Many people are extremely angry with Father Sheehan and want to do something now. So here are some things you can do...NOW!
The Media:
Remember, the Archbishop hates being in the media...so...
Write a "strong but appropriate" letter to the Local Newspapers explaining your concerns about Saint Matthews, Notre Dame and demand that BOTH sisters are reinstated: (Try to get it published in the OP Ed Sections.) (WE can also send articles/information/pictures of things of interest like charity events etc.) Remember, if you get something in the paper...let us know!
Contacts:
The Record: 150 River St. Hackensack NJ 07601
Send letters to: "Your Views" 150 River St. Hackensack NJ 07601
E-mail: LettersToTheEditor@NorthJersey.com
Fax: 201-646-4749
General News: Call 201-646-4100 or Email: TheRecordNewsroom@NorthJersey.com
One staff writer that has been reporting on Notre Dame is John Chadwick (chadwick@northjersey.com)
The Record has a series of articles dedicated to Education and they even have a Religion section! So you can send items to them through the "newsroom" email. (everything goes through the "newsroom")
The Star-Ledger: 1 Star Ledger Plaza Newark NJ 07102-1200
Address letters to one of the following Opinion Editors:
Fran Dauth (Email: FDauth@StarLedger.com) 973-392-1536
Deborah Jerome-Cohen (Email: DCohen@StarLedger.com) 973-392-1787
Josh MacMahon (Email: JMacmahon@StarLedger.com) 973-392-5728
Drew Sheneman (Email: DSheneman@StarLedger.com) (Send only "political" cartoon/drawings of Father Sheehan to him) :)
If you have "a story" about something good going on in Notre Dame (including pictures) or something about Father Sheehan. See if the Star Ledger is interested...Contact:
Steven Lichman Asst. Editor Local News (SLichman@StarLedger.com) 973-392-4208
The Bergen News/The Sun Bulletin: 111 Grand Ave Palisades Park NJ 07650
You can send them a letter or even type your own articles about the great things Notre Dame is doing or the problems with Father Sheehan (use facts only!) and pictures. They are a great local newspaper that has always addressed local concerns.
Douglas Hall, Editor, 1-201-947-5000 x35
Robyn Nadel, Staff Writer, 201-947-5000 x31 (editorial@bergennews.com)
Christina Rossi, Staff Writer, 201-947-5000 x32 (crossi@bergennews.com)
When we have a rally or something big is going on at Notre Dame (fundraiser etc.) or maybe they will perform a "community piece".
Contact:
NJN News Television: 50 Park Place Newark NJ 07102
Phone 973-648-3630 Fax 973-643-4004 Email: NJNNews@NJN.org
News12 Television: 450 Raritan Center Parkway Edison NJ 08837
Phone 732-346-3200 Fax: 732-417-5155 Email: News12NJ@news12.com
Write a Letter to the Archbishop:
Let him know that you don't appreciate what Father Sheehan is doing. He should be transferred someplace else, BOTH Sister Pat & Sister Ellen MUST be reinstated and that you expect his support (including financial for Notre Dame). (You should also note that you will be holding back your mass contributions AND the money for the Archbishop Annual Appeal...the money will be used for YOUR local Catholic school! Explain WHY people are leaving the parish!!) Send letters to:
Downloadable "Form" Letters to the Archbishop & Bishop...just print, sign and mail! Print a copy for your friends too! Form letters are not as effective as personal letters but it is better than nothing. You can use the form letter as a guide for your own if you want. Give copies to everyone you know. *****If the file doesn't come up the first time..."click" "Refresh" button on your browser...it will come up.****
Most Reverend John J. Myers
Archbishop of Newark
Archdiocese of Newark
171 Clifton Ave
Newark NJ 07104
Phone: 973-497-4000
AND (very important to send letters to our regional Bishop...supposedly very supportive!!!)
Most Reverend John Flesey
Regional Bishop for Bergen County
Most Blessed Sacrament
787 Franklin Lake Rd
Franklin Lakes NJ 07417
Send Bishop Flesey an email TOO! JFlesey@RCMBS.Org
MONEY:
Since money is the main issue according to Father Sheehan, then we will make it an issue: When you goto mass, drop an empty collection envelope in the collections. (Don't just "not give" he has to know, so drop an empty envelope in and let him know that the money will go to Notre Dame instead. You should also hold off on sending any pledges to the Archbishop's Annual Appeal...the money is suppose to support parishes & schools...since they won't support our school...we won't support them. (The Diocese will "fine" Saint Matthews for not meeting our goal...but..hey...that's father's problem!) Put all money aside until we can figure out how to directly funnel it into Notre Dame. (We can't just send it to Notre Dame because father controls the checkbook. We can't send the money to the sisters because that would be considered "earned income". (Maybe the Home-School Assoc.??)
Spread the Word:
Inform EVERYONE you know. Send emails with this web address. Print out the "Story" and copy it for everyone. People must know. We need thousands of people, not just a few hundred. Spread the word.
Post YOUR ideas:
Lets hear from you. How do you think we can help Notre Dame and the Sisters.
Sign the Petitions:
Sign our ONLINE Petition: (You will need a valid e-mail address.) Get EVERYONE you know to sign it.
Download the petition in Microsoft Word. Copy and pass out to everyone. Get people to sign them. If every single Notre Dame family gets 10 signatures, we will have over 3,000 signatures. Tell Everyone...spread the word...get people to sign!! ***Click the "Refresh" button on your internet browser if it doesn't show up the first time.****
Send Completed Petitions to : Contact Christine at: thescrapgirl@gmail.com
Tell Father Sheehan:
Let Father Sheehan know what you think. ALWAYS do it in a polite, respectful, but firm manner...do not threaten in any way...we ARE Catholics.
So what are you waiting for...DO IT!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
17 comments:
FYI: About 100 people attended the meeting tonite! We started signing petitions to remove Father Sheehan and to reinstate Sister Pat AND Sister Ellen.
Many were concerned about whether or not to registrar their child for next year. They have no management, will renovations be done? (doesn't sound like it) and is there a plan by father to fire the most experienced teachers...you know...the ones who have dedicated their lives to Notre Dame...because they have been there the longest...they get paid the most...so does father want to get rid of them? (to save money of course!)
Possible second article in the Record on Wed??? :)
oh...And it was also noted that father "says one thing"...but seems to do another...lack of trust is a major issue when dealing with him!
It was brought up by several of us a the meeting last night....
Hit him where it hurts. No $$ for St. Matthews.
I will be in church this weekend and will turn in an empty envelope.
I will not walk out of church or be dispuptive/disrespectful in any way but he will not see another dime from this Notre Dame family.
I agree with the empty envelopes idea can we all rally outside 12:30 -1:30 for the next three Sundays to have our petitions signed??? any thoughts. Also share this site and encourage others to blog on since this is where some of the info has been excerpted from for the Record articles. Can we have a catchy slogan like SAVE OUR SISTERS, SAVE OUR SCHOOL :)
I have read your story and you must contact the media(2,4,5,7,9,11,12) and newspapers(NJ and NY). The media spotlight will attract attention to Newark. This is an injustice. Start a fund raiser and get it to the media to save the school. The idea of empty envelopes on Sundays is a great start and maybe a local bank can assist in setting up a save our school campaign. Sister Pat and Sister Ellen were vision running this school and they should not be treated like this. There needs to be a single source web site for information.
The petitions have been drafted at the request of the parents who attended the meeting last evening. I will gladly provide them in email if requested.
Tammy-can you forward to me please
Chrissy
thescrapgirl@gmail.com
Tammy-
I'd like a copy.
Chrissy
thescrapgirl@gmail.com
people are eager to sign petitions get a copy spread the news and help us
Please help get the petitions signed. If you are a member of a "fraternal" organization, like the Knights, or Elks or Rotary or Scouts or if you are a member of the Fire Dept/EMT/Police Dept or if you own a local business...please explain what is going on and enlist everyones' support.
I sent my letter to the Bishop and Archbishop...what about YOU?
sent my letters to the Bishop and Archbishop...
God Bless the Sisters and Notre Dame!
Did you see the great letter to the editor of the BERGEN NEWS 2/28 by Clare Rovito? Nice job! Let's go people...send out those letters and contact the media.
I got some of my coworkers (and two of them are parishioners!) to send letters! Send those letters people!
Dear Bridget and everyone else:
I did not write "Is the Closing of Notre Dame a serious loss" as the title of the letter to the editor of The Bergen News....They did and rightly so, to see if anyone else has my sentiments PLEASE SEND THEM A RESPONSE TO THEIR TITLE of the letter to the editor expressing how you feel about the consolidation of Notre Dame to one camus, the dismissal of the nuns and whatever else you think may be appropriate... :) clare
My whole family sent out letters...that's four more letters to the Bishop and I'm not done yet!
Please get your petitions signed and turned in!
You can download one from this site as needed.
Christine Guido
Post a Comment