The Streator Catholic Community is on schedule with diocesan recommendations for marketing St. Anthony School, with goals for consolidating the three active parishes in town.

Monsignor John Prendergast, pastor of the Streator Catholic community, which includes Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony and St. Stephen parishes, met recently with Brother William Dygert, superintendent of Catholic schools. The two discussed recommendations listed in a diocesan document "Planning for Catholic Schools, Diocese of Peoria."

"We're right on schedule with marketing," Prendergast told The Times. "We are getting the word out to parishioners. We will be sending a mailing out next week about the school to encourage families to send their children to Catholic school. The norm for Catholic education is kindergarten through grade 12."

A goal set in September 2007 was for the three parishes to have one pastor. This goal was met in June 2009, when Prendergast was appointed. He is assisted by the Rev. Ron Dodd and Monsignor Thomas Badovsky. The Rev. Peter Pilon is responsible for Hispanic ministry at St. Stephen Parish.

According to Prendergast, there is currently no timeline in the five-year and 10-year goals for consolidating the three churches into one parish.

"We hope as we form organizations together and we cooperate more, the day will come when we'll have one campus," Prendergast said. "This is not in the near term at all. Each of the parishes and all Catholics have to start working together to build one church."

The diocese and Prendergast hope eventually St. Anthony School will be part of a new Catholic campus in Streator.

"The goal is to still build one campus and close the other churches," Prendergast said. "We have to leave room for the Holy Spirit here."

The Streator parishes currently feed into Marquette High School in Ottawa.

In Ottawa, St. Patrick School, St. Columba School and Marquette High School leaders recently announced the three schools will be consolidated, perhaps as soon as next school year.

Enrollment for the 2009-2010 school year at St. Anthony is 147 students.

"Catholic schools mean not only excellence in Catholic studies but in other academic subjects as well," Prendergast said.

The school is accredited by the North Central Association.