The reorganization and unification of Catholic education in Fremont took a step forward this week with the approval of Toledo diocesan Bishop Leonard P. Blair to create Bishop Hoffman Catholic School for the 2010-2011 academic year. Bishop James Hoffman, a Fremont native and son of Saint Ann Church in Fremont  served as the Bishop of the Toledo Diocese from 1981 until his death on February 8, 2003.

The new school will incorporate two elementary schools and one high school into a new model for Catholic education in Fremont. A proposed model for reorganization of the local Catholic schools for the next school year was presented to the bishop in December 2009. A committee of Catholic School professionals and volunteers known as The Holy Family Formation Team (HFFT) reviewed six potential organizational models throughout last year.

The current Sacred Heart parish school building will become Bishop Hoffman School-East Campus for grades Pre-K through grade 3. The current Saint Joseph parish school building will become Bishop Hoffman School-West Campus for grades 4 through 8, and the current Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School will become Bishop Hoffman High School for grades 9 through 12. As students will not be attending classes in the Saint Ann school building, the parish will find an alternative use for the building that is consistent with the purposes of a Catholic Community.

To read more, click here to see the full press release.

Catholic Charities is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant from the Ohio Benefit Bank to help local residents file their 2009 federal and state income taxes. This service will be provided at no cost to area residents with household income of $57,000 or less. We are offering this free service through the partnership between Second Harvest Food banks and the Governor’s Office of Faith Based & Community Initiatives. 

The program encourages eligible residents to maximize their tax credits. Taxes are filed electronically with quick refunds to participants. Individual appointments can be made by calling Catholic Charities at 419-244-6711 x460 & x461.