The former St. John of the Cross School in Euclid, which closed in 2014 when it merged with nearby SS. Robert and William School, found new life as the Good Shepherd Family Center.
The center was blessed and dedicated on Sept. 15. The first phase, which opened Sept. 3, is home to the Head Start Early Learning and Child Care, Choice Food Pantry and a weekly hot meal program.
Father John Betters, pastor of St. John of the Cross and SS. Robert and William parishes, said the parish wanted to use the former school building for something that would benefit the community. “We had a desire to reach out in the community to meet the physical and emotional needs of the people and to help them,” he added. Father Betters said the project was in development for about two years.
The second phase, which is scheduled for completion by Dec. 31, will include a senior center, St. Gianna Ministry to pregnant mothers and mothers of newborns, a community room and a youth center. There also are plans to renovate the gymnasium.
“We are trying to model our center after the Fatima Family Center and St. Martin de Porres Family Center,” Father Betters said. Both facilities are in Cleveland and operate under the guidance of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland. The target communities for Good Shepherd Family Life Center are Euclid, Willoughby Hills and Richmond Heights, Father Betters said.
The Head Start Early Learning Center and Child Care is off to a good start, said Linda Schettler, director of Early Learning Programs for Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland.
“We’ve been open for a couple of weeks and are at about 60% capacity,” she said. The goal is 97% capacity. The child care center serves children as young as 6 weeks old.
Schettler said the Head Start program, which is a federally funded program of the Center for Families and Children, has received good reviews so far. She said officials who visited the new center were so impressed they are hoping to use it as a model for other centers.
The dedication took place after 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sept. 15. Father Don Oleksiak, diocesan vicar general, celebrated the Mass and presided at the blessing and dedication.