I do not expect SGG school to survive much longer. Only +Dolan could persuade people to keep sending their children after the 2008-9 disaster. Country-boy +McGuire -- as Fr. McK described him in his sermon today -- does not have the gravitas or the persuasiveness to get people to pay tuition. In fact, SGG may not be able to survive +Dolan's passing. Look for fissures to appear among the clergy very soon. One prediction now in circulation in Ohio is that the out of state missions will exit the SGG orbit and become independent. With no students, the current principal may leave for greener educational pastures, perhaps in publishing. SGG parishioners will soon become disillusioned because +McGuire is definitely not +Dolan and never can be, especially in the sermon department. Without the personality of the "old bishop," as +Dolan quaintly called himself, there's no substance left. People will drift to the CMRI's "Little Flower" Mass Center, Immaculate Conception, or even +Ramolla's place, if only to hear someone serious preach. Also look for new membership in SSPX chapels.

I do not expect SGG school to survive much longer. Only +Dolan could persuade people to keep sending their children after the 2008-9 disaster. Country-boy +McGuire -- as Fr. McK described him in his sermon today -- does not have the gravitas or the persuasiveness to get people to pay tuition. In fact, SGG may not be able to survive +Dolan's passing. Look for fissures to appear among the clergy very soon. One prediction now in circulation in Ohio is that the out of state missions will exit the SGG orbit and become independent. With no students, the current principal may leave for greener educational pastures, perhaps in publishing. SGG parishioners will soon become disillusioned because +McGuire is definitely not +Dolan and never can be, especially in the sermon department. Without the personality of the "old bishop," as +Dolan quaintly called himself, there's no substance left. People will drift to the CMRI's "Little Flower" Mass Center, Immaculate Conception, or even +Ramolla's place, if only to hear someone serious preach. Also look for new membership in SSPX chapels.

So what is going to happen then with that big church they built in West Chester?

SSG’s “church” really isn’t all that big.  It was originally meant to be a gymnasium for SGG’s school; but it was pressed into service as a church, when the parishioners balked at building the multi-million dollar “sermon in stone” that Dolan originally wanted.  The school, built to have a capacity for 200 to 300, only housed (at most) two dozen or so pupils.  (Most of the “school rooms” have been used to store Dolan’s ecclesiastical paraphernalia that he acquired over the years.)  Both the church and school have had structural problems, including several roof leaks, plumbing and HVAC problems, and animal infestation (raccoons and mice).  If human enrollment shrinks, perhaps the facility might find new life as an indoor zoo.

I was just going by the picture on their website.  Admittedly, it does look a little "off" in the picture, as though it was retro-fitted or something.  Now it makes sense.

I've never been to the West Chester church, though I have been to the old church in Sharonville.  I want to say I have been there twice, and was comparing notes with my mother --- she and I went by ourselves one time, as my father was sick and had to stay at the hotel --- though I can't recall the details of both trips.  I distinctly remember my father going with us, in fact, we had to stop at a Kmart to get my mother a scarf to cover her head, but...

Maybe I dreamed that part or something.  Doesn't pay to get old.  

I enjoy your stories.  Thanks SimpleMan :)

And I enjoy writing them.  My father has been gone from us ten months now.  My mother is utterly destroyed and, while she has no life-threatening conditions (at least not so far as anyone knows), the companionship of my son --- her only grandchild --- is the only thing that keeps her going.  He stays with her while I maintain my parents' larger house --- it's a win-win for everyone, I get more space, she gets a compact house that is easy for her to maneuver, and my son has staked out a large portion of the house as his territory.  I go there to homeschool him, as well as to run errands too numerous to count for the two of them.

I've asked my friends who attend SGG to confirm to me the current situation with the principal at SGG school.

I do know that Fr. Lehtoranta has been heavily involved in running the school but I am waiting to hear back what Mr. Lotarski's current role is and whether Fr. Lehtoranta is principal or director of the school.

Thank you for this.  I don't know why I do not get e-mail notifications.

Really?  Wow!  Now I need to know if there are still issues.  Is it safe to send your children there?

Unfortunately I cannot speak to that, as I don't know anyone who has children currently in the school and I live in Canada.

I'll go on record to say I'm not aware that CMRI has any baggage at all.

While there was a significant house-cleaning and notable improvement, the CMRI has baggage by the truckload.  See Bp. Schuckardt.