In June, Bishop Maginn High School is closing for good,  the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany announced today.

The school was no longer financially sustainable on its own – nearly half of the student families couldn’t pay full tuition.

The Diocese, which fought for years to keep the struggling school afloat,  said it was no longer sustainable.

This is America, where unsustainable things are not sustained. They did their best.

That is sad, even heartbreaking news. But what feels like bad news often has good news on the other side.

This news is just a part of the BMHS’s wonderful history and legacy. It is a beginning and an end, and that is the truth.

The very good news is that the refugee program and the people running it –  Art And Theology Teacher Sue Silverstein and Principal Mike Tolan – are going to the new school, a secure and well-funded school outside Albany that will make the refugee program secure.

They will find shelter and refuge there.

Bishop Maginn teachers and administrators are bringing along the refugee students that came to define the school’s mission; many are coming on a grant that gives them free tuition.

The program will be moving to Catholic High School in Latham, N.Y., just north of Albany (and closer to Bedlam Farm).

The school will offer the refugee students a lot more in programs and activities. Bishop Maginn’s enrollment had fallen to 100 students.

The Principal of Catholic High – Christophe Signor – is much loved and respected. He and Sue are longtime co-workers.

Principal Signor has made it clear he wants and needs the continued support of the Army of Good for the refugee children, and the school welcomes them.

They will be provided bus transportation to the new school, and he is familiar with our work.

Most of us have heard about the struggles of urban education.

The Catholic Church has its money problems these days, but many people who could afford tuition have left the city for the suburbs.

Bishop Maginn moved to its new location in 2015 hoping a smaller school would keep the school going.

The refugee infusion kept the school alive, but it just isn’t big enough to sustain a high school by itself. The new school,  in Latham,  is thriving.

The rescue plan didn’t work, but the staff and leadership of the school nearly killed themselves trying. I found BMHS a magical place, a miracle school defined by love and commitment.

They saved and shaped so many complex and troubled lives. It’s important for me to say that no student was kicked out of the school for failure to pay tuition. Almost all of the refugee children have gone on to college.

I felt the holy spirit there, and although Sue attributes this to the Blessed Mother, I attribute it to her and Principal Mike Nolan. It is an honor and privilege to be working with such beautiful people.

The bottom line is that our work will continue. Mike and Sue Silverstein are committed to it, and so am I. Zinnia is coming along also, and Maria, when she can make it.

My first response to the news – Sue and Mike called me this afternoon; I appreciated the notice – was to start planning how to help give the school and its students a proper goodbye in May, the prom, and graduation season, the last one for Bishop Maginn.

I’d love to help give them and the school a memorable farewell.

I’ll be meeting with Sue and Mike to figure out how we want to raise funds so that these activities will be worthy of the beautiful work the school and staff have done and will be doing down the road.

Zinnia was last year’s Prom Queen and made the national news. Maybe I’ll get the title this year; Maria can make me a beautiful red dress.

I’ll be in touch about that; I hope to raise at least $2,000, so the farewell will be a great sendoff for a beautiful place.

We have some time to figure out the process – a Wish List, direct donations to the school, or me. I like the Wish List, but I’d also love to be able to hire a band and rent a lovely space with some good food.

We’ll see.

A lot of good was done in that school and will be done in the next. Working with these people and these children is a highlight of my life; I will never give it up unless told to get lost. That doesn’t seem to be happening.

I am absolutely and fully committed to continuing this work. I love working with these good people. They get me and appreciate me. I love them.

And Zinnia has flipped many dog-averse kids and comforting others. She is a great therapy dog and I am proud of her. Maria is also now doing some work at Bishop Maginn when she can. I am proud of her also.

We will be working with the same people and students, just in a different place.

We have helped scores of refugee children and their families in many different ways, from food coupons to tuition help to art supplies and laptops.

This work will be just as necessary in September.

My work will not change. Our work will not change.

I am relieved the refugee program will finally secure a school with many more resources than BMHS had towards the end.

This, I am convinced, will be better for them, their education, and their futures.

Until June, I’ll continue my weekly visits to the school to figure out who needs help and help them with the support of the Army Of Good.

I can’t pretend not to be sad. I loved going to that school, the first school I ever loved setting foot in. Love lives there in those classrooms and hallways.

Bishop Maginn is a holy place to me, and I look forward to that magic moving along, as life often does. I can tell you that everyone involved did their best to keep this from happening.

I’m relieved for it to be over and a new place ready.

And I am very relieved to know I will still be working with Principal Mike Tolan, a kind, loving, and wonderful man, and Sue Silverstein, a saint in human form, now my best friend.

Those children are remarkable, heroic, stoic, and with hearts of gold what a privilege to be able to work with them and support them, no matter where they are.

I’m in.

I’ll keep everyone posted, and thanks again for your support. I am counting on it to continue, so are these children.