CREVE COEUR, Mo. — Parents and parishioners of St. Monica Catholic School in Creve Coeur are taking matters into their own hands.
School board president Christopher Miller is taking the lead in the appeal.
"When they decided to close it, typically a Catholic school can only be closed by the pastor. We found out that the pastor stated he was not the one who closed the school. That was the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese has also now said that it wasn't them," said Miller.
On Monday, they submitted a letter of appeal with over 100 parents, parishioners, and alumni signed 'procurator mandates' to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, asking them to reconsider their decision announced in April to close down at the end of this school year.
"First and foremost, we want the truth. Second, we would love to have our school back open. We're asking that they meet with us, talk to us, and explain that there is a right way to do this and a wrong way. And they clearly went the wrong way," Miller said.
Miller explained that Fr. Sebastian Mundackal, the pastor of St. Monica Parish, had sent him a personal letter on Monday.
"He wanted to be clear that he did not support the appeal. He asked me, parents, and families to move on," said Miller.
5 On Your Side asked the Archdiocese of St. Louis for a response; they did not want to comment on the appeal.
Instead, they shared a letter from Fr. Sebastian Mundackal, who said the school should move forward with other Catholic schools in the area to ensure every child finds a school for next year.
"I hope that the diocese will come talk to us. They've stayed behind closed doors this whole time. They have not addressed our families. The most that they've done is last week at a parent meeting. They provided a letter for father to read," Miller said.
Reality is sinking in for parents, including Kimberly Neil Zahner, who planned on keeping her preschooler at St. Monica's long term.
"My mom had to really pull me out of the gutter and say, 'You got to make decisions; we have to go look at other schools.' It's just unfortunate that what I thought was going to happen for her Kindergarten year is just not going to happen," Neil Zahner said.
Tiffany Estes has four children who attend St. Monica's and says the news was heartbreaking.
"This is very devastating to a lot of us families. Another thing that bothered us was the fact that our son has Down syndrome. So we were going to have one classroom come in and be able to teach him. And now all that is just gone with no warning," Estes said.
St. Monica's parents plan to continue fighting for their school.
"I'm hopeful. At least we're doing something. We're just trying to keep it open," said Neil Zahner.
Estes and other parents have organized a rosary march and rally on the sidewalk outside St. Monica on Friday at 4 p.m. to pray that the Archdiocese hears them and reconsiders the decision to close.
"Save St. Monica, we stand StM proud," said Estes.
Also, on May 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., there will be a St. Monica Farewell Party for families, parishioners, and alumni to say goodbye in the St. Monica parking lot and field.
