A former PC offers this guest post:
News has come out from the girls’ boarding school in Wakefield, Immaculate Conception Academy, that the school is closing. Enrollment and tuition are down, and the Movement can no longer afford to keep it open. Meanwhile, the precandidacy program is moving to Michigan. The girls will attend Everest Academy in Oxford, while maintaining their own program.
This change means that the girls will be attending school with “normal” teenagers, including boys. It’s a big step along a process of loosening the restrictions on the precandidates. Recent rules changes have included a reduction in the amount of prayer time expected, a change in the dress code permitting pants on outings, and an increase in the amount of phone time with family.
A current consecrated wrote on Facebook:
In the US, as I understand, they also want the PCs to be more in contact with the "real world", not as sheltered, so that they mature as is normal. They will be a group apart, but will go to class with the school at Oxford, as the letter explains. . . . So that's part of the reason why they're going to Michigan, it's not only because of the Movement's economic situation.
Economics do seem to be a factor, though. They insist they will not be selling the school building, but “haven’t decided yet” what to use it for.
Caroline Wilders, the outgoing director, posted about the change as well:
With this announcement comes another one which you probably have already heard about: Immaculate Conception Academy is relocating to Michigan at the end of this school year. The PCs will live at the Oxford center and will attend classes at Everest Collegiate. This was a plan that has been in the works for some time. As the enrollment has gone down, tuition has decreased, and in the changing world we live in we needed to find ways to adapt our excellent program to the changing needs of the adolescents who attend the PC. . . . In addition the geographical location is more central and therefore closer to the majority of the students’ families enabling more frequent family visits.
The new director will be Margarita Martinez, a former precandidate who has been consecrated for sixteen years.
As a former precandidate myself, it does sound like good news. Things are opening up a bit, so that the girls are able to be exposed to some influences outside their formators’ control. However, is it really any more than a cosmetic change? Will the girls be discouraged from forming exclusive friendships with each other and “outsiders,” from talking with male classmates, or from telling anyone about what it’s like in the PC program? So far the voices coming out of the precandidacy have the same tone they always had, still upbeat and optimistic despite having been forced to make this drastic change. How can we ever know if that’s real?
As a “last hurrah” for the school, they are hosting a reunion of all former PC’s this Memorial Day weekend. It’s supposed to be “just like the old days,” with a similar schedule and activities. They are opening up a dorm for the former PC’s to stay in. Many former precandidates have been very excited about this chance to relive the good times, while others hope to go for some sense of closure.
I think it is nice that, after years of ignoring former precandidates, forbidding current PC’s to write to us, and pretending we don’t exist, they are finally opening their home to us. On the other hand, it isn’t free. They are estimating a cost of “about $150” for the weekend, including “the expenses such as eight meals, busses, electricity and water, etc.” For those who choose to stay in a hotel and furnish their own food, there will be a smaller fee. Is this a gift to us, or a fundraising attempt? Those who are going are also taking up a collection to give the precandidates a gift, such as a statue of Mary, to take with them to Michigan.
Many of the women invited were looking forward to sharing negative as well as positive experiences with their old classmates. But it’s beginning to look as though, just like old times, that sort of talk will not be welcome. The coordinator of the event, a former precandidate, wrote on the Facebook wall of the event:
Also, for everyone’s general information.........I realize that the issue of Regnum Christi is like the elephant in the room. I, as much as anyone, have questions. Father Luis Garza will be doing questions at 11:15 on Sunday for anyone that wants to come...........I think this would be maybe a good time to come up with any questions you may have that are unanswered. Rather than ruin everyone’s great memories of what we received and put a cloud over the fun we could have..........lets save it for the questions period. If you didn't like your PC experience, don’t come............I mean this in all charity. But this event is for those of us that want clarity, closing, to reunite, have fun, relax, etc...........Hopefully this way, these issues can be addressed without upsetting others around us. Cant wait to see everyone there!
Posting of links to the ReGain website were also deleted.
After hearing all of this, I decided I had no interest in attending. But many of the disaffected former precandidates who had been invited instead formed their own Facebook group, in the hopes of sharing their stories and finding closure on their own. Perhaps that will be a positive result of this reunion.
What's the name of that facebook group, or is it private?
Posted by: Cory | May 25, 2012 at 04:57 PM
"if you didn't like your PC experience, don't come..."
What's charitable about that?
Posted by: Savannah | May 25, 2012 at 05:05 PM
BTW, hope folks in the Atlanta area come hear Jim Fair speak at Holy Spirit Church on Monday, 5/28, following a special LC/RC Mass at 6:30 pm.
Posted by: Savannah | May 25, 2012 at 05:07 PM
OMG!!!!! Everyone with a bone to pick should get their ASSES up there and raise HELL!!!!
This is your chance. DO NOT LET THEM BE IN CHARGE.
TAKE CHARGE, they always said they were producing leaders.
LEAD
Then post on here the results please
Posted by: hauler | May 25, 2012 at 05:19 PM
Some one should OUT Father Garza.
Posted by: hauler | May 25, 2012 at 05:19 PM
I think the group is private with lots of good discussion going.
Our daughter wanted to go out this weekend for closure and to connect with friends she had once lived with for a year (We asked her to come home after a year, thank God). She was nervous but wanted to go and ask her questions and see how everyone was doing, grateful she is now on a different path.
Posted by: turtle | May 25, 2012 at 05:55 PM
It's interesting that their focus for this weekend is THEM, rather than the 14 girls who are graduating high school on Saturday...
Posted by: 19fiona48 | May 25, 2012 at 06:22 PM
You mean to tell me that they have heretofore IGNORED former PC's? Do these include those who graduated but did NOT go on to become "consecrated"? Because those girls are just as much alumnae as anyone else and may have been future benefactors to the school.
As to the cost, it's reasonable to charge for an "alumnae weekend". My high school's xxx (milestone year) reunion was last year and there was $$ involved if you wanted to attend. That's pretty typical.
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | May 25, 2012 at 07:02 PM
Still going the same road as the LaSalette´s who owned Cheshire before the LCs. Also they were using the property in NH that the apostolics are now using.
They started to do transcendental meditation and all sorts of weird spirituality. Then they closed Cheshire and NH. Now they are in parishes in mission areas like Alabama, Mississippi, etc.
Sounds so strangely familiar to the LCs. Had all those properties, now they are closing and many will be sold, priests are out of the seminary and into parish missions. Oddly familiar.
When they started to do TM and other stuff, they had large classes of 20 or 30 seminarians that suddenly blew out of town. This is the next shoe to fall. The large group of LCs and 3GFs that will suddenly bolt.
Most rational people would see the writing on the wall - no money, no charism, no vocations, closing properties, etc. The smart ones will be the older vocations who by now should know their superiors have no intention of providing them with a life of retirement with health care, golf memberships, etc. They will keep the older ones going on an eternal apostolic treadmill until they beg to be released and then hunt for a diocese to take them old and with few tools in their toolbox.
Right now if I am approaching 60 in the Legion or 3GF, I would be asking myself why I am still on a sinking ship. The mexican corporations abandon workers long before they reach retirement age. LC is just like them. The older vocations will be left to their own luck as soon as they don´t serve a purpose to their superiors.
But you can never discount the force of cult worship of their leaders and promises. Some energizer bunnies just never quit.
Posted by: Little Light | May 25, 2012 at 08:35 PM
LL-- Are you saying that the LC and 3gF practice TM??? Or am I misreading you?
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | May 25, 2012 at 08:37 PM
No, the LaSalettes practiced it during the 70s and between that and the other weird things they practiced, their large groups of seminarians abandoned them.
Posted by: Little Light | May 25, 2012 at 08:42 PM
The point is the LCs are going down the same path as LaSalettes - in one case a pseudo spirituality and in the other case, a false prophet who gave the LCs a pseudo spirituality. The LC meltdown has taken longer b-c it appeared so orthodox.
The other point - if you are older & LC or 3GF, time to get some job security, health care and the hope of a real retirement and not just pointy end of a boot out the door once you are not worth anything to superiors. I
Posted by: Little Light | May 25, 2012 at 08:59 PM
You know, it must sound pretty amazing to the outside observer to read a FB posting by the reunion coordinator stating "If you didn't like your PC experience, don't come . . . ". Can anyone imagine any high-school alum feeling she needs to post that? It sounds like something out of the movie "Heathers".
If that's not an indication of an extremely unhealthy environment within ICA, I don't know what is.
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | May 25, 2012 at 09:36 PM
. . . Or one of the snooty girls from "Romy and Michelle's Highschool Reunion".
Smile for the camera honey . . . Clique Clique.
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | May 25, 2012 at 09:39 PM
ITDS: I think they just want to avoid any "unpleasantness." The illness in any of this is the presumption that ladies who didn't have a good PC experience would bother to waste either time or money on attending. Only in an "it's all about them" kind of world, would someone be led to that kind of conclusion.
Posted by: Steve | May 25, 2012 at 09:44 PM
No Steve it's definitely exclusionary because it's basically sending out the message that only those who think, feel, and experienced their HS years at this institution in a certain way are welcome or would probably fit in and make everyone comfortable. That's just bizarre. There may be lots of reasons why someone didn't "like their PC experience" - isn't that rather typical for a HS kid? - and would wish to show up just to re-connect and get her own closure. That's a completely understandable desire when re-visiting the teen years. But too bad for her - she isn't welcome.
If that's not narrow and cliquey what is?
And cliquey is the total opposite of charity. In reality they mean "please be charitable to us".
Not. Catholic.
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | May 25, 2012 at 10:55 PM
More news from the Legion of Christ:
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/26/4517790/legionaries-of-christ-ending-their.html
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | May 26, 2012 at 06:43 AM
"If you didn't like your PC experience, don't come . . . ".
.....or if you really want to see your friends and connect like normal teens, just suppress your feelings and pretend that everything was wonderful and that you did like your PC experience even if you did not. You must protect the institution because it is of God. If you really discuss or show your true feelings about your experience than there is something wrong with you.
Macielism 101
Posted by: Anon out of RC | May 26, 2012 at 07:04 AM
Bannon said when they were moving to the Shrine in Sacramento was to prepare the setting up of the apostolic school and the university. Since both are finished, no point in keeping a presence there. They just don't care about the Shrine. Furthermore, Luis Garza is assingning the former rector to the Bronx parish the LC will take over. A fantastic move by Card. Egan. But Luis Garza didn't want to spare another priest to serve the poor. One is enough.
Posted by: Scipio Africanus | May 26, 2012 at 10:05 AM
I believe a number of orthodox Catholic orders, communities and apostolates maintain a strong presence in Sacramento. So it makes sense for LC to bow out in light of their current problems.
Posted by: Pete Vere | May 26, 2012 at 10:27 AM
I guess it's like a strategy game-- when you've realized that you've lost but want to make the person you're playing against have to suffer by playing to the bitter, but unavoidable end, you don't resign. You fall back, then fall back again, and try to inflict casualties as you go, or at least make them feel really bad about delivering the final killing blow.....
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | May 26, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Of course, this approach works best when accompanied by beer or whiskey---otherwise, things get really grim, really fast.......
The other issue is, of course, that the LC leadership are treating their men as cardboard pieces in a sea of hexagons, rather than as people with souls who've trusted them with authority. Again, more of a sign that the leadership has abdicated their role as 'shepherd' and is simply a pack of wolves trying to pry some tasty morsels off from a disorganized flock....
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | May 26, 2012 at 10:40 AM
"Just this week a church leader acknowledged he had known since 2005 that the Rev. Thomas Williams, the order's best-known American priest, had also fathered a child, according to published reports. Over that period, Williams was allowed to continue giving public lectures and television interviews on morality."
Are they saying a Church leader at Our Lady of Guadalupe had known since 2005 about TW's baby?
That must mean that the LC's in charge of rewriting the constitutions knew as well!
It also means the families in CA have been hoodwinked in another big way! All those CA donations - for what?
This is bringing souls to Christ?
Posted by: CA observer | May 26, 2012 at 11:09 AM
CA Ob-- I read that as bad journalism-- Saying that AC was a "church leader"
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | May 26, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Gosh, I hope you're right!
Posted by: CA observer | May 26, 2012 at 11:19 AM