First Catholic school for New Brunswick.

Saint John -- In NB the Catholic school system dwindled away into nothingness in 1967 as a result of the amalgamation of school boards. Since then the province has had neither Catholic boards nor Catholic private schools.

Thanks to the initiative of a group of determined parents, the Divine Mercy School, which aims to "provide a rich Catholic education with a high standard of academic excellence," will open its doors in St. John in September, 2003. The nonprofit school will charge a tuition fee of $250 per month, well below any other Canadian private school, with reduced rates for families who send more than one child.

Advised by other such schools to "start small", Divine Mercy will begin with around 20 students from K. to Gr. 8. The organizers are free to choose their curriculum using provincial education guidelines. The schools will use the model of other private school curricula which have had good academic results.

The parents also insist that, for their children, "we want God to be part of their day." The timetable will therefore make space for catechetics and celebrate feast days of the Church. The school has received the support of the Bishop of St. John, Faber MacDonald, and is registered as a charitable organization for tax purposes. (New Freeman, 20 June, 2003)