Incident Resolved: A Message from the Pastor

Dear Parishioners of St. Martha and St. Mary Parishes,
 
During the Sunday, December 2^nd Middle School Faith Formation Class a threatening note was discovered by an adult volunteer on the white board in one of the unused classrooms in the St. Mary parish hall. The Wrentham Police Department was called and responded immediately.  Out of a preponderance of caution, all students were kept in the church building, which was locked, and a decision was made to dismiss the students early.  Parents were called and notified to please pick up their children.  No one was allowed access into the Church or Hall. The students were notified when their parent arrived and escorted out accordingly. The police monitored the parking lot to ensure that the dismissal went safely and smoothly.  A follow up email was also sent to all middle school parents, and the text of that email was posted on the Collaborative Parishes’ web site and Facebook pages.
 
At this time, we have more information about last night’s occurrence.  We have identified the student who now admits to writing the message on the white board.  I have spoken to a parent of that student, and we are both highly confident that this was an act of youthful poor judgement, not done with malice or any intent to act on what was written. Wrentham Police Department and I are working closely together on this, and I will continue to work with that family on proper disciplinary action.
 
The staff, volunteers and I realize this must have been a very difficult experience for the students and their families. There are 177 students in this Grade 7 & 8 program, and all the catechists (teachers) worked as quickly as possible to contact a parent of each child from the emergency contact information they had been given.
 
Once again, we would like to thank the Wrentham Police Department, as well as all of the students, teachers, volunteers and parents for the way they handled this difficult situation. I am working with our staff and volunteers to evaluate how we handled each step of this process, which has never had to be followed before, and we will identify any ways we are able to improve the process should any future emergencies of any kind occur. Overall, I am very impressed with how all people involved worked together to support and help each other, which is just what communities of faith like ours strive to do.
 
Keeping all of those affected in any way in our prayers,
Fr. Joe Mozer
 
Rev. Joseph F. Mozer, J.C.L., Pastor
Plainville-Wrentham Catholic Collaborative
St. Martha Parish (Plainville) & St. Mary Parish (Wrentham)
c/o 130 South Street, Wrentham MA 02093
[email protected]
www.pwc.church (Plainville-Wrentham Catholic)
508-384-3373