Local author probes parish schools’ decline

Local author probes parish schools’ decline

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown-based scholar and journalist Thomas G. Welsh has released a new book, “Closing Chapters,” a study of the decline of Youngstown’s Catholic elementary schools, which fell from 18 to one between 1960 and 2006.

He says the book provides a social history of the city and examines the effects of suburbanization, demographic shifts, deindustrialization and depopulation on the city and on parochial schools.

“Closing Chapters” also addresses the effect of the Second Vatican Council and other internal trends that affected Catholic schooling in Youngstown and elsewhere.

Here Welsh sheds light on a national phenomenon: the fragmentation of American Catholic identity.

Ursuline Center club plans book meetings

CANFIELD

The Ursuline Center Book Club invites all interested bookworms to its two upcoming book discussions, at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 24 for “Unbroken,” by Laura Hillenbrand; and at 6:30 p.m. March 6 for “There’s No Place Like Here” by Cecelia Ahern.

The club gathers in the Prato Hall meeting room at the center, 4280 Shields Road. The books chosen for discussion are available through the public library. Preregistration is appreciated but not required.

For more information call Eileen Novotny, Ursuline associate, at 330-533-3831 or the center at 330-799-4941.

Vindicator staff reports