In times of sadness when the right words just do not come to mind, we learn why cliches are so overused.
And so to everyone who tried so hard to save the Catholic Academy of Holy Family in Jamestown, we say: As sad as you are that the school is closing, we hope you at least take some comfort in knowing you did your best, you fought the good fight.
Since last winter when the school first let the public know money needed to be found to cover a budget deficit going into next year, the community of Holy Family supporters rallied for a series of fundraising events.
The goal was reached. Enough money was raised to cover next year's anticipated deficit.
The basic problem remained, however: student enrollment in the private school. Although the school nearly reached its goal to increase the number of students, it was not enough and so the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo ordered Holy Family to close after this academic year.
Sadly, as members of Holy Family start down the path toward that closure, they follow in the footprints left by Ss. Peter and Paul and St. James schools in Jamestown and Our Lady of Loreto Roman Catholic School in Falconer.
Holy Family is the last of the private Catholic schools whose graduates have been such strong and vital parts of the fabric of our community for generations. We all have reaped the benefits, regardless of whether we attended the schools ourselves.
And so when doors close forever after the last child leaves, we all for a moment will be members of the community that mourns the loss of Holy Family and the tradition of excellence in Catholic education here in southern Chautauqua County.