SEVERAL families of pupils at the threatened Immaculate Conception College have stopped going to Mass amid anger over an alleged lack of support from local clergy.
One mother said she was so disgusted by the Derry Diocese’s failure to support them that she had not set foot in a chapel in over six months.
Mother-of-six Teresa Dunne said she knew of other families who had also boycotted services.
She said that one family had actually gone further and started looking into changing their religion to Church of Ireland.
Ms Dunne spoke out after SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey delivered a petition against the plans to close the college to the speaker of the Assembly’s speaker William Hay on Monday.
The Save Immaculate Conception College campaign was set up after the Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS) announced its plans to close the school last year.
Last month a formal development proposal to this effect was lodged by CCMS with the Western Education and Library Board, with a two-month public consultation exercise now taking place through until next Monday, February 10.
Under the CCMS plan, a phased closure of the Trench Road school will begin in August this year, with no further admissions for Year 8s to 11s, with the school to be shut completely by August 2015.
Campaigners said have amassed several thousand signatures against the proposed closure.
Ms Dunne has welcomed the upsurge in support for the campaign recently.
She said that the parents had been particularly grateful for the support shown by the school’s Protestant neighbours and local nationalist and unionist political representatives.
“We have approached the Catholic Church and asked why they won’t support us and they have yet to come back and reply,” she claimed yesterday.
“People are very angry as to why they haven’t supported the only Catholic school in the Waterside. People feel so let down and hurt by the Catholic Church. They feel so betrayed. People still have faith in God but no faith in the Church. They have turned their back on us. 
“Two weeks ago they were preaching about how important Catholic education in schools is, but they are hypocrites. A lot of the parents are fuming as to why they will not stand by us.
“I have always been very devout and I have a sister who is a nun.
“But I feel so hurt, and I heard one of the parents crying she was so hurt by how the Catholic Church had turned their backs on us. I will never forgive them.
“And I know one family looking into the process to join the Church of Ireland.”
A second mother with pupils at the school said her faith too had been sorely tested.
Sophie Mullen said: “I feel more than anything a deep hurt. I feel hurt and betrayed and I am wondering why do I make the effort to take my children to Mass every week?
“Why are the Church being so silent on this? I believe this speaks volumes.”
The Derry Diocese declined to comment on the claims yesterday, as consultation on the plans continues.
Mrs Dunne, meanwhile, said the dedicated staff at the College had helped her son overcome dyslexia and ADHD to achieve 12 GCSEs - four A*s and eight Bs, including one in English. She also has two other children at the school.
“It is an excellent school with excellent results”, she said.
“The teachers really go over and beyond for the students. St Brecan’s years ago did have a bad name and a bad reputation but Immaculate Conception College today is an excellent school.
“I cannot thank that school enough for what they did and I am not the only one.”
In handing over the petition on Monday, Pat Ramsey warned that closing Immaculate Conception will lead to children vying for places at already oversubscribed Catholic secondary schools in the cityside.
Immaculate Conception College yesterday confirmed there were 121 pupils at the school at present.
 

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.