Message from Mercy president Alissa DeJonge
Jul
15
2021
Dear Friends of Mercy,
I’m sure you have seen or heard media coverage about the bankruptcy and reorganization filing by the Diocese of Norwich under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
I am writing to assure you that the Diocese’s action will have no impact on our school or on our students’ education. None of the school’s endowments or any fund-raising proceeds will be included in or affected by the bankruptcy because we are legally separate from the Diocese.
With nearly 60 lawsuits filed against the Diocese relating to abuse alleged to have occurred at the Mount Saint John School – a residential school in Deep River to which students were sent, tuitions paid, and annual audits performed by the State of Connecticut – it became clear the Diocese could not continue to carry out its spiritual, charitable, and educational missions while also bearing the potential costs of litigation associated with these cases.
Norwich is not the first U.S. Catholic organization to take this path. More than 30 diocesan, archdiocesan, and religious institutions, both large and small, have taken this action to fairly compensate victims of abuse while also continuing to advance the spiritual, charitable, and educational mission of the Church.
I want to assure you the school year that will begin in a few weeks will proceed as usual. Mercy High School remains focused on the comprehensive educational preparation of our students.
In Mercy,
Alissa DeJonge '95
President
Mercy High School