St. Patrick Catholic School, located at 1800 South Grand Ave., opened its doors in 1910, a time when families of Irish descent – some of them immigrants themselves – dominated the surrounding neighborhood. The area also was home to German, Austrian and Italian residents. Many were struggling coal miner families who desired a Catholic education for their children. The Dominican Sisters of Springfield were among the first administrators and educators at the school and continued in those roles until the late 1990s.
In time, the neighborhood surrounding the school changed, and the school evolved to serving low-income, non-Catholic students, providing a faith-based education and small class sizes. Scholarships made it possible for students to attend who otherwise could not afford to do so.
Dominican Sister Marilyn Jean Runkel joined the school’s board in 2000, serving on the advancement and finance committees and helping lead the school to become a 501(c)(3) with a governing board. “The greatest challenge through these years has been assuring that St. Patrick School was academically and financially sound,” Runkel said. “Both of these were board responsibilities and were accomplished by the presence of committed board members and qualified administrative leaders and educators.”
This financial challenge was met by support from individuals, organizations and foundations. St. Patrick also was fortunate to have a donor initiate an endowment for the school. “This endowment grew through the years, and interest from it contributed to the operations, as did many advancement and fundraising projects,” Runkel said. “It was always a priority to continue as a Catholic school, providing daily faith-based classes.”
Yet, long-term financial challenges led to a heart-breaking decision. The closure of the school at the end of May marked the end of a long and meaningful chapter for generations of students, families and supporters. But its legacy will live on.
“There is a clause in the St. Patrick Endowment’s purpose that states: If the school ever closes, the endowment’s interest will be used to enable low-income and minority students to have the opportunity for a Catholic education in another local Catholic school,” Runkel said.
This clause is the key to a scholarship program that will continue to support students whose parents want them to attend Catholic schools. In addition to the endowment, the St. Patrick’s board will hold yearly fundraisers such as the Blarney Bash for Scholarships, radiothons, annual fund and other initiatives to continue St. Patrick’s mission through this new approach.
Of St. Patrick’s students, 35 have been offered scholarships and are registered to attend St. Aloysius and Little Flower Catholic schools this fall. The board has approved up to $150,000 in scholarships for the 2026–2027 school year. “Our commitment to students and families does not end here,” said St. Patrick Principal Bridget Timoney. “Through the St. Patrick Scholarship Program, we will continue carrying forward the spirit and tradition that has defined St. Pat’s for decades.”
In the two-plus decades Runkel has been involved, she said her most memorable experience, which occurred on a regular basis, was the care and support of St. Patrick provided by the Springfield community and the many individuals who respected the school’s mission. “I always felt it was God’s guidance and wisdom that enabled us to face challenges and continue the presence of a treasured icon of Springfield’s educational opportunities,” she said.
“I also believe a memorable experience through the years has been the impact on the Springfield community,” Runkel said. “People and organizations significantly respect St. Patrick’s. District 186 provided the federal programs that were required to be shared with nonpublic schools. That relationship was a key factor to our academic success. Whenever there was a need, a response came about that supported the school and its students and teachers – many benefactors.
“The school flourished and continued to provide the legacy of enabling Catholic education for these 116 years,” Runkel said. “The scholarship program will continue this legacy with the support of those who see the value of enabling students, whose parents cannot afford full tuition, to attend a Catholic school.”
The St. Patrick Scholarship Program will kick off at the Blarney Bash for Scholarships on June 24 at the Knights of Columbus #364 on Meadowbrook Drive from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature live music, food, drinks, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.
For more information about these events or the St. Patrick Scholarship Program, visit st-patrick.org or call 217-523-7670.
Janet Seitz is a local communications professional, writer and artist. To share your story, contact her at janetseitz1@gmail.com.
This article appears in June SBJ 2026.