Ave Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts institution in the United States, has announced plans to open a new campus in rural Ireland.
According to the university, the campus will be located in County Waterford in southern Ireland at the former Mount Melleray Abbey near Cappoquin. The monastery closed in January 2025 after nearly 200 years of operation.
In a video announcement, the university said the new site will offer “a fully integrated Ave Maria University experience” rooted in Europe’s Catholic and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of Brooklyn has announced that seven Catholic schools will close in June due to financial pressures and declining enrollment.
The affected schools include Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Cambria Heights; St. Bartholomew Catholic Academy in Elmhurst; St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Academy in Jamaica; Incarnation Catholic Academy in Queens Village; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Academy in Woodhaven; St. Elizabeth Catholic Academy in Ozone Park; and Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie.
Deacon Kevin McCormack, superintendent of schools for the diocese, said the decision was both pastoral and practical, adding that officials will support families and staff during the transition while strengthening Catholic education across Brooklyn and Queens.
Church officials noted that enrollment has been declining since 2019, with a sharper drop recorded between 2024 and 2025. A dedicated website has been set up to help families transfer students to nearby Catholic schools.
In California, Thomas Aquinas College has marked a milestone by celebrating its 100th alumnus ordained to the priesthood.
The college said its priest alumni include Benedictines, Dominicans, Norbertines and dozens of diocesan priests serving around the world. With a combined enrollment of about 500 students across its campuses, the college describes itself as an intentionally small academic community.
College President Paul O’Reilly said the institution is honored to have contributed to the formation of priests and continues to pray for their service and ministry worldwide.
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