Two Catholic elementary schools in McKees Rocks and Coraopolis are on the endangered list because a private foundation is unable to continue donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to each next school year.

St. John of God in McKees Rocks and St. Joseph in Coraopolis last week learned that the Maronda Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to their schools over the years, no longer can afford to continue its support.

"Obviously they're responding to very challenging economic times. They simply don't have the same kind of funding they had in the past," said the Rev. Kris Stubna, secretary of Catholic education for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

"It's a huge chunk of money," he added. "This is a serious piece of news. There is a process. We do need to meet and talk about this, explore every possibility."

In addition, Father Stubna said that Holy Spirit School in Millvale is struggling for a different reason: demographics.

No formal decision has been made on the schools, but the Rev. Lou Vallone, pastor of St. John of God as well as St. Catherine of Siena in Cresson, was not optimistic his school could be saved.

Father Vallone said that the foundation's donation of about $480,000 amounted to about two-thirds of the school's income.

"My heart is broken. It's a death," Father Vallone said.

Father Stubna said the foundation provided about $300,000 this year to St. Joseph, nearly 40 percent of its income.

St. John of God has about 145 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and about 20 in preschool. St. Joseph has about 112 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and about 15 in preschool, according to Father Stubna.

Father Stubna said the Maronda Foundation continues to support other Catholic programs, adding he is "very grateful for huge amounts of money that over the course of time have helped to keep those schools running."

As for Holy Spirit, Father Stubna said it opened the school year with 82 students but has just 52 registered so far for fall.

"They're clearly struggling to make a decision as well," he said.

Last week, the diocese announced three definite school closings.

St. Athanasius, with 79 students, will close at the end of this school year.

Four schools supported by the Extra Mile Education Foundation -- Holy Rosary in Homewood, St. Benedict the Moor in the Hill District, St. James in Wilkinsburg and St. Agnes in Oakland -- will be consolidated into two schools because of a declining city school-age population.

Holy Rosary and St. James will merge this fall at a location to be determined. The other two will merge the following year. Collectively, the Extra Mile Schools serve nearly 700 children who are primarily African-American and non-Catholic.

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