Dismissal of beloved St. Mark School principal provokes anger and disillusionment with the church
By Gary Walker and Joe Piasecki
Parents credit St. Mark School Principal Mary Ann McQueen with reviving the school
Dozens of parents whose children attend St. Mark School in Venice are crying foul over the impending removal of its popular principal by the pastor of St. Mark Church, whom they broadly accuse of abusing his power out of resentment for the school’s rising profile in the community.
More than 50 families contacted The Argonaut this week to voice support for St. Mark School Principal Mary Ann McQueen, who in six years increased enrollment in the K-8 parochial school from 183 to 300 students, oversaw campus renovations, increased student financial aid by a factor of five, and engaged families in fundraising efforts as well as service-learning projects.
Some angry parents say they might remove their kids from the school if McQueen is forced out; many more say they plan to stop attending or donating money to the church.
As pastor of the parish, Father Paul Spellman has complete authority over hiring decisions at the school, according to a Feb. 21 letter to parents by Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles Edward Clark. Parochial schools like St. Mark, unlike private Catholic schools, are “meant to be an integral component of the parish in fulfilling a pastor’s and a parish’s responsibility for evangelization,” writes Clark, who states support for Spellman’s decision.
Spellman, who arrived at St. Mark in 2014, declined to comment for this story, stating that “when dealing with employment issues, we are not at liberty to discuss them with anyone who is not a party to the situation.”
That apparently includes the advisory St. Mark School Board, which member Pammela Jackson says Spellman has prevented from meeting since the school year began in the fall.
Spellman previously moved to dismiss McQueen in April 2018, but she received an 11th-hour reprieve after parents and board members privately lobbied Spell-
man and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to reconsider.
This time the gloves are starting to come off. In emails and conversations with The Argonaut, parents accuse Spellman of making no discernable effort to reconcile his unstated differences with McQueen, remaining detached from school affairs, and even showing outward contempt for church parishioners involved in the school.
“Here’s a man who is not a leader and doesn’t have any empathy for people. He doesn’t know any of the parents or children by name, and he doesn’t make an effort to learn them. When [McQueen] started to succeed I think his ego couldn’t handle it,” said Jackson, a Mar Vista resident whose son and daughter graduated from St. Mark.
A group of parents met Tuesday to explore options for challenging McQueen’s dismissal, including a public petition to the archdiocese.
“Last time we were heartbroken and sad, and this time we’re fired up and mad,” said Sarah Kelly, a filmmaker who enrolled her daughter at St. Mark four years ago after she had drifted away from the faith amid scandals plaguing the Catholic Church.
“There are many parents who were somewhat lapsed Catholics or were dismayed by the horrific sexual scandals and had left the church, but we’ve been inching back into the Catholic education and our faith because of the principal — not because of Father Paul,” she said.
St. Mark parent Tessa Goss said she plans to keep her daughter at St. Mark School because of the legacy McQueen has built, but don’t expect to see her
on Sundays.
“We’re going to stay, but we’re never going to attend church again [at St. Mark],” Goss asserted. “We’re disheartened and angry that the Catholic Church would put a man like this in charge of our children.”
According to the school’s website, Spellman is a former CPA who joined the seminary after volunteer work in the Catholic Chaplain’s Program at Central Juvenile Hall, a shelter for homeless youth and a shelter for homeless women and children. He was pastor of a church in South Los Angeles for nine years before St. Mark.
Parents who spoke to The Argonaut on condition of anonymity, some fearing their children might otherwise be asked to leave the school, say Spellman demonstrates an abiding love and admirable compassion for the less fortunate, but shows little interest in engaging with more affluent parishioners affiliated with the school.
In a Feb. 23 letter to parents stating that she did not receive a contract offer for the 2019-20 school year, McQueen wished the school continued success without her.
“As you can imagine, I am deeply disappointed by this decision. While this is not the outcome I expected or hoped for, I nonetheless care deeply about this community and want to see that it continues to grow and flourish under a new leader,” McQueen wrote.
In a Feb. 25 letter to parents, Spellman asked for faith in his judgment.
“Please know that this decision has been made with prayer, consultation, and discernment, involving a great number of people. This discernment has been taking place over the past several years, and I have made this difficult decision based on what I believe will help us to continue to make St. Mark School a place of faith, spirituality, and education for our students and their families,” he wrote.
Shame the diocese wont move him to another parish. Maybe one without a school. The church is still the same as when I was a kid here – not all that much going on but the school has done a turnaround. Poor lady.
I trust St Marks Decision. This store has a feeling of spite not what is right. It’s sad when people act like spoiled brats. Not just in schools but every business in this area talks about this kind of behavior. They want what they want and that’s all that counts
After having 8 Principals in 12 years, this school finds stability in Mrs. McQueen, someone with a vision, someone that wants to see this school and its students succeed. She has done more in 5 years than 8 Principals and 2 Pastors have accomplished in 12 or more years. You better beleive we want what we want for our kids, they deserve better than what has been offered in the past.
Great article Gary and Joe! Balanced and accurate.
Not accurate! Biased & not tru. Opinions are not factual
balanced?
I am very familiar with the situation at St. Mark. Spellman has made it clear time and time again he does not care about the students well being — to the point that he has actively put them in harm’s way by not reporting incidents that have taken place on school grounds to the school itself (fights between homeless men, an intoxicated parishioner who drove her near nearly INTO families during a school concert). He does not care about these kids, and it is sickening.
Your COMMENTS ABOUT Father Paul NOT CARING ABOUT THE CHILDREN, IS BEYOND D ABSURD. it Is QUITE CLEAR THAT THE PARENTS WHO ARE OPPOSING FATHER, AR SO MUCH MORE CONCERNED IN GETTING THEIR WAY, THAN THEY ARE ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN; WELFARE. sham E ON THEM! Barbara KENNEDY
Mary McQueen came to St Mark with agenda – to build a fiefdom that resembled the upper crust and prestigious ambiance of Marymount, where she had been an academic officer. This myopic and single-track vision had the intended effect: It attracted a constituency to the school that has expectations of royal treatment, snobbish disregard and deep pockets to fund programs and advantages you could only get at schools that charge twice or three times the tuition. Of course, savvy and self-interested parents caught on and dovetailed her scheme with a vengeance.
This carving out of an oasis, removed and aloof from the quotidian realities of the parish, was the principal reason (no pun intended) why Father Paul had deep and substantiated reservations with the school maven.
As a music minister in the Spanish community, I have never seen McQueen at a single Spanish mass in my ten years as director. The outreach efforts that one would expect were brazenly absent.
Successful principals who care to nurture and buoy the spiritual health of their parish communities, consistently ensconce themselves in various aspects of liturgical and operational imperatives.
The financial demands of the school were at times diametrically opposed to the Pastoral plans as laid out by the ministerial leadership of the parish.
I find this article contemptible, irascible and biased.
And there you have it, folks. The eloquently written & HONEST feelings of Spellman’s BITTER parishioners. How dare we parents put our children’s best interest ahead of other parishioners? The nerve of us to spend our hard earned money on school improvements instead a new bathroom for Spellman’s Rectory. As a Catholic and SMS community member, I make my donations to the church on Sunday, for church use; and my donations to the school, for school use. Perhaps, if Father Paul would like more from our “deep pockets” (your words, not mine), then HE should be the one spending more time at the school, engaging the school families and students. He barely makes it to morning assembly on Mondays for all of 10 minutes then rushes off. He does not know my name nor my child’s names despite having at least 6 conversations with him in the past 6 months. If MaryAnn McQueen’s agenda included increasing funding to improve our kids’ education, provide more opportunity and scholarships for economically disadvantaged students, and offer advanced programs so all children at SMS have a real chance to succeed in life and ultimately give back to our community, then sign my family up for wherever she lands next!
I am not bitter; nor am I the property of Father Paul. I am a member of the church laity, with my own agency and decision-making capacity.
I have never been a staunch or blind follower of any pastor. In fact, I’m keen that most pastors have flaws along with virtues. In that vein, I know well that Father Paul struggles with some aspects of administration.
My retort and indignation were summoned because this article chose to paint him as a villainous tyrant with little regard for those he has been commissioned to lead. It was a narrative that harpooned on tropes and dichotomies of our time. But the truth of how the stalemate evolved were not addressed.
Father’s weekly religious education classes with students were not mentioned. The predilection of students for him as confessor, negated. And ultimately the 400K in subsidies from the church to the school conveniently glossed over and forgotten by those who knew well they’ve existed all along.
The real story line here are the pitfalls of gentrification and how incensed wealthy stalwarts can become when a leader actually holds them to a Christian standard of asceticism and accountability.
Ms. Ana Garate has lead the Spanish program at St. Mark School for four years. For at least the past 3 years, she has lead the students in Spanish song for the Christmas and Spring concerts. She teaches students across all grades; Tk -8th. Many students have been able to start high school at second year Spanish. I wonder have you reached out to Miss Ana the Spanish teacher, or Mr. Robinson the music teacher to collaborate. How have you reached out to the music and Spanish program at SMS? Consider how you, Alex, have made efforts to bridge the gap between the school Spanish and Music programs with the parish ministries.
How to address this comment eludes me. I’m not entirely sure what the objective here would be, since the school and church programs don’t overlap. What practical suggestions can you posit?
Wow, you are a “Smart Catholic”! Ditto to your comments!
Don’t let the negative remarks about Mrs McQueen, the school community and the completely one sided and biased decision to not renew her contract fool you.
It is merely a handful of hateful , unempathetic and disgruntled people who could care less if the 300 plus (70% catholic )students of a wonderful Catholic school thrives or fails. Instead of embracing the resurgence and success of this particular catholic school ( and there aren’t many unfortunately because of these types of abuses of power ) they are undermining it out of petty jealousy.
They have selfish motives who know nothing of the situation except the one they have sensationalized in their own mind. And they certainly do not want any part of the truth and get to know these fantastic ,loving , giving and very spiritual families who love the Catholic community they feel great pride ( and will continue) to feel great pride in.
Shame on you. I blame you not Father Paul. He is merely the messenger for this hateful attack that was under way the moment this devout and hard working woman stepped on that campus. Unfortunate it’s happening amid all the other injustice and pain the world is so full of at this time in history.
#WEarestmark
I take umbrage with the depiction of me as nestled in a cavalcade of a mutinous angry mob. If you knew me, you’d actually realize I care deeply about children and the flock in general who chooses to worship at St Mark. Those who have taken on activistic roles, deriding and condemning Father Paul are the ones who have not displayed civility or charity.
I have no doubts McQueen is a peerless educator, administrator and change agent. However, it has become obvious she challenges the pastor’s authority, issuing demands and requests that fall outside archdiocesan policy. It is this deliberate and unconscionable insubordination that have proven caustic and damaging to the pastor-principal relationship.
This is an ignorant response. So it’s wrong to put in place great programs that would cost more elsewhere.
Alex
Thank you so much for your reply here. I can definitely understand the desire and concerns for one parish community. It is so important that a Catholic community be united under one mission. And, that mission should be an inclusive one. In the end, our goal is to help the entire community so that we are building the Kingdom of God.
The unfortunate reality is that so often communities like ours are divided due to overgeneralizations and stereotypes. And these are often fueled by stories and half truths. These then filter throughout the communities like rumors. But, when we look below the surface, we find that the stories are not true.
I know that this is the case because I have served on the School Board at St. Mark for the last 5 years. I have seen how Principal McQueen and the Board members made sure to reach out to the parish community and to a variety of different groups. Our intention has been to build one community of faith.
Several years ago, the school pioneered a project to reconstruct much of the trees, lawns, and parking lots. I know about this because I helped with the work. We reached out to every ministerial group in the Church. And, we provided plans that tried to meet the needs of everyone in both the parish and the school. These plans included more trees on the campus, more parking spaces, and more safety for where cars would enter or leave the Church campus.
Mary Ann McQueen herself has been extremely sensitive to the need to serve all members of the parish, school, and wider community. Under her leadership, the scholarship fund for students and families who could not afford the tuition went up dramatically. In fact, this was one of our chief priorities in our budgeting every year. Mary Ann McQueen, herself, took money out of her own pocket to make sure that poorer children could attend summer school at St. Mark. At no time was she reimbursed for this. And, the school leaders reached out to families in the Religious Education community on Saturday to see if there were students that wanted to attend the school.
There were also our efforts this last year to build a “One Faith Community”. I know because I headed the subcommittee for this. This was an attempt to bring together the parish and school communities. I invited leaders of the Board, parish leaders, and Father Paul himself to these meetings. We created a list of possible actions that could be done to make the entire community more inclusive and active together.
These are just some of the things that have been pioneered by the school leadership in order to bring people together on both sides. This does not even touch on how the Parent Action Committee has been active in making sure that families and students of the Religious Education department could afford to come to the Fall Festival put on by the school each year.
Members of the parish have always been welcome to come and be a part of the organizing and activities that school leaders have created. And, when they do, they have said out loud that the stories that they have been literally told about the attitudes amongst school parents are not at all true.
But this is the problem. If people in part of the community only listen to the stories and rumors, then they will never meet the actual people. The sad part is that this type of isolationism goes against all elements of our faith. Catholic Christians are unique because we believe in an organic community. We believed that all people should come together and work for the common good. However, when stories separate out the us versus them, parish versus school, church families versus school families, we are violating the basic purpose of our faith. We are supposed to be united in creating a Kingdom of God based upon Christian love, compassion, and outreach to all people. And, when we have conflicts with one another, we should be honest with one another give an opportunity for change. The opposite is what happened here. What we saw was a lack of transparency, rumors, and demonizing of one part of the community. That is not Catholic. And, it is not helpful to the overall good of the community.
I commend the conciliatory tone of your reply. It speaks volumes of your disposition as a human being and I can only express gratitude for shared values.
I heartily concur that we can often be goaded in divergent ways of thinking by poorly vetted conceits or misinformation.
I can only offer my perspective and prism.
The gentleman who contacted me about the parking project several years ago seemed intent on jostling me into submission. When I asked for artifacts or written documents, I was supplied with propaganda. It was clear to me the loser in the equation was the church.
McQueen has not once set foot at the Spanish mass. She has never introduced herself to me. The time I did see her she seemed removed and uncomfortable being at the function.
I also know by primary account that she’s draconian with the staff and at times insensitive to the challenges presented to her.
I’ve dealt with dozens of pastors, having been a music minister since 1995. And in my negotiations and dealing with him I’ve never once been bullied or disrespected. To the contrary, he seeks my counsel and opinion assiduously.
Alex
Thank you for your response. I do agree that we need to discuss these issues with civility. And, we need to recognize that we need to be kind to one another given that we share a similar faith.
I was on the Green Committees and project. I can assure you that we reached out to every ministry in order to hear the concerns that everyone had. We also did provide information for each person who asked for that information. The Greening Project was intended to move the lawn from one side of the campus to the other so that it could be utilized by the kids in the school. However, we also were doing this in order to offer a picnic area for the Church for the weekend. This would allow for multiple activities for parishioners as well as for the school. And, we developed plans for a shrine to Mary outdoors that would offer a place for services for many of our more traditional parishioners, especially for many of the Spanish speaking members of our Church. parOne of the concerns that was raised was the possible loss of parking spaces. So, we worked with the project manager to make sure that there would actually be more parking spaces available by the end of the project. We provided a forum for all people to hear about the project. At this forum, parishioners and school members were given all the information about the project in a completely transparent manner.
As for the point about Principal McQueen be draconian, this is also untrue. The individual behind these comments has been caught lying and stealing from the school. Principal McQueen could, and maybe should, have fired her. Instead, she tried to keep her on in order to help her. This individual, who has made these comments, has been known by multiple people to sow discord amongst people in the community. I know this because I have talked to leaders at the school who know this individual and what she has done.
You said that Principal McQueen has not attended any of the Spanish speaking masses. I actually agree with you that this is an issue. It is important that any leader of the school or Church should reach out to all members of the community. But, keep in mind, that Principal McQueen has actually done this in a number of ways. Just as one example. Principal McQueen worked with the Knights of Columbus this year. Both leaders of the Knights have said how impressed they were with her leadership and her outreach. They have worked together to do some amazing projects this year including a new scholarship given from the veterans of our community.
I say this because your concern is valid. But there is a solution to the concern. Instead of relying upon rumors and stories, individuals from the parish should come to the school and get to meet the leaders. They will find, as the leaders of the Knights of Columbus did, that the parents, teachers, and administrators are very kind and open people. But this requires outreach. The problem, and I do say this with civility, is that most of the outreach has been coming from the school to the church.
Don’t get me wrong. We are not perfect people. No one is. We, in the school, can always do more to reach out to the Church community. We can always do more to encourage more families to attend the masses on the weekend. And, we can always do more to encourage our children to grow up in the faith.
However, the solution to a divide is not to spread rumors. It is not to make overgeneralizations. It is not to believe the worst about one side before actually working with them. The solution to our problems is to meet each other and work with each more.
However, from my experience and many of my fellow leaders’ experiences, the rumors and stories of a few individuals have poisoned people and made them to believe that the people in the school are selfish, closed off, and trying to do harm to the Church community. If you look to the overall record of outreach, common projects, and the desire to work together, none of this is true. For example, my wife works on the Parent Action Committee. They had offered to Father Paul that our school auction, this year, would raise money to upgrade the parish hall. And, we are doing this to find a common project for both the benefit of the parish and the school.
I only hope that leaders in the Church will see that the parents and leaders in the School want to form a stronger community. How do I know? Because I tried to reach out to Father Paul and other leaders in the Church to make this happen. And, unfortunately, I faced a lack of follow through.
But there still is time if we can get past these stereotypes of one another.
Alex, is this is what you truly believe? thent I’m sorry, because you are part of the problem at St. Mark Parish. People like you continue to assist in the Divide between the Church and the School, that was there long before Principal McQueen set foot on the campus. “FACT” As for the Pastoral Plan, there is only a Pastoral Plan, (well Booklet, nothing has really happening) because of the vision Parents, Students and Faculty had for a Parish that had been neglected for years. I would invite you to look at that booklet, you will find one line about the school, I will say it again, you will find 1 line about the school, please tell me how that is inclusive? And it was my understanding that those involved had to beg to get that 1 line in a Pastoral Plan that did not include the school. You, along with some others that just do not want to see change, and you know who they are, they are in your circle, are part of the problem here and you should be ashamed. Parents from this school have tried for 5 years with encouragement from the Principal to help bridge a gap between the Church and the School that has existed for years and years. I can also confirm, that there are many more Parishioners at the Church as a result of the school, not as a result of anything else i’m sorry to say. Facts are facts my friend, they can not be disputed. Nice try! Oh, and those Savvy and Self-Interested Parents, they give $130,000 in Scholarships to a number of Catholic Families that would otherwise never had an opportunity to attend this school. Lots of self-interest there!
This is quite the heavy-handed response. It aims at being beguiling but its undercurrent is rapaciously deleterious.
Those who portend that the school is the locomotor that draws the faithful each Sunday have really imbibed way too much of their own conceit.
And even though this doesn’t warrant an Exhibit A, I will point out that the school’s conspicuous absence from community celebrations like the Thanksgiving Mass are a testament to the disconnect between both entities. When you build a world apart, it logically follows that there will be a growing schism. And in this regard, the pastor is obligated to extricate the seminal force of the divide.
Ms. Ana Garate has lead the Spanish program at St. Mark School for four years. For at least the past 3 years, she has lead the students in Spanish song for the Christmas and Spring concerts. She teaches students across all grades; Tk -8th. Many students have been able to start high school at second year Spanish. I wonder have you reached out to Miss Ana the Spanish teacher, or Mr. Robinson the music teacher to collaborate. How have you reached out to the music and Spanish program at SMS? Consider how you, Alex, have made efforts to bridge the gap between the school Spanish and Music programs with the parish ministries.
As a parishioner at this church, I know that the Spanish music minister is more interested in performing and having a center stage and showy spotlight for himself than giving one to the children of the parish or the school. Sorry.
In then ten years I’VE been there, I’ve never seen him reach out to the kids of the community, I’ve never seen him interact with the community other than to flaunt his starring role and make sure he dominates the music, I’ve never seen him support non-professional singers, and I’ve never seen him interact with the school kids himself.
If someone is being paid and in the pocket of Father Paul themselves, it’s a bit rich to proclaim the school as being the snooty ones. Is it really THAT hard to walk across the parking lot and interact with the school kids once in an entire decade? Or would that mean showing up on days when you’re not paid to show up? If you’re only in it for the money, it shows.
Long before I was a paid music minister, I volunteered in various ministries throughout the archdiocese. I only became a paid cantor in 2007. I was invited to serve St Mark by Father Michael in 2008.
I’ve participated in various events throughout my tenure that have been for church building and community reinforcement.
And frankly, my goal each Sunday is to invite the assembly to sing. Our simple guitar-cantor dynamic is set up precisely to buoy the congregation to participate actively and potently, which they do each Sunday.
I was unaware that the school children pined to sing in the Spanish mass. My experience with the school is that they are inexorably an English-only program and that any Spanish performance is not encouraged.
I have a very demanding Monday through Friday job as an IT manager, so a connection with the school faculty would be difficult. But, my phone is published via the church bulletin and I’m always open to collaborative ideas.
And the school children showing up on Sunday would necessitate the commitment of their parents, which as I said in a previous comment seems to be absent.
Hello. This is Isabella. I have been in St Mark School for 9 years with my grand children, and see the enormous difference that Mrs. McQueen has done to the School in every aspects. I wrote un e-mail to Father Paul Spellman saying that what he is doing is pure DESCRIMNATION against Mrs. McQueen. We are not going to tolerate it .
We should try to get rid of Father Paul Spellman, instead.
As a parent of two students that have attended St. Mark, I can attest to everything stated in this article. Mrs. McQueen is an exceptional principal in ever way and has grown the school and community tremendously. On the other hand, Father Paul knows none of the students, takes no interest in the school, and has made consistent efforts to undercut the progress in recent years.
Sadly, for those that believe in the Catholic church, this does nothing but further promote accusations of misogyny, abuse of power, and lack of oversight. That Father Paul can make a unilateral decision that effects hundreds of children, hundreds of parents, dozens of teachers and faculty, and provide ZERO rationale, justification or even explanation is a discredit to the church and incredibly damaging to the school and community. Those that love the church and believe in its teachings can not stand by quietly and allow this to happen. I beseech those that may have power and influence within the Catholic church to help remedy this injustice.
Mrs. MacQueen exemplifies everything that good in the Catholic church, and as a principal and educator. She is fantastic at her job and the results show. The same can’t be said for Father Paul. If there is any question who should go, it is undoubtably him.
I am enraged that these school families are accusing Father Spellman of being
a bully for they are the real bullies.
As a pastor, Father Spellman has a dual responsibility of leading both the
parish and the school at St. Mark Parish Community.
These families are selfishly only thinking about themselves and not the well-being
of the parish as a whole which relies on his strong leadership.
I have been an active parishioner of St. Mark Church for several years, and I
can only say good things about Father Paul Spellman. Since he arrived in 2014,
St. Mark has had a total turnaround and the number of parishioners has increased
drastically just because of him. He is a man of great character, honor and
faith with compassion for all individuals. He has a genuine interest in
getting to know the parishioners and takes the time to talk and listen,
visits the sick and homebound personally to bring them Holy Communion
(which at most other churches is done by Lay Eucharistic Ministers)
and will come at a moment’s notice to assist, support or pray with a family in need
whatever the hour.
He is deeply admired and loved by the parish community for his profound faith,
dedication, encouragement, support, compassion and inspiration to all people.
I am absolutely appalled that these mean and false accusations and judgments
have been made against him. These school families are bitter because they do
not agree with the decision, but they are only thinking of themselves and not
the bigger picture which involves the entire St. Mark Parish Community which
thrives because of Father Paul Spellman’s leadership.
I did not see one quote from a parent calling Father Spellman a bully. Please be accurate with your words. They matter. This is the kind of “us against them” attitude that Father Spellman’s “leadership” has fostered. Heather Flannery, in her comment below, said it best. The 5 years under his leadership has resulted in a divided community. A true leader would have worked to bridge the gap. This move only shows his complete disregard for a very large portion of the community.
Dear Anon.,
The School community is “selfishly” thinking about the school. That their children attend. Do you know who I am referring to? The 300 young souls who could have been brought to the Catholic Church but for the Priest affiliated with the church who did not learn ONE of their names nor make ONE gesture towards ONE child to draw closer to the walls of his church.
Yep, selfish parents… Only thinking about our CHILDREN who have been loved and lifted by MaryAnn McQueen. Oh…I mean, until your phony priest fired her.
Selfish? Who’s selfish, Anon.? The parents? Or the jealous sad little former CPA, failed engagement to a woman, hides behind a collar “priest?
Take away the fear you’ve been fed and just think. For one second.
Peace and love, sister.
T.Gee,
Emotions are high, but it is not necessary to exaggerate your statement. It is obviously false that Fr. Paul did not learn ONE name or make ONE gesture toward any of the children. I have personally witnessed many positive interactions between him and the students of St. Mark School.
And what is meant by a “phony” priest? He is a well-educated, intelligent, and spiritual priest; nothing phony about him. It does not help the situation when you make unkind and hurtful remarks (“sad little former CPA”). His business/accounting background has benefitted our parish. He gave up a very successful career to serve God.
Also, to clarify, Mrs. McQueen was not fired. Her position requires an annual contract, and she was simply not offered one for the 2019-2020 school year. This gives her plenty of time to find a new position in a school that will be a better fit for her. By making this decision, Fr. Paul has demonstrated that he is not going to hide from making the right choice for our children and their teachers.
Your “Peace and love” closing borders on sarcastic. Please, let’s all be civil and avoid being unkind and judgmental. That will not solve anything; it will only widen the divide. Let’s pray!
I am enraged that these school families are accusing Father Spellman of being
a bully for they are the real bullies.
As a pastor, Father Spellman has a dual responsibility of leading both the
parish and the school at St. Mark Parish Community.
These families are selfishly only thinking about themselves and not the well-being
of the parish as a whole which relies on his strong leadership.
I have been an active parishioner of St. Mark Church for several years and I
can only say good things about Father Paul Spellman. Since he arrived in 2014,
St. Mark has had a total turnaround and the number of parishioners has increased
drastically just because of him. He is a man of great character, honor and
faith with compassion for all individuals. He has a genuine interest in
getting to know the parishioners and takes the time to talk and listen,
visits the sick and homebound personally to bring them Holy Communion
(which at most other churches is done by Lay Eucharistic Ministers)
and will come at a moment’s notice to assist, support or pray with a family in need
whatever the hour.
He is deeply admired and loved by the parish community for his profound faith,
dedication, encouragement, support, compassion and inspiration to all people.
I am absolutely appalled that these mean and false accusations and judgments
have been made against him. These school families are bitter because they do
not agree with the decision, but they are only thinking of themselves and not
the bigger picture which involves the entire St. Mark Parish Community which
thrives because of Father Paul Spellman’s leadership.
@carlton leaf. I did not see one quote in the article from a parent calling Father Spellman a bully. Please be accurate with your words. They matter. This is the kind of “us against them” attitude that Father Spellman’s “leadership” has fostered. Heather Flannery, in her comment below, said it best. The 5 years under his leadership has resulted in a divided community. A true leader would have worked to bridge the gap. This move only shows his complete disregard for a very large portion of the community. The School is the FUTURE of the Parish. Yet he has managed to alienate a very large % of the parents of those children. The investment in the school only serves as an investment in the parish. Perhaps it does not pay off as quickly as say… a new Rectory bathroom, but the rewards are immeasurable. This is another failure of Father Spellman’s leadership; his failure to see the long term benefits that a thriving school community has on pulling children and their families into the embrace of the Church. Instead we are labeled “spoiled” and “rich” and “self interested.”
Well said Mr. Leaf, These parents are selfish and do not know how to behave at church or as chirstians. Fr. Paul is a remarkable man and has made the right decision. Let these foul parents follow their evil queen to wherever she leads them far away from my church!
I have been a very active parishioner of St Mark for nearly fifty years and have seen both good and bad over the years. I can honestly say that vicious remarks regarding Father Paul are far from the truth. Though Ms McQueen has done some very good things during her tenure, there have also been some things that have NOT gone well. As Bishop Clark stated, St. Mark is a PARISH school, not a private Catholic School. The feeling of community has been lacking a great deal for many years. St Mark has a very involved religious education program, and the volunteers are made to feel less than welcome when using the school facilities on weekends. I could elaborate, but I choose not to.
As for Father Paul not caring about the children, this could not be farther from the truth. He DOES know people by name and is always very friendly. In the number of years our former pastor was here, I can probably count on two hands the number of times he would come to visit the children in religious education. Father Paul makes his presence VERY well known.
In addition, the “private” protests talked about last year included involving the CHILDREN in carrying signs of protest and other various activities.
I like the one comment that was titled “WWJD?” Yes indeed. What WOULD Jesus Do?
I KNOW that Father Paul’s decision was not an easy one. And to all of these self proclaimed Christians I say ” maybe we ALL need to pray a little more instead of throwing stones”.
I am confident that we will rise above these ashes even stronger, just as we have in past years.
It was appalling to read the February 27th article titled “Parents Paint Pastor as Schoolhouse Bully”, written and published by The Argonaut, Venice’s local paper. The article interviews several parents who disagree with Father Paul’s decision not to renew Principal McQueen’s contract with the school. While we understand and appreciate that changes to one’s children’s school can be difficult, Father Paul has made this decision (which is his authority to make), and the decision has been reviewed and backed by the Archdiocese.
What is most unsettling about this article is that it in no way adheres to journalistic standards and ethics. It serves as an accelerant to a small sampling of parent’s inflamed emotions, going as far as calling Father Paul a “Bully” in the headline. That word should not be used lightly, especially when referencing an authority figure at a school. It is a clear attempt to shock the reader into clicking on the article, and is journalistic malpractice using it to describe Father Paul.
Further, the Argonaut makes no attempt to balance the opinion, and doesn’t quote one parishioner or parent in support of Father Paul, while we know the majority of our parish greatly appreciates and supports him.
Shame on the Argonaut for their lack of professionalism, laziness, and biased reporting.
Jesus would fire Mr. Spellman and promote Mrs. McQueen. I’m a member of the Parish for not much longer but the article was spot on. Very brave anonymous. Happy to discuss at anytime.
and words like that are EXACTLY why I choose not to release my name. I do not need to be belittled as Father Paul has been, and anyone else who has seen the ups and downs of this parish for as many years as I. I do not deny that Ms McQueen has done good things. But I also know first hand that she has not been involved in parish activities, nor has she made an effort to make many people who may not be school parents feel welcome. As far as the remark about how it’s been FATHER Paul’s (not Mr Spellman’s) agenda to get rid of her from the time she stepped foot on this campus, she was here for two years before he even arrived. I have been involved in parish ministries from the time I came to St Mark in 1971. I have seen both sides. Call me a coward if you wish. I don’t care. As far as leaving the parish because you are not happy is concerned. A parish is a COMMUNITY of people, and I don’t stay for one person. I stay for myself. St Mark has made me feel like family through most of these 48 years. And when I didn’t feel like family, the attitude was that I was here before those people came to knock me down, and I will be here when they are gone. I have not lived in this parish for over 26 years, yet this is my home, and I will stay.
So basically some angry parishioners would like a school principal who is (as Mrs. McQueen has proven) dedicated to the school and children 24/7, is there from sun-up to sun-down each day, from car line until the sun sets, visible and active at school events and extracurriculars on weekends, and on top of that should be at all parish activities as well?
With what time, exactly? Literally, explain to us how she’s supposed to fit that into the 70 or 80 hour work week she currently seems to be managing?
And why is she being faulted for not having superhuman abilities to be in two places at once, when Father Paul can’t be bothered to visit the school more than 10 minutes at a stretch before going somewhere more important to him? Constantly? For several years at a time? He has missed almost every important event for the kids and their development for years and years.
To those parishioners commenting on this article, I can understand you feeling defensive about Father Paul, but you obviously have no understanding of the school or Mrs. MacQueen as a principle.
This article is concerning the school and the education of hundreds of children. You may like Father Paul as a pastor and no one is saying he is a bad person, but the way he is treating Mrs. MacQueen and negatively impacting the school is true and obvious.
As far as what Jesus would do. I’d assume it would involve compassion, forgiveness, and understanding. And most of all, be in the best interest of the children. And that is certainly NOT what is happening.
I have been an active member in the church and religious education as well as have friends and family chastised by your so called Angel principal (Demon). She is not good for your children and our community. I am glad she is gone!
The difficult decision Father Paul Spellman has had to make is not about Mrs. McQueen, it is about the role that religion plays in Catholic education. Any school can teach the basics, reading, writing and arithmetic. Most schools stop short of teaching respect and love for one another.
My two daughters went to St. Mark’s School in the 1990’s. There were many differences of opinion among the school families over the years, however, one constant was that we all enrolled our children because we wanted them educated in the Catholic faith. St, Mark’s mission statement, ” love of self, love of others and love of the environment” was exactly what we wanted our kindergartner to be taught.
I have no criticism of Mrs. McQueen and I’m sorry that St. Mark School is losing their principal. However, the value of a Catholic education is not measured in dollars. It is born at home, nurtured in church, and reinforced in school and religious education.
After 30 years as a St. Mark parishioner, Eucharist Minister and Finance Council member it is my opinion that there has never been a finer, more spiritual, or self-sacrificing pastor at St. Mark over the years than Father Paul Spellman.
I don’t believe that the people who have written such accusatory and disrespectful words about Fr. Paul’s character, could have ever participated in one of his many weekly Masses. You only have to hear him call the children from the congregation to join him on the altar, to feel his love and devotion for the Church’s teachings and his desire to share it with the community.
One person asked WWJD? I think he would do exactly what Fr. Paul has been doing these past four years at St. Mark’s Church and School.
I was appalled to read in The Argonaut, our local paper, what amounts to a hit piece on Father Paul. The article interviews several parents who disagree with Father Paul’s decision not to renew Principal McQueen’s contract with the school. While we understand and appreciate that changes to one’s children’s school can be difficult, Father Paul has made this decision (which is his authority to make), and the decision has been reviewed and backed by the Archdiocese.
What is most unsettling about this article is that it in no way adheres to journalistic standards and ethics. It serves only as an accelerant to a small sampling of parent’s inflamed emotions, going as far as calling Father Paul a “Bully” in the headline. That word should not be used lightly, especially when referencing an authority figure at a school. It is a clear attempt to shock the reader into clicking on the article, and is journalistic malpractice using it to describe Father Paul.
Further, the Argonaut makes no attempt to balance the opinion; it doesn’t quote one parishioner or parent in support of Father Paul, while we know the majority of our parish greatly appreciates and supports him.
This article is biased and lacks proper journalistic ethics and standards. The Argonaut’s lack of professionalism and laziness are on full display here. Shame on you, Argonaut.
It was appalling to read the”, written and published by The Argonaut, Venice’s local paper. The article interviews several parents who disagree with Father Paul’s decision not to renew Principal McQueen’s contract with the school. While we understand and appreciate that changes to one’s children’s school can be difficult, Father Paul has made this decision (which is his authority to make), and the decision has been reviewed and backed by the Archdiocese.
What is most unsettling about this article is that it in no way adheres to journalistic standards and ethics. It serves as an accelerant to a small sampling of parent’s inflamed emotions, going as far as calling Father Paul a “Bully” in the headline. That word should not be used lightly, especially when referencing an authority figure at a school. It is a clear attempt to shock the reader into clicking on the article, and is journalistic malpractice using it to describe Father Paul.
Further, the Argonaut makes no attempt to balance the opinion, and doesn’t quote one parishioner or parent in support of Father Paul, while we know the majority of our parish greatly appreciates and supports him.
Shame on the Argonaut for their lack of professionalism, laziness, and biased reporting.
Under Father Paul’s 5 years of leadership at St. Mark school and parish, the below noted comments are what he has created. A divided and angry community. Instead of bringing people together his leadership has driven an unnecessary wedge between fellow Christians.
Dividing people is easy and unfortunately often used by those unwilling to accept others.
Heather Flannery
Parishioner and Parent
++++++++ YES! Exactly!
The accusations against Fr. Paul are absolutely ludicrous. Fr. Paul always acknowledges my child with a handshake before saying hello to me. He is also the only priest who invites the children during Mass to come around the alter during consecration. Doesn’t care about the kids? Doesn’t care about their safety? Are you kidding me?!
Maybe if I saw these parents who are making these accusations at Mass every Sunday and at other parish activities, maybe I would question what do they know that I don’t. However, I RARELY see them at Mass and have never seen them at St. Mark Church prior to their children’s enrollment in the school. These are people who call themselves Catholic but don’t live the faith.
Dear Anonymous,
It gives me hope to hear Fr. Paul always acknowledges your child with a handshake before saying hello to you. Perhaps if I’m lucky he may acknowledge my family one day. I’ll try not to take it personally, considering it hasn’t happened in his 6 years and the copious amount of volunteering my family does for both the school and church.
Regarding safety, are you aware of the dirty hypodermic needles left outside the parish hall? We have school children going to the hall to find needles in their path. I’m happy to share the photos that were provided to Father Paul. Maybe us crazy parents, should wait for someone to get poked with a dirty needle before we say anything?
Better yet, what about the Christmas concert incident? During the concert on December 20th we had a parishioner named “Patricia” nearly drive into parents and children. No joke, the car was within a few feet of the stage. Would you like a copy of the video? The police were called and Father Paul vouched for the driver. Sobriety test was never completed or incident report filed. Patricia, got in her car and drove away. What if Patricia has an alcohol or substance problem and next time kills someone you know and love? ARE YOU OK WITH THAT?
In closing, I am both a parent and active member of the Saint Mark Community. My family has been around before either Father Paul or Mary Ann McQueen. I challenge everyone to seek the facts and not spread generalities and rumors. I’m tired of hearing how the parishioners hate the school families and vise versa. The school families DO NOT hate the parishioners. We cannot grow a community when people are poisoning the well.
TRUTH, Mary Ann McQueen has done many positive things. She has EARNED our respect. She is a Catholic and attracts people to the faith. Her downfall is that she is a strong woman and how dare her be!
Sincerely your friend,
Anonymous
WWJS
You are correct, the pews at St. Mark Church continue to be largely empty with little change since we joined 5 years ago. I would like to know the last time you, Anonymous, or another parishioner reached out unsolicited to the school to help. Serve the teachers lunch? Help with morning drop off? Help clean up after dances? Instead the only input I have observed are shrill complaints about holding school events in the parish hall, and encroaching on the parking with environmental initiatives such as trees, water stations, and recycling bins. Please DO reach out to help your parish school! We would love it if someone from the parish made an initiative similar to the one that Mrs. McQueen did to recruit Religious Education students into the school. Unfortunately most lived outside of a reasonable commuting area. But for local children, the school has grown the scholarship program by a factor of 3 under Mrs. McQueen’s leadership.
Please, please do bring some facts and data to the table, Anonymous.
Thank you for this article. I wanted to reply directly to Mr. Alex Venegas. I do so with respect especially since we are both a part of the same Catholic community and faith. I can understand his concerns that the St. Mark parish and community remain one that is inclusive of the different people from the local community. It is just unfortunate that so many of the stories, rumors, and beliefs about what has happened over the last 5 years have not been given the full light. The larger problem is that this leads to a division in our community. And, this stops us from being a people of faith that spread the message of the People of God.
Alex, you argued that Mary Ann McQueen and people from the school community have not been open to the various communities, especially those of different economic means and those of different ethnic backgrounds. I think that is a fair criticism that needs to be addressed. I am a firm believer in Social Justice and the need to include everyone from the community. However, I would submit to you that Mary Ann McQueen has been a leader in trying to make this a reality for the entire community at St. Mark.
Several years ago, the School Board proposed a Green Project for the Church and School. The purpose was to plant more trees, put in more lawns, and make the entrances/exits of the parish safer. We contacted every ministry of the church. We made sure to address the concerns of each ministry. For example, we worked to make sure that there were more parking spaces at the end of the project. We also included ideas that would benefit all communities in the project. An example was including a place for a shrine and reflection area to Mary for traditional Catholics. And, we wanted to do this so that all members of the Church and School could come together for picnics, festivals, and get togethers.
You are correct to ask if the school has been open to new members. The Board, with Mary Ann McQueen, has been committed to significantly raising the Scholarship Fund for students of low income. Also, members of the school leadership have reached out to families of the Saturday Religious Education program so that they would attend the school. Mary Ann McQueen actually paid for several students of low economic means to come to Summer School. And, she did so out of her own personal expenses, never asking to be compensated by the school.
The Parent Action Committee (PAC) leads a Fall Festival each year for the School and Parish. My wife is the current president of PAC. Every year, they have made a concerted effort to reach out to the Religious Education department to offer low or no cost tickets for families who could not otherwise come to the Fall Festival.
Personally, I headed a subcommittee last year to encourage more interaction between the Church and School. I invited leaders from the School, Church, and Father Paul to join the committee. We came up with a list of ways that the two communities could work together to build up a stronger parish.
And, currently, the leaders of the School have asked that this year’s school auction be dedicated to raising funds to upgrade the parish hall. This would benefit both communities since people from the Church and School both use the parish hall for activities.
I think the issues you have raised are very important. However, I would suggest that the problem has not been a lack of sensitivity from Mary Ann McQueen or people in the school to build a stronger community. Rather, there have been rumors, stories, and generalizations that have divided us. Leaders from the Church who go beyond those rumors and join with leaders from the school are continuously amazed at how open, collaborative, and hard working so many families in the school actually are. But, this requires that people drop their defenses and get to know one another.
Unfortunately, there are voices in our community right now that are keeping this type of collaboration from happening. There are individuals are much happier with spreading false stories about people. This is especially unfortunate because it violates our basic Catholic identity. We are a faith of inclusion and community building. When we allow for negative stories to go unchecked, we divide from one another. And, this stops us from doing our actual work of building a community of faith, love, and hope. I hope that people can get beyond the rumors and stories and meet the actual people who are doing the work of love that Mary Ann McQueen has modeled and inspired for the last 5 years.
I simply cannot fathom who the actors of this divide are and how they parlay their leverage over the community. Without sounding like a broken record, I must restate that Ms. McQueen has not once set foot at the Spanish mass, to extend an invitation to the community that loyally worships every Sunday. True and heartfelt overtures would be consistent over time. I have never witnessed this. If you were to ask members of the community about the principal they’d have no clue who she is and what her pastoral outreach plan has been throughout her tenure.
I found your characterization of the Pastor of St. Mark’s parish as a “schoolhouse bully” who was motivated to get rid of the school principal because his “ego” was bruised because of her perceived single-handed success at the school, to be a journalistic embarrassment. Is the reader left to conclude that by this logic that should the school prove to be an utter failure, her position would be secure as the Pastor’s “ego” would not then be threatened?
Let’s look at this situation with a degree of maturity and a little more commonsense. Pastor Spellman has devoted his life and vocation at this time to the success, growth, and prosperity of a thriving parish community and school. It should be reasonable to conclude that if he has determined it’s in the best interest of the school to not renew the contract of the principal that it is based on facts, factors, and information that he has considered. This, admittedly difficult and even painful decision, is his right and responsibility to make and he has made it with the full knowledge and support of the Auxiliary Bishop.
Perhaps the parents who have been stirred up to protest by none other than the principal herself, would do well to consider that perhaps they don’t have the “rest of the story” and place a little faith in the Pastor’s carefully considered action. The principal’s actions in involving not only the parents, but the children at the school themselves, a reprehensible action that uses the students as pawns in a blatantly inappropriate way, should be an indication of the principal’s lack of judgement and concern for the welfare of her students.
While the principal is protected, by law, from disclosure of any actions or reasons for her dismissal, she has apparently borrowed a line from one of her petulant grade-school students and accused the pastor of being jealous of her and bullying her as his reason for not wanting to retain her. Seriously? Wouldn’t a responsible, balanced, report of this conflict question the absurdity of this as her sole defense, if in fact it is her allegation? This article doesn’t even pass muster as a biased opinion piece worthy of a grammar school newsletter. To accept that a significant number of parents actually bought that argument without question is not only alarming but begs the question of what, exactly, is fueling their passion in wanting to retain this principal.
Inquiring minds want to know, just what is going on here?
Dear Anonymous:
Never once, never ever, not one single solitary time has Mrs. McQueen stirred up anything nor accused the pastor of jealousy or bullying. In fact, she has never expressed anything to us parents other than sadness and disappointment at leaving – and, in about as many words as that. I will go on the record, using my full name, as a practicing Catholic to attest to this fact. Your eloquent response is based on inaccurate hearsay.
Elizabeth Michalak
Parent and (now former) Parishioner
I am very sad to be losing MaryAnn McQueen as principal. She has been an amazing principal and I can not understand why she is being dismissed. The fact that no reason has been for her dismissal makes it more frustrating. In the absence of any clear reason this simply seems like unjust treatment of a strong woman (and perhaps precisely BECAUSE she is a strong woman).
The current actions are doing nothing to bring the church and school together. My family attended St. Mark for several years and recently left the parish when we received a notice that we would no longer receive the in-parish tuition discount because we had not donated enough money in the previous year. My family was really hurt that we didn’t receive any information regarding a minimum expected contribution and that we didn’t get any warning. Given that we were just coming back to the Catholic church after about a decade away from it this felt very unwelcoming. We stopped attending St. Mark parish and our decision was only further reinforced when Ms. McQueen was first dismissed last year. Upon news of the most recent (and permanent) dismissal we feel strongly that we could not support a parish that undertakes such unjust actions under the guise of discernment. The actions undertaken under Fr. Paul’s leadership have pushed us away. Perhaps in time we will find a more welcoming parish.
I found your characterization of the Pastor of St. Mark’s parish as a “schoolhouse bully” who was motivated to get rid of the school principal because his “ego” was bruised because of her perceived single-handed success at the school, to be a journalistic embarrassment. Is the reader left to conclude that by this logic that should the school prove to be an utter failure, her position would be secure as the Pastor’s “ego” would not then be threatened?
Let’s look at this situation with a degree of maturity and a little more commonsense. Pastor Spellman has devoted his life and vocation at this time to the success, growth, and prosperity of a thriving parish community and school. It should be reasonable to conclude that if he has determined it’s in the best interest of the school to not renew the contract of the principal that it is based on facts, factors, and information that he has considered. This, admittedly difficult and even painful decision, is his right and responsibility to make and he has made it with the full knowledge and support of the Auxiliary Bishop.
Perhaps the parents who have been stirred up to protest by none other than the principal herself, would do well to consider that perhaps they don’t have the “rest of the story” and place a little faith in the Pastor’s carefully considered action. The principal’s actions in involving not only the parents, but the children at the school themselves, a reprehensible action that uses the students as pawns in a blatantly inappropriate way, should be an indication of the principal’s lack of judgement and concern for the welfare of her students.
While the principal is protected, by law, from disclosure of any actions or reasons for her dismissal, she has apparently borrowed a line from one of her petulant grade-school students and accused the pastor of being jealous of her and bullying her as his reason for not wanting to retain her. Seriously? Wouldn’t a responsible, balanced, report of this conflict question the absurdity of this as her sole defense, if in fact it is her allegation? This article doesn’t even pass muster as a biased opinion piece worthy of a grammar school newsletter. To accept that a significant number of parents actually bought that argument without question is not only alarming but begs the question of what, exactly, is fueling their passion in wanting to retain this principal.
Inquiring minds want to know, just what is going on here?
It takes a special person to unify a parish, and Paul Spellman is incapable of doing this. In fact, he has not even tried. He said he entered into mediation last year with an open heart and mind and, yet, in his letter he says that his discernment has going on for years. Which is it? What kind of a religious person does this?
The administration of the church is subpar. We reached out numerous times when we joined St. Mark Church to meet him and get involved. None of our requests were even acknowledged. It was the crappiest welcome I’ve ever experienced as a Catholic. What kind of a pastor does this?
He complains about money to the parishioners often and, to the disappointment of the Spanish speakers, is really unable to hold a mass in Spanish that is understandable. He misrepresented the school’s financial status in the bulletin a couple weeks ago – I’m assuming to make the school look like it’s in the red (it’s not) – and, as a former CPA, he’d know how to do this. What kind of a person does that?
Last year, after he surprised the school community with his decision (after asking the school parents to give money at the silent auction), we withheld our weekly tithe and began frequenting another church’s masses (and paid the out of parish tuition). This year- we are relinquishing our membership to St. Mark. I cringe at the above responses suggesting that school families are not church goers. We are. We just attend masses at other Catholic Churches because Paul Spellman is not only unwelcoming to us, he’s dismissive. I don’t go to church to participate in a game show. I swear you clap more in one of his masses than at a ball game. I don’t attend mass to leave in a worse mood than when I entered. So we choose another parish for our masses.
Paul Spellman has never tried to know my family – and he is never on the school grounds. Why isn’t he out there in the drop off and pick up lines getting to know families and inviting them to church like every other parish pastor? What kind of a pastor abandons his flock to make a point?
I’m sure if Paul Spellman could let go of his vitriol for the school families and Mrs. McQueen, he may see the truth – that he is not a good fit for St. Mark parish. He was given a gift and he squandered it away. He could have had it all. He seems to be happiest in a parish where he can appear the savior (not one who walks over the homeless sitting on the church steps- and before you argue – I have witnessed this with my own eyes whilst sitting in my car eating a McDonald’s burger).
It’s a shame that the Archdiocese caved to his decision – as they know they are losing a strong, gifted educator. I heard from a friend who works there that someone quit working there last year because of the mess Paul Spellman created and the injustice that was handed down to the school and Mrs. McQueen. Again – what kind of person does this? Mrs. McQueen single handedly brought St. Mark School our of the red and out of the ashes – a job she was charged to do by the archdiocese. Without her, the school would have continued on the path of St. Joan of Arc and shuddered its doors. Instead, it is a vibrant, flourishing and HAPPY school that teaches the Good Word and expects the children to lead Christ-driven lives. It has been very challenging, as a Catholic, to defend the actions of the Church, as well as the archdiocese, in the decision to let Mrs. McQueen go – as it defies all logic. Many shake their heads in disbelief that such an archaic, misogynistic, ego-driven decision can hold. My hope is that St. Mark will join the rising number of Catholic schools being taken out of the parish model so that it can resume its faith-based beautiful work of teaching the next generation of Catholics.
My daughter made her First Communion there last year. The religious Ed program wasn’t very friendly and we won’t be back. The ladies were often mean and the program was disorganized and always started late. But the actual day was nice. Oh! and the priest was telling the congregation who they should vote for because “he was a CPA and so and so’s policies were going to hurt the poor”.
Funny. I heard something similar from a dad at dance class the other night. His daughter attended religious ed and made her First Communion a couple of years ago (he’s not Catholic, his wife is) and he mentioned the same thing about the election.
For all back and forth and character assassination on this thread, the single most upsetting fact about this situation is this: Fr. Paul Spellman has refused to give any specific explanation for not renewing the contract of Ms. McQueen.
Clearly, several contributors to this thread have their own theories, or perhaps they have been informed privately by Fr. Spellman himself. Without this information, one might conclude that this is no more than a grudge from a man who was simply exhausted at having to work together and compromise with a woman he did not like.
At this point, I imagine he also has to save face with the group of people he has whipped up to believe that the school represents some kind of threat to the church. The big lie he needs to keep selling is that the school is a community of self-interested snobs (thanks Alex) who are somehow hurting the Parish. I invite anyone to visit this school and come away with that as you conclusion. It’s a forward-thinking school, it’s a Catholic school, it’s a proud school, it’s a compassionate and thriving school. Under the right Church leadership, there could be tremendous positive collaboration between this existing Parish and this existing School. At the moment that is being made impossible by one man’s desire create a division between the two. He benefits from this “Us vs Them” mentality because it gives him cover to remove someone who on paper seems to have done everything she should have done in the job she was asked to do.
Father Paul is a deeply spiritual and dedicated priest. He has ministered to the people of St. Mark Church and School in a most unselfish way. We parishioners have no idea how much he has to deal with. I would guess that a great deal of his time is spent on things that take him away from the reasons he went into the priesthood. I bet most pastors never planned on being in charge of payroll, facilities upkeep and repair, finances, employee management, insurance coverage, and overseeing the operations of a school.
Father Paul is smart enough to know that legally he can’t respond to the decision to replace Mrs. McQueen. I’m sure he has agonized over this decision and would love to reveal the truth. There is much that is not known about this situation. The fact that the Archdiocese fully supports the decision confirms this; they could step in and stop this if there was not a very good reason for it. The Archdiocese knows the full story and would not allow this to happen if it was not necessary.
I have been told by someone who works in the school that some employees are treated in a very disrespectful and unkind manner by the principal. In this person’s opinion, several lawsuits regarding a hostile workplace are on the verge of being filed if Mrs. McQueen remains in her position. She is able to put on a good face for the parents and her “pet” employees, but she does not display a Christian attitude toward many people behind closed doors. I believe she has some of the qualities of a good principal, but if she doesn’t treat people well, she should use her skills in a public school.
I am praying for all involved in this difficult situation, but I can’t help but believe that it would be much easier for Father Paul to turn a blind eye to what is happening in the school and keep Mrs. McQueen than to stand up for what is right and protect people who are not able to speak up for themselves. He has nothing to gain (except problems and pain) by making this decision. He is being unfairly judged and criticized. I admire his composure and self-control by not commenting on the real reasons behind his decision.
So the pastor can have it both ways? He can use church law to claim he has the authority to make final decisions over church and school. But when something is not going well (school-church relationship is not satisfactory), it’s not his fault? He’s no longer the authority? That was someone else’s job? Blame the principal? That is intellectual nonsense. Father Paul, are you the leader or aren’t you?
We are all now victims of this hypocrisy.
And as the leader, are you comfortable with the horrible things the parishioners are saying about the families? Whose job is it to bridge that?
I believe that is yours.
This is a leadership issue, and the leader is selectively choosing his role.
The children lose.
Fr. Spellman is nothing like this article tries to make him to be. Fr. Spellman has always cared for children and their growth spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and educationally. I can attest to his dedication into improving the lives of parishioners, students and all because i was a student at his previous parish. He would always go out of his way to make sure the students knew he cared. I remember students struggling with math and he would take time out of his schedule to help tutor students. While in high school, a prestigious all girls high school on the west side he contacted the school to celebrate mass there. He did this for many parishioners kids that attended different high schools in the Los Angeles area. I am not a parishioner at St. Marks but i do attend on occasion because of how Fr. Spellman treats the youth. He listens to us and encourages us to reach our full potential. It’s clear he took in what the parents were saying last year and brought the principal back on. That clearly did not work. Fr. Spellman is all for making necessary improvements for schools, he will go out of his way to find grants and sponsors to help make a learning environment better for students. I urge you all not to be quick to take in what this article is saying… it clearly is one sided. Instead look for the facts and make the best judgement on this situation. I know i can stand behind Fr. Spellman and confidently say if this wasn’t the absolute best choice he would not have made it. What i urge all of you to do is pray for growth in this transition period at St. Marks. I know that Fr. Spellman will encourage growth for the St. Marks community. May God bless you all.
Hi Anon
Everything you speak of above, I have never see him do at St. Mark School, he has visited with Students maybe 4 times since school started in August, maybe he spending time at other places, because he is not at school. The Father Paul you speak of is not one that we have experienced, sorry!
I wonder what happened to Father Spellman that he went from someone who mentored students and took time out of his schedule to tutor them at his previous school, to turning into someone who couldn’t be bothered to learn the names of any students at his current one. Who calls kids up to the church altar at mass now, but can’t be bothered to attend St. Mark school events (much less tutoring sessions) or participate in those schoolkids’ lives in any kind of meaningful way when away from the altar.
What went wrong?
Last night, at St. Mark’s hall, there was a meeting to discuss how we move forward in choosing a new principal. The tension was thick in the room. They started the meeting with a little meditation and some prayers which helped ease the stress of the situation. The leaders of the meeting were wonderful, which I believe everyone would agree. None of us got an answer to the big question: WHY. However we soon learned that we will all experience a tragic loss- as Fr. Paul announced he will be leaving as well on June 30th. With the exception of a few people, most of us were saddened and heartbroken.
There were wonderful speakers and equally concerned and thoughtful questions that were asked by the parents. There were as well, many parishoner’s there to support Fr. Paul. I think as one notable parent stated, we are cycling through the stages of grief. I for one can concur. The last speaker, Nikki, was courageous to bring up the “elephant in the room”. The tension between the parents/school and the parishioners. She mentioned the detrimental statements about parents and that she had not felt welcomed into the parish properly. After the meeting, I spoke with her, (she was a delight!) and told her that as a parishioner of 30 years, and an active member of the Finance council and lector and member, that I am happy to welcome her, and bring her into the church community in any way she would like. I extend an olive branch as well to any and all people who feels like Nikki.
I came away from the meeting feeling a bit more hopeful. I am praying that the vacancies that these two people leave will not be the end of this parish or school. I pray that this experience does not destroy this community or split it open so wide that the divide will not be mended. I believe strongly that no one wants that to happen. We all want the church AND the school to thrive!
I write this now as I continue to try to find peace in all these divisions, and ask that you all too, reach out and mend fences and smile, wave, shake hands and pray that we move past this. We need this parish, I NEED this parish!
The principal and the pastor have accepted these changes, so should we. I love St. Mark and I pray that we show both of these leaders the respect they deserve and begin this Lenten season with love, compassion and forgiveness.
My family has been a part of the St. Mark Parrish for many years. My father was a St. Mark student, as well as myself and my 3 brothers, and now my daughter. I brought her to the school for the good Catholic education that I fondly remembered. In the time that my daughter has been at St. Mark we have noticed so many improvements in the school and morale of the families. Mrs. MacQueen has been a godsend. She encourages the kids to be the best Catholics they can be and makes the school a place that the kids want to go to. I volunteer weekly at the school and up until recently our family was attending Sunday mass every week. Unfortunately due to the attitude and arrogance of Fr. Spellman I no longer feel comfortable attending St. Mark mass. The services have become dull. The masses are mostly empty. Although I’ve spoken to Fr. Spellman on multiple occasions, he still continues to call me by the wrong name even though I have corrected him more than once. I too have seen that he can’t be bothered with the students. My daughter has been dismissed by him on several occasions. I’m not sure if I want to keep my kid at St. Mark after them throwing out Mrs. MacQueen with no real reason.
Also, I too was annoyed by the misinformation in the bulletin regarding the financial status of the school. Mrs. Macqueen has done so much to improve the school’s status and the parents have been very receptive to this and I know I myself have donated time and money to the school, along with countless other parents. He’s just looking for even more money for his own personal use such as rectory upgrades as someone else insinuated.
Mrs. MacQueen is a wonderful, kind, and STRONG woman and myself and my wife have come to know her in the last 5 years and will be very sad to see her go. If Fr. Paul is now “bouncing” from the Parrish, why should the kids have to suffer and not have her as an incredible leader who actual gets **** done and advocates for these students?
We’ll see if we return to church once he’s out for good — until then St.Mark will miss our generous weekly tithings.
I am sorry to read about the situation at St Mark School.
Google Fr Daniel Barica of Sts Simon and Jude in Huntington Beach, CA to see a very similar bully situation. I have never seen so many comments about a priest. The Orange County Diocese facebook account even has reviews from upset people at SSJ posted on July 9 and 13, 2018. He fired the school principal Crystal Pinkofsky and other loved staff. Even the 20+ year PE teacher Russ Smith. Did they suddenly not know how to do their jobs?
And like your priest, I read this Fr. Barica used donations for vacations out of the country.
Priests needs to act like Jesus they have enough problems to deal with from all the other abuses going on. The Catholic church needs to to stop not just sexual abusers but spiritual and financial abuser priests and before more families leave.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it’s hard for me to stomach the descriptions of St. Mark as inclusive or welcoming after the arrival of the new principal. It was anything but; it became unapologetically racially divisive and special needs children were pushed out. The parents to whom the new administration catered made their money, influence and expectations clear. Their contempt and hostility toward visiting parishioners of color from Father Spellman’s prior inner city parish was a particularly embarrassing display. They wanted to create a white, upscale Westside private school (the omission of Catholic is not an oversight) in gentrifying Venice and they seem to be getting it.
I interviewed for a position at St Marks, and can confirm that it seemed to be a Catholic school in name only. If there were not a crucifix here and there you would never know. The principal was proud to show off the fancy, unnecessary renovations they’d recently done- remodeling their staff break room for example- it was pretty shocking considering how most schools have to make do w so little. Not only was their no evidence of Christian/Catholic identity in the environment or the instruction, I saw really questionable behavior in the classrooms (students cursing, mouthing off in class in front of their teacher- all while I was observing!!) At that point I was like wow, this is not a Catholic school.
Mrs McQueen also made comments about how “we’d pay much better than [my former school] I’m sure” (said with a laugh). I mean, that alone tells you so much about her attitude.
After my interview I emailed to say thank you. Mrs Mcqueen asked me qhen I would be available to come back and teach a lesson , and when I replied she never emailed me back. Once she found someone who’d fit better into their upper crust circle I guess it was no longer worth her time to treat me politely.The other admin and a teacher who interviewed & talked with me never even replied to my thank you notes.
It was very clearly a private prep school for rich white children, which is not the role that the ADLA envisions for its Catholic schools. I have never met Fr Spellman but good on him for seeing that problem for what it was.