Great Catholic neighborhoods?

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Hello everyone…
On Catherine’s advice (from Meet and Greet), I’m posting here to solicit opinions on where best to consider relocating to. My wife, 5 kids and I reside in the North Atlanta, GA area. The cost of a Catholic education here is high (10K for HS and 6.5K for grade school). There are waiting lists to get into the schools, which further complicates matters. It’s not like I had it as a kid (Chicago) where there was widespread support for the Catholic schools from the Catholic community… where religious were the teachers… where “1st Fridays” reminded us of church, not basketball tournies… I think many can relate to this. We were really lucky! A business deal brought me here (while I was working-and still am- as an airline pilot). That adventure is over and we’re “stepping back” and assessing what is the best for our kids. I’d welcome being wrong, but this just doesn’t seem to be the place… The rat race, scheduling schedules, traffic, “fees” for everything you do. Importantly, also, is the low priority the diocese seems to place on Catholic education. Where to go from here? Our priorities tell us we need to find good schools (preferably Catholic if the budget will allow), a reasonable cost of living, strong Catholic community (at least a fair presence), and healthy activities the kids will enjoy. We like the great outdoors! It’s difficult to make a judgement on a place until you’ve lived there and experienced it. My beginning measure is to look at the local bishop. That tells me a lot. I’d warmly welcome your thoughts!

Pax!
John
 
Here just outside philadelphia tuition costs aren’t too bad, and a really nice selection of high schools, diocean and private catholic. There are beautiful state parks and close to New York, Jersey Shore and Washington for visits. I think Delaware County tends to be a little more traditional than the others in the Archdiocese. House prices aren’t too bad. We had a great winter in terms of weather, but don’t count on that every year, it can get cold.
 
Hi John!!!

Welcome!!! Good to see you posting and getting involved!!!

For 18 years, we were in eastern South Dakota. The Catholic School System in Sioux Falls is excellent - and I think affordable. We were in Madison (small town - about 7000 population) - but our Catholic School (St. Thomas - K-8 - was very strong academically and religiously and affordable).

I think unemployment is low, no state income tax, and (in general) good, honest, hard-working people (and generally religous - probabably more Lutherans in the area, then Catholics, then other Christian denominations).

Another area might be eastern Nebraska - Omaha has a strong Catholic tradition with Creighton University (Jesuit I think); St. Mary’s College; good Catholic schools!!! (And, while still the upper midwest might be a bit warmer than South Dakota in the winter).

Bruce

(I was ‘out of town’ for my mother’s 95th birthday celebration when you ‘came’ through on the “Meet and Greet” - so I didn’t get to officially say “Welcome” - but again - welcome!!!
 
Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I’ll add these to my list to investigate!

John
 
It is my understanding that the No. Virginia area is full of praticing Catholics. As an airline pilot you could fly out of Reagan or Dulles in a heartbeat, I would think.
The diocese used to have a great bishop, and I’m not sure if the new one is as good, but the people remain.
Seton Homeschool is nearby, Christendom College, etc. too.
 
Howdy, and welcome to the forums.

Well, Austin isn’t known for inexpesive Catholics Schools but I found your list of towns in your meet and greet post interesting. Rockford Illinois? Interesting. I grew up 30 miles south of there. And they do have airlines that fly in and out of Rockford “International” Airport.

I know several folks in the St. Louis area. One moved there so his son could go to a particular college prep Catholic High School. The other’s hang out on the “Longest Conversation Thread” on the Back Fence. Come chat and get a feel for the place!

And a neighbor just moved near Salem, Illinois with a nice Catholic school. Quite a commute to St. Louis, though.
 
exiled said:
It is my understanding that the No. Virginia area is full of praticing Catholics. As an airline pilot you could fly out of Reagan or Dulles in a heartbeat, I would think.
The diocese used to have a great bishop, and I’m not sure if the new one is as good, but the people remain.
Seton Homeschool is nearby, Christendom College, etc. too.
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Of course, the cost of living here could give you a heart attack if the traffic and the rat race do not. (This said from someone who will never leave Northern Virginia and my beloved parish in the Arlington Diocese – but it definitely would not be everyone’s choice . . . )
 
Since you’re considering the midwest,may I put in a plug for Fort Wayne,Indiana?

5 of my children (the youngest is home with me) go to Blue Ribbon schools and the tuition is affordable ($5,000 for hs,around $3000 for K-8 with the more you have in school it being cheaper)We have a very solid bishop in the Rev. John Michael D’Arcy.Our diocese includes South Bend. We have a small town friendliness in a mid-sized city atomosphere :).
Other things that might interest you:
we have the Fort Wayne International Airport here ;

close to recreational lake activities (45 mins-1 hr.) and not too far from Lake Michigan ;

we are not too far from snow skiing in Michigan but receive a goodly amount ourselves (I love snow!) ;

our housing is one of the most reasonable in the U.S.

Good luck with your decision!
 
Lincoln, Nebraska is a thoroughly Catholic area from what I understand.
 
jurbik said:
Importantly, also, is the low priority the diocese seems to place on Catholic education.
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Why do you think the diocese has a low priority on Catholic education?

Considering the lack of almost any educational facilities just a few short years ago (primary, secondary, college) and the low percentage of Catholics in north georgia, I think they’ve done a fair job of addressing some of the needs.

Could it be better? Yes, but I’d hardly say that its low priority.
 
dawgfan said:
Why do you think the diocese has a low priority on Catholic education?

Considering the lack of almost any educational facilities just a few short years ago (primary, secondary, college) and the low percentage of Catholics in north georgia, I think they’ve done a fair job of addressing some of the needs.

Could it be better? Yes, but I’d hardly say that its low priority.
Click to expand...
Well… my intent was not to get drawn into a back-and-forth on the Atlanta Catholic schools… My remark simply looks at the diocesan budget for education and the absence of a concerted effort (led by the Archbishop) in every parish to move to solve this problem. I speak regularly with teachers. I wrote the Archbishop. I have drawn conclusions based on the collection of facts as I see them. Some may disagree. Where I will agree, is that some love it! However, if you have a big family and don’t have a large paycheck, it is really very tough (for me) to justify staying… just can’t afford it… (Next year: 2 in HS @ $21+K, 3 in grade school @ $20+K = $41K just for tuition). So, I guess that’s why I shared with my pastor that we felt compelled to leave. If I had 2 kids, I could swing it… My intention was not to offend… My apologies if I did… I regret the “low priority” remark as it detracts from the purpose of my post…

John
 
I love Southeast Indiana. I met a priest once who told me Batesville, IN is the Catholic Mayberry.

batesvilleindiana.us/home

You can commute to Louisville or Cincinnati.

It’s pretty hilly in that part of Indiana. And, Indiana is a very lush state–green everywhere.

Here’s the local parish

archindy.org/parishes/listings/045.html

The pastor there now is a former FSSP priest who wanted to stay in the diocese rather than be transferred out.

If you like Latin Masses, this parish is very close

archindy.org/parishes/listings/114.html

Here, I found you a couple of houses:

one under 70,000

Here’s a house in Vevay with 8 acres for 140,000

See–housing prices really reasonable!
 
I’m, not going to schill for my area…ok maybe a little. 😉

Catholic School is on average 3k for K-8 and 7-9K for HS. You’ve got your pick of parishes from gothic to new, traditional to charismatic, to ethnic, and everytning in-between. :highprayer:

Can’t beat the food! (Italian, Portuguese, Seafood)

Cape Cod, Boston, Providence, are all within 45 minutes from here. Great parks, beaches, history.

The weather is not always the greatest but we don’t get anything too extreme (like tornados, hurricanes, floods, blizzarda, etc.

On the down side, this state is the bluest of the blue and we Catholics need to step up and take our state back. We need all the good people we can get.

I’ve had this conversation with my wife a million times. We read about of see vibrant, faithful Catholics on TV and we ask “where are all these people?” We though about moving in the past but feel now that this is home. I guess it is wherever you put down roots.

Where are those Catholics? I find a lot of them here on CA. Its up to us to make our home towns the next Catholic utopia- one person at a time.
 
To all who posted here:
Thanks so much for all the great ideas. I appreciate your thoughts!
 
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