Holy Cross School hosts parish party

Last Thursday evening, June 17, to commemorate the recent abrupt closing of the school by the St. Cloud Diocese.

It was more of a wake or funeral than a party, however.

Alumni of the school, and members of the community, gathered to pay their last respects to the school that has stood for 116 years as a pillar of the community. In the presence of the Holy Cross relic, several got up to share their memories of the school.

For a few hours, those who attended the party were able to let go of some of the resentment and anger over the school closing – with only vague generalities given as excuses for the closure – and truly celebrate their strong love for the school, the parish, and the community.

It is highly unlikely that the decision to close the school as of May 28 will be rescinded. Instead, the parish and community will wait for the Diocese to decide what will be the new use of the building for a mission that better suits the community. Naturally, everyone involved with the school believes that the school is the very best mission of the parish in the community.

There will be no parish festival this year. No one is feeling very festive in Pearl Lake these days, and no one is up to doing all the work that goes into the festival.

The Pork Chop Trot, that is usually a part of the festival, will go on this year, though. Saturday morning, July 10, starting at 8 a.m. There are no registration fees or advance sign-ups. Just show up and enjoy.