St Josephs Club of Divine Mercy Academy

Updated summary 4/25/2021:

Divine Mercy Catholic Academy (DMCA) is a Pre-K through 8th grade Catholic School in Merritt Island, FL. It is a ministry of Divine Mercy Catholic Church and has been in existence as the only Catholic school in Merritt Island for the last 57 years.

On March 26, 2021, Fr. Kenny Aquino, pastor of Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Merritt Island, FL, sent a letter to the parents of DMCA indicating that the school would be “merging” with three other Catholic schools in central and northern Brevard County. The letter stated the decision was a collaborative one, after “serious study of demographics, facility needs, parish financial capacity and consideration of all other alternatives, and in consultation with local pastors and principals, Bishop Noonan and Superintendent Henry Fortier.”

This letter blindsided DMCA parents and the Divine Mercy parishioners. Although most have been aware of the general decline in enrollment, nobody ever gave the parents a needed enrollment figure, fundraising figure, or due date to avoid closure of the school. Since the Diocese of Orlando has refused to give any further information regarding the process that took place to make this decision, we have been left to find information ourselves and piece the puzzle together as best we can. Using the term “merger” is completely insulting; it’s a closure.

As we have pieced information together, we have learned that Superintendent Fortier met with the DMCA principal on Friday afternoon, 3/26 to inform him of the school closure. The staff at the parish office was then notified Fr. Kenny’s letter to the parents was forwarded through the principal at around 4:00 that afternoon. The principal, school staff, and parish office staff were completely blindsided by this news on that day. Fr. Kenny has told us he only learned of the school closure one day before, on 3/25/21, and has indicated he had no say in the decision. Therefore, if this was a “collaborative effort,” it didn’t include anyone from the parish or school. The Diocese of Orlando made the decision and made Fr. Kenny put his name on it. Superintendent Fortier has been quoted by several media outlets saying schools are a ministry of their parishes and decisions to close them are made on the parish level. He has also been quoted saying the decision is “final.” We aren’t sure how he can say that when he’s denied his office has authority for such decisions. Even if DMCA does not reopen in August, our fight for transparency from the Diocese of Orlando will not end. Their leadership has been anything but Christ-like.

WHY THIS PAGE STARTED:

This GoFundMe was started by the St. Joseph’s Club, an independent non-profit organization of fathers of DMCA students.  On March 26, our mission began to save DMCA and this page was to fund those efforts (if needed), with the leftover funds to be used for school programs at DMCA next year if we were successful, or for financial support for the 20+ staff being left unemployed by this closure if we were not.

As of April 25, 2021, we have not had any expenses for our mission so far and considering the lack of communication from the Diocese of Orlando after many attempts, it’s become clear that DMCA will not be reopening in August. Therefore, the money in this fund will be used to assist our beloved teachers with any hardships faced by this closure.

We sincerely appreciate the donations that have come in so far and we would love more prayerful consideration to assist our teachers. We promise to be transparent with every penny. Thank you for your support!

#BishopNoonan and the #OrlandoDiocesehave made it clear they do not support this fundraiser.