Detroit — Four schools in western suburban Metro Detroit will merge into one, regional Catholic school beginning with the 2016-17 school year, the pastors of four parishes announced May 27.

A committee of school and parish representatives from St. Robert Bellarmine in Redford, St. Genevieve in Livonia, St. Damian in Westland and St. Raphael in Garden City began meeting in June to begin the process of developing plans for the new school, the pastors said in a joint statement.

The decision to develop the regional school, which has approval from Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and cooperation of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Office of Catholic Schools, stems from “a thorough review of the finances of the involved parishes, and the subsidies necessary to operate their schools,” the statement said.

Three of the schools involved in the merger will continue to operate independently during the 2015-16 school year, while the fourth, St. Robert Bellarmine School, will suspend operations in the coming school year because of insufficient enrollment. However, St. Robert Bellarmine will be a full partner in the new, regional school.

Fr. Richard Leliaert, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine, wrote to parishioners June 7 that the decision to close the K-8 school for the coming academic year was an “extremely difficult” one, but necessary because the cost to operate the school was putting the parish’s own finances at risk. With an ongoing parish debt of about $550,000, the parish could no longer afford the $250,000 needed for school operating costs, he said.

Fr. Leliaert said that in addition to participating in the new regional school, St. Robert Bellarmine would be offering families already enrolled for the 2015-16 school year tuition and uniform assistance to continue in Catholic education.

With regards to the new regional school, the pastors said one of the primary goals is to solidify Catholic educational opportunities in the area through a combination of resources and support.

“The goal will be to create a school with a strong Catholic identity, strong academics, affordable tuition, and sustainable long-term funding,” the pastors’ statement said.

“We remain committed to the creation of a regional school and making this school especially accessible to students of the existing schools, and welcoming to new students and families for many years to come. The regional school will focus on the development of the mind, body and spirit of all children within the Catholic tradition.”

Details of the new school, including its location, staff, tuition, budget and transportation options, will be worked out in the coming months through collaboration between the parishes and the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Fr. Howard Vogan, pastor of St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish in Livonia, said changing regional demographics and financial challenges contributed to the decision to merge the 53-year-old St. Genevieve School, but expressed confidence in the future of Catholic education through the initiative.

“We place great hope in this opportunity to make an impact that will help us share our Catholic faith and Catholic culture with those in our community for future generations,” he wrote in a June 7 parish bulletin. “Let us pray together that the Holy Spirit continue to inspire everyone involved as we undertake this endeavor.”