BOSTON -- Sixty-five young women in Wakefield had much to celebrate as they started school Wednesday, for theirs is a story about triumph over much adversity.

All Girls School Forced To Close Is 'Reborn'

"The sisters taught us determination to fight for what we want, to really stand up for ourselves, and if they thought we were going down without a fight they had something else coming," said senior Heather Darrah.

In January of this year, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kentucky announced they would close Our Lady of Nazareth Academy in Wakefield because of financial problems. It was the only all girls Catholic high school north of Boston.

"It wasn't even a question whether or not we were going to save the school. It was just how to do it," said senior Joanne Barrett.

"A community really came together and formed that really wanted to keep us going," said junior Samantha Ferello.

Today the school has reopened as Nazareth Academy in a formerly abandoned public school building. It is all the result of an aggressive fund-raising drive by the school community that also rolled up its sleeves and got to work.

"Parents have painted, they have constructed, they have planted. Students have been here around the clock cleaning," said academy director Patricia Tamagini.

Newscenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that even though the school has opened the fight continues for its identity. Nazareth cannot call itself a Catholic school because the archdiocese has not recognized it.

Nazareth hopes that the archdiocese will have a change of heart about the academy, which in every way operates in the Catholic tradition. In the meantime, the Wakefield school district does recognize it.

"This school really helps me become the best version of myself. I am very grateful that we were able to accomplish this, and with the help and love of God anything is possible, and I truly believe that," said junior Danielle Onorio.