Chicago, IL (November 2, 2006)—The Archdiocese of Chicago and the Board of Notre Dame High School for Boys today announced they are nearing the end of the school’s leadership transition process. The Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross Priests, Indiana Province, and the officers of the new not-for-profit corporation that will receive the school’s assets, signed the official Letter of Intent for transfer of ownership in September. The Archdiocese and the Board have been meeting to create the necessary civil and canon law structures for the future governance of Notre Dame High School, while the final documents for the legal transfer of assets are being prepared.

“The Second Vatican Council anticipated and called for lay leadership of our Catholic institutions,” said Nicholas Wolsonovich, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago. “Notre Dame will serve as our prototype for lay leadership while preserving our Catholic identity. Cardinal George has challenged us to create a structure that meets the needs of the Church and the community and to support its success.”

“The process has moved along very swiftly and we are in the final days of canon law document preparation,” said Joseph Gurdak, advisory board chair and president of the new not-for-profit corporation. “We will be welcoming students with great enthusiasm to our two open houses in November.”

Experts in both canon and civil law will finish their work this week. Christopher Nowotarski, JD, of Stone, Pogrund & Korey, a Notre Dame board member and Rev. Patrick Laggas, JCD, Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Chicago, are both working on behalf of the school to craft a structure that will ensure the long term vitality of Notre Dame High School.

Prospective students are invited to open houses on Thursday, November 2 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 12 from 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the school located at 7655 West Dempster Street in Niles. For more information, visit the school’s website at www.ndhsdons.org or contact Dennis Zelasko at 847-779-8616 or dzelasko@ndhsdons.org.