he hoped the new school will be a place of welcome for the multicultural communities it serves and that it will be a model for the type of integration that will be necessary in the parish communities that will support the school. “Like the school, the parishes and their leadership will also need to be more inclusive and representative of the communities they serve,” Bishop Galante said last week. “By doing this, our parishes will become the vibrant, dynamic communities of faith that they strive to be.”
The diocese also notes that the new school also will be known for the strength of its program offerings and religious instruction. “The new school will stress academic excellence while providing students with the strongest possible formation in the faith,” said Andrew Walton, spokesman for the diocese. Details regarding registration, curriculum, tuition, and transportation will be provided to parents in the weeks ahead.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a 16th century icon depicting an apparition of the Virgin Mary that occurred in Mexico City from December 9-12, 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe has retained a special place of pride and importance to Mexican Catholics. Pope John Paul II named Our Lady of Guadalupe patron of the Americas on January 22, 1999. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12.