Closing of the school at Lucan

After 43 years of providing Catholic education for the students of the parish, Our Lady of Victory School in Lucan closed its doors for the last time at the end of the past school year. Declining enrollment and the lack of potential students led the parish committee of education to begin looking at the realities of the future for the school a year ago. With an enrollment of only 10 students at the end of the 2000-2001 school year, the "handwriting was on the wall" and the closing of this chapter of the history for this parish was inevitable. The parish decision to close the school was accepted by the Diocesan Committee for Evangelization and Catechesis at its April, 2001 meeting.

Mary Ann Kramer, principal, has provided leadership and continuity in the school for 30 years. Under her guidance the school continued to be an active and vital part of the parish - even during these most recent years of declining enrollment. She credits the strong support of the parish as the determining factor in maintaining the school as long as possible. One individual of the parish committee of education commented, "It’s sad, but it’s kind of the sign of the times." "It is indeed a sign of the times," Mary Ann said, "Once this area was covered with small farms and big families, now it is an area of big farms and small families." The parish along with former students and faculty members joined in a celebration of gratitude on Sunday, July 29, 2001.

"It is always painful to see one of our schools close," commented Sister Betty Larson, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of New Ulm; "however, the people of Lucan are blessed with the close proximity of St. Anne’s School in Wabasso which has opened its doors to these students." As at Lucan, the dedication of the parish in Wabasso to the school is very strong. The people of Lucan will continue to support the students who attend St. Anne’s. All students who were enrolled in the school at the end of the year are attending St. Anne’s School this fall.

Under the leadership of Sister Michelle McGurran, Pastoral Administrator Intern, Our Lady of Victory, Lucan, all of the students will continue to be involved in the parish community. The former school building will continue to be used for many areas of parish life: religious education, adult education, fund raisers, and meetings.