Teenagers Volunteer Their Time And Talent For Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Of Service

January 12, 2001

TEENAGERS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND TALENT
FOR REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE

Teen members of the Community Service Corps of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in a collaborative effort with Philadelphia's Promise Alliance Service Project, will volunteer their services for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on

Monday, January 15, 2001
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Strawberry Mansion School
33rd Street and Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia


The teen volunteers will be painting and doing general maintenance projects at the school.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Preside At Interfaith Prayer Service In Honor Of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 11, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO PRESIDE AT INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE IN HONOR OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will preside at the 18th annual Archdiocesan Interfaith Prayer Service in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event is sponsored by the Office for Black Catholics and the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Sunday, January 14, 2001
3:00 p.m.
The Church of Saint Cyprian
525 Cobbs Creek Parkway
(63rd Street and Cedar Avenue)
Philadelphia, PA


The Reverend William B. Moore will be the keynote speaker. Reverend Moore is the pastor of the Tenth Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Moore's reflection will address the national theme:
"Remember! Celebrate! Rededicate! Act! A day on, not a day off!"

Members from many faith communities, races, nationalities and races will take part in the service. Everyone is welcome and invited to wear the attire of their ancestral land.

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Editor's Note: Archdiocesan News Releases are available on world wide web at www.archdiocese-phl.org

Contact
John Cox
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass For Life

January 20, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS FOR LIFE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Mass for Life. This Mass marks the 28th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Sunday, January 21, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Those scheduled to be in attendance include the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Peter Claver. Catholic high school students will carry banners and flags in the opening procession. Archdiocesan elementary school students who participated in the spiritual adoption program will carry flowers to the altar in the opening procession. These students "adopt' an unborn child and pray for the child to be born. Music will be provided by the Archdiocesan Boy Choir. All are invited to attend the Mass for Life.

The Mass will be interpreted into American Sign Language and Assistive Listening Devices will be made available. The Cathedral is accessible to persons who use wheelchairs and staff will be on hand to assist any persons with special needs.

On Monday, January 22, 2001, Cardinal Bevilacqua will lead approximately seven thousand people from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to the 28th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

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Editor's Note: Archdiocesan news releases can be found at archdiocese-phl.org

Contact
John Cox
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Lead Thousands From Philadelphia To March For Life

January 20, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO LEAD THOUSANDS FROM PHILADELPHIA TO MARCH FOR LIFE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will lead approximately seven thousand people from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to the 28th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Monday, January 22, 2001. This march marks the tragedy of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion.

Cardinal Bevilacqua will be joined by seminarians from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, high school students and parishioners from the five-county area of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Marchers from Philadelphia will begin the day at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The contingent traveling from Philadelphia will meet at 12:00 p.m. on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 15th Street. Many schools and parishes sponsor buses to the March for Life; there will be more than 115 buses leaving from throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Monday morning. One departure point for buses is Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Three buses will leave from the Seminary on

Monday, January 22, 2001
6:15 a.m.
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
100 East Wynnewood Road
Wynnewood, PA




Cardinal Bevilacqua will also celebrate the annual Mass for Life at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 2:00 p.m.

###


Editor's Note: Any media wishing to interview Cardinal Bevilacqua in Washington, D.C. are asked to kindly contact John Cox in the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747 or page John Cox at 215-308-2327.

Contact
John Cox
Comunications Assistant
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Celebrates Catholic Schools Week January 28 - February 2, 2000

January 22, 2001

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
CELEBRATES CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
January 28 - February 2, 2000

January 28th marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week.. The purpose of Catholic Schools Week is to build support and recognition for the 8,200 Catholic schools nationwide. Catholic Schools Week also recognizes the sacrifices parents make in exercising their right to choose a Catholic Education.

- From the earliest years, Catholics in Philadelphia showed a concern for Catholic education. St. Mary's Parish, located at 248 S. Fourth Street, opened its parish school on September 2, 1782, one of the oldest parish elementary schools in the country.

- Archdiocesan Enrollment figures for 2000/2001: In the 209 parish elementary schools, enrollment this year is 81,347. Enrollment for the 22 Archdiocesan high schools is 23,148.

- The Archdiocesan High School Graduating Class of 2000ur high school graduation rate is 99% and 89% of the graduates are continuing to further their education.

More than 100,000 students, parents and teachers throughout the five-county Archdiocese will celebrate with a variety of special religious, social and recreational activities. Below is a list of some of the activities planned for Catholic Schools Week.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2001

9:00 a.m. - St. Patrick, 210 Meredith Street, Kennett Square

Students will read a thank you essay to the parish after mass. At 10:00 a.m. Open House begins with a band concert at 10:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m. - St. Katharine Drexel, 20th and Providence Avenue, Chester
Catholic Schools Week Opening Mass with the Children's Gospel Choir leading the singing. Following Mass, an Alumni Reception in the school gym.

11:00 a.m. - Visitation B.V.M., 300 E. Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia
Catholic Schools Week Opening Liturgy followed by a pancake breakfast for families

11:30 a.m. - St. Denis, 300 E. Eagle Road, Havertown
Opening Mass followed by a Learning Fair in all classrooms. Display of student works and projects. Refreshments in cafeteria.

12 noon - Queen of the Universe, 2443 Trenton Road, Levittown
School Mass with Science Fair Exhibit in school for parents and parishioners

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. - Conshohocken Catholic, 205 Fayette Street, Conshohocken
Students will hold a "Pep Rally" to kick-off Catholic Schools Week

MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2001

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Our Lady of Grace, 300 Hulmeville Avenue, Penndel

Students will participate in an all-day chess tournament

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - SS. Philip and James, 721 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton
"Putting on the Hits" Contest

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Holy Martyrs, 121 Allison Road, Oreland
"A Toast to Our Teachers" - a special lunch will be provided by the Home and School Association for faculty, staff and support personnel

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - St. Mary Magdalen, 2430 N. Providence Road, Media
Ray Gray, storyteller, will perform at a special assembly. It is "dress down" day for the students.

2:15 p.m. - West Catholic High School, 4501 Chestnut Street, Third Floor, Philadelphia
Students, under the direction of Brother Phillip and Sister Denise, will prepare 160 hot meals to be distributed by the Salvation Army

6:30 p.m. - Mother of Divine Grace, 2612 E. Monmouth Street, Philadelphia
Volunteer Appreciation Night - Salute to volunteers with entertainment and refreshments

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2001

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - St. John Neumann High School, 26th and Moore Streets., Philadelphia

Dedication of the new Comcast Center (computer lab) made possible through a $330,000 donation by Comcast Cablevision and Comcast Spectacor. Presentation of plaque to Comcast at 9:15 a.m. followed by ribbon cutting ceremony.

9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - St. Joachim, Penn and Church Street, Philadelphia
Sports Day - students will be divided into 3 grade divisions and compete in various sports activities

9:00 a.m. - Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, 611 Wistar Road, Fairless Hills
Cultural Awareness Day - a presentation by the Philadelphia Civic Ballet

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - St. Bede the Venerable, 1053 Holland Road, Holland
Student Appreciation Day - A "Sock Hop" will be held for students

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - SS. Philip and James, 721 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton
Students will participate in "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - Our Lady of Fatima, 2915 Street Road, Bensalem
Honoring the Diversity in Our Community - students will dress in ethnic attire, participate in ethnic dance, song and folk tales, and will share traditional games and recipes.

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - St. George, 15 Lamont Avenue, Glenolden
"Family Hot Diggity Dog Dinner" and scavenger hunt - Open house for school families and prospective families


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2001

9:00 a.m. - Holy Trinity Catholic, (two locations), Bridgeport

"Principal for a Day" - Student who holds the winning ticket will be "Principal for the Day." Student will act as principal in the morning at the Lower School located at 631 E. Fourth Street, and in the afternoon at the Upper School located at 504 Ford Street, Bridgeport.

9:00 a.m. - Holy Trinity, Stockham and Osborne Avenues, Morrisville
"Multi-Cultural Day" - students celebrate the different cultures in our school. There will be students in costume reciting petitions in the language of their families.

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon - SS. Philip and James, 721 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton
"Dress down and relax day" - Student dress is "island attire." Teachers and students will compete in two volleyball games.

12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. - Queen of the Universe Day Center, 2477 Trenton Road, Levittown
"Carnival Day" - Teachers will make and serve lunch. Carnival games with prizes for students

2:30 p.m. - Roman Catholic High School, 301 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia
"The Battle of the Sexes" - annual academic and athletic competition between the girls of Hallahan Catholic High School and the boys of Roman Catholic.

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - St. Denis, 300 E. Eagle Road, Havertown
Family Skating Social for students and families at Villanova Skating Center, Lancaster Avenue, Villanova

7:00 p.m. - St. Cyril of Alexandria, 716 Emerson Avenue, East Lansdowne
"Catholic School Week Talent Show" in the Social Hall, with students performing for their families

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2001

7:15 a.m. - Archbishop Wood High School, 655 York Road, Warminster

"Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day - -Students will host breakfast for faculty and staff

9:15 a.m. - St. Matthew Schools, 3040 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia
A special drama production "Stages of Imagination" will be presented for the students

9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Archbishop Ryan School for Children with Hearing Impairments, 233 Mohawk Avenue, Norwood
Open House - Parents of children who are hearing impaired are invited to visit school's oral program and total communication program

10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - St. Andrew School, 51 Wrights Road, Newtown
Faculty and students will participate in two volleyball games

11:15 p.m. - Assumption B.V.M., 290 State Road, West Grove
"Celebrate Our Teachers" - teachers will be served a special luncheon

12:00 noon - Stella Maris, 814 Bigler Street, Philadelphia
Students kindergarten through 3rd grade and grandparents offer special prayer, followed by lunch in the cafeteria

1:15 p.m. - Queen of Peace, 835 North Hills Avenue, Ardsley
"Celebrating Our Students" - special honors assembly for students, parents and parishioners to pay tribute to students who have made notable achievements


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2001

8:15 a.m. - St. Charles Borromeo, 20th and Christian Streets, Philadelphia

Closing Liturgy for Catholic Schools Week and Opening Liturgy for Black History Month

9:00 a.m. - St. Joseph/St. Robert School, 850 Euclid Avenue, Warrington
Buddy Day and Teacher Day - Liturgy followed by a Jazz Quartet assembly sponsored by the Home and School Association

9:00 a.m. - St. Mary, 40 Spring Mount Road, Schwenksville
Closing Mass for Catholic Schools Week, followed by the 8th grade play at 10:00 a.m., and a Pep Rally and Dance at 1:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m. - St. Patrick, 210 Meredith Street, Kennett Square
Celebrate Our Teachers and Priests - Candlelight Breakfast for teachers and priests provided by Home and School Association

12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m. - St. Aloysius, 3rd and Hanover Streets, Pottstown
Celebrating the end of Catholic Schools week, 250 students go bowling at Limerick Bowl, Ridge Pike, Limerick

1:15 p.m. - Sacred Heart, Manoa Road and Wilson Avenue, Havertown
Faculty vs JV Girls' Basketball Team in the school gym

1:30 p.m. - Cardinal Dougherty High School, 6301 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia
Student Appreciation Day - Magician Mike Bonacci will perform and a Disc Jockey will be at lunches

- END -



Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Saint Katharine Drexel Parish Offers Bi-lingual Mass For Victims Of San Salvador Earthquake

January 23, 2001

SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH
OFFERS BI-LINGUAL MASS FOR VICTIMS OF
SAN SALVADOR EARTHQUAKE

A bi-lingual (English and Spanish) Mass for the victims of the January 13th earthquake that devastated San Salvador will be held on

Wednesday, January 24, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Saint Katharine Drexel Church
1020 Providence Avenue
Chester, PA


According to official reports, there were 681 persons killed, 3,440 wounded and about 1,000 disappeared. Reverend Peter Welsh will be the celebrant.

Saint Katharine Drexel Church offers a Mass in Spanish every Sunday at 12 noon.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Dedicate New Church At Bucks County Parish

January 24, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO DEDICATE NEW CHURCH AT BUCKS COUNTY PARISH

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will dedicate a new church at St. Martin of Tours Parish in New Hope, Bucks County.


Sunday, January 28, 2001
11:00 a.m.
St. Martin of Tours Parish
West Bridge Street at Riverstone Circle
New Hope, Bucks County



Rev. John P. Schmeer, Pastor of St. Martin of Tours Parish, will concelebrate the mass. St. Martin of Tours Parish was founded in 1885. The new church is part of a new parish complex that will include a new school and a new rectory. The school is scheduled to be dedicated in June, 2001. St. Martin of Tours Parish has 2,600 parishioners. The old church held a capacity of 175 people. It will be maintained and used primarily as a wedding chapel. Everyone is invited to attend the mass of dedication.

###


Contact
John Cox
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Philadelphia Priest Call

January 25, 2001

PHILADELPHIA PRIEST CALL

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced today that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will dedicate the year 2001 to the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. This effort will be known as Philadelphia Priest Call. At a news conference today, Cardinal Bevilacqua said, "We have always been blessed with a good number of vocations in our archdiocese. Yet, our needs are always great. The number of Catholics continues to increase. We are not in crisis at this time. But it's important that we take steps to avoid one. The world offers so many vocational choices nowadays. Young men today may not even consider a priestly vocation. Philadelphia Priest Call will try to change that."

Philadelphia Priest Call will consist of both grass roots and media efforts. In an effort to reach as many men as possible, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will air television and radio messages that promote priestly vocations and will publish advertisements in major Philadelphia area newspapers as well as college newspapers. Billboards throughout the five-county area of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are in place and there is also an emphasis on the internet. All advertising will include the web address www.priestcall.org
"Many people think that identifying prospective vocations is solely the job of the priest. This is simply not true. We are asking teachers, parents, parishioners, co-workers, and family members to look at a young man they know and ask the question, 'would he make a good priest?'" said Cardinal Bevilacqua.

In August and September 2001 parishioners will be invited to identify any men they think might be called to the priesthood. On November 3, 2001 potential candidates will be invited to accompany a priest as he performs his typical daily duties in a one day program called Follow In His Footsteps. This will take place on November 3, 2001. At approximately the same time, seminarians and priests will share the story of their vocation with parishioners.

Some other grass roots efforts to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood include:

daily vocation prayers in grades one through eight in parish elementary schools
speakers available for Home and School groups and other parish organizations
petitions at weekly parish Masses
family prayers for vocations as icon of the Sacred Heart travels from family to family in each parish for one week at a time
parishes and schools encouraged to hold "Vocation Day"
vocation representatives to be named in each parish
visits to elementary and high schools by seminarians

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Contact
Donna Crilley
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Philadelphia City Council Presents Resolution Honoring "catholic Schools"

January 31, 2001

PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS
RESOLUTION HONORING "CATHOLIC SCHOOLS"

Philadelphia City Council Members will present a resolution to Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, Archdiocesan Secretary for Catholic Education, in recognition of "Catholic Schools Week" and the contributions that Catholic Schools make to the community. The ceremony will take place on

Thursday, February 1, 2001
10:00 a.m.
City Council Chambers
Room 400
City Hall, Philadelphia


The president, principal, and students from Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Girls High School in South Philadelphia will be attending the ceremony.

- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate 8th Annual Mass Of Thanksgiving For Teachers Celebrating 25th Anniversary

February 1, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE
8th ANNUAL MASS OF THANKSGIVING FOR TEACHERS
CELEBRATING 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving and Recognition for teachers who are completing twenty-five years of service in the apostolate of Catholic Education on

Sunday, February 4, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Ninety-six teachers are celebrating their silver anniversaries and will be given the well-deserved recognition. Reverend Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, Secretary for Catholic Education, will be the homilist. Approximately 300 people will be in attendance.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

"be My Valentine" Campfire Boys And Girls Salute Hospitalized Veterans Distribute Valentine Cards And Gift Bags

February 2, 2001

"BE MY VALENTINE"

CAMPFIRE BOYS AND GIRLS SALUTE HOSPITALIZED VETERANS
DISTRIBUTE VALENTINE CARDS AND GIFT BAGS

The AGAPE Campfire Program, a campfire program for boys and girls sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adults, will pay tribute to hospitalized veterans by thanking them for their service to our country and presenting the veterans with gifts. In keeping with their program name, AGAPE (pronounced ag-a-pay), which meansLOVE in Greek, approximately 35 youth will gather items including cookies, candy, decks of cards, puzzles, writing paper, shaving cream and shampoo and pack them into gift bags on:

Saturday, February 3, 2001
7:00 p.m.
St. Luke's Church Hall
Easton Road and Fairhill Avenue
Glenside, PA


The next morning, the boys and girls will visit with the veterans , and distribute the Valentine gifts on:

Sunday, February 4, 2001
9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Coatesville Veterans Medical Center
1400 Black Horse Hero Road
Coatesville, PA


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia To Hold Parish Pastoral Council Training

February 2, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA TO HOLD PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL TRAINING

The role of the Parish Pastoral Council in parish pastoral planning will be the subject of a full day of workshops for current and prospective parish pastoral council members and their pastors.


Saturday, March 31, 2001
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Archbishop Carroll High School
211 Matson Ford Road
Radnor, Pennsylvania

Dr Mark Fisher, Ph.D., Associate Professor at St John's Seminary in Camarillo California will offer the keynote address. There will also be fifteen workshops given by experts in parish pastoral council and parish planning from throughout the United States.

The overall theme of the conference: Renewing Parishes: Becoming Places Where Faith Flourishes is addressed by the workshops that bring to life Pope John Paul's Apostolic Exhortation "The Church in America." Each workshop addresses some aspect of this important teaching for the Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and surrounding dioceses including collaboration between urban and suburban parishes, the role of the council members in ongoing planning for the parish, group decision making, training, and recruiting and developing parish leaders.

Registration is open to everyone. Lunch is included in the registration fee of $25.00. Individual preregistration is $20.00 each and $50.00 for groups of three.

For more information contact:
Ms. Mary E. Gindhart, Program Coordinator for Parish Pastoral Councils
phone: 215-587-3694
or visit www.cppcd.org
email: [email protected]
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass For Altar Servers

February 8, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS FOR ALTAR SERVERS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate the annual Mass to honor altar servers from Bucks County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia - North Vicariates.



Sunday, February 11, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia



More than 1500 altar servers from 61 parishes are scheduled to attend the Mass. Reverend Monsignor Francis W. Beach, Vicar for Philadelphia - North and Reverend Monsignor John C. Marine, Vicar for Montgomery County will concelebrate the Mass. Music will be provided by Visitation B.V.M. Children's Choir of Trooper, Montgomery County.

###


Editor's Note: Altar servers from Delaware County, Chester County and Philadelphia - South Vicariates will attend the Mass in 2002.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua And Pennsylvania Bishops Issue Statement On Capital Punishment The Death Penalty: Choose Life

February 12, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA AND PENNSYLVANIA BISHOPS ISSUE
STATEMENT ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

THE DEATH PENALTY: CHOOSE LIFE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia and the 16 other Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania have issued a document that restates their opposition to the use of the death penalty in Pennsylvania and clarifies their reasons for that opposition. "The Catholic Church remains steadfast in its defense of life. While punishment for convicted criminals is just, vengeance is never a Christian or human rationale for inflicting the death penalty," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "The Church believes that even the worst offenders possess the potential to reform their lives and make a positive contribution to society."

In an introductory letter, the Pennsylvania Bishops state, "The threshold of the third Christian millennium is an appropriate time to reexamine our culture and how our values can help to create a culture of life and love. There is a diminished respect for life, a hardening of the human heart, that must be eradicated if we are to build a civilization of love that upholds the beauty and dignity of life."

Cardinal Bevilacqua said, "I join with my brother bishops in asking those who are struggling with this complex issue to read this document carefully. The Church recognizes that the death penalty is an option open to the state; however, in our present society, government has many alternate means available to protect society and punish criminals. The growing movement of those opposed to the death penalty is encouraging, but I recognize that more hearts need to be opened to the Church's position on this matter and her commitment to upholding the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death."

The Bishops of Pennsylvania also issued statements calling for an end to the death penalty in 1987 and 1995. In February 2000, Cardinal Bevilacqua testified before the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee exploring a moratorium on the death penalty. In 1999, the Administrative Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Good Friday appeal for an end to the death penalty.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Joins Volunteers To Feed The Hungry First Of Six Archdiocesan Service Projects In 2001

February 15, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA JOINS VOLUNTEERS TO FEED THE HUNGRY

FIRST OF SIX ARCHDIOCESAN SERVICE PROJECTS IN 2001

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will join approximately 150 volunteers at Assumption B.V.M. Parish in Feasterville, Bucks County, to fill breakfast bags for homebound seniors. This is the first of six Mercy Works Service Projects in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that will take place during the year 2001. These service projects flow from the Jubilee Year 2000 and are based upon the Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the Hungry/Give Drink to the Thirsty, Tend the Sick, Clothe the Naked, Shelter the Homeless, Visit Those in Prison and Bury the Dead.

Schedule
9:45 a.m. - Opening Remarks and Prayer Service
10:25 a.m. - Cardinal Bevilacqua Remarks
10:40 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. - Cardinal Bevilacqua assists
with assembly of bags/blessing of breakfast bags

Location
Assumption B.V.M. Parish
Bristol Road and Meadowbrook Road
Feasterville, Bucks County

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. The Feed the Hungry service project is being done in conjunction with Aid For Friends, a non-profit organization which provides free food and friendship to the isolated and homebound and serves 2,700 clients in the Greater Philadelphia area with the help of 13,000 volunteers. Assumption B.V.M. Parish in Feasterville, Bucks County, is one of 120 Archdiocese of Philadelphia parishes that work with Aid For Friends year round. There are also 140 groups from Archdiocesan schools that help Aid For Friends in a variety of ways. Volunteers for the Feed the Hungry Mercy Works Service Project will primarily be youth from the five-county archdiocesan area.

Each of the Mercy Works Service Projects will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese:
Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate on February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate on April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate on May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate on July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate on September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate on November 10, 2001

For more information about registering for future Mercy Works Service Projects please contact the Office of the Vicar for Renewal and Evangelization at 215-587-0547.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

9th Annual Winterfest A Day Of Celebration For Young People With Disabilities

February 20, 2001

9TH ANNUAL WINTERFEST
A Day of Celebration for Young People with Disabilities

Mercy Vocational High School, located in the Hunting Park area of Philadelphia, will host the 9th annual Winterfest for young people with disabilities. Winterfest, a day of celebration which says goodbye to winter and hello to spring, will take place on

Saturday, February 24, 2001
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mercy Vocation High School
2900 W. Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia


A day of games, entertainment, dance, food and prizes is planned. Sixty young people with disabilities from numerous schools and social agencies will arrive at Mercy Vocational School to be partnered with 120 students from eight archdiocesan high schools and academies who will act as buddies for the day. The guests come from St. Lucy School for the Visually Impaired, St. Katherine Day School, Don Guanella School, Overbrook School for the Blind, and Our Lady of Confidence School. The Community Service Corps and the TODAY (Transforming Opportunities for Disable and Abled Youth) Program of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia offer training for the buddies.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass And Distributes Ashes

February 20, 2001

ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA CELEBRATES
ASH WEDNESDAY MASS AND DISTRIBUTES ASHES

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate Mass and distribute ashes following the Mass on:

Ash Wednesday, February 28, 2001
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul
18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of Lent for Christians throughout the world. Lent is the penitential season of prayer and sacrifice from Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday, in preparation for Easter. Catholics throughout the archdiocese will visit their parish churches to receive the blessed ashes, which are marked in the sign of a cross on the foreheads of the faithful. The symbolic ashes remind the faithful of their mortality.

Lenten Regulations


All Catholics fourteen years of age and older are bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent. All Catholics eighteen years of age and older, up to and including their fifty-ninth birthday, are bound to fast by limiting themselves to a single full meal on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, while the other two meals on those days are to be light. They are also encouraged to attend Mass and to receive the Holy Eucharist daily, to celebrate frequently the Sacrament of Penance, to undertake spiritual reading, especially the study of the Sacred Scriptures, and to participate in parish Lenten devotions as well as Lenten education programs.

In the chapel adjacent to the Cathedral, distribution of ashes will take place during the following Masses: 7:15 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 1:05 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Operation Rice Bowl Begins On Ash Wednesday

February 26, 2001

OPERATION RICE BOWL BEGINS ON ASH WEDNESDAY


The Archdiocese of Philadelphia begins the 26th annual campaign of Operation Rice Bowl on Ash Wednesday, February 28, 2001. The 40 day Lenten program encourages parishioners to fast one day a week during Lent. Families place money that would have been spent on meals into a cardboard "rice bowl" to remember those who are poor and hungry. These rice bowls are available from most parishes. After Easter, parishioners' contributions will be donated to those in need.

The launch of this year's Operation Rice Bowl will be marked with a Lenten Simple Lunch of soup and crackers served


Wednesday, February 28, 2001
12:30 p.m.
Newman Center at the University of Pennsylvania
111 South 38th Street (next to Saint Agatha-Saint James Church)
Philadelphia

During the year 2000, $314,000 was raised by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia through Operation Rice Bowl. Seventy five percent of the funds, or roughly $235,000, were distributed through Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Catholic community. Those funds were used to support small enterprise development, mother and child health projects, agricultural training and development projects as well as education projects. Twenty five percent of the funds, or approximately $79,000, remained within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Nutritional Development Services, a department within Catholic Social Services, used these funds to purchase food for the poor and hungry in the Philadelphia area.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Announces Major New Initiative To Revitalize Philadelphia Neighborhoods

February 28, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE TO REVITALIZE PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS

Cardinal Bevilacqua will announce the establishment of a new Archdiocesan effort that will serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of neighborhoods in the city of Philadelphia at a

News Conference
10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Playground of Visitation B.V.M. Parish
Lehigh and Kensington Avenues
Philadelphia


Cardinal Bevilacqua will be joined by Reverend Monsignor Timothy Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services and other key participants in the initiative. The Honorable John F. Street, Mayor of Philadelphia will also attend. Community and civic leaders will also be present.


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Editor's Note: In case of inclement weather, the news conference will be held in the school hall of Visitation B.V.M. School. The entrance is at the front of the school on Lehigh Avenue. Parking for either site is available along Lehigh or Kensington Avenues.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Announces Major New Initiative To Revitalize Philadelphia Neighborhoods

February 27, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE TO REVITALIZE PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS


CARDINAL BEVILACQUA ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW INITIATIVE TO REVITALIZE PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOODS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announces the establishment of a new Archdiocesan office, to be called the Office for Community Development. The mission of the office is to serve as a catalyst for the revitalization of neighborhoods in the city of Philadelphia, especially those which have experienced decline in recent years.

The Office for Community Development will have office space within the community of Kensington. This office space has not yet been identified. The Archdiocese recently purchased the former Starlight Theater as well as vacant land on Kensington Avenue, adjacent to Visitation B.V.M. Parish. It is hoped that this property will be the site of transitional housing for women and children in the near future. We will be working with the people of the community to explore other opportunities which would support the transformation of the neighborhood.

The Archdiocese began preparing for this initiative approximately two years ago. The office is in response to the vision of Cardinal Bevilacqua for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to become a catalyst for community development. The focus of this office in this neighborhood emerged after several years of discussion among Catholic Social Services, archdiocesan parishes, the Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project, Philadelphia Safe and Sound, as well as City of Philadelphia agencies such as the Office of the Managing Director, the Department of Recreation and the Police Department's Operation Sunrise, all of whom shared concern about the growing number of younger, working families leaving the city. The Archdiocese began preparing for this initiative approximately two years ago. The Archdiocesan Office for Community Development will complement President George W. Bush's intent to work with faith-based entities.

Kensington was selected as the first targeted community, partly because of its needs, including a growing Hispanic and Vietnamese immigrant population. Catholic parishes in the Kensington area include Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Ascension of Our Lord Parish and Saint Hugh of Cluny Parish. It is hoped that other neighborhoods will be targeted in the future.

Operations of the Archdiocesan Office for Community Development are now being funded solely by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, with no federal or city monies. Projects of the office will invite collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, the federal government, business community, private foundations and other local faith communities in target neighborhoods. "We want to help people help themselves. The Archdiocese may not necessarily be the provider of services, but rather we seek to be a catalyst," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. " We want to focus our energy and the resources of the Archdiocese on this target community in order to promote revitalization."

Cardinal Bevilacqua has appointed Brother Robert Kinzler, F.S.C., as the Director of the Office for Community Development. Prior to this appointment, Brother Robert served as the Executive Director of Saint Gabriel's System, a multi-service agency for the rehabilitation of adjudicated delinquent youth, most of whom are from the city of Philadelphia. Brother Kinzler said, "I believe that Cardinal Bevilacqua is reaffirming in a very concrete way the role of the Church as the presence of Christ in the midst of our city. I feel very honored that the Cardinal has asked me to be a part of this significant event in the life of the Church and the City of Philadelphia." Until permanent office space is established, Brother Robert Kinzler may be reached through Catholic Social Services, at 215-965-1710. Cardinal Bevilacqua also appointed Nicholas A. Giordano, a parishioner at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Norristown and former Interim President of LaSalle University and former Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, as Chair of the Advisory Committee.






Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-58703747

"kujenga" Leadership Training Weekend For African American Teens

February 28, 2001

"KUJENGA"
LEADERSHIP TRAINING WEEKEND
FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENS

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Youth Organization will host a leadership conference for African American teens, grades 9 through 12. "Kujenga"(pronounce Koo JEN ga) is the Swahili word for "leadership." This weekend conference provides family oriented leadership training for African American high school age members of parish youth groups through a celebration of culture, customs, and traditions.

The send off ceremony will take place on:

Friday, March 2, 2001
5:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Office Center
222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia


The welcome home ceremony will take place on:

Sunday, March 4, 20001
4:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Office Center
222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia


This yearly conference is held at Camp Neumann Conference Center in Jamison, PA.



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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

"blocs" Annual Gala At The Loews Philadelphia Hotel

March 1, 2001

"BLOCS" ANNUAL GALA
AT THE LOEWS PHILADELPHIA HOTEL

Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) will hold its Annual Gala on

Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Reception 6:00 p.m. - Dinner 7:00 p.m.
Regency Ballroom
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
1200 Market Street
Philadelphia


The mission of BLOCS is to enlist financial support for the continuance and long-term betterment of the Catholic elementary, secondary and special education schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. BLOCS is led by Chairman David F. Girard-diCarlo, Esquire, managing partner of Blank, Rome, Comisky & McCauley.

Catholic schools play an important role in producing a well educated and value-oriented workforce for the business community. If you would like to attend the BLOCS Annual Gala or would like to support BLOCS and enable children with financial need to receive quality education regardless of their race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, please call 215-587-0590.

- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cyo Hall Of Fame Banquet Scheduled For Tonight Is Canceled

March 6, 2001

CYO HALL OF FAME BANQUET
SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT
IS CANCELED

The 8th Annual Catholic Youth Organization Hall of Fame Banquet scheduled for tonight at the Adam's Mark Hotel has been canceled.

The banquet will be re-scheduled for April. Date and time to be determined.


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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Announce The Creation Of A New Catholic Artistic, Cultural And Historical Center

March 6, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A NEW CATHOLIC ARTISTIC, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL CENTER

Cardinal Bevilacqua will announce the creation of a new Catholic artistic, cultural, and historical center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at a

News Conference
10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, March 7, 2001
320 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA

Cardinal Bevilacqua will be joined in his announcement by Bishop Joseph Martino, Reverend Monsignor Alexander Palmieri, Project Coordinator Kathleen Kahlau and many other religious and lay leaders associated with the historic project.
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Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Observance Mass And March In Parade

March 9, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE
ST. PATRICK'S DAY OBSERVANCE MASS
AND MARCH IN PARADE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia,will be the celebrant and homilist at the Saint Patrick's Day Observance Mass on

Sunday, March 11, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Saint Patrick Church
20th and Locust Streets
Philadelphia


Following the Mass, Cardinal Bevilacqua will march on the Parkway in the St. Patrick's Day parade. The feast day of St. Patrick, known as the Apostle of Ireland, is March 17th.


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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Pope Approves Canonization Of Frances De Sales Aviat Date For Ceremony Set For Sunday, November 25, 2001

March 13, 2001

POPE APPROVES CANONIZATION OF FRANCES DE SALES AVIAT
DATE FOR CEREMONY SET FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2001

Pope John Paul II announced today that he has approved the canonization of Blessed Frances de Sales Aviat of France and that he will canonize Mother Aviat as a Saint on November 25, 2001 at Saint Peter's Square in Rome. The Pope's announcement came at a meeting of Cardinals held in Rome this morning. The meeting, known as an ordinary public consistory, took place so that the Holy Father could receive the advice of the Cardinals regarding the possible canonization of Blessed Aviat, and other 8 other Blesseds. Three others will be canonized on November 25th: Bishop Giuseppe Marello, Paola Montal Fornes, and Maria Crescentia Hoss.(Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, was not in Rome for the consistory. He is currently attending a meeting in Washington, D.C. Cardinal Bevilacqua submitted his endorsement of the canonization by mail, as is customary for Cardinals not on permanent assignment in Rome).

"This is the final step before the canonization ceremony and a time of great joy," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "The Oblate Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales are justifiable in their own rejoicing, for they have prayerfully awaited this important announcement. Their joy is shared by those of us in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and most especially at Saint Bernadette Parish in Drexel Hill, where many people have devoted their prayers to the intercession of Blessed Frances de Sales Aviat. This is a great affirmation of the life of holiness and special consecration to God lived by Mother Aviat."

Sister Anne Elizabeth, O.S.F.S., the Oblate Sisters' Congregational Delegate to the United States, said "We are thrilled that the final step leading to the canonization of our foundress, Mother Aviat, has been taken. Her gentleness and her selfless giving to those she served are an encouragement and example to all. This is a grace-filled moment for us: our foundress is to be declared a Saint and the life she led now serves as a model for each of us. These graces are for all of us to share: her spiritual daughters who strive to follow her path of gentleness and humility, all in our Salesian family who follow the spiritual teachings of Saint Frances de Sales, and all those throughout the world who try to lead a life of holiness."

Background

Born Leonie Aviat in France in 1844, Mother Frances de Sales devoted her life to the educational, missionary, and social services apostolates. She was the Foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales, who staff Saint Bernadette Parish School in Drexel Hill. Saint Bernadette's is the home parish of Bernadette Marie McKenzie, recipient of Blessed Aviat's miraculous intercession. In March 1990, at the age of 12, Bernadette McKenzie experienced severe pain and underwent surgery for a tethered spinal cord. Two subsequent surgeries occurred in January and November of 1991. Her surgeon referred her to another physician, solely for pain therapy, since he felt that her case was insolvable. A novena (9 days of prayer) was begun on March 22, 1992 to Mother Aviat by family, friends, and parishioners. On the 4th day of the novena, Bernadette experienced a complete reversal of pain and debilitation. On March 31, 1992, her physician examined Bernadette again and stated that he found no medical explanation for her recovery.

Since the cure occurred in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the diocesan inquiry regarding the case was opened by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on September 8, 1994. It was submitted to Rome in November 1994. On February 17, 2000, a council of medical experts decided that there was no scientific, natural, or medical explanation for the cure. On June 23, 2000, a board of theologians determined that the healing was due solely to the intercession of Mother Aviat. On December 5, 2000, a group of cardinals and bishops, who are members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, recommend the healing to the Holy Father as miraculous. On December 8, 2000, the Pope issued the decree that this cure was a miracle attributed to the intercession of Mother Aviat. Today, the Holy Father announced that Blessed Frances de Sales Aviat will be canonized a Saint on November 25, 2001. ###

Contact
Catherine Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Business Leadership Organized For Catholic Schools (blocs) Holds Annual Gala At Loews Philadelphia Hotel

March 16, 2001

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP ORGANIZED FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS (BLOCS)
HOLDS ANNUAL GALA AT LOEWS PHILADELPHIA HOTEL

Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) will hold its Annual Gala on

Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Dinner 7:00 p.m. - Program: 7:45 p.m.
Regency Ballroom
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
1200 Market Street
Philadelphia



The Annual Gala, BLOCS' main event, has raised $2.6 million for the Catholic Schools since 1998. Funds raised by BLOCS have helped 5,000 students through tuition assistance, special project grants and equipment. Nearly 40% of the students attending the elementary and secondary schools in the inner city are not Catholic and 75% are minorities.


The program will include a lively dance presentation by the "Ambassadors for Christ," a dance ensemble composed of students from inner city schools who are recipients of BLOCS grants. There will also be songs by the Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast High School Theater Groups, and a medley of songs performed by the Father Judge High School Jazz Ensemble.

BLOCS Chairman David F. Girard-diCarlo, Esquire, is managing partner of Blank, Rome, Comisky & McCauley. BLOC relies upon the support of individuals, businesses and foundations to financially assist families in need regardless of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

"convo 2001" High School Students Gather For Workshops, Prayer And Fun

March 22, 2001

"CONVO 2001"
High School Students Gather for Workshops, Prayer and Fun

Approximately 250 high school students who are members of the Community Service Corps (CSC) of the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults will attend CONVO 2001, sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults on

Saturday, March 24, 2001
12 noon - 10:00 p.m.
St. Joseph's University
Mandeville Hall Teletorium
Philadelphia


The theme of this year's CONVO is "Getting Back on Track." This theme focuses on educating teenagers on how they can best serve their community. Charles Gibbs, an eighteen year old neighborhood block leader from West Philadelphia, will be the keynote speaker. The program includes various workshops in aiding the elderly, children, handicapped people, and the poor.

The day will also include the election of Community Service Corps officers, a Mass, dinner and a dance. The Mass will be at 5:00 p.m. Father Thomas Higgins, Director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults, will be the celebrant.

The Community Service Corps is a program of the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults, geared to high school students. CSC encourages and coordinates volunteer services throughout the community and involves hundreds of Philadelphia area teens.

# # # # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Catholic Youth Organization Hosts Pennsylvania State Grade School Girls Basketball Tournament

March 23, 2001

CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION HOSTS
PENNSYLVANIA STATE GRADE SCHOOL
GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) will host the Pennsylvania State Grade School Girls Basketball Tournament on

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
March 23, 24 and 25, 2001
Holy Family College
Frankford and Grant Avenues
Philadelphia


The top eight teams from across the state will compete for the state title. This fellowship weekend includes 12 games, a liturgy, banquet and social. Our Lady of Calvary, from Northeast Philadelphia, will represent the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the tournament.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, March 23
Four games: 4:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Our Lady of Calvary from Northeast Philadelphia will play at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 24
Four games: 10:00 a.m., 11.15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m.
Mass: 5:30 p.m.
Banquet: 6:30 p.m.
Presentation of Tournament Mementos: 7:30 p.m.
Kids Games Social: 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.

*Sunday, March 25
Four games: 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.

*Awards presentation will follow each Sunday game
- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

"an Evening At The Academy" Showcasing The Musical Talents Of The Catholic School Students Of The Archdiocese

March 26, 2001

"AN EVENING AT THE ACADEMY"

SHOWCASING THE MUSICAL TALENTS OF THE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE

The musical talents of more than 750 students of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be showcased on

Tuesday, April 3, 2001
7:30 p.m.
The Academy of Music
Broad and Locust Streets
Philadelphia


This exceptional performance demonstrates the musical accomplishments of the students and the outstanding musical instruction available in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. The program includes performances by the Special Education Ensemble, the All Catholic Elementary Chorus and Band, and the All Catholic High School Chorus, Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band.

Two piano soloist will be featured: Daniel DiPasquale, a student at Saint Aloysius Academy and John Doherty, a student at LaSalle College High School.

# # #

Contact
MarieKelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Hosts National Conference On Catholic Parish Pastoral Councils And Planning

March 26, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA HOSTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CATHOLIC PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILS AND PLANNING

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia to open the 28th Annual Convention of the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development (CPPCD) on Sunday, April 1, 2001. Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, Diocese of Galveston-Houston and President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops will give the keynote address for this four day, national conference. The theme of the conference is Renewing Parishes: Becoming Places Where Faith Flourishes.


Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development
Sunday, April 1 through Wednesday, April 4, 2001

Opening Liturgy
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Celebrant and Homilist
Sunday, April 1, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
Philadelphia

Welcome and Keynote Address
Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
Sunday, April 1, 2001
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn
4th and Arch Streets
Philadelphia

Renewing Parishes: Becoming Places Where Faith Flourishes is a dynamic, interactive opportunity for participants to learn about and strengthen the leadership skills necessary for Catholic parishes in North America today. The more than 100 in attendance will include staff from dioceses who support parish pastoral council development, diocesan staff involved in pastoral planning as well as pastors, parish staff members and volunteers with an active interest in pastoral councils.

Dolores Leckey, former Executive Director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth will be engaging participants in a dialogue around the evolution of leadership in the Church in the U.S. since 1975. The relationship of those leading and those to be led will be the subject of a presentation by Dean Hoge, Professor from Catholic University and author of The Future of Catholic Leadership: Responses to the Priest Shortage; and Converts, Dropouts and Returnees: A Study of Religious Change Among Catholics. Rev. Cletus Kiley, Executive Director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Priestly Life and Ministry Committee and Siobhan Verbeek, Associate Director of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices will provide a current look at the numbers and trends in priestly vocations, and their implications for modifying structures and methods within parishes.

Renewing Structures is the subject of workshops, panel presentations and open discussions
concerned with identifying new parish structures. Rev. Robert Howes, author of the1998 book, Bridges: Toward Inter-parish Regional Community and a panel of practitioners will discuss the implications of inter-parish cooperation models. Early findings of the CPPCD research project entitled Pathways for the Church of the 21st Century, funded by the Raskob Foundation, and a workshop on Parish Social Systems are also among those planned.

Renewing Methods includes an interactive presentation by Beverly Carroll, National Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive Director of the Secretariat for African American Affairs, Ron Cruz, National Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive Director of the Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs, and Dr. Ruth Narita Doyle, Director of Pastoral Planning in the Archdiocese of New York. They will help participants to reflect on ways parishes and dioceses can build on the rich foundations of their cultural diversity to develop their missions. Other workshops will be presented on recruiting and retaining new Church workers. Workshops on the use of internet supported data and distance learning courses for Pastoral Councils are also planned.

Rev. Thomas Sweetzer, SJ author of Successful Parishes: How They Meet the Challenges of Change; Leadership in a Successful Parish; and Transforming the Parish: Models for the Future will provide the summary presentation Hope in the Midst of Change and Uncertainty.

For more information contact:

Maria Rodgers O'Rourke, Executive Director
Conference for Pastoral Planning & Council Development
12545 Olive Blvd., #175
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 579-9577
email: [email protected]
fax: (314) 878-1481
or visit http://www.cppcd.org


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

"an Evening At The Academy" Showcasing The Musical Talents Of The Catholic School Students Of The Archdiocese

April 2, 2001

"AN EVENING AT THE ACADEMY"

SHOWCASING THE MUSICAL TALENTS OF THE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THE ARCHDIOCESE

The musical talents of more than 750 students of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be showcased on

Tuesday, April 3, 2001
7:30 p.m.
The Academy of Music
Broad and Locust Streets
Philadelphia


This exceptional performance demonstrates the musical accomplishments of the students and the outstanding musical instruction available in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. The program includes performances by the Special Education Ensemble, the All Catholic Elementary Chorus and Band, and the All Catholic High School Chorus, Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band.

For the first time, three musical groups will be outside on the front steps of the Academy, from 6:30 p.m. until 7:15 p.m. entertaining the arriving audience. Performing will be the All Catholic Secondary Jazz Band, the All Catholic Elementary Jazz Band and the Roman Catholic High School Pop Group.


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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Holy Week And Easter Liturgies Palm Sunday, April 8 - Easter Sunday April 15

April 3, 2001

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER LITURGIES
Palm Sunday, April 8 - Easter Sunday April 15

PALM SUNDAY - APRIL 8, 2001 - 10:45 A.M.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway


In celebration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqu will bless the palms to be distributed to the faithful. Following the blessing of the palms, the Cardinal will be the celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Passion (Palm) Sunday.

HOLY THURSDAY CHRISM MASS - APRIL 12, 2001 - 10 A.M.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will be the main celebrant and homilist at the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass, which commemorates the day on which the priesthood was established. Approximately 500 priests of the Archdiocese will be in attendance at this mass. During the Mass, Cardinal Bevilacqua will bless the three oils used in the Sacraments: the Oil of Catechumens, used in Baptism; the Oil of the Sick, used in anointing of the sick; and Chrism Oil, used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders.

HOLY THURSDAY MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER - APRIL 12, 2001 - 5:00 P.M.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will be the main celebrant and homilist. This mass commemorates the Last Supper, during which Christ instituted the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, and is one of the most solemn celebrations of the Church year. After the homily, following the example of Christ who washed the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper, the Cardinal will wash the feet of twelve seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. This ceremony, known as the "mandatum," symbolizes the humility of Jesus.

GOOD FRIDAY - APRIL 13, 2001 - 3:00 P.M.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and Death of Christ-
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua is the celebrant and homilist.

Saint John the Evangelist Church, 13th Street between Market and Chestnut Streets,
Philadelphia - 3:00 P.M.

"The Way of the Cross" -a special dramatic presentation of "Via Crucis" (The Way of the Cross). Under the direction of Dr. Annette DiMedio, students from the University of the Arts will perform this dramatic presentation based on the musical score, Via Crucis, composed by Franz Liszt.

HOLY SATURDAY - APRIL 14, 2001- 8:00 P.M.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua is the celebrant and homilist at the Easter Vigil Mass. The special ceremonies that take place during this Mass are all related to the Resurrection. The ceremonies include: the Blessing of the Fire, the lighting of the Paschal Candle, and the Blessing of the Easter Water.

EASTER SUNDAY - APRIL 15, 2001- 10:30 A.M.
St. Joseph Church, Bartram and Woodlawn Avenues, Collingdale, PA


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will be the celebrant and homilist at the Mass of the Resurrection.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization Hosts Hall Of Fame Banquet

April 4, 2001

ARCHDIOCESAN CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION
HOSTS HALL OF FAME BANQUET

The 8th Annual Catholic Youth Organization Hall of Fame Banquet, which was canceled in March due to bad weather, will take place on

Monday, April 9, 2001
5:30 p.m. Reception and Silent Auction
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Adam's Mark Hotel
City Line and Monument Road
Philadelphia


For the fifth year, the banquet is being co-sponsored by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, because the 76ers are playing the Boston Celtics that evening in Boston, Mr. Pat Croce and his team will be unable to be present for this event.

The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Program utilizes sports and coaching to develop the spirituality and character formation of young people. CYO helps to prepare young people for the challenges of today and tomorrow. The purpose of the banquet is to raise funds for their programs, highlight the efforts of the CYO, and to honor adults who exemplify the philosophy, values and mission of the CYO. The three Hall of Fame inductees are:

Mr. James A. Fitzsimmons, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs,
Dean of Students, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

Dr. Rosalie M. Mirenda, President of Neumann College, Aston, PA

Rev. Mr. Joel M. Ziff, Director of Finance,
Regional Community of Sisters of Mercy, Merion, PA

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Groundbreaking On New Construction For Saint Francis Homes For Boys/saint Joseph's House For Boys

April 4, 2001

GROUNDBREAKING ON NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR SAINT FRANCIS HOMES FOR BOYS/SAINT JOSEPH'S HOUSE FOR BOYS

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Saint Francis Homes for Boys/Saint Joseph's House for Boys facility which will care for dependent and neglected boys. The new campus will improve the residential and educational services provided to the young people, ages nine to 18. Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services and President of the Board of Saint Francis Homes for Boys/Saint Joseph's House for Boys, will bless the grounds and offer remarks. Mr. Pat Croce, President of the Philadelphia 76ers, will also speak briefly after the groundbreaking. Mr. Croce's father was raised at the former Saint John's Orphan Asylum at 49th Street and Wyalusing Avenue in Philadelphia. Saint John's had a strong connection to Saint Francis Homes for Boys and eventually merged with Saint Francis.


Friday, April 6, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Intersection of Street Road and Bristol Pike
Bensalem, Bucks County


The new construction will consist of five residential cottages each housing ten boys, a school building for 80 students, a gymnasium and an administrative building. Construction costs are estimated at $7.5 million. It is hoped that construction will be completed by fall 2002. The costs will be met through the use of private funds, debt service, and foundation grants. This project will carve out 50 acres on a 200 acre property given to the Archdiocese in the 1940's by the Drexel family. Two group homes currently on the property, small cottages built in the 19th century, will be razed after the new facilities are complete. An Archdiocesan vocational school located on the property will be unaffected by the project. The remaining 100 plus acres are planned for open space.

Background
Saint Joseph's House for Boys was founded by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1888 and occupied several locations until 1929 when it found a more permanent home at 16th Street and Allegheny Avenue in North Philadelphia. This location was closed in the 1970's. At that time, Saint Joseph's House for Boys began operating under the group home system with no central residential location.

In 1998, Saint Francis Homes for Boys and Saint Joseph's House for Boys united under one administration and integrated all programs. Currently, Saint Francis/Saint Joseph's serves 150 boys in 15 group homes and supervised apartment programs. The administration office and school for St. Francis/St. Joseph's, which will be moved to the new site, is presently located on the campus of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, Bucks County).
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Volunteers Shelter The Homeless

April 5, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA VOLUNTEERS SHELTER THE HOMELESS

Approximately 75 volunteers will take part in the second Mercy Works Service Project - Shelter the Homeless. The volunteers will clean, garden, paint and work on minor construction projects at three shelters in the Philadelphia - South Vicariate. Reverend Monsignor John T. Conway, Vicar for Philadelphia -South Vicariate will join the volunteers.* The Archdiocesan Mercy Works Service Projects flow from the Jubilee Year 2000 and are based upon the Corporal Works of Mercy.


Saturday, April 7, 2001
9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. - Prayer Service
Archdiocesan Office Center Auditorium
222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA
9:45 a.m. Volunteers Depart for Assigned Shelter (Some volunteers will remain at office center to build planters)


Saint John's Hospice
10:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

1221 Race Street, Philadelphia
Emergency shelter and day services programs for homeless men
30 adult volunteers will paint walls of 3,000 square foot enclosed yard* (Rev. Msgr. John T. Conway will participate)
15 to 20 members of St. John Chrysostom Parish Youth Group, Wallingford, Delaware County will prepare items for residents' lunch (youth group will only be present in morning)

Saint Mary's Residence
10:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

247 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia
Permanent housing for single women, usually over age 50
8 to 10 volunteers will clean and garden

McAuley House
10:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

1800 Morris Street, Philadelphia
Residence for medically fragile women
8 to 10 volunteers will paint and do minor repairs

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each of the Mercy Works Service Projects will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in Bucks County.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

School Choice Conference Please Join Us! Your Efforts Can Help Put A Tuition Voucher In Your Hands! Gain The Tools To Effectively Advocate For School Choice!

April 10, 2001

SCHOOL CHOICE CONFERENCE

Please join us! Your efforts can help put a tuition voucher in your hands!
Gain the tools to effectively advocate for school choice!

Pennsylvania is on the brink of a new era in education: when families will be fully empowered to choose the schools that best meets the needs of their children. Learn about school choice, how to organize supporters and effectively advocate the school choice position. Please join us for this informative and engaging event that will help to solidify our grassroots presence and propel us to victory! There is no cost to attend the conference and lunch will be provided. Please register by Friday, April 27, 2001 by calling 215-965-1100.


SCHOOL CHOICE CONFERENCE
Saturday, May 5, 2001
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
St. Martin of Tours School
5450 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia



Sponsored by: Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, Arab-American Development Corporation, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic League for Religious & Civil Rights, Citizens for Educational Freedom, The Commonwealth Foundation, Concerned Citizens of Southeast DelCo, Diocese of Allentown, Diocese of Harrisburg, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Diocese of Scranton, Donahue Family Foundation, Philadelphia Coalition for Education Reform and School Choice, Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, REACH Alliance, Toward Tradition, and Urban Family Council.


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Former Philadelphia Priest Named Bishop Of The Diocese Of Las Vegas Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Pepe To Be Installed May 31st

April 10, 2001

FORMER PHILADELPHIA PRIEST NAMED BISHOP
OF THE DIOCESE OF LAS VEGAS
Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Pepe To Be Installed May 31st

Pope John Paul II has named Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Pepe as the second Bishop of the diocese of Las Vegas in Nevada. The Las Vegas See (Latin for seat) has been vacant since May 22, 2000 when the Holy Father appointed former Bishop Daniel F. Walsh to head the diocese of Santa Rosa in California.

Joseph Anthony Pepe was born in Philadelphia on June 18, 1942, and graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1960 and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He was ordained a priest in 1970.

Upon news of Monsignor Pepe's appointment, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, said "I join with all the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in extending heartfelt congratulations and prayerful best wishes to Bishop-Elect Pepe upon his appointment as Bishop of Las Vegas. Bishop-Elect Pepe has been a faithful servant of the Church in his various assignments in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including his work in the Metropolitan Tribunal and as Chancellor. With that same faithfulness and dedication, Bishop-Elect Pepe has served since 1993 in various capacities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, most recently as Moderator of the Curia, Chancellor and Vicar for Clergy. His pastoral demeanor, administrative skills and canonical expertise have earned him the respect of his brother priests at home in Philadelphia as well as in Santa Fe. I am confident that these same gifts will guide him as he shepherds the people of God in Las Vegas."

The Diocese of Las Vegas has 24 parishes and a Catholic population of 430,000. It is the fastest growing Catholic diocese in the United States. Monsignor Pepe will be ordained a bishop and installed as the second bishop of the diocese of Las Vegas on May 31, 2001.

# # #


Bishop-Elect Joseph A. Pepe
Curriculum Vitae


Joseph Anthony Pepe was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 18, 1942, one of two children born to Francis V. (deceased) and Elvira (Fazio) Pepe. The future bishop was baptized at St. Francis de Sales Church, Philadelphia. He attended St. Mary of the Assumption and later Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish elementary school. Following his graduation from Roman Catholic High School, Philadelphia, in 1960 ,he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook. Joseph A. Pepe was ordained a priest on May 16, 1970.

Father Pepe first served as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Loreta Parish, and as a member of faculty at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield. Father Pepe received his Doctorate in Canon Law from Rome's Pontifical University of Saint Thomas in 1976.

Father Pepe was ordained Defender of the Bond, Metropolitan Tribunal, Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1976, and as Prosynodal Judge a year later. Ten years later, Father Pepe was appointed Vice Chancellor, and in 1990, he was named Chancellor of the archdiocese. During his tenure in the Chancery, Father Pepe served as Vice Promoter for the Cause of Blessed Katharine Drexel. From 1982 through 1987, Father Pepe was a member of the faculty of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where he taught Canon law.

In May, 1991, Monsignor Pepe was named Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Monsignor Pepe then served briefly as Pastor of St. Justin Martyr Parish in Narberth. Upon special request of the Bishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Monsignor Pepe went to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in 1993 to assist as the Judicial Vicar. In April 1998, Monsignor Pepe was appointed Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia, and Vicar for Priests for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

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Contact
Catherine Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia To Celebrate Mass For Persons With Disabilities

April 11, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA TO CELEBRATE
MASS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia will celebrate a Mass for persons with disabilities, their families, and friends on Sunday, April 29, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. The Mass is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Department for Pastoral Care for Persons with Disabilities, Respect Life Office. The Mass will be interpreted in American Sign Language.

For information: 215-587-3530 or 215-587-0510 (TDD)

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Springfest 2001

April 17, 2001

SPRINGFEST 2001

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Young Adult Ministry Program is sponsoring Springfest,
a gathering of young adults, single and married, in their 20's and 30's. The event is an opportunity to learn more about their faith, attend workshops and have a great time. Springfest will be held on

Saturday, April 21, 2001
10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Archbishop Prendergast High School
401 N. Lansdowne Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA



The day includes keynote address at 10:45 a.m. by former Philadelphia Eagle Kevin Reilly, workshops on a variety of faith and life topics, service opportunitiesMass at 4:30 p.m., dinner and dancing.



- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

The Josephine C. Connelly Achievement Awards To Be Presented To 147 Eighth-grade Students Each Student Receives A $1,000 Tuition Credit For Four Years Provided Through The Generosity Of The Connelly Foundation

April 18, 2001

THE JOSEPHINE C. CONNELLY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
TO BE PRESENTED TO 147 EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS

EACH STUDENT RECEIVES A $1,000 TUITION CREDIT
FOR FOUR YEARS PROVIDED THROUGH THE
GENEROSITY OF THE CONNELLY FOUNDATION

The presentation of the 2001 Josephine C. Connelly Achievement Awards honoring 147 eighth-grade students will take place on

Thursday, April 26, 2001

Awards for Districts II, III and IV
4:00 p.m.
West Catholic High School
4501 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia

Awards for Districts V, VI and VII
7:00 p.m.
Archbishop Ryan High School
11201 Academy Road
Philadelphia


Immediately following the presentations, receptions will be held in the school halls.

The awards are presented to eighth-grade students who have a strong desire to attend an Archdiocesan high school or Mercy Vocational High School, and who strive to achieve their fullest academic potential. Every parochial elementary school in Philadelphia county is invited to participate. The number of recipients is determined by enrollment, and preference is given to students who demonstrate financial need. Each recipient receives a yearly $1,000 tuition credit for each of the four years the student attends an Archdiocesan or Mercy Vocational High School.

List of Award Winners:

District II
Gabriella T. Ilisco, St. Barnabas
Loan T. Lam, St. Barnabas
Brianne Brown, SS. Clement-Irenaeus
Margaret Morrow, SS. Clement-Irenaeus
Keinesha Bruce, St. Cyprian
Darrell Fuller, Jr., St. Cyprian
Amanda Eshelman, St. Donato
Donnelley Bantawan, St. Francis de Sales
Syndara White, St. Francis de Sales
Kevin Ward, Good Shepherd
Aneetria Gough, St. Ignatius of Loyola
Akeem Haughton, Most Blessed Sacrament
Heather Dea, Our Lady of Lourdes
Arlin Graham, Our Lady of the Rosary
Duania Barnes, Our Lady of Victory
Shanefia N. Barrett, Our Mother of Sorrows
Crystal M. Johnson, St. Rose of Lima

District III
Lynette Caterina, St. Anne
Robert Ross, St. Anne
Dana Spiller, St. Boniface
Erin Ferry, St. Francis Xavier
Christopher Martin, Holy Name of Jesus
My Phoung Diep, Holy Redeemer
Joseph M. Stanley, St. Laurentius
Shanelle L. DeBose, St. Malachy
Nija Holder, St. Martin de Porres (Lehigh)
Cortnee' Love, St. Martin de Porres (Lehigh)
Kaitlin Konzerowsky, St. Mary Interparochial
Stephanie Latham, St. Peter the Apostle
Edward Krystopowicz, Visitation BVM

District IV
Pilare-Danielle Caraballo, Annunciation BVM
Ann Huynh, Annunciation BVM
Racheal DiBruno, St. Casimir
Latoya Askew, St. Charles Borromeo
Nicholas DiNardo, Epiphany of Our Lord
Mallory Mooney, Epiphany of Our Lord
Ashley Tarasevich, Holy Spirit
Amanda Beason, St. Monica
Patricia Guyon, St. Monica
Lauren Scannapieco, St. Monica
Christina Kalesse, St. Nicholas of Tolentine
Brittany Wood, St. Nicholas of Tolentine
Diane Cesare, Our Lady of Angels
Kristina Pizzo, Our Lady of Angels
Brittani Kelly, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Morgan Murtha, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Dana McGinnis, St. Richard
Heather McGee, Sacred Heart of Jesus
Katelyn Zeoli, Stella Maris
Anh Dinh, St. Thomas Aquinas
Robert Mumford, St. Thomas Aquinas

District V
Caira Weeks, St. Athanasius-Immaculate Conception
Dlorah Lamour, St. Benedict
Joseph Gordon, St. Bridget
Teresa M. Covington, Holy Cross
Matthew Jennings, Holy Family
Amy Joan Flemming, Immaculate Heart of Mary
Kristine Sophia Plata, Immaculate Heart of Mary
David Lally, St. John the Baptist (Manayunk)
Emily Woltman, St. John the Baptist (Manayunk)
Christopher Levering, St. Josaphat (Manayunk)
Samantha Calfapietra, St. Lucy
Keshia Charles, St. Martin de Porres (Logan Street)
Cynthia Scharff, St. Mary of the Assumption
Brian E. Lasek, Our Mother of Consolation
Jennifer Marie Wiggins, St. Raymond
Kianna Binns, St. Therese of the Child Jesus

District VI
Joseph Lawrence, All Saints
Frederick Hrynczyszyn, St. Adalbert
Sarah Arif, St. Ambrose
Amanda Walker, St. Ambrose
Joseph Waclawski, Ascension of Our Lord
Brian S. Welsh, Jr., St. George
Brittney Hopkins, St. Helena
Melissa Jastrzebski, Holy Innocents
Joseph McDermott, Holy Innocents
Adrian Gonzalez, St. Hugh of Cluny
Adriana Morales, Incarnation of Our Lord
Merasi Rentas, Incarnation of Our Lord
Nicole Ricci, St. Joachim
Roseann Foster, St. Joan of Arc
Matthew Walton, St. Joan of Arc
Michael E. Mayfield, St. John Cantius
Christopher M. Fagan, Mater Dolorosa
Bridget Atkinson, Mother of Divine Grace
Michael Puchon, Nativity BVM
Jeanine Sampson, Nativity BVM
Mark Bartholomew, Our Lady Help of Christians
Nadirah Owens, Our Lady of Hope
Rosie Rivera, St. Veronica



District VII
Anthony Altimari, St. Anselm
Chuck Bernard, St. Anselm
Patricia L. Sullivan, St. Anselm
Richard Dempsey, St. Bartholomew
Amanda Wyckoff, St. Bartholomew
Jill E. Dembinski, St. Bernard
Amanda R. Young, St. Bernard
Jason P. Doherty, Christ the King
Ronald P. James, Christ the King
Amy Fitzpatrick, St. Cecilia
Shea McCauley, St. Cecilia
Catherine Santucci, St. Cecilia
Caitlin Druding, St. Christopher
Denise Eckhardt, St. Christopher
James Malinowski, St. Christopher
Wesley Hutchins, St. Dominic
Amber Markee, St. Dominic
Daniel Marafino, St. Jerome
Megan C. McMullen, St. Jerome
Sean P. Reichert, St. Jerome
Robert Kotchmer, St. Katherine of Siena
Stephanie Snyder, St. Katherine of Siena
William Wilmer, St. Katherine of Siena
Patrick Taylor, St. Leo
Alicia Duscher, St. Martha
Shannon Simpson, St. Martha
William Wolf, St. Martha
Melanie Cahill, St. Martin of Tours
Kristina DiCarne, St. Martin of Tours
Matthew Friend, St. Martin of Tours
Melissa Brinkmann, Maternity BVM
Lisa Coyle, Maternity BVM
Gregory Voisard, Maternity BVM
Kelly Kaczmarek, St. Matthew
Kellianne McCarthy, St. Matthew
Amanda Rudolph, St. Matthew
Jenna Swearigen, St. Matthew
Kristine Aquilino, Our Lady of Calvary
Ian Johnston, Our Lady of Calvary
Charles Kennedy, Our Lady of Calvary
Candace Cervino, Our Lady of Consolation
Adrienne Baione, Our Lady of Ransom
Trisha Cadungon, Our Lady of Ransom
Christine Hennessey, Resurrection of Our Lord
Maureen Keenan, Resurrection of Our Lord
John McLaughlin, Resurrection of Our Lord
Amanda Brayerton, St. Timothy
Margaret Schwartz, St. Timothy
Renato Sifoni, St. Timothy
Eugene Zimmaro, St. Timothy
Robert Keever, St. William
Jessica Leigh Morlock, St. William
Brianne O'Connell, St. William
Dennis B. Smith, St. William

# # #


Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia To Host Annual Pennsylvania Catholic Charities Conference

April 20, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA TO HOST ANNUAL
PENNSYLVANIA CATHOLIC CHARITIES CONFERENCE

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host the ninth annual Pennsylvania Catholic Charities Conference April 25 - 27, 2001 at the Radisson Valley Forge, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate the closing Mass. The keynote speakers are John J. DiIulio, Jr., PhD, Director of the new White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and Patricia Kelly PhD, Founder and Director of Kelly Counseling & Consulting. Dr. Kelly is a frequent presenter for conferences of clergy, social workers and educators.

Pennsylvania Catholic Charities Conference

Wednesday, April 25, 2001 1:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Keynote Address by Patricia M. Kelly, PhD
Animating Leadership Among Parents, Grandparents and Caretakers
Radisson Valley Forge
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Thursday, April 26, 2001 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Keynote Address by John DiIulio, PhD
Director of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Radisson Valley Forge

Friday, April 27, 2001 8:00 a.m.
Closing Mass
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia
Radisson Valley Forge

The Pennsylvania Catholic Charities Conference will draw attendees from across the state. Workshops will highlight a variety of issues, including post abortion counseling, cultural diversity, the use of drug therapy and community outreach. Programs for the mentally challenged, children, senior citizens and the homeless will be featured. Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, a major recipient of Catholic Charities funds, is the largest private provider of human services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and serves an overall client base that is approximately 50% non-Catholic.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass For Persons With Disabilities

April 25, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS
FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate a Mass for Persons with Disabilities, their families and friends. Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services, will be the homilist. The Mass is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Department for Pastoral Care for Persons with Disabilities, Respect Life Office.


Sunday, April 29, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


More than 700 people are expected to attend the Mass for Persons with Disabilities including persons with both physical and mental disabilities, family members, friends and care providers. All Archdiocesan Special Education Schools have been invited to attend There will be 50 wheelchair users and 45 members of the deaf community at the Mass, which will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Assisted listening devices for persons hard of hearing and Braille Mass booklets for the visually impaired will be available. The Mass for Persons with Disabilities is a Eucharistic celebration of inclusion. It is not a Mass of Healing or Anointing of the Sick.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

The 2001 Catholic Charities Appeal Kickoff Celebration

April 26, 2001

THE 2001 CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL
KICKOFF CELEBRATION

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will host the 2001 Catholic Charities Appeal Kickoff on

Monday, April 30, 2001
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Down Town Club
150 South Independence Hall West
(The Public Leger Building at 6th and Chestnut Sts.)
Philadelphia



With a backdrop of America's most historic district, the Kickoff Celebration will feature a night of colonial music, guides in colonial dress, and a visit from Ben Franklin.


The Catholic Charities Appeal raises the dollars necessary to fund the human services programs of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. These programs serve persons within the five counties that comprise the Archdiocese (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia). Agencies, institutions and programs funded by the Catholic Charities Appeal serve people of all faiths, regardless of race, sex, age, handicap, national or ethnic origin, or ability to pay.

In 1999-2000, more than 70 agencies, schools, programs and residences provided loving care and support to over 250,000 men, women and children throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

School Choice Conference Mobilizing Grassroots Efforts

April 30, 2001

SCHOOL CHOICE CONFERENCE
Mobilizing Grassroots Efforts

A diverse group of school choice organizations are sponsoring an all-day conference to help educate the community to effectively advocate school choice. The conference will be held on

Saturday, May 5, 2001
9:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
St. Martin of Tours School
5450 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia


This conference will provide an opportunity to meet fellow supporters of School Choice: parents, community leaders, educators, clergy, elected officials and others. It will discuss the "how to" organize, lobby legislators, and solidify grassroots efforts.

The agenda is as follows:

9:15 a.m. Welcome remarks

9:30 a.m. Opening Address by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua,
Archbishop of Philadelphia

10:00 a.m. Update on School Choice Legislation by Chris Bravacos,
President of the Reach Alliance

10:30 a.m. Session A: Primed for Advocacy: Organizing Your School/Church/Community
Session B: Keys to Successfully Lobbying Your Legislators
Guest Panelists: State Representatives Dwight Evans, John Taylor, Dennis O'Brien

12 Noon Lunch and Keynote Addresses by State Representatives Dwight Evans and Dennis O'Brien

1:00 p.m. Panel discussion with Questions and Answers

2:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

Sponsored by: Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, Arab-American Development Corporation, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic League for Religious & Civil Rights, Citizens for Educational Freedom, The Commonwealth Foundation, Concerned Citizens of Southeast DelCo, Diocese of Allentown, Diocese of Harrisburg, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Diocese of Scranton, Donahue Family Foundation, Philadelphia Coalition for Education Reform and School Choice, Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Pennsylvania Family Institute, Pennsylvania Knights of Columbus, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, REACH Alliance, Toward Tradition, and Urban Family Council.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

"neumann Scholars For 2001" 59 High School Scholarships Awarded

May 1, 2001

"NEUMANN SCHOLARS FOR 2001"
59 HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Thirty-three full four-year scholarships and twenty-six partial four-year scholarships to the Archdiocesan high school of their choice will be presented to parochial school eighth-grade students by Bishop Martin N. Lohmuller, Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia on

Friday, May 4, 2001
4:30 p.m.
St. Joseph University
Chapel of St. Joseph
Michael J. Smith, S.J., Memorial
City Line and Cardinal Avenues
Philadelphia


The "Neumann Scholars Program," named after Saint John Neumann, the founder of Philadelphia's parochial school system, was developed and is underwritten by The Connelly Foundation. This Archdiocesan-wide scholarship program was launched to attract the highest academically-achieving parochial school students to Archdiocesan high schools. The thirty-three "Neumann Scholars" receive full tuition scholarships for four years, and the "Honorable Mention" students are awarded 50-percent four year tuition scholarships.

The list of Award winners are:

District I - Philadelphia
Elizabeth Supple, Neumann Scholar, Saint Francis de Sales
Shannon Harris, Neumann Scholar, Saint Francis de Sales
Malina Small, Neumann Scholar, Saint Francis de Sales
Chi-Ser Tran, Honorable Mention, Saint Francis de Sales

District III - Philadelphia
Frank Karvell, Neumann Scholar, Saint Mary Interparochial
Jaclyn McNamee, Neumann Scholar, Saint Laurentius
Stephanie Chan, Honorable Mention, Holy Redeemer
Chi Yeung Chan, Honorable Mention, Holy Redeemer
Janaye Tirotto, Honorable Mention, Saint Mary Interparochial

District IV - Philadelphia
Michele Milano, Neumann Scholar, Saint Richard
Sebastian Conforto, Neumann Scholar, Stella Maris
Mariann Gentile, Neumann scholar, Annunciation BVM
Daniel Mastropieri, Honorable Mention, Epiphany of Our Lord
Jessica Fee, Honorable Mention, Saint Monica

District V - Philadelphia
Molly Klusek, Neumann Scholar, Immaculate Heart of Mary
Peter William Day, Neumann Scholar, Our Mother of Consolation
Kevin Rodden, Honorable Mention, Holy Family

District VI - Philadelphia
Daniel O'Brien, Neumann Scholar, Holy Innocents
Eva Piatek, Neumann Scholar, Saint Adalbert
Patrick Adair, Neumann Scholar, Nativity BVM
Richard Rimkunas, Honorable Mention, All Saints
Thomas Neville, Honorable Mention, Saint Joan of Arc
Roman Senyszyn, Honorable Mention, Mother of Divine Grace

District VII - Philadelphia
Andrew Kerr, Neumann Scholar, Saint Cecilia
Stephanie Benedict, Neumann Scholar, Our Lady of Ransom
Richard Price, Neumann Scholar, Saint Leo
Sarah Mundy, Neumann Scholar, Saint Matthew
Philip Malaczewski, Neumann Scholar, Saint William
Meghan Anderson, Neumann Scholar, Saint Katherine of Siena
Colleen Meaney, Neumann Scholar, Saint Cecilia
Alex Baez, Neumann Scholar, Our Lady of Calvary
Erin McShea, Neumann Scholar, Saint Matthew

District VIII - Bucks Co.
Benjamin Haines, Neumann Scholar, Saint Jude
Natalie Corey, Neumann Scholar, Saint Joseph-Saint Robert
Christian Simms, Neumann Scholar , Our Lady of Good Counsel
Eric Snyder, Honorable Mention, Assumption BVM

District IX - Chester Co.
Brian Downey, Neumann Scholar, Saint Joseph (Dowingtown)
Sean McKie, Honorable Mention, Saints Sinon and Jude
Lauren Greene, Honorable Mention, Saints Philip and James

District X - Delaware Co.
Michael Harrison, Neumann Scholar, Saint Joseph (Aston)
Danielle Scoleri, Honorable Mention, Saint Madeline-Saint Rose
Kathleen Day, Honorable Mention, Our Lady of Fatima
Matthew Patterson, Honorable Mention, Saint Madeline-Saint Rose

District XI - Delaware Co.
James Smith, Neumann Scholar, Saint Pius X
Kathryn Lehigh, Neumann Scholar, Saint Francis of Assisi
Caroline Green, Honorable Mention , Saint Dorothy
Daniel Carr, Honorable Mention, Saint Charles Borromeo
Livia Fortunato, Honorable Mention, Saint Francis of Assisi

District XII - Montgomery Co.
Claire Zentgraf, Neumann Scholar, Saint Stanislaus
Timothy Lisowski, Honorable Mention, Saint Teresa of Avila
Andrew Galloway, Honorable Mention, Saint Peter
Natalie Kratz, Honorable Mention, Saint Maria Goretti

District XIII - Montgomery Co.
Brian Kilmartin, Jr., Neumann Scholar, Saint Paul
Tomas Arechabala, Honorable Mention, Mother of Divine Providence
Kaitlin Bonaskiewich, Honorable Mention, Epiphany of Our Lord

District XIV - Montgomery Co
Robert McHale, Neumann Scholar, Saint Albert the Great
Timothy Potens, Neumann Scholar, Presentation BVM
Jeffrey Long, Honorable Mention, Saint Hilary of Pointiers
John Tran, Honorable Mention, Our Lady Help of Christians

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Masses For Couples Married 25, 50 Years

May 4, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASSES
FOR COUPLES MARRIED 25, 50 YEARS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate Mass to honor couples who have been married 25 years and those who have been married 50 years or more. There are three anniversary masses scheduled to accommodate the large number of couples celebrating these milestone anniversaries.


Couples Married 25 Years
Saturday, May 5, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Couples Married 50 Years or More
Sunday, May 6, 2001
11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Approximately 250 couples will attend each of the three Masses. Their families are also invited.







Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Mother's Day May Procession 2001 Day To Honor Mary, The Mother Of Jesus

May 8, 2001

MOTHER'S DAY MAY PROCESSION 2001
DAY TO HONOR MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

Approximately 2,000 people are expected to take part in the fifth annual May Procession and Prayer Service at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Mother's Day. May is the month designated to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. The May Queen, Susanne McClellan of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, East Goshen, Chester County, will crown the statue of Mary during the Prayer Service.


Sunday, May 13, 2001
1:30 Procession Begins*
2:00 p.m. Prayer Service Begins
Steps of Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Adults and children from all of the parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were invited to tell the organizing committee "Why My Mom Should Be May Queen," and over 2,000 essays were received. Susanne McClellan, the 2001 May Queen, was nominated by her son, Kevin McClellan, Saint Gabriel Parish Norwood, Delaware County. Mrs. McClellan recently retired after 25 years as a secretary at Ryerson Steel and she and her husband attend Mass and pray the rosary daily.

The May Procession will last approximately thirty minutes and will be followed by a thirty minute Prayer Service. Reverend Monsignor John A. Close, Pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul will lead the Prayer Service, noted marian expert Reverend Frederick L. Miller, S.T.D., will serve as homilist and the Archdiocesan Boy Choir will provide music.

*Editor's note: The May Procession participants will walk around the block where the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is located: North from the steps of the Cathedral on 18th Street then East on Vine Street, South on 17th Street and West on Race Street then the Procession will enter the Cathedral for the Prayer Service.

For more information please send e-mail to [email protected]

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Praises Legislature For Passage Of Education Tax Credit Bill

May 8, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA PRAISES LEGISLATURE
FOR PASSAGE OF EDUCATION TAX CREDIT BILL

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, welcomed the news that the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a tax credit program as part of an education reform package by a vote of 133 to 64 in the House and 36 to 13 in the Senate. "I commend Governor Ridge and the Pennsylvania legislature for their support of an education tax credit program which makes scholarships available to public and non-public school students to attend the schools of their choice. Under this just and fair plan, businesses will receive tax credits for their donations to scholarship programs set up by nonprofit organizations. The real winners of this legislation are, of course, the thousands of children of low and middle income families who might not have access to the schools that best meet their needs. The education tax credit initiative is a tremendous step toward full school choice, which would ensure tangible educational options for all of Pennsylvania's children."

Reverend Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, Secretary for Catholic Education said, "Thousands of students in the Archdiocesan school system already receive tuition assistance through BLOCS, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools and the Catholic Life 2000 Endowment. This legislation will make it possible for even more businesses to donate to schools and scholarship programs. I am gratified that so many children and their families will reap the benefits of this legislation."

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Top 1.5% Of Senior Class Honored For Their Outstanding Academic Excellence Seniors From Archdiocesan And Private Catholic High Schools

May 9, 2001

TOP 1.5% OF SENIOR CLASS HONORED
FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Seniors from Archdiocesan and Private Catholic High Schools

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist at a special liturgy honoring high school seniors for their outstanding academic excellence on

Monday, May 14, 2001
6:15 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Judge Clement J. McGovern, Jr., retired from the Court of Common Pleas, will be the guest speaker. Judge McGovern has served as faculty member for the Pennsylvania College of the Judiciary and taught courses at Delaware County Community College and Widener University School of Law.

The 134 students being honored rank in the top 1.5% of the Senior Class according to the cumulative rank at the end of the first semester of senior year. The honorees represent Archdiocesan and private Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese.


The outstanding students are:


Archbishop John Carroll High School
Kelly L. Berk
Suzanne M. Bibby
Emily L. Lugo
Kristin A. McCarthy
Hemal H. Shah

Archbishop Prendergast High School
Beth A. Grafstrom
Erin McCloskey
Christine T. Nuzzo
Jennifer Plourde

Archbishop Ryan High School
Hilary M. Caruso
Joseph Dangelmaier
Linda M. Foley
Kevin Fong
Bridget M. Fox
Lily Lo
Vincenza L. Maiorano
Kristin M. Miller
Carolyn T. Moffo
George E. Petel
Adam J. Polidori
Christina M. Starkweather

Archbishop Wood High School
Jennifer K. Arrow
Mary Ellen Dukart
Kathleen P. Feild
Megan E. Grisafi
Katherine E. Reilly
Carolyn Smart

Bishop McDevitt High School
Martha J. Cooney
Thomas A. DiCamillo
Robert J. DiFilippo
Kathleen F. Stanton

Bishop Shanahan High School
Michael Bayer
Sarah Beierle
Lauren Ewald
Jennifer Nguyen
Rachel Walker

Cardinal Dougherty High School
John G. Firn
Lukasz F. Kwiecinski
Christina M. Nicolo
Lilly D. Rodriguez
Laura C. Schenk
Stephanie A. Yost

Cardinal O'Hara High School
Joseph E. Anderson
Rebecca Boudwin
Mary Y. Chang
Jacob H. Debevec
Karen A. Falzone
Amy E. Lazorik
James S. Moiani
Corinne E. Philips
Louis A. Saddic
Jennifer M. Zosh

Conwell-Egan Catholic High School
Eric J. Elcenko
Damian D. Morlando
Danielle M. Pineda
Christopher D. Rotella
Jeremy M. Shull
Brandi N. Thoma

Devon Preparatory School
Michael J. Farias
Kevin P. McCormick

Father Judge High School
Matthew M. Craig
Anthony C. Gallo
Jeffrey M. Ham
Fred W. Hoensch
Brian P. Quinn
Joseph M. Reichert
Michael C. Schmied

John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School
Kelly A. Clark
Rosemarie C. Leone
Bernice C. McPherson

Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School
Jessica A. Bilski
Laura C. Grow
Adelyn R. O'Hara

Lansdale Catholic High School
James J. Coulter
Adrienne R. Diebold
James M. Ruane
Jaclyn M. Senior

La Salle College High School
John F. Doherty
Sean R. Luhks

Little Flower High School
Sharon M. Gillespie
Meina M. Lu
Chau Nguyen
Christina Szambelak

Malvern Preparatory School
Gregory J. Uckele
Dominic J. Corabi
Patrick J. Murphy

Mercy Vocational High School
Timothy J. Goode
William Marrero

Merion Mercy Academy
Erin L. Delatte
Gina V. Santino

Monsignor Bonner High School
Robert J. Klump
Philip M. Luke
Timothy P. Rowan
Michael H. Simons
William J. Wilson

Nazareth Academy High School
Caitlin Dillon
Kristin T. Glaccum

Notre Dame Academy of De Namur
Angela Desmond
Lina Sestokas

Northeast Catholic High School
Daniel P. Brooks
John J. Fallows
Michael P. Gallen
Kevin M. Olinger

Roman Catholic High School
Joseph A. Beck, III
Ryan M. Halligan
Kevin Kedra
Robert A. Palermo

St. Basil Academy
Lynn K. Greaves
Laura E. Kenny

St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls
Jennifer A. Benincasa
Janet L. Flood
Karen A. Hoerst
Nicole L. Luaro
Meghan F. Quinn
Meghan S. Robinson

St. John Neumann High School
Richard E. Donnelly, III
Achilles J. Inverso
Jon K. Pomeroy

St. Joseph's Preparatory School
Brian J. Smith
Michael Valentino

St. Maria Goretti High School for Girls
Melissa A. De Luca
Lynda K. Le
Angela F. Maranan

St. Pius X High School
David Hutzayluk
Daniel M. Morrone
Jennifer L. Nguyen

Villa Joseph Marie High School
Lauren Cataldi
Maureen Gibbons

Villa Maria Academy High School
Maya L. Dewan
Kristin M. Kramer

West Catholic High School
Azeem I. Ansar
Wei P. Gao
Jeremy P. Harris
Kenny Kang


# # #







Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

42nd Annual Recognition Dinner For Catholic Youth Organization's Parish Ministry Volunteers

May 11, 2001

42nd ANNUAL RECOGNITION DINNER FOR
CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION'S
PARISH MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS

An evening to recognize and salute the many volunteers to the Catholic Youth Organization's Parish Youth Ministry Program will be held on

Thursday, May 17, 2001
6:00 p.m.
The Adam's Mark Hotel
City Line Avenue
Philadelphia


This special evening is a tribute to the volunteers, youth ministers, coaches, scout leaders, and others who dedicate their time and efforts to the various youth programs of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Catholic Youth Organization.

Reverend Thomas J. Smith, Regional Vicar for Delaware County, will receive the "Father Daly Award." The Daly Award, named for a former director of the Catholic Youth Organization, is the highest award given by the Parish Youth Ministry Office. Father Smith has been an advocate for youth causes throughout his 28 years of priesthood. Father Smith served as an Associate Director for Parish Youth Programs while at Annunciation parish in Havertown and Saint Andrew Parish in Drexel Hill. In 1993, he led a memorable pilgrimage of teens to the World Youth Day in Denver. Father Smith still works with the Parish Youth Ministry Program by offering workshops and seminars on youth ministry.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Volunteers Tend The Sick

May 10, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA VOLUNTEERS TEND THE SICK

The third Mercy Works Service Project - Tend the Sick will serve as a volunteer recruitment opportunity. Anyone interested in donating their time at Archdiocesan nursing homes in the Philadelphia-North Vicariate is invited to attend an open house. Visitors are welcome to take a tour and talk to staff members about volunteer opportunities.

Reverend Monsignor Francis W. Beach, Vicar for Philadelphia -North, will preside at a Prayer Service at Saint John Neumann Nursing Home in Philadelphia. After the service, student volunteers from Father Judge High School, in Northeast Philadelphia, will deliver more than 500 potted plants to residents at Saint John Neumann Nursing Home and nearby Immaculate Mary Home, the two Archdiocesan nursing homes in the Philadelphia-North Vicariate. (There are a total of 12 Catholic nursing homes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, five of which are owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.)

Prayer Service and Flower Delivery
Friday, May 11, 2001
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saint John Neumann Nursing Home
10400 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19116

Open House - Two Locations
Saturday, May 12, 2001
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

St. John Neumann Nursing Home
10400 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19116
and
Immaculate Mary Home
2990 Holme Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19136

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each Mercy Works Service Project will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In April 2001, volunteers worked at three homeless shelters in the Philadelphia-South Vicariate. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in the Bucks County Vicariate.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Sponsors Mission For The Deaf

May 11, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA SPONSORS
MISSION FOR THE DEAF

The Deaf Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will sponsor A Mission for the Deaf on the weekend of May 18, 19 and 20, 2001. Reverend Michael Depcik, O.S.F.S., of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, will preach the mission in American Sign Language. Father Depcik travels as a mission priest for the ICDA (International Catholic Deaf Association). The theme of the mission is Come Deepen Your Relationship with God.


Friday, May 18, 2001 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 19, 2001 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 20, 2001 12:00 p.m. Mass

Resurrection of Our Lord Parish
Castor Avenue and Vista Street
Philadelphia


On the morning of Saturday, May 19, 2001, there will be a special session of the mission for young Deaf adults ages 20 to 35. This session is entitled Ask Father Mike (Reverend Depcik).

Saturday, May 19, 2001
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Ransom Parish
Roosevelt Boulevard and Unruh Street
Philadelphia


Those interested in attending should contact Sister Kathleen Schipani, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Deaf Apostolate at 215-587-3913 or 215-587-0510 tty.

###


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocesan Community Service Corps Installs New Leadership Team <h5>a Volunteer Program Fostering Teen Involvement In Community</h5>

May 17, 2001

ARCHDIOCESAN COMMUNITY SERVICE CORPS
INSTALLS NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM
A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FOSTERING TEEN INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY

A Mass and Installation Ceremony for the new leadership team of the Community Service Corps for 2001-2002 will be held on

Friday, May 18, 2001
1:15 p.m.
Cathedral Chapel
(adjacent to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul)
18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, Secretary for Catholic Education, will be the celebrant of the Mass, and Reverend Thomas Higgins, Director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults, will assist.

The Community Service Corps (CSC) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is a service program that encourages students to become involved with their communities by providing services to children, the disabled, the elderly, the poor and the disadvantaged. Thousands of students work together throughout the year to build and develop a spirit of Christian community.

The five student leaders being installed at the Archdiocesan level are:

Stephen Clark, Father Judge High School
Renita Geddes, Mercy Vocational High School
Katie Griffiths, Little Flower High School
Joanna McKee, Mount St. Joseph Academy
Derek Quinn, Roman Catholic High School

- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Ordain Four Men To The Priesthood

May 15, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO ORDAIN FOUR MEN TO THE PRIESTHOOD


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will ordain four men to the priesthood on



Saturday , May 19, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Ordination will take place during the Mass, following the homily. This year's Ordination brings the total number of diocesan priests in Philadelphia to 780. At the end of May, each of the newly ordained priests will be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Cardinal to assist the pastor of a parish.

Those being ordained are: Rev. Mr. Andrew C. Brownholtz, Rev. Mr. Khoa M. Nguyen, Rev. Mr. John J. Nordeman and the Rev. Mr. Michael J. Reilly Jr. All have completed studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

The graduating class of 2001 includes a native of Vietnam, an electrician and a former financial program analyst.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues the intensive effort to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood that was announced by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January 2001, Philadelphia Priest Call. Priest Call consists of billboard, television and radio messages featuring the theme Ordinary Men Called To Do Extraordinary Work as well as grassroots efforts.

###



Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Andrew C. Brownholtz To Be Ordained To The Priesthood

May 15, 2001

ANDREW C. BROWNHOLTZ TO BE ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD


The Rev. Mr. Andrew C. Brownholtz, 34, son of Bartholomew and Kathleen Brownholtz, will be ordained to the priesthood by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on


Saturday, May 19, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Father Brownholtz attended Queen of Peace Elementary School in Ardsley and Bishop McDevitt High School, Wyncote, before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

Father Brownholtz will offer his First Mass on

Sunday, May 20, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Queen of Peace Church
820 North Hills Avenue
Ardsley, PA

The concelebrants are Reverend George Brownholtz, O.S.F.S. and other priest friends. The homilist is Reverend Monsignor Philip J. Cribben. The deacons are Rev. Mr. Kevin Gallagher, and Rev. Mr. Scott Ardinger.

There are four men in the Class of 2001. This year's Ordination brings the total number of diocesan priests in Philadelphia to 780. At the end of May, each of the newly ordained priests will be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Cardinal to assist the pastor of a parish.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues the intensive effort to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood that was announced by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January 2001, Philadelphia Priest Call. Priest Call consists of billboard, television and radio messages featuring the theme Ordinary Men Called To Do Extraordinary Work as well as grassroots efforts.
###








Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Khoa M. Nguyen To Be Ordained To The Priesthood

May 15, 2001

KHOA M. NGUYEN TO BE ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD


The Rev. Mr. Khoa M. Nguyen, 26, son of Hoan Pham and Vinh Nguyen, will be ordained to the priesthood by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on


Saturday, May 19, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Father Nguyen attended St. Frances de Sales Elementary School, West Catholic High School and Temple University, all in Philadelphia, before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

Father Nguyen will offer his First Mass on

Sunday, May 27, 2001
3:00 p.m.
St. Albert the Great Church
212 Welsh Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA

The concelebrants are Reverend Monsignor James Howard, Reverend John Gallagher, Reverend John Kelly, Reverend John Wendrychowicz. The homilist is Reverend Monsignor Paul F. Curran. The deacons are Rev. Mr. Kevin Kelly and Rev. Mr. Nicholas Mormando.

There are four men in the Class of 2001. This year's Ordination brings the total number of diocesan priests in Philadelphia to 780. At the end of May, each of the newly ordained priests will be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Cardinal to assist the pastor of a parish.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues the intensive effort to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood that was announced by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January 2001, Philadelphia Priest Call. Priest Call consists of billboard, television and radio messages featuring the theme Ordinary Men Called To Do Extraordinary Work as well as grassroots efforts.
###








Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

John C. Nordeman To Be Ordained To The Priesthood

May 15, 2001

JOHN C. NORDEMAN TO BE ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD

The Rev. Mr. John J. Nordeman, 36, son of Mary C. and the late Robert A. Nordeman, will be ordained to the priesthood by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on


Saturday, May 19, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Father Nordeman attended Saint William Elementary School and Cardinal Dougherty High School, both in Philadelphia, as well as Pennsylvania State University before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

Father Nordeman will offer his First Mass on
Sunday, May 20, 2001
2:30 p.m.
Saint William Church
6200 Rising Sun Avenue
Philadelphia

The concelebrants are Reverend Monsignor James E. Mortimer, Reverend Monsignor Stephen P. McHenry, Reverend John B. Wendrychowicz and Reverend Matthew W. Guckin. The homilist is Reverend Joseph G. Watson. The deacons are Rev. Mr. Sean Bransfield and Rev. Mr. Paul O'Donnell.

There are four men in the Class of 2001. This year's Ordination brings the total number of diocesan priests in Philadelphia to 780. At the end of May, each of the newly ordained priests will be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Cardinal to assist the pastor of a parish.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues the intensive effort to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood that was announced by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January 2001, Philadelphia Priest Call. Priest Call consists of billboard, television and radio messages featuring the theme Ordinary Men Called To Do Extraordinary Work as well as grassroots efforts.
###







Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Michael J. Reilly Jr. To Be Ordained To The Priesthood

May 15, 2001

MICHAEL J. REILLY JR. TO BE ORDAINED TO THE PRIESTHOOD

The Rev. Mr. Michael J. Reilly Jr., 26, son of Kathleen K. and the late Michael Reilly, will be ordained to the priesthood by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on


Saturday, May 19, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Father Reilly attended Mater Dolorosa Elementary School and Northeast Catholic High School for Boys, both in Philadelphia, before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood.

Father Reilly will offer his First Mass on

Sunday, May 20, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Mother of Divine Grace Church
East Cambria and East Thompson Streets
Philadelphia

The concelebrants will be priest friends. The homilist is Reverend Victor Eschbach. The deacons are Rev. Mr. Kevin Parker and Rev. Mr. George Szparagowski.

There are four men in the Class of 2001. This year's Ordination brings the total number of diocesan priests in Philadelphia to 780. At the end of May, each of the newly ordained priests will be assigned to a parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Cardinal to assist the pastor of a parish.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues the intensive effort to promote vocations to the diocesan priesthood that was announced by Cardinal Bevilacqua in January 2001, Philadelphia Priest Call. Priest Call consists of billboard, television and radio messages featuring the theme Ordinary Men Called To Do Extraordinary Work as well as grassroots efforts.
###








Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocesan High Schools Graduate 5,342 Seniors

May 30, 2001

ARCHDIOCESAN HIGH SCHOOLS
GRADUATE 5,342 SENIORS

"The Class of 2001" is preparing for commencement. This year, the twenty-two Archdiocesan high schools are proud to be graduating 5,342 young men and women.

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia
will preside at the graduating ceremonies of Little Flower High School on June 8th and Saint Pius X High School on June 9th.

Below is a list of the Graduation Ceremonies for the 22 Archdiocesan high schools, and the number of students each school is graduating.

Monday, June 4, 2001

Archbishop Ryan High School Graduation and Mass - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Studens: 587
Presiding: Dr. Richard V. McCarron, Superintendent of Schools

Archbishop Wood High School Graduation - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 306
Presiding: Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, Bishop of Dallas

Tuesday, June 5, 2001

St. Maria Goretti High School for Girls Graduation - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Holy Family College, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 142
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor John T. Conway, Vicar for Philadelphia South

John W. Hallahan High School for Girls Graduation - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 136
Presiding: Mr. Thomas Smith, Director of Government Funded Programs

Wednesday, June 6, 2001
Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School Graduation - 10:00 a.m.
Location: Gwynedd Mercy College, Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd, Pa.
Students: 151
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor John C. Marine, Vicar for Montgomery County

Father Judge High School for Boys Graduation - 12:00 p.m. Noon
Location: Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Students: 325
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Cistone, Vicar for Administration,
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Cardinal O'Hara High School Graduation - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 495
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, Secretary for Catholic Education

St. Hubert High School for Girls Graduation - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Temple Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Students: 289
Presiding: Dr. Kathleen Cardamone, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education

Thursday, June 7, 2001
Cardinal Dougherty High School Graduation - 9:30 a.m.
Location: Cardinal Dougherty Auditorium,2nd St. and Godfrey Avenue, Phila.
Students: 275
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor Francis W. Beach, Vicar for Philadelphia North

Archbishop Prendergast High School for Girls Graduation - 10:00 a.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 222
Presiding: Dr. Kathleen Cardamone, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education

Northeast Catholic High School for Boys - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Holy Family College, Grant and Frankford Avenues, Phila.
Students: 174
Presiding: Mr. Thomas Smith, Director of Government Funded Programs

Friday, June 8, 2001
Monsignor Bonner High School for Boys Mass and Graduation - 10:00 a.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 238
Presiding: Reverend Thomas J. Smith, Vicar for Delaware County

Lansdale Catholic High School Graduation - 10:00 a.m.
Location: Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine, Ferry Road, Doylestown, Pa.
Students: 208
Presiding: Reverend Dr. Thomas F. O'Brien, Director of Curriculum

Archbishop John Carroll High School Mass and Graduation - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Cabrini College, 610 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, Pa.
Students: 256
Presiding: Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

Conwell-Egan Catholic High School Graduation - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ
Students: 290
Presiding: Most Reverend Joseph A. Galante, Bishop of Dallas

Bishop Shanahan High School Graduation - 11:00 a.m.
Location: Shanahan H.S. Auditorium, 220 Woodbine Road, Downingtown, Pa.
Students: 228
Presiding: Reverend Monsignor James T. McDonough, Vicar for Chester County

Bishop McDevitt High School Graduation - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Keswick Theatre, Glenside, Pa.
Students: 172
Presiding: Mrs. Rosemary Naab, Director of Secondary Personnel

Little Flower High School for Girls Graduation -2 p.m.
Location: Holy Family College, Grant and Frankford Avenues, Philadelphia
Students: 211
Presiding: His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua

Roman Catholic High School for Boys Mass and Graduation - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Parkway, Phila.
Students: 170
Presiding: Reverend Dr. Thomas F. O'Brien, Director of Curriculum

Saturday, June 9, 2001
St. John Neumann High School for Boys Graduation - 9:00 a.m.
Location: Villanova Pavilion, Villanova, Pa.
Students: 150
Presiding: Mr. Louis P. De Angelo, Director of Secondary School Services

St.Pius X High School Graduation - 10:00 a.m.
Location: Immaculata College, Immaculata, Pa.
Students: 127
Presiding: His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua

West Catholic High School Mass and Graduation - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th and Parkway, Phila.
Students: 190
Presiding: Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Bishop of Allentown



# # #



























Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Bless New Parish Elementary School In New Hope

May 31, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO BLESS NEW
PARISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NEW HOPE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will bless a new parish elementary school on

Saturday, June 2, 2001
2:00 p.m.
Saint Martin of Tours Parish Elementary School
New and W. Mechanic Streets
New Hope, PA



The ceremonies will begin in the Church with a welcome from Reverend John P. Schmeer, pastor of Saint Martin of Tours Parish, followed by a prayer service with Cardinal Bevilacqua giving the homily. The blessing of the school will take place on the grounds outside the school. Cardinal Bevilacqua will then place a crucifix in each of the classrooms. A reception will be held for parishioners in the school cafeteria immediately following.

Saint Martin of Tours Parish was established in 1885. This new school marks the first in its history. "Many young families with children are moving into the area and we need to provide a Catholic education. During the past eight years, the number of families in our parish has increased at a rate of 100 families per year. This year we have over 1,000 families," said Father Schmeer.

To address the needs of the growing community, the parish launched a capital campaign to build the $3.8 million school. The new two-story facility includes 12 classrooms, a library, computer lab, and a multi-purpose room. The school can accommodate 300 students. This year, the school has four grades, first through fourth, with 55 students, with plans to add a grade every year.


- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Announces Changes In Priest Assignments

May 30, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS


The complete list of Clerical Appointments follows this news release

Bishop To Retire as Pastor of Saint Monica Parish:

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces that the Most Reverend Louis A. DeSimone, 79, retired Auxiliary Bishop and Pastor of Saint Monica Parish in Philadelphia for almost 25 years, will become Pastor Emeritus of Saint Monica Parish. He was ordained by John Cardinal O'Hara in May 1952. He has served at Saint Monica Parish since November 1976 and was ordained Bishop in 1981. In April 1997 Bishop DeSimone became Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Philadelphia. Prior assignments include Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pastor of Saints Cosmas and Damian Parish in Conshohocken and faculty member at Saint Thomas More High School for Boys.

Reverend Paul S. Quinter, 45, editor of the Catholic Standard & Times since July 1991, will serve as Pastor of Saint Monica Parish. A new editor will be announced at a later date. Father Quinter will remain the Delegate of the Archbishop to Pro Life Organizations.

Secretary for Catholic Education To Serve as Pastor of Delaware County Parish:
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces that Reverend Monsignor Philip C. Cribben, 64, Secretary for Catholic Education since October 1992, will become Pastor of Saint Anastasia Parish in Newtown Square, Delaware County. Monsignor Cribben was ordained by John Cardinal Krol in May 1962. Prior assignments include Pastor of Queen of Peace Parish in Ardsley, Montgomery County; Principal of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Delaware County and Principal of Saint Hubert Hugh School in Philadelphia.

Reverend John J. Shellem, currently Pastor of Saint Anastasia Parish, will become Pastor Emeritus of Saint Anastasia Parish. A new Secretary for Catholic Education will be named at a later date.

All diocesan clergy appointments are made by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Appointments in religious orders are made by the individual communities. All of the changes take effect June 18, 2001.

Pastor Assignments:

Reverend Walter J. Benn, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown, to Pastor, Saint Aloysius Parish, Pottstown, and Holy Trinity Parish, Pottstown

Reverend Charles E. Bonner, from Pastor, Saint Louis Parish, Yeadon, to Pastor, Saint Cecilia Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Michael A. Chapman, from Parochial Vicar, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Ascension of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend John D. Gabin, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Vincent De Paul Parish, Richboro, to Pastor, Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Joseph M. Glatts, from Parochial Administrator, Saint Andrew Parish, Drexel Hill, to Pastor, Saint Andrew Parish, Drexel Hill

Reverend Charles H. Hagan, from Pastor, Saint John Bosco Parish, Hatboro, to Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown

Reverend Steven J. Harris, from Pastor, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Saint Louis Parish, Yeadon

Reverend Joseph E. Howarth, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Ephrem Parish, Bensalem, to Pastor, Saint Agatha/Saint James Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Edward J. Kelly, from Parochial Administrator, Saint Peter Parish, Honey Brook, to Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Monsignor Joseph P. McFadden, from President, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield, to Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown

Reverend James J. McKeaney, from Pastor, Saint Gertrude Parish, West Conshohocken, to Pastor, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr

Reverend Kenneth G. Putz, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Christopher Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Saint John Bosco Parish, Hatboro

Reverend William T. Small, from Parochial Administrator, Saint John Chrysostom Parish, Wallingford, to Pastor, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend William A. Trader, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Westtown, to Pastor, Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn

Reverend Karl A. Zeuner, from Pastor, Saint Agatha/Saint James Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Notre Dame De Lourdes Parish, Swarthmore.


Education Assignments:

Reverend Michael P. O'Malley, currently Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, Lansdale Catholic High School, Lansdale, Montgomery County becomes Principal of Cardinal O'Hara High School. Dr. William J. McCusker, current Principal becomes President, Cardinal O'Hara High School.

Reverend Gregory J. Hickey, currently President, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Norristown, Montgomery County becomes Chaplain for Immaculata College, Immaculata, Delaware County.

Reverend Christopher Redcay, currently assistant Principal for Student Affairs, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Warminster, Bucks County becomes President, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School.

Non-Diocesan Clergy Education Assignments:

Reverend Joseph G. Campellone, O.S.F.S., currently School Minister, Father Judge High School, Philadelphia, becomes President, Father Judge High School.

Reverend Augustine M. Esposito, O.S.A., currently faculty member, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, becomes President, Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Delaware County.

Reverend John Denny, O.S.A., currently President, Monsignor Bonner High School becomes Director of Vocations for Augustinian community, Eastern Province.

Reverend Vincent E. Smith, O.S.F.S., currently Development Director, Northeast Catholic High School, Philadelphia becomes President, Northeast Catholic High School.

Newly Ordained Diocesan Priest Assignments:

Reverend Andrew C. Brownholtz becomes Parochial Vicar of Saint Eleanor Parish, Collegeville, Montgomery County.

Reverend Khoa M. Nguyen becomes Parochial Vicar of Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Norristown, Montgomery County.

Reverend John M. Nordeman becomes Parochial Vicar of Saint Katherine of Siena Parish, Philadelphia.

Reverend Michael J. Reilly becomes Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Brookhaven, Delaware County.

All four men were ordained by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on May 19, 2001



His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, announces the following appointments, effective June 18, 2001, unless otherwise noted:


PASTORS EMERITI


Most Reverend Louis A. DeSimone, Saint Monica Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend William J. Benonis, Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Swarthmore

Reverend Monsignor Francis X. Dreger, Saint Cecilia Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend John P. Gallagher, Saint John Baptist Vianney Parish, Gladwyne

Reverend George G. Hagenbach, Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn

Reverend John F. McCole, Saint Aloysius Parish, Pottstown, and Holy Trinity Parish, Pottstown

Reverend Leo J. McGee, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Monsignor Robert T. McManus, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown

Reverend Monsignor James H. Meehan, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr

Reverend John J. Shellem, Saint Anastasia Parish, Newtown Square


RETIREMENT


Reverend Bernard J. Benischeck, Parochial Vicar, Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Luke L. Chow, Parochial Vicar, Saint Michael the Archangel Parish, Levittown

PASTORS


Reverend Walter J. Benn, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown, to Pastor, Saint Aloysius Parish, Pottstown, and Holy Trinity Parish, Pottstown

Reverend Charles E. Bonner, from Pastor, Saint Louis Parish, Yeadon, to Pastor, Saint Cecilia Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Michael A. Chapman, from Parochial Vicar, Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Ascension of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia
Reverend Monsignor Philip J. Cribben, from Secretary for Catholic Education, to Pastor, Saint Anastasia Parish, Newtown Square

Reverend John D. Gabin, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Vincent De Paul Parish, Richboro, to Pastor, Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Joseph M. Glatts, from Parochial Administrator, Saint Andrew Parish, Drexel Hill, to Pastor, Saint Andrew Parish, Drexel Hill

Reverend Charles H. Hagan, from Pastor, Saint John Bosco Parish, Hatboro, to Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown

Reverend Steven J. Harris, from Pastor, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Saint Louis Parish, Yeadon

Reverend Joseph E. Howarth, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Ephrem Parish, Bensalem, to Pastor, Saint Agatha/Saint James Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Edward J. Kelly, from Parochial Administrator, Saint Peter Parish, Honey Brook, to Pastor, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Monsignor Joseph P. McFadden, from President, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield, to Pastor, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown

Reverend James J. McKeaney, from Pastor, Saint Gertrude Parish, West Conshohocken, to Pastor, Saint John Neumann Parish, Bryn Mawr

Reverend Kenneth G. Putz, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Christopher Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Saint John Bosco Parish, Hatboro

Reverend Paul S. Quinter, from Editor, The Catholic Standard and Times, to Pastor, Saint Monica Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend William T. Small, from Parochial Administrator, Saint John Chrysostom Parish, Wallingford, to Pastor, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend William A. Trader, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Westtown, to Pastor, Saint Monica Parish, Berwyn

Reverend Karl A. Zeuner, from Pastor, Saint Agatha/Saint James Parish, Philadelphia, to Pastor, Notre Dame De Lourdes Parish, Swarthmore.


SENIOR PRIESTS


Reverend John F. McCole, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Aloysius Parish, Pottstown, and Holy Trinity Parish, Pottstown, to Parochial Vicar with the status of Senior Priest, Maternity B.V.M.Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Leo J. McGee, Pastor Emeritus, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Philadelphia, to Chaplain, Little Flower Manor, Darby

Reverend Santo R. Garzarelli, from service outside the Archdiocese, to Parochial Vicar with the status of Senior Priest, Our Lady of Calvary Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend John J. Shelley, from Parochial Vicar with the status of Senior Priest, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Warminster, to Parochial Vicar with the status of Senior Priest, Saint David Parish, Willow Grove

DIOCESAN OFFICE


Reverend G. Dennis Gill, from Graduate Studies, Rome, to Assistant Director, Archdiocesan Office for Worship, and adjunct faculty member, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook


GRADUATE STUDIES


Reverend James P. Olson, to part-time graduate studies in Homiletics. Father Olson will continue in his position as a faculty member, Saint Maria Goretti High School, Philadelphia


PAROCHIAL VICARS


Reverend James J. Anziano, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Bartholomew Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Anselm Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend David H. Benz, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick Parish, Kennett Square, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Jude Parish, Chalfont

Reverend Edward E. Brady, from Parochial Vicar, Maternity B.V.M. Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Bartholomew Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend James J. Brennan, from the Trappist Community, Mepkin Abbey, South Carolina, to Parochial Vicar, Assumption B.V.M. Parish, Feasterville
Reverend Hans A.L. Brouwers, from Chaplain, Immaculata College, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Vincent De Paul Parish, Richboro

Reverend Paul A. Castellani, from Parochial Vicar, Ascension of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Martin of Tours Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Augusto Concha, from Parochial Vicar, Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Cathedral Parish of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia

Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, from Parochial Vicar, Saint John Chrysostom Parish, Wallingford, to Parochial Vicar, Maternity B.V.M. Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend David A. Fernandes, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Collingdale, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Mark S. Gaspar, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Jude Parish, Chalfont, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Collingdale

Reverend Thomas P. Gillin, from Faculty, Archbishop Carroll High School, Radnor, to Parochial Vicar, Saint John Chrysostom Parish, Wallingford

Reverend John D. Hand, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Martin of Tours Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Madeline Parish, Ridley Park

Reverend Edward C. Kelly, from Parochial Vicar, Maternity B.V.M, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Matthew Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend John J. LaRosa, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Timothy Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel

Reverend James A. Lyons, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Anselm Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Robert Marczewski, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Adalbert Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Norristown

Reverend Michael J. McCleane, from Pastor, Ascension of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Calvary Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend James P. McKelvey, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Eleanor Parish, Collegeville, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ann Parish, Phoenixville

Reverend Mardean E. Miller, from Chaplain, Philadelphia Prison System, to Parochial Vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Springfield

Reverend George J. Monahan, from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Calvary Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown

Reverend Michael G. Murtha, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Ann Parish, Phoenixville, to Parochial Vicar, Holy Innocents Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Zachary W. Navit, from Parochial Vicar, Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Norristown, to Parochial Vicar, Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Warminister

Reverend Timothy F. O'Sullivan, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Dominic Parish, Philadelphia, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Ephrem Parish, Bensalem

Reverend Robert A. Roncase, from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Penndel, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Anselm Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Thomas J. Rooney, from Faculty, Conwell-Egan High School, Fairless Hills, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Christopher Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend John D. Schiele, from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Charity Parish, Brookhaven, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Westtown

Reverend James F. Sullivan, from Parochial Vicar, Mother of Divine Providence Parish, King of Prussia, to Parochial Vicar, Queen of Peace Parish, Ardsley

Reverend Mark G. Swope, from Parochial Vicar, Holy Cross Parish, Springfield, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Joseph Parish, Downingtown


EDUCATION APOSTOLATE


Reverend Edward J. Casey, from Vice Rector, Villa Saint Joseph, and Chaplain, Little Flower Manor, Darby, to Faculty, Archbishop John Carroll High School, Radnor

Reverend Gerard C. Chapman, from Faculty, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Norristown, to Faculty, Conwell-Egan High School, Fairless Hills
Reverend James M. Cox, from Parochial Vicar, Holy Innocents Parish, Philadelphia, to Faculty, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Norristown

Reverend Peter J. DiMaria, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Anselm Parish, Philadelphia, to Faculty, Bishop Shanahan High School, Downingtown

Reverend Gregory J. Hickey, from President, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, to Chaplain, Immaculata College, Immaculata

Reverend Michael P. O'Malley, from Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, Lansdale Catholic High School, Lansdale, to Principal, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield

Reverend Raymond J. Overstreet, from Faculty, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Warminster, to Faculty, Cardinal O'Hara High School, Springfield

Reverend Christopher Redcay, from Assistant Principal for Student Affairs, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Warminster, to President, Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School, Norristown

Reverend Michael H. Spitzer, from Parochial Vicar, Queen of Peace Parish, Ardsley, to Faculty, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School, Warminister


NEWLY ORDAINED


Reverend Andrew C. Brownholtz, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Eleanor Parish, Collegeville

Reverend Khoa M. Nguyen, to Parochial Vicar, Visitation B.V.M. Parish, Norristown

Reverend John M. Nordeman, to Parochial Vicar, Saint Katherine of Siena Parish, Philadelphia

Reverend Michael J. Reilly, to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Charity Parish, Brookhaven


CHAPLAINS


Reverend Joseph L. Coffey, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Katherine of Siena Parish, Philadelphia, to active service as a Navy Chaplain in the U.S. Armed Services

Reverend Gregory P. Cozzubbo, C.M., from Facility Chaplain, Philadelphia Detention Center, to Chaplain, Philadelphia Prison System

Reverend Joseph P. Gallagher, from Parochial Vicar, Saint Madeline Parish, Ridley Park, to Chaplain, Holy Redeemer Health System, Inc.
###




Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass And Participate In Corpus Christi Procession

June 12, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS
AND PARTICIPATE IN CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist at a Mass on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at Saint Adalbert Parish in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia and will take part in a Eucharistic Procession at the conclusion of Mass.


Sunday, June 17, 2001
Mass - 12:00 p.m.
Eucharistic Procession - approximately 1:00 p.m.
Saint Adalbert Parish
East Allegheny Avenue and Thompson Street
Philadelphia

The Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania are jointly celebrating this annual Solemnity with special Masses and Eucharistic processions. Each diocese is commemorating the feast day in its own way. (For more information on what each diocese is doing, visit the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference web site at www.pacatholic.org.)

Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist. The five parishes in the Port Richmond area (Cluster 16 - Philadelphia North Vicariate) will join together for this Eucharistic Procession: Saint Adalbert Parish, Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Nativity B.V.M. Parish, Mother of Divine Grace Parish and Saint George Parish. All of the parishioners of these five parishes have been invited to participate. The Blessed Sacrament, the consecrated host, will be carried through the streets during the Eucharistic Procession.

The Eucharistic Procession will begin at Saint Adalbert Parish and will include a reading and hymn at each of four stations. From Saint Adalbert Parish, participants will process several blocks on East Allegheny Avenue to Our Lady Help of Christians Parish (East Allegheny Avenue and Gaul Street) for the first station, where an altar will be located on the church steps. The second station is approximately one block away at Nativity B.V.M. (Allegheny Avenue and Belgrade Street). The third station will be at Campbell Park on East Allegheny Avenue and the Procession will return to Saint Adalbert for the final station and Benediction. It is expected that the Procession will last approximately sixty to ninety minutes.
###




Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-377

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Summer Food Service Program Celebrates Another Season

June 15, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA SUMMER FOOD SERVICE
PROGRAM CELEBRATES ANOTHER SEASON

Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues its work of helping to keep children well fed and healthy as The Summer Food Service Program begins on Monday, June 18, 2001 and runs until August 31, 2001. Meals will be served approximately at 600 sites throughout the Philadelphia area including at camps, bible schools and enrichment programs. 72 of these sites are new locations. For the past four years, more than one million meals have been served each summer. In 2000, the program served 1.6 million meals and Nutritional Development Services expects to serve a similar number this summer.

Recipients are typically ages four to twelve. They will receive either breakfast, lunch or a snack. The meals typically consist of sandwiches, milk and fresh fruit. Healthy, nutritious meals are the goal of The Summer Food Service Program and teaching children about nutrition will be a focus in the summer of 2001. There will be educational programs offered by Nutritional Development Services at approximately 100 of the sites to help children understand the benefits of proper nutrition.

The Summer Food Service Program serves children of all denominations; approximately 90% of the children are non-Catholic. This program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and is sponsored in the Philadelphia area by Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Don Guanella Honors Student Athletes

June 26, 2001

DON GUANELLA HONORS STUDENT ATHLETES


The Don Guanella Residential Program will hold its annual sports banquet to pay tribute to the hard work of the student athletes during the past year. Don Guanella is an Archdiocese of Philadelphia school in Springfield, Delaware County, for boys with a wide variety of disabilities ranging in age from six to 21.


Thursday, June 28, 2001
6:30 p.m.
Don Guanella Gymnasium
Route 320
Springfield, Delaware County

Legendary basketball player Paul Arizin, named to the NBA's all-time greatest 50 players list and NBA referee Tim Donaghy will be guest speakers.


###











Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Visit Prison

June 26, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO VISIT PRISON

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will visit Graterford State Correctional Institute in Montgomery County to celebrate Mass, visit with inmates and meet with men on death row.

Saturday, July 14, 2001
Graterford State Prison
Montgomery County
9:00 a.m.


Schedule for Visit
9:00 a.m. Cardinal's Arrival
9:30 a.m. Mass in Prison Chapel
10:30 a.m. Cardinal meets with inmates (chapel)
11:00 a.m. Cardinal meets privately with inmates
on "J Block" (death row)


Details of the visit will follow. Media (photographers and reporters) must secure advance clearance from the prison. Advance clearance will enable you to cover the mass and briefly interview the Cardinal and inmates. Otherwise, you will not be permitted to enter the prison.


Contact Mr. Al. J. LeFevre, Public Information Officer, Graterford State Prison
610 - 489 - 4151 ext. 2422
fax 610 - 270 - 1859
ADVANCE PRISON CLEARANCE MUST BE OBTAINED




Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Woman Reunited With Birth Family After 37 Years

June 26, 2001

WOMAN REUNITED WITH BIRTH FAMILY AFTER 37 YEARS

Pam Hill, 37, an individual in the Life Sharing Through Family Living Program of Mental Retardation Services, Catholic Social Services, was recently reunited with her siblings in Philadelphia. Ms. Hill's mother died in childbirth and at the time, Pam was separated from her two brothers and sister. That was in 1964. Since that time, Pam's siblings believed that she was deceased and Pam was unaware that she had family.

As a child, Ms. Hill first lived in a home, then in a private care facility for the mentally retarded. In 1986, Ms. Hill entered the Family Living Program of Catholic Social Services and has lived with the same family for 14 years, the McCray family of Philadelphia.

For the past four years, Ms. Hill has worked at Home Depot in Northeast Philadelphia through an employment program for the developmentally disabled that is funded by the state and the city. (Please see editor's note) This May a co-worker of Ms. Hill heard her name announced over the public address system at the store and recognized it. The co-worker's mother had been good friends with Ms. Hill's mother years ago. The co-worker told his mother that he believed he worked with the same Pam Hill whose mother had died in 1964.

Ms. Hill's siblings were contacted and brought together in early June for a joyful reunion. The family plans to meet regularly now that they have been brought together. Ms. Hill continues to live with the McCray family in Philadelphia and work at Home Depot in Northeast Philadelphia.

###


Editor's note: On Wednesday, June 27, 2001 at 12:00 p.m., Ms. Hill will be recognized by The Association for Independent Growth and Home Depot for her four years of service at the store. The festivities will take place in the training room at the Home Depot Store, located at 4640 Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia. Media are welcome to attend.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Don Guanella Salutes Eagle Scouts

June 28, 2001

DON GUANELLA SALUTES EAGLE SCOUTS

Don Guanella School will honor two boys who have received the prestigious Eagle Scout awards. Ronald Podgurski and Robert Cahall, both students at Don Guanella School, achieved this goal after many years of hard work. Don Guanella is an Archdiocese of Philadelphia school in Springfield, Delaware County, for boys with a wide variety of disabilities ranging in age from six to 21. The ceremony will take place on


Friday, June 29, 2001
6:30 p.m.
Don Guanella Chapel
Route 320
Springfield, Delaware County

The boys are part of Boy Scout Troop #346, a troop made up entirely of scouts with disabilities.

###









Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Visit Graterford Prison Mercy Works Service Project - Visit Those In Prison

June 29, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO VISIT GRATERFORD PRISON
MERCY WORKS SERVICE PROJECT - VISIT THOSE IN PRISON

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will visit Graterford State Correctional Institute in Montgomery County, to celebrate Mass, visit with inmates and meet with men on death row. This is the fourth of six Mercy Works Service Projects throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this calendar year.


Saturday, July 14, 2001
Graterford State Prison
Montgomery County
9:00 a.m.


Schedule for Visit
9:00 a.m. Cardinal's Arrival
9:30 a.m. Mass in Prison Chapel
10:30 a.m. Cardinal meets with inmates (chapel)
11:00 a.m. Cardinal meets privately with inmates on
"J Block" (death row)

Cardinal's Prior Prison Visits
1) Graterford State Prison (June 1989)
2) Graterford State Prison (Maya 1994)
3) Montgomery County Correctional Facility (July 1999)
4) Philadelphia Detention Center (July 2000)

Graterford Prison has 3,000 inmates, 500 of whom are Catholic. There is currently a penpal program with all prisons in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia but more volunteers are needed. 700 prisoners are registered with only 50 volunteers. There is also a need for volunteers for tutoring, liturgies and bible study. Interested volunteers should contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Prison Ministry at 215-331-3640.

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each Mercy Works Service Project will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In May 2001 volunteers visited residents at nursing homes in the Philadelphia - North Vicariate. In April 2001, volunteers worked at three homeless shelters in the Philadelphia-South Vicariate. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in the Bucks County Vicariate.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001




Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Celebrates "mass Of Thanksgiving" For Former Philadelphia Priest Recently Ordained As Bishop Of Las Vegas

July 5, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE CELEBRATES "MASS OF THANKSGIVING"
FOR FORMER PHILADELPHIA PRIEST RECENTLY ORDAINED AS
BISHOP OF LAS VEGAS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will preside at a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the recent ordination of Most Reverend Joseph A. Pepe as the new bishop of Las Vegas on

Tuesday, July 10, 2001
5:45 p.m. Procession
6:00 p.m. Mass
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia



Bishop Pepe will be the celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Bishop Joseph A. Pepe was installed as the second Bishop of the diocese of Las Vegas, in Nevada, on May 31, 2001. The Diocese of Las Vegas is the fastest growing Catholic diocese in the United States, with 24 parishes and a Catholic population of 430,000.

Bishop Pepe was born in Philadelphia on June 18, 1942, and graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 1960. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970. Bishop Pepe served at various assignment throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including the Metropolitan Tribunal and Chancery Office. Then, in 1993, Pepe was sent on special assignment to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he served as Judicial Vicar, Chancellor, and Vicar for Priests.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia "bless Me" Initiative Hits 100,000 Mark Milestone

July 2, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA "BLESS ME" INITIATIVE
HITS 100,000 MARK MILESTONE

Electronic evangelization efforts of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia continue with tremendous success. Since its establishment by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, in November 1998, the Bless Me Phone Line, 1-877-BlessMe, has received 50,251 calls. Since March 1999, the Bless Me web site, www.blessme.org has been visited over 52,000 times.

The BlessMe Line is a toll-free, confidential phone line for people to call to help them reconnect with the Catholic Church. The phones are staffed by priests Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and one evening a week from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. On other evenings of the week, callers are asked to leave a message and a priest returns the call. Since 1998, callers have asked the priests questions on a wide range of subjects. The most common questions are about Church teaching, marriage, family matters and abortion. Other dioceses in the United States and around the world have patterned similar programs after the BlessMe Line.

To compliment the BlessMe phone line, Cardinal Bevilacqua initiated a companion web site that would serve the same purpose: www.blessme.org. This web site was launched in March 1999. Visitors to the BlessMe web site can utilize Disciples on the Internet, an opportunity to e-mail a question to a priest for a personal response. Visitors can also read answers to frequently asked questions or fill a "shopping cart" with requests for pamphlets about evangelization efforts.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is also collaborating with America Online to allow more people to access the BlessMe.org web site. There is prominent placement on a commercial search engine (AOL), and BlessMe.org is part of AOL's Digital City Philadelphia web site (www.digitalcity.com). A rotating banner advertises the BlessMe site under the health and fitness section. The banner currently reads "Think you can't make it right? You're wrong." That banner provides a direct link to the BlessMe web site. The banner also rotates on other Digital City Philadelphia pages.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Camp Overbrook: In Sign 2001 Brings Deaf/hard Of Hearing Children Together For Summer Fun

July 12, 2001

CAMP OVERBROOK: IN SIGN 2001 BRINGS DEAF/HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN TOGETHER FOR SUMMER FUN

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Deaf Apostolate will sponsor Camp Overbrook: In Sign 2001, a summer day camp for children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Approximately 50 children are pre-registered to attend this two week camp that provides an exciting and fun atmosphere and a sense of community.



Monday through Friday
July 16, 2001 to July 27, 2001
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Wynnewood, PA


Some of the daily events include religion class, arts and crafts, swimming, field activities and drama. There will also be magicians, a storyteller and a mime. Educators experienced in Sign Language direct the camp.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

One Million Meals Served Summer Food Service Program Reaches Milestone

July 25, 2001

ONE MILLION MEALS SERVED
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM REACHES MILESTONE

For the fourth year in a row, the Summer Food Service Program of Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will serve more than one million meals to Philadelphia area children. Each summer, the Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals and lessons about healthy eating to thousands of children. The one millionth meal will be served


Friday, July 27, 2001
11:00 a.m. (Lunch served until 12:00 p.m.)
Salvation Army
3150 North Mascher Street
Philadelphia


The Salvation Army is one of approximately 600 sites throughout the Philadelphia area served by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Summer Food Service Program. Other sites include camps, bible schools and enrichment programs. 72 of these sites are new locations in summer 2001.

The Summer Food Service Program started on Monday, June 18, 2001 and runs until August 31, 2001. Recipients are typically ages four to twelve. They receive either breakfast, lunch or a snack. The meals typically consist of sandwiches, milk and fresh fruit.

Healthy, nutritious meals are the goal of The Summer Food Service Program and teaching children about nutrition is a focus in the summer of 2001. There will be educational programs offered by Nutritional Development Services at approximately 100 of the sites to help children understand the benefits of proper nutrition.

The Summer Food Service Program serves children of all denominations; approximately 90% of the children are non-Catholic. This program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and is sponsored in the Philadelphia area by Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

###


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Don Guanella School Hosts Nba Referees Basketball Clinic To Be Held At School

August 2, 2001

DON GUANELLA SCHOOL HOSTS NBA REFEREES

BASKETBALL CLINIC TO BE HELD AT SCHOOL

Don Guanella School will hold its third annual basketball clinic with the generous assistance of five referees from the National Basketball Association. Don Guanella is an Archdiocese of Philadelphia school in Springfield, Delaware County, for boys with a wide variety of disabilities ranging in age from six to 21. The clinic will take place on


Monday, August 6, 2001
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Don Guanella School
Route 320
Springfield, Delaware County

NBA referees Tim Donaghy, Mark Wunderlich, Steve Javie, Joe Crawford and Tom Washington will conduct the clinic with help from "Hip Hop ," the mascot of the Philadelphia 76ers. The referees will give away souvenirs to the young people and treat them to dinner after the clinic.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Media Advisory Stem Cell Research

August 9, 2001

MEDIA ADVISORY
STEM CELL RESEARCH

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be available to members of the media to respond to President George Bush's decision on Stem Cell Research.



MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Friday, August 10, 2001
10:00 a.m.
Archdiocese Office Center
Office for Communications
222 N. 17th Street
9th Floor
Philadelphia, PA


# # #

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Statement By Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Archbishop Of Philadelphia Regarding Presidential Decision On Stem Cell Research

August 10, 2001

STATEMENT BY
ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
REGARDING PRESIDENTIAL DECISION ON STEM CELL RESEARCH

It is with mixed feelings that I listened to the decision of President Bush regarding the use of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. From a Catholic perspective, I would have preferred a total exclusion of funding for embryonic stem cell research. At the same time, I am grateful that the President has remained faithful to his pro-life stance by banning the use of taxpayer money for research on stem cells that would require any future destruction of living human embryos. The President will allow limited funding for research on sixty (60) stem cell lines presently available and already utilized in scientific research.

Stem cell research is not limited to embryos. I am encouraged by the President's continued support for research on stem cells obtained in a moral and ethical manner from adults, as well as from umbilical cords and placentas. Many respected scientists think that these cells hold as much, if not more, therapeutic promise than embryonic stem cells.

The President's decision does not eliminate all concerns, especially moral ones, regarding stem cell research. I commend the President's proposal to name a Presidential Council to monitor and examine further questions relating to stem cell research.

It is my hope that the Presidential Council will address some lingering moral concerns. Despite the President's good intentions to avoid destruction of human embryonic life, it is possible that even limited federal funding will contribute to an attitude that individual human beings serve a utilitarian purpose, and that in some cases they can be destroyed for the good of others. We must remember that the Church teaches that a human embryo is a human being endowed with a human soul and, equal to any other human person, can never be used as a means to an end, no matter how beneficial that end may be.

Scientists see great potential in their research on stem cells. They believe that research in this field may yield cures for various life-threatening diseases. The Church encourages strongly all moral and
ethical research that can lead to the beneficial treatment of human affliction and suffering. However, the Church teaches that human life is a gift from God and every human life must be protected. The Church will continue to defend the dignity of all human life, especially the life of the unborn. Our commitment to all human life is clearly expressed by our stance against any policy that judges one life, no matter how fragile, as less important than another.


###

Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

School Bells Are Ringing Again In The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia

August 27, 2001

SCHOOL BELLS ARE RINGING AGAIN
IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Schools bells will be ringing to welcome back students from throughout the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Approximately 105,000 students will be returning to parish elementary and Archdiocesan high schools. Elementary schools will open on Wednesday, September 5th. The Archdiocesan high schools have developed individual opening week schedules and students will follow a phase-in schedule on September 5th, 6th and 7th. Full student bodies will be in attendance on Monday, September 10th.

WHAT'S NEW??


TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY . . . TIMELESS VALUES
is the theme of the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education's web site launched last May. Check it out at www.catholicschools-phl.org

TECHNOLOGY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS
All 22 of our high schools have multiple state of the art computer labs. The focus for the future is wireless. Many of our schools today have wireless laptop carts, Palm Pilots and SMART boards. Libraries in our schools are becoming Interactive Media Centers. English classes are using Writer's Solution software for enhancing writing across the curriculum. Science classes are using the Web to compare experiment results with other schools. Students in business/technology courses are being taught Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) and music classes are learning how to play the piano using computerized keyboards. Electives such as C++, Visual Basic, and Web Design are offered.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE PARISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Technology continues to be an important thrust of the elementary schools. Many of our parish schools are enhancing computer/technology programs with additional computers, computer labs, networking, internet access, wireless computers, and new instructional courses.

A FIRST AT SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH IN EAST GOSHEN!
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will dedicate a new school and religious education center on Sunday, September 30th at 3:00 p.m.
This new school is a first for the parish. Formerly, student parishioners attended various other parish elementary schools in Chester County. This new two-story facility has 19 classrooms, a gymnasium and cafeteria. The school can accommodate 560 students. This year, the school opens with 150 students, pre-school through third grade, with plans to add a grade every year.


BISHOP SHANAHAN DOES IT AGAIN!
On Monday, June 11, 2001, the Vicar of Chester County, Monsignor James McDonough, blessed a newly-completed addition to the three-year-old high school located in Downingtown. The 14 classrooms, two story addition was built to accommodate the ever increasing enrollment. Enrollment last year was 1,180 and 1,340 students are anticipated this year. The new wing will boost enrollment capacity to 1,600.


OTHER SCHOOL NEWS

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Northeast Catholic High School
will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and will welcome its largest freshman class in the past five years. It has greatly expanded its financial aid program with the generous help of the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association and the Tuition Assistance Program. With the help of the building trades unions, it has undertaken the conversion of the first floor annex to a state-of-the-art resource center which will feature a new computer technology lab sponsored by the Academic Enrichment Program of the Connelly Foundation and the Office of Catholic Education.

Saint Francis Xavier School will continue to participate in video-conferencing with a school in Ireland. The program was so successful this past spring that the students, teachers, and donor of the equipment unanimously agreed that it is a worthwhile project and everyone wants to learn more.

Holy Name School will continue its very successful arts and music program 'Music Connection.' Also, students will be involved in a service project making breakfast bags for 'Aid for Friends.'

Holy Spirit School will continue its after-school fine arts academy program, world language program, and cultural instruction program. Spanish language instructions, piano lessons, chorus and cultural enrichment are offered.

Saint Mary Interparochial School will add the 'Twilight School Program' consisting of world language instruction, dance classes and chess taught from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. each day. The school prides itself on being the oldest parochial school in the United States.

Our Lady of Hope School is renovating the school library. A Service Club is beginning in the fall for students in grades four through eight. The St. Alphonsus Scholarship Assistance Program provided tuition for fifty new students.

Saint Raymond School is planning to build a 'Green House' on the school property. The school hopes to plant the seeds of desire in the children to continue their education in the fields of Science and Research.

BUCKS COUNTY

Conwell-Egan High School
in Fairless Hills welcomes a new principal, Mrs. Maryjane McHugh. Mrs. McHugh recently served as principal at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor. A fourth computer lab for class and individual student use has been added, and new state-of-the-art computers have been purchased to complement the excellent technology infrastructure. To enhance the academic program, the addition of U.S. History and Physics will be made to the Advanced Placement Class. During the past two years 30 students have earned perfect scores on Advanced Placement tests and two students have achieved perfect scores in the Math SAT test.


Saint Martin of Tours Parish in New Hope will open its new school with four grades, first through fourth, with 55 students. Plans are to add a grade every year. This new two-story facility includes 12 classrooms, a library, computer lab, and multipurpose room. The school can accommodate 300 students. The new school was blessed by Cardinal Bevilacqua on June 2, 2001.

Saint Ignatius School in Yardley is resuming its 'Language at Lunch' Spanish classes, which are conducted in conjunction with Bucks County Community College.

Saint Michael the Archangel School in Levittown is again providing a resource room for students with learning disabilities. This program was very successful last year.

St. Joseph/St. Robert School in Warrington has added a new afternoon Pre-Kindergarten program and a new full-day Kindergarten program.

Saint Isidore School in Quakertown has added to their Early Childhood Program by beginning a program for three-year-old children. They also have expanded Catholic Youth Organization activities and students will have the opportunity to participate in intermural games.

CHESTER COUNTY

Saint Basil the Great School
in Kimberton will implement a program from the Crime Victims' Center of Chester County which will address issues of bullying and harassment.

Holy Family School in Phoenixville has been wired for internet access. Also, the school will have additional instrumental band instructions and will offer Field Hockey for the girls.

Saint Patrick School in Malvern is a work in progress. Due to the yearly increase in student population six new classrooms will open in September. The addition of a vice-principal will enhance the teaching/learning process.

Saints Philip and James School in Exton has set in motion a very extensive Peace Project incorporating the concept that conflict does not solve problems. Eight new classrooms and a larger library are planned to open in September 2002. This new addition is anxiously anticipated.

DELAWARE COUNTY

Monsignor Bonner High School
welcomes a new president, Reverend Augustine Esposito, O.S.A., Ph.D., Class of '69. Environmental Science and Psychology will be part of the curriculum for the first time during this school year. Technology has continued to grow rapidly at Monsignor Bonner. The school has one computer for every two students and a new distance learning wireless multimedia room.

Holy Cross School in Springfield has a new computer lab and is opening a second learning resource classroom. School enrollment is up with an additional forty-two children. Students will be using the newly refurbished
gymnasium.

Saint Cyril School in East Lansdowne has initiated a peace project called "Peace Making Education: A Creative Experience." Students will be able to take advantage of classes for conflict resolution and the school is implementing a 'Peace Making Task Force' for parents.

Saint Philomena School in Lansdowne has a new computer lab. Technology will be a big part of the school program. To address Fine Arts, the school is starting a new school band.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Bishop McDevitt High School
in Wyncote opens the new school year with a new state-of-the-art, multipurpose, air-conditioned Science Library. The new facility will accommodate laboratory facilities for Biology, Environmental Science, and Physics. The facility also provides the latest wireless computer hardware which links to the school's internal network as well as the internet.

Lansdale Catholic High School in Lansdale begins the new academic year with 50 students from the Class of 2004 taking part in a laptop cohort program. Each student will bring a Dell laptop computer equipped with wireless modems to their classes each day. Four faculty members will be teaching class in an updated room which includes larger desk space, a SMART Board, LCD Projector, and wireless network.

Saint Alphonsus School in Maple Glen is initiating a service education component of faith in action called 'Making a World of Difference.' A global language program which will include Spanish (grades K-7) and French (grade 8) will start in the fall.

Saint Genevieve School in Flourtown received the prestigious United States Department of Education National School of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award. Saint Genevieve School is one of only 264 schools in the United States to receive this award in 2001. Representatives from the school will attend a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. in the fall.

Saint Hilary of Poitiers School in Rydal participates in an outreach program to Saint Vincent Soup Kitchen in Germantown. The students are very committed to the service projects and are looking for new ways to be of service for the fall.

Saint Margaret School in Narberth will have internet access in every classroom for September allowing the integration of curriculum with technology to move forward.

Visitation B.V.M. School in Trooper has received a Connelly Foundation grant for the acquisition of equipment and lap top computers. The school will enter the phase of wireless internet education. Hands-on experiments have been developed for two science labs and the Fine Arts program will continue in September.

NEWS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION

Archbishop Ryan School for Children with Hearing Impairments
(Delaware County) was the recent recipient of a grant from the Connelly Foundation for an innovative online reading program called Fast Forward. Holy Cross School in Springfield, PA is expanding to a second diocesan-sponsored resource room for students with learning disabilities.

STATISTICS FROM THE 2000-2001 SCHOOL YEAR

Last year, enrollment for parish elementary schools in the Archdiocese was 81,347. The enrollment for Archdiocesan high schools was 23,148. 2001-2002 enrollment figures will not be available until November.

# # #


Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Appoints First Executive Director Of Catholic Heritage Center

August 22, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA APPOINTS FIRST EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC HERITAGE CENTER

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is pleased to announce that John C. Rumm, Ph.D., an historian, archivist and expert on heritage will serve as the first Executive Director of the Catholic Heritage Center. The appointment takes effect immediately. The Catholic Heritage Center will be located at 320 Walnut Street in Philadelphia and is scheduled to open in late 2002.

Dr. Rumm served as an historian at the Smithsonian Institution on the Joseph Henry Papers Project in Washington D.C. from June 1986 to July 1993. In 1993, Dr. Rumm took on the position of Traveling Exhibits Coordinator and Project Director at the Smithsonian Institution. For the next four years, he planned, developed and managed exhibitions as they circulated to museums throughout the United States. During this time, Dr. Rumm also developed and taught courses in the Academic Studies Department of The Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C.

In 1997 Dr. Rumm moved to The History Factory in Chantilly Virginia as Senior Historian. Until 1999, he consulted on heritage, marketing and communications projects for clients that included corporations, trade groups and professional associations. In 1999, Dr. Rumm was appointed Senior Historian at History Associates Incorporated in Rockville, Maryland where he served until 2000. At that time, Dr. Rumm joined W. Atlee Burpee & Company in Warminster, Pennsylvania as Manager of Corporate Communications. During late 2000 and 2001, Dr. Rumm served as an independent consultant on heritage and communications for local, national and international clients.

Dr. Rumm graduated from Ohio State University in 1978 and completed his Master of Arts in American History and Museum Studies at the University of Delaware in 1980. He received a Ph.D. in American History at the University of Delaware in 1989.

Background - Catholic Heritage Center:
-Cardinal Bevilacqua announced creation of CHC at a news conference on March 7, 2001
-CHC is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose center for preservation and exhibition of Catholic art, history and culture
-first of its kind diocesan heritage center in the country
-building located at 320 Walnut Street, Philadelphia (purchased by Archdiocese in 1996)
-property adjacent to Old Saint Joseph's Church, Willings Alley, founded in 1733
-six floors plus rooftop reception area will house orientation theater, café, gift shop, special exhibits gallery, core exhibit gallery, archival storage and archival library and research center
-anticipated opening date late 2002
-visit www.catholicheritage-phl.org





Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Come Join Us For The "back To School Bash" To Benefit Archdiocesan Special Education Schools

August 29, 2001

COME JOIN US FOR THE
"BACK TO SCHOOL BASH"
TO BENEFIT ARCHDIOCESAN SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS

The Stewards' Alliance and Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) are sponsoring a "Back to School Bash" to benefit the Special Education Schools of the Archdiocese on

Wednesday, September 26, 2001
6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Lloyd Hall on Boat House Row
Philadelphia


You will experience some of the best culinary delights from outstanding caterers and restaurants from Philadelphia city and suburbs, while dancing to music provided by the "Four Wood." Participate in our "silent auction" with some great prizes including memorabilia from our Archdiocesan High Schools. It's a great after-work night out for all!

Admission is $30 which includes food and drink. All proceeds benefit the Special Education Schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including: Archbishop Ryan School for Children with Hearing Impairment located in Norwood and Glenolden; Our Lady of Confidence Day School in St. David and Philadelphia; Queen of the Universe Day Center in Levittown; St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments in Upper Darby; and St. Katherine Day School in Wynnewood and Radnor.

Come join us and bring a friend! For more information call 215-587-3651.

- ###

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocesan Theater Program For Disabled Adults And Youth Presents Its Annual Production "fame 2001"

August 29, 2001

ARCHDIOCESAN THEATER PROGRAM FOR DISABLED ADULTS
AND YOUTH PRESENTS ITS ANNUAL PRODUCTION
"FAME 2001"

The T.O.D.A.Y. (Transforming Opportunities for Disabled Adults and Youth) Theater Program is presenting its ninth annual production. This year's production, "Fame 2001," will be presented on

Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th, 2001
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Archbishop Wood High School
655 York Road
Warminster, Pa


T.O.D.A.Y. Theater Program is sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults. The program provides disabled youth and adults the chance to perform, have fun, and to have an opportunity for interaction with non-disabled people. This year's production includes lively songs and dance routines from the show "Fame." Tickets are available at the door, $8 adults and children. For ticket information, call (215) 567-4280

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Invites You To Attend Catholic Life Congress '01

September 10, 2001

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA INVITES YOU TO ATTEND
CATHOLIC LIFE CONGRESS '01

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia invites you to attend Catholic Life Congress, an annual educational gathering for all people of God: laity, religious and clergy, professionals and volunteers, young and old, men and women from every walk of life. The Catholic Life Congress affords participants the opportunity to grow in the appreciation of their faith and to develop skills to help participate actively in the life and mission of the Church. Please join us!

CATHOLIC LIFE CONGRESS '01
Friday Night, November 16th - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 17th - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
VALLEY FORGE CONVENTION CENTER
1210 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA


Catholic Life Congress will include a keynote presentation by Dr. Michael Downey, professor in Systematic Theology and Spirituality, and author of several books. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist at Mass on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Also on the agenda are presentations, sessions, music, art, exhibits and a food festival.

Registration fees (meals included) are:
Friday: $25 ($30 after 10/15/01 and walk-ins)
Saturday: $35 ($40 after 10/15/01 and walk-ins)
For more information please call (215)587-4544

(Bus transportation is available)


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass Honoring Men And Women Religious

September 7, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS HONORING
MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS


Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia,
will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for 242 Religious Jubilarians on


Sunday, September 9, 2001
11:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA

242 religious sisters and priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will celebrate their Silver, Golden, or Diamond Anniversaries in 2001. (There are no religious brother Jubilarians in 2001.) These 242 religious represent 13,180 years of service to the Catholic Church. The total number of those who will actually be in attendance at the Mass will be 107.

Two of those celebrating their Diamond Jubilee (75 years) will be present: Sister M. Eustella Volk, C.S.R. (age 101) and Sister M. Constance Norick, M.S.B.T. (age 89). One Jubilarian, Sister Mary Bonaventure Pollock, M.S.B.T., (age 99) will mark 80 years as a religious. (Sister Mary Bonaventure will not be in attendance.) Students from John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School will serve as ushers and banner bearers. Following the Mass, a reception for the Jubilarians and their guests will be held on the portico of the Archdiocesan Office Center, 222 North Seventeenth Street, Philadelphia.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Statement Of Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop Of Philadelphia, Regarding Terrorist Attacks - Delivered To The News Media At 2:00 P.m. At The Rectory Cathedral Of Saints Peter And Paul In Philadelphia

September 11, 2001

Statement of Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, Regarding Terrorist Attacks - Delivered to the news media at 2:00 p.m. at the Rectory Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia

With all the people of the United States, I am horrified and overwhelmingly heart-sick over the unconscionable and unprovoked attacks by terrorists on the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The shock of these heinous assaults on innocent and unsuspecting people as well as the catastrophic loss of life will leave for a long time a scar on the psyche of the American people.

The terrible accounts which were related on the radio as well as the frightening images which we watched on television have left us numb. Undoubtedly, all of us, so accustomed to living in the peace and security of the United States now feel unsafe and in danger. People may have a desire to run to safety, to hide from the anticipation of violent attack. The very symbols of our nation's security and prosperity have been turned to dust and innumerable lives have been abruptly ended. A feeling of fear and insecurity, even panic, can be justified.

Yet we know that in times of crisis such as this the American people, strengthened by God's grace, so profoundly demonstrate their solidarity. The suffering of fellow human beings is not overlooked. Every heart is moved not only to pity but to action. We will do all that we can to provide aid for the victims, prayers for the those who are casualties and deep-seated sympathy and prayerful support for the families of those who have been killed or injured in these calamitous incidents. It is in such moments of crisis that the American spirit shines forth as courageous, dauntless and enduring.

Our nation was founded on principles revealed by God and we know that, in spite of the horrendous evil carried out by men of hatred, we remain under our loving God's protection and guidance. In this time of trial, we raise our minds and hearts to our Merciful God. I ask all those who are listening to join me in prayer at this time of national tragedy. (PAUSE)

Heavenly Father, we commend to Your infinite compassion and mercy those whose lives were unjustly taken from them by those who embrace violence and hatred. We pray for the families of the victims. May they know comfort and have hope that You, the God of all goodness, will welcome to Your consoling embrace their loved ones who have died. Move to conversion those responsible for these brutal acts. While we seek justice, we also pray that the hatred which motivates acts of terrorism will be eradicated from the earth. Grant peace in the world and security in our land. Full of confidence and moved by our love for our nation, we ask that You, our merciful God, continue to bless America and to keep safe and from all harm all those who hope in You. Amen.

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Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Closes All Parish Elementary And High Schools For Safety

September 11, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
CLOSES ALL PARISH ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS FOR SAFETY

For the safety of all students, faculty and employees, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is closing all parish elementary schools, high schools and administrative offices at noon today due to the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

# # #

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass And Offer Prayers For Victims Of Terrorist Attacks

September 11, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS AND OFFER PRAYERS
FOR VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate a special Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in the wake of the acts of terrorism in New York City and Washington D.C.


12:05 p.m. Mass
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia



Cardinal Bevilacqua has also asked all 283 parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to hold prayer services. Cardinal Bevilacqua also requests that all priests address the tragic events that occurred in New York and Washington, D.C. in their homilies on this coming Sunday, September 16, 2001.

Cardinal Bevilacqua addressed the media shortly after the terrorism attacks on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The text of Cardinal Bevilacqua's statement is available by contacting the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747.

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Editor's Note: A mult box simulcast feed will be available for both video and audio purposes. Media will also be allowed inside of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. If crews choose to take the mult box feed, a bnc connector and a recording deck will be required. Staff from the Archdiocesan Office for Communications will be available to assist media.






Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Responds To Call For National Day Of Prayer And Remembrance

September 13, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA RESPONDS TO CALL FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is requesting that all 283 parishes of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia honor the wishes of President George W. Bush to observe a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on Friday, September 14, 2001. The Cardinal is asking all pastors to consider opening their church doors for an extended period of time during the lunchtime hours to allow people the opportunity to stop in and offer prayers. Parishes will decide on an individual basis whether to offer a lunchtime Mass, prayer service, or simply a refuge for personal prayer.

At the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in center city, Mass will be offered at 7:15 a.m, 8:00 a.m, 12:05 p.m., 12:35 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place until 5:00 p.m.

Also today, Pope John Paul II assured the new United States Ambassador to the Holy See, James Nicholson of his profound participation in the grief of the American people and my heartfelt prayers for the president and the civil authorities and for all involved in the rescue operations and in helping the survivors, and in a special way for the victims and their families.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops web site (www.usccb.org) offers a National Tragedy page that includes samples of condolences sent from all around the world, including responses by the Holy Father and the U.S. Bishops to the terrorist attacks. Included are liturgical and prayer resources, blessings for victims of crime, firefighters, police and rescue personnel. Visitors can also find information about Catholic Charities USA, which will forward donations for aid victims.

Chronology of events in Archdiocese of Philadelphia


2:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 11, 2001
: Cardinal Bevilacqua meets with the news media and requests all parishes to hold prayer services during the week and all priests to address the tragedy in their Sunday homilies. Cardinal issues statement and answers media questions. (Text of Cardinal Bevilacqua's statement available at www.archdiocese-phl.org under Archbishop Statements) Many parishes respond with services.

12:05 p.m. Wednesday, September 12, 2001: Cardinal Bevilacqua celebrates special Memorial Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia for the Living and Deceased Victims of the Terrorist attack. Approximately 3,000 people attend Mass, more people than at any other spontaneous event sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia . (Text of Cardinal Bevilacqua's homily available at www.archdiocese-phl.org under Archbishop Statements)

6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 13, 2001: Cardinal Bevilacqua participates in Interfaith Prayer Service with other religious leaders in the City of Philadelphia at Dilworth Plaza (West Side of City Hall). (Text of Cardinal Bevilacqua's Prayers for Victims and Families will be available at www.archdiocese-phl.org under Archbishop Statements on Friday, September 14, 2001)

# # #

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Responds This Weekend In The Aftermath Of Terrorism

September 14, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA RESPONDS
THIS WEEKEND IN THE AFTERMATH OF TERRORISM

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has requested that all Archdiocesan priests use their homilies this weekend to address the horrific events that occurred in New York City, Washington, D.C. and western Pennsylvania on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Homilies at Saturday evening vigil masses and on Sunday morning will touch upon the theme that God's love is unconditional, that evil is caused by the absence of God's love in man's heart, that God is powerfully present to sustain us at this time of great turmoil and confusion, and that we must not allow hate to overcome us.

At the direction of Cardinal Bevilacqua, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has offered priestly assistance to the Archdiocese of New York and Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Center during this time of crisis. More than two dozen Archdiocese of Philadelphia priests have already volunteered to go to New York to assist with funerals, memorial Masses, spiritual counseling, daily Masses, devotions and other pastoral needs.

All 283 parishes of the Archdiocese have been asked by Cardinal Bevilacqua to include prayers for the victims and everyone touched by these tragic events in weekend liturgies. A letter from the Cardinal to parishioners that offers comfort and urges us to keep our faith in God will be read at Masses this weekend. Pope John Paul sent a telegram to President George Bush on Wednesday and expressed his profound sorrow and condemnation for the tragedy during an audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday. (Text of the Cardinal's letter and the Holy Father's message are available at www.archdiocese-phl.org under Cardinal on Terrorism or Archbishop Statements orNews).

This weekend the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults will sponsor a prayer rally where students will join together to form a giant cross on the football field and gather relief supplies to send to New York:

Prayer Rally for Justice and Peace
Sunday, September 16,2001
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cross will be formed at 2:30 p.m.
Football Field at Cardinal Dougherty High School, 6301 North Second Street, Philadelphia


In the time since the terrorism attacks on September 11, 2001, the following has occurred in the
Archdiocese:

- honoring National Day of Mourning and Prayer: pastors were requested to keep the doors of Churches open during the day, particularly at lunchtime, on Friday, September 14, 2001. Pastors offered lunchtime Masses, prayer services or a refuge for private prayers

-prayers: parishes held special prayer services or special Masses beginning Tuesday afternoon. Cardinal Bevilacqua issued a statement on the terrorism tragedy to the media Tuesday afternoon; celebrated a Memorial Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in center city on Wednesday (3000+ attended); joined other religious and political leaders for a city prayer service Thursday and led a prayer on the radio Friday

-schools: parish elementary schools and archdiocesan high schools offered prayer services when children returned to school (Catholic schools closed at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday and reopened on Wednesday)

- counseling: school administrators and staff are addressing the fear and insecurity of some children. Catholic Social Services is offering bereavement and crisis counseling through 11 Family Service Centers located throughout the Archdiocese.

Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Mercy Hospice Celebrates 25th Anniversary Shelter Hosts Block Party

September 19, 2001

MERCY HOSPICE CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

SHELTER HOSTS BLOCK PARTY

Mercy Hospice, a shelter for homeless women and children administered by Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will hold a Block Party Celebration to mark its 25 years of service to the community. Mercy Hospice provides emergency shelter, recovery housing and day programs to women and children in need.

Founders, supporters, former and current residents and staff will come together for the three hour celebration. There will be fun, food, memories and music.

Saturday, September 29, 2001
12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Ceremony at 12:30 p.m.)
Mercy Hospice
13th and Pine Streets
Philadelphia

The Block Party will feature invited speakers Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services; Sister Mary Klock, R.S.M., the first Director of Mercy Hospice and Mr. Robert Hess, Deputy Managing Director of Special Needs Housing for the city of Philadelphia.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Opens New Family Services Center

September 24, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA OPENS NEW FAMILY SERVICES CENTER

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will hold an open house and blessing at its newest center, the CSS Southwest Philadelphia Family Service Center.
Reverend Monsignor Timothy Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services will bless the new center. Invited guests include Philadelphia City Council President Anna Verna.

Wednesday, September 26, 2001
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Open House
10:00 a.m. - Blessing
6214 Grays Avenue (formerly Our Lady of Loreto Parish Rectory)
Philadelphia


At Archdiocesan Family Service Centers, individuals or families in need can arrange a meeting with a professional social worker to discuss their needs, possible solutions and a plan of action. The Family Service Centers also respond to community needs at times of crisis. Counseling is currently available for those experiencing anxiety, anger or loss after the trauma of the recent terrorist attacks. Bereavement counseling is available for those dealing with the trauma and loss of loved ones as a result of the recent terrorist attacks. Other services include: Case management; pregnancy services; parenting groups; teen support services; elder care services; respite services; refugee services; special friends support group and senior clubs.

Other Archdiocese of Philadelphia Family Service Centers include:

Philadelphia County

227 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia
Casa Del Carmen Family Center, 4400 N. Reese Street, Philadelphia (Bilingual staff available)
7340 Jackson Street, Philadelphia

Bucks County
100 Levittown Parkway, Levittown
427 North Main Street, Sellersville
607 W. Street Road, Warminster

Chester County
141 East Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown
105 Prospect Avenue, West Grove (Bilingual staff available)

Delaware County
240 N. Bishop Avenue, Springfield
130 E. 7th Street, Chester City (Bilingual staff available)

Montgomery County
353 E. Johnson Highway, Norristown


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Puerto Rican Festival Mass

September 25, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL MASS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will preside at the annual Puerto Rican Festival Mass. The purpose of the Mass is to celebrate the faith, accomplishments and culture of the Puerto Rican people.


Thursday, September 27, 2001
Procession
6:30 p.m.
18th and Vine Streets
Philadelphia

Mass
7:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Reverend José Andrés Rodríguez, the Director of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts will be the homilist. There is also a focus this year on Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez (1918-1963) who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in April 2001. Blessed Carlos evangelized college students in Puerto Rico and promoted vocations.

There are 26 parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that have Hispanic Ministry. The Archdiocese also has a Mission at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in the Diocese of Arecibo in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. Two priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are assigned to the Mission at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Bless New Parish Elementary School And Religious Education Center In East Goshen

September 26, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO BLESS
NEW PARISH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION CENTER IN EAST GOSHEN

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will bless a new parish elementary school and religious education center at Saints Peter and Paul Parish on

Sunday, September 30, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Saints Peter and Paul Parish
1327 Boot Road
East Goshen, PA


The ceremonies will begin in the Church with a welcome from Reverend James J. Foley, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, followed by a prayer service with Cardinal Bevilacqua giving the homily. The blessing of the school will take place on the grounds outside the school. Cardinal Bevilacqua will then bless crucifixes to be placed in each of the classrooms. An open house will be held for parishioners in the new facility immediately following.

Saints Peter and Paul Parish was established in 1967. The new school facility is a first for the parish. The parish launched a capital campaign to build the $6.5 million school and religious education center to address the educational needs of the growing number of young families with children that have moved into the area. The new two-story building includes 19 classrooms, computer lab, gymnasium and cafeteria. The school eventually will accommodate 570 students. This year, the school has approximately 200 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade. The parish plans to add a grade every year.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Volunteers Clothe The Naked

September 27, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA VOLUNTEERS CLOTHE THE NAKED

The fourth Mercy Works Service Project - Clothe the Naked will be an opportunity to donate clothing to those who are less fortunate. This Mercy Works Service Project will take place in the Chester County Vicariate. The drop off location will be Saint Patrick Parish in Kennett Square, Chester County.


Saturday, September 29, 2001
9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
9:30 a.m. Prayer Service
St. Patrick Parish
212 Meredith Street
Kennett Square, Chester County

This Mercy Works Service Project is a collaborative effort with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, which collects clothes throughout the year to benefit those in need. Volunteers are also needed to fold the donated clothes on the day of the collection.

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each Mercy Works Service Project will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In July 2001, Cardinal Bevilacqua visited inmates at Graterford Prison. In May 2001, volunteers visited nursing homes in the Philadelphia North Vicariate. In April 2001, volunteers worked at three homeless shelters in the Philadelphia-South Vicariate. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in the Bucks County Vicariate.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001


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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Dedicates Renovated Cottage For Juvenile Treatment Program

October 1, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA DEDICATES RENOVATED
COTTAGE FOR JUVENILE TREATMENT PROGRAM

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will dedicate the newly renovated cottage that houses The Mitchell Program at Saint Gabriel's Hall, part of Saint Gabriel's System. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and operated by the DeLaSalle Christian Brothers, Saint Gabriel's System provides educational and mental health services to court adjudicated young men.

The Mitchell Program cottage houses up to 28 male residents, who are ages 13 to 18. The cottage includes classrooms, laundry facilities and staff offices. Youth in The Mitchell Program live as a farm based community. They receive experience in farming and animal husbandry in addition to the more traditional educational and therapeutic treatment services offered at Saint Gabriel's Hall.

Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services will preside at the dedication service, which will also be attended by Reverend Monsignor John C. Marine, Regional Vicar for Montgomery County and by residents and staff, local clergy and civic leaders.


Tuesday, October 2, 2001
11:00 a.m.
Saint Gabriel's Hall
1360 Pawlings Road (approximately one mile from Audobon Road)
Audobon, Montgomery County

The Mitchell Program was established in 1998 and named in honor of Brother Cyril Mitchell, F.S.C. (1900 - 1977). Brother Cyril lived at Saint Gabriel's Hall from 1918 until his death in 1977 and was in charge of the Saint Gabriel's Hall working farm. He was so successful that the crops and livestock at Saint Gabriel's Hall fed 450 people every day. The farming done today through The Mitchell Program at Saint Gabriel's Hall is for therapeutic purposes and is also community service based. Surplus vegetables are donated to a food bank in Phoenixville, Chester County.

The cottage renovation cost approximately $750,000. It is Phase One of a $12 million total renovation project at Saint Gabriel's Hall. The total renovation is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2003. Other projects include renovation of other residential units, roofing replacements and repairs and kitchen renovations. Saint Gabriel's System has served the needs of troubled youth and their families for more than 100 years since its founding in 1898. Its facilities serve approximately 2,000 young people each year.

###


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Groundbreaking For Villa Saint Martha Addition To Saint Martha Manor In Chester County

October 1, 2001

GROUNDBREAKING FOR VILLA SAINT MARTHA
ADDITION TO SAINT MARTHA MANOR IN CHESTER COUNTY

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will break ground for Villa Saint Martha, a 120 bed supportive living facility. The facility is located on the grounds of Saint Martha Manor in Downingtown, Chester County, which currently provides rehabilitation and nursing care for 120 residents. Villa Saint Martha will provide 60 independent living units, 30 assisted living units and 30 assisted living/dementia units.

Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services, will preside at the groundbreaking service, which will also be attended by Reverend Monsignor James T. McDonough, Regional Vicar for Chester County; civic officials from Downingtown and Caln Township; members of the Saint Martha Manor Advisory Committee; local pastors and clergy; staff, residents and family members of Saint Martha Manor.


Tuesday, October 2, 2001
3:30 p.m.
Saint Martha Manor
470 Manor Avenue
Downingtown, Chester County

Villa Saint Martha is a $12 million project scheduled to be completed in Fall 2002. The architect is Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC and the builder is Wohlsen Construction Company.

Saint Martha Manor opened in 1989 and has been filled to capacity since that time. It is the newest of five nursing facilities sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Saint Martha Manor is located on grounds adjacent to Saint Joseph Parish in Downingtown, Chester County.
###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Deliver Keynote Address At "celebrate Your Age" Expo And To Donate Blood Afterward

October 1, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS
AT "CELEBRATE YOUR AGE" EXPO
AND TO DONATE BLOOD AFTERWARD

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will deliver the

Keynote Address
"Celebrate Your Age" Expo
sponsored by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
9:30 a.m.
Pennsylvania Convention Center




Afterward, the Cardinal will donate blood to the American Red Cross

11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Blood Drive
Archdiocesan Office Center Auditorium
222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia


The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is conducting a blood drive in conjunction with the American Red Cross. 75 donors, all employees of the archdiocesan office center, have registered so far. The blood drive runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The archdiocesan office center has conducted blood drives since 1992 and in that time, has collected 527 pints of blood from employee donors.


Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Youthfest 2001 The Archdiocesan Celebration Of World Youth Day

October 2, 2001

YOUTHFEST 2001
The Archdiocesan Celebration of World Youth Day

The Office for Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is sponsorinYouthfest 2001, a spiritual and fun-filled gathering of high school students on

Saturday, October 6, 2001
12 noon - 9:00 p.m.
Cardinal Dougherty High School
6301 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA


More than 800 teens are expected to attend this event, which is the local celebration of World Youth Day. Activities will include an opening ceremony by student leadership, carnival, games, liturgy, dinner and dancing.

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist for the Youth Mass at 5:00 p.m.

The agenda for the day is:

12 noon Registration
1:00 p.m Opening Ceremony by student leadership and keynote address by Matt Smith, former cast member of MTV's "Real World"
2:00 p.m. Outdoor Carnival and Indoor Olympics
5:00 p.m. Youth Mass
6:30 p.m. Dinner and dancing

For more information on the day's events contact Tara Echelmeier at 610-649-9410.
# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Priest Appointed To Vatican Post

October 4, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA PRIEST APPOINTED TO VATICAN POST

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced that Pope John Paul II has appointed Reverend Albin J. Grous to serve as an official of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. Reverend Grous will work in the Universities Office. He is currently serving as Parochial Vicar at Saint Monica Parish in South Philadelphia.

Cardinal Bevilacqua said, "Once again, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been called to serve the wider, universal Church. The Archdiocese is deeply honored by the appointment of Reverend Albin J. Grous to the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, where he will serve in the Universities Office. Father Grous brings to this appointment not only intellectual gifts and administrative skills, but also his priestly zeal and profound loyalty to the Church. We wish Father Grous every blessing as he prepares to take up his new post."

Albin J. Grous was born in 1961 in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia and grew up in Saint John Cantius Parish. He attended Saint Mary's Preparatory School in Orchard Lake, Michigan and then attended Saint Mary's College in Orchard Lake, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Philosophy in 1983. He then studied at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The Most Reverend John J. Graham ordained Father Grous to the priesthood on May 16, 1987 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Father Grous also received a Masters of Divinity at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1989.

After Ordination, Father Grous served as Assistant Pastor at Saint Adalbert Parish in Philadelphia for three years, until 1990. At that time, he was invited to teach at Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. While a member of the faculty, Father Grous was sent to continue his graduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a License in Sacred Theology in1992. Father continued his academic studies in Rome until 1994 at which time he returned to Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Michigan, where he was appointed Academic Dean. In 1998, Father Grous was awarded his Doctorate in Sacred Theology. He also served as Vice Rector of Saints Cyril and Methodius Seminary from 1997 to 2000.

In June 2000, after 10 years in Michigan and Rome, Father Grous returned to parish work in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, serving as Parochial Vicar at Saint Monica Parish in South Philadelphia.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Statement Of Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop Of Philadelphia On U.s. Attacks In Afghanistan

October 7, 2001

STATEMENT OF ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA,
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
ON U.S. ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN

With people of all faiths I am praying for our President, for the leaders of our country and its many allies and, in a special way, for the men and women in military service at this time of grave need. I exhort everyone to pray and ask God in His great wisdom to guide our nation's actions in the critical days ahead.

Our government has the right and the duty to defend its people against the evil aggression of terrorists against our nation. It is heartening to see so many other countries joining us in defending humanity against this latest form of tyranny.

I am convinced that those making momentous military decisions in this war against international terrorists are seekers of justice and peace, not of vengeance. We are confident that no leaders involved in this action wants war. They desire justice. According to Catholic teaching, a military response in defense of our people is justified as long as: a sufficient time has been allowed to exhaust all other peaceful means; our intent is not aggression for its own sake but rather the achievement of justice and peace; that our target is never the innocent people but only those responsible for terrorist attacks and their resources. This military action, we have been assured, is against the terrorist forces in Afghanistan, not against the people of Afghanistan.

It will be lamentable if more lives are lost. In recent weeks, we, as a nation under God, have come to recognize more fully how precious God's gift of life is to us. Let us not despair during this time of great anxiety and need. God is with us as we, with other allied nations, seek to defend the common good of our nation as well as the international common good and peace throughout the world.

We must believe that good will be victorious over evil. It is my constant prayer that with God's help we will achieve a swift and just resolution that will enable all men and women to pursue justice and to live in peace.

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Contact
Catherine Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Address Pennsylvania Press Club In Harrisburg

October 12, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO ADDRESS
PENNSYLVANIA PRESS CLUB
IN HARRISBURG

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will address an audience of the Pennsylvania Press Club

Monday, October 22, 2001
12noon luncheon / program beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Whitaker Center
adjacent to the Harrisburg Hilton
Third and Market Streets
Harrisburg


The Cardinal will address the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and current military action. The audience will consist of reporters, legislators, business people and interested members of the general public. The Pennsylvania Public Radio Network and Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) will both carry the program live throughout the Commonwealth.

Cardinal Bevilacqua will speak for 15 minutes to be followed 15 minutes of open Q and A.


# # #






Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Takes Part In National School Lunch Week October 15-19, 2001

October 10, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA TAKES PART
IN NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK
OCTOBER 15-19, 2001

National Lunch Week takes place across the United States during the week of October 15 - 19, 2001. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Nutritional Development Services (NDS) administers the National Lunch Program in over 92 Catholic elementary and charter schools. NDS serves lunch to over 10,000 children daily. The hot lunch consists of an entree, served with a fruit or vegetable, bread and a half-pint of milk. The meal provides each child with one-third of their recommended daily allowance for nutrients and calories.

The National School Lunch Program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, operates in more than 93,000 public and non-profit private schools, serving more than 26 million children each day.

"The importance of healthy eating can not be overstated," said Bonnie Baehr, administrator of Child Nutrition Programs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "We all know that hungry children cannot learn. 'Hunger' does not necessarily equate with poverty. Sometimes it is a case of poor eating habits. These can affect a child's quality of life as an adult and can only be overcome by the provision of balanced meals and nutrition education tools."

To help students make healthy food choices, NDS works hard to teach the message about proper nutrition to students. With the help of a grant from the USDA, nutrition educators visit participating schools and encourage the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and milk.

For more information about participating in the National School Lunch Program, contact Archdiocese of Philadelphia Nutritional Development Services at (215)895-3470.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Launches "catholic Connection" Electronic Evangelization Continues With Controlled Chat Room

October 11, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA LAUNCHES "CATHOLIC CONNECTION"
Electronic Evangelization Continues with Controlled Chat Room

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host internet discussion forums regarding Catholicism and Catholic teaching on Wednesdays in October and November 2001 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The chat room can be accessed at www.blessme.org . It can also be accessed at www.digitalcity.com. (only for AOL subscribers).

The first Catholic Connection will take place on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The first topic will be Philadelphia Priest Call, the intensive effort of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to promote vocations to the priesthood. The presenter will be Reverend Joseph Devlin, Director of Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The Catholic Connection is a "virtual location" on the internet where a discussion forum can take place. The discussions will be held in real time so dialogue will appear as it is expressed and will not be pre-programmed; however, the presenter will be able to monitor conversation before it appears on screen. Internet users will be able to ask questions and provide observations regarding a specific subject that has been designated as the theme for that particular chat room discussion.

Topics will include: Embryonic Stem Cell Research; African Americans and the Catholic Church and The Blessed Virgin Mary - To Know Her Is to Love Her. Presenters will be priests of the Archdiocese, religious and lay people.

Other Archdiocesan Electronic Evangelization Efforts:

BlessMe Line: toll free, confidential phone line (1-877-BlessMe) staffed by priests (started November 1998)

www.blessme.org : web site featuring Disciples on the Internet, where visitors can e-mail their questions to a priest for a personal response or read answers to frequently asked questions (started March 1999)

American Online collaboration: prominent placement on a search engine to allow more people to access BlessMe.org web site; rotating banner advertises the BlessMe site on Digital City Philadelphia web site (www.digitalcity.com.) (started September 2000)

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Prayer Service To Commemorate 1700th Anniversary Of The Baptism Of Armenia

October 15, 2001

PRAYER SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE 1700TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE BAPTISM OF ARMENIA

An Ecumenical Prayer Service will mark the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs will be the homilist. Representatives of Philadelphia area Christian churches will participate in this important celebration.

Sunday, October 21, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Saint Sahag & Saint Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church
630 Clothier Road
Wynnewood Pa
Reception to take place after service


The prayer service is sponsored by the Armenian Inter-Communal Committee of Philadelphia as it observes the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia in the year 301 A.D. Even before official acceptance by the Roman Empire, however, many Armenians actively practiced their Christian faith.

As part of the international observance of this milestone, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, visited Armenia from September 25 - 27, 2001. The Holy Father celebrated Mass and visited a monastery. The Pope prayed before an ancient dungeon, where, according to tradition, Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years. Saint Gregory's prayers are credited with the eventual conversion of the Armenian king and the entire nation in 301 (Catholic News Service, September 28, 2001). Today there are approximately 150,000 Catholics in Armenia, out of a total population of 3.8 million.

Until 1981, Armenian Catholics in the Philadelphia area looked to the Latin-rite Archbishop as their shepherd. In 1981, an Armenian Catholic exarchate (similar to a diocese or Archdiocese) was established in New York City for Armenian Catholics in the United States and Canada.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Annual Martin De Porres Mass

October 16, 2001


CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE ANNUAL MARTIN DE PORRES MASS

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate the 39th annual Mass in thanksgiving for Saint Martin de Porres, the Saint of Universal Brotherhood. The homilist will be the Reverend Monsignor Wallace A. Harris, Regional Vicar for Central Harlem and Pastor of Saint Charles Borromeo Church, New York, New York. Monsignor Harris is also a Chaplain for the New York City Fire Department.


Thursday, November 8, 2001
7:30 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA

On this occasion, the Courts and Councils of the Knights of Saint Peter Claver and Ladies' Auxiliaries will be recognized for 25 years of community service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Saint Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, in the 16th century, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a Black woman of Panama who was a freed slave. He became a Dominican brother and devoted his life to caring for the poor and the sick. Pope John XXIII canonized Martin de Porres in 1962, making him the first saint of color in the western hemisphere.

The Mass which celebrates Saint Martin de Porres is organized by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Black Catholics. People of all faiths are invited to attend this Mass of Unity and Brotherhood.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Writes To President Bush Regarding Military Action

October 17, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA WRITES TO PRESIDENT BUSH
REGARDING MILITARY ACTION

Text of Letter


October 16, 2001

The Honorable George W. Bush
The President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Like all Americans, I have been reflecting a great deal on the evil events of September 11, 2001, and about their immediate and long-term consequences. I write to thank you for the strong and wise leadership that you and your administration have been providing, and to express my prayerful support for the multidimensional response to the terrorist attacks that you have been detailing for the American people.

Mr. President, you have rightly called these attacks acts of war. They are the most catastrophic in a series of lethal assaults that include the earlier attack on the World Trade Center and the bombings of United States embassies, a military barracks and a naval vessel. Undeniably, terrorists pose a threat to the lives and security of all people, and a particular danger to Americans here and overseas. Our government has the right and the duty to defend its people against this modern plague upon mankind. It is encouraging to see that other nations also recognize that same moral obligation as they join us in protecting humanity from the evils inherent in this latest form of tyranny.

Over the past few weeks, calls for retaliation motivated by anger and vengeance have been replaced by careful reflection on the need for self-defense. You and your chief advisors aver that the responses by our government and the international coalition currently underway - political, financial, economic and military - are directed toward defending the free world. The United States and its partners in the coalition made clear their preference to protect humanity by diplomatic means rather than military force. Sadly, because past and recent diplomatic efforts and political and economic sanctions failed, military action became necessary. These facts, together with the well-founded hope that we will ultimately succeed in the war against terrorism, demonstrate that we are engaged in a just war.

You, your administration and the Congress are to be commended for the manner in which this war has been conducted so far. The formation of an international coalition, the shared intelligence and coordinated efforts of national and international law enforcement agencies and the steps undertaken to cut off the terrorists' financial resources are all part of a well-conceived and effective plan. By all reports, the military action which began on October 7, 2001, has been both measured and discriminate. I have every confidence that our government will ensure that all future military action will continue to be directed only against the terrorists and the regimes that protect and support them.

You are to be commended also for the humanitarian assistance currently being given to millions of innocent people in Afghanistan who have suffered for more than a decade at the hands of the Taliban. It is heartening to know that the leaders of the coalition intend to continue this assistance in the post-Taliban era, and to create the conditions needed for the people of Afghanistan to establish a just and stable government. It is also heartening to know that the United States and other nations are prepared to support such a government in addressing the conditions and causes of poverty and illness that have brought so much suffering to the innocent people of that land. Hopefully, the unique alliances forged by this war on terrorism will foster new political and diplomatic attempts to address the poverty, suffering and hopelessness from which so many people in that region and elsewhere in the world continue to suffer.

Mr. President, you have been realistic and forthright in stating that the war against terrorism will take a long time. We, the American people, must be equally realistic in recognizing that it will involve sacrifice on our part. It will require patience in coping with security measures that will cause inconvenience and may seem overly intrusive. It will require a willingness to put the common good above some individual civil liberties. It will require unity, courage and steadfastness, especially at times when there may be little tangible evidence that we are succeeding or that a serious threat still remains. For the men and women of the armed forces, the sacrifices will be great indeed. They must be reassured that the cause they champion is just, and that this nation supports every moral means they employ in our defense.

Many Americans believe that life in the United States was changed forever by the terrorist attacks of September 11. To a degree, this is unquestionably true. The unspeakable evil made vivid in the horrific images of commercial aircraft commandeered by suicidal murderers crashing into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field are now permanently etched in the national memory. Mercifully, those images are offset by countless displays of the fundamental goodness of the American people. They have turned to God in this hour of need and prayed for guidance, strength and healing. They have mourned the dead and prayed for the repose of their souls. They have tended to the physical and spiritual needs of their families and of all the injured. The valor and dedication of the rescuers, medical personnel, clergy, civil and religious leaders as well as the loving and tangible concern of the entire nation prove that the American spirit was not buried beneath the rubble. In its best instincts and highest ideals, America remains unchanged by the barbaric attacks that killed thousands of innocent men and women. I pray that, in time, this nation will also recover its sense of security and return to its way of life.

As we search for reasons for the attacks, we must be careful to avoid two unsupportable conclusions: first, that they were God's punishment for moral decay within our nation; second, that they were an inevitable and deserved response to United States foreign policy. These were the acts of men with evil in their hearts, perpetrated against innocent human beings. No reason can be given to explain them or the loathing which inspired them. Still, as a nation victimized by acts of incomprehensible hatred and violence, we must emerge from this experience with a more profound respect for one another, for the world community and for human life itself. A new world order without terrorism must also be one of global solidarity in caring for the needs of every human being.

The anxieties of these perilous times have reminded us all of our utter dependence upon God. Let us continue to ask Him to help all men and women to pursue justice and to live in peace.

With gratitude and with prayers for God's blessings upon you and this great nation, I am

Sincerely yours,



Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia

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Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass At Cemetery In Delaware County Vicariate Mercy Works Service Project -- Bury The Dead

October 19, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS
AT CEMETERY IN DELAWARE COUNTY VICARIATE
Mercy Works Service Project -- Bury The Dead

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate Mass in the Field of Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Delaware County in commemoration of all the faithful departed. This is the sixth and final Mercy Works Service Project, based upon the Corporal Works of Mercy, taking place during the year 2001. All of the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are welcome to attend the Mass, especially those who have loved ones buried at any of the Catholic cemeteries within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.


Saturday, November 10, 2001
1:00 p.m.
Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery
1600 South Sproul Road
Marple Township, Delaware County

In case of inclement weather, Mass will be celebrated at:
Cardinal O'Hara High School (across the street from the cemetery)

Anyone planning to attend the Mass is requested to register in advance so that the proper accommodations can be made. To register, please call 215-587-0547. Members of the media who have questions may contact the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747.


The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each Mercy Works Service Project will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In September 2001, volunteers collected clothing at a parish in the Chester County Vicariate. In July 2001, Cardinal Bevilacqua visited inmates at Graterford Prison in the Montgomery County Vicariate. In May 2001 volunteers visited residents at nursing homes in the Philadelphia - North Vicariate. In April 2001, volunteers worked at three homeless shelters in the Philadelphia-South Vicariate. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in the Bucks County Vicariate.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3847

Teen Members Of The Community Service Corps Help Beautify Neighborhood

October 24, 2001

TEEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE CORPS
HELP BEAUTIFY NEIGHBORHOOD

Members of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Community Service Corps will be helping the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society beautify a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia area of the city by planting daffodils on

Saturday, October 27, 2001
12:30 - 3:00 p.m.
2400 Block of Hancock Street
North Philadelphia



The team of teenagers are members of the Community Service Corps (CSC) of the Archdiocese. CSC is a volunteer youth organization that promotes personal growth and social awareness through involvement in service activities.

Following the service activity, members of CSC will return to CSC Headquarters at 1213 Clover Street, Philadelphia, for refreshments and attend Mass at 4:30 p.m.


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

T.o.d.a.y. Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

October 29, 2001

T.O.D.A.Y. PROGRAM CELEBRATES
10th ANNIVERSARY

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia T.O.D.A.Y. Program (Transforming Opportunities for Disabled and Non-disabled Youth and Young Adults) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a dinner dance on

Friday, November 2, 2001
6:00 p.m.
Saint William Parish Hall
Rising Sun Avenue and Devereaux Street
Philadelphia


T.O.D.A.Y. Program is an Archdiocesan-wide program focusing on providing social, spiritual and educational experiences for disabled youth. Through this unique program teens mold friendships and share in the fun of being young.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Catholic Youth Organization Sponsors Liturgy For Athletes

October 30, 2001

CATHOLIC YOUTH ORGANIZATION SPONSORS
LITURGY FOR ATHLETES

The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Parish Youth Ministry is sponsoring a special Liturgy for young athletes and their coaches on

Saturday, November 3, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul
18th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia


Reverend Thomas Higgins, Director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults, will be the celebrant and homilist. This Mass is an opportunity for Archdiocesan athletes and coaches to come together to celebrate their faith. Representatives from more than 100 parishes are expected to be in attendance.

The mission of the CYO Parish Youth Ministry is to assist parishes in their goal to be "youth friendly" and to encourage young people to participate in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community. The program accomplishes these goals through programs designed to develop the spiritual, physical, social and cultural dimensions of youth.

# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Catholic Life Congress 2001

November 6, 2001

CATHOLIC LIFE CONGRESS 2001

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host Catholic Life Congress 2001, an annual educational gathering for all laity, religious and clergy, professionals and volunteers, young and old, men and women from every walk of life. This two-day program is designed for people who wish to learn more about the Church, its teachings and practices, and all who serve in leadership positions in the Church. The Congress will be held on:

Friday Night, November 16th - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 17th - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
VALLEY FORGE CONVENTION CENTER
1210 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA


Schedule for Friday evening is:

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Registration, entertainment by local musicians, art and exhibits
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Keynote Prayer Reflection by Sister Beatrice Jeffries, SBS
Concert by Derek Campbell and Dr. Bob Hurd
8:30 - 10:00 p.m. Food Festival: A Taste of Philadelphia Diversity, Local Music, Art and Exhibits

Schedule for Saturday is:

8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration, Exhibits, Local Art and Music
9:30 a.m. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Celebrant and Homilist at Mass
11:00 - 12:00 noon Presentations
12:00 - 1:15 p.m. Lunch Buffet
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Keynote Address by Dr. Michael Downey, Professor in
Systematic Theology and Spirituality, and Author
Topic: Many Gifts, One Call: Sharing in the Mission of Word and Spirit
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Presentations
4:00 p.m. Closing Prayer


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Montgomery County Residents Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Ms. Mary T. Kury, Conshohocken; Mr. Daniel Szostek, West Norriton; Mrs. Teresita M. Vilar, Horsham; Mr. J. Taney Willcox, Lower Merion and Rev. Mr. Joel M. Ziff, Plymouth are among the 27 people who have been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future.

Ms. Mary Kury is a member of Saint Matthew Parish in Conshohocken and is an institutional equity sales trader. She is originally from Buffalo, New York. Mr. Daniel Szostek belongs to Visitation B.V.M. Parish. He attended Drexel University and is a pharmaceutical sales representative. Mrs. Teresita Vilar is a retired kindergarten teacher with the School District of Philadelphia. She and her husband Alfred belong to Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Horsham. They have two children, Dexter and Debbie. They also just celebrated the birth of their first grandchild, Jacob, born six months ago.

Mr. J. Taney Willcox is an attorney at law. He and his wife, Catherine Goldschmidt Willcox have five children and 12 grandchildren. The couple belongs to Saint John Vianney Parish in Gladwyne. Rev. Mr. Joel Ziff is a Permanent Deacon at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish and is Director of Finance for the Sisters of Mercy. He and his wife Roseanne have five children: James; John; Peter; Michael and Mary Beth (Meehan). The couple has 11 grandchildren.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another. Mrs. Vilar of Horsham believes, "The Synod is a vital tool to learn about the life of the Church. It is a welcome reminder to all Catholics of their responsibilities for the care of the Archdiocese for the years to come." Mr. Willcox said, "It's not often you get the chance to change the world or the Church. It is a great honor to participate. In prior Synods only the clergy served as members."

The 27 members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. Mr. Szostek of West Norriton said, "To be a member of the Commission that will assist in preparing the topics for discussion at the Synod is a large responsibility. But I welcome the challenge to represent my parish and to serve the Archdiocese of Philadelphia." One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. According to Deacon Ziff, "The Synod is an opportunity to look at where we are as Church in Philadelphia and move into the future."

The consultation of the people to have their "voices" heard will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask anyone interested to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask people to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings. The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.


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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Delaware County Man Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

DELAWARE COUNTY MAN NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Rev. Mr. Daniel DeLucca of Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Rev. Mr. DeLucca is a Deacon at Saint Andrew Parish and the President Emeritus of Alvernia College. Deacon DeLucca is also the Clergy Coordinator for Ecumenical Affairs for Delaware County. He and his wife Margaret have four sons: Daniel; John; Paul and Christopher.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another.

Rev. Mr. DeLucca has been appointed one of twenty-seven persons to the General Preparatory Commission for the Synod. Deacon DeLucca said, "The Synod offers the opportunity to the people of the Archdiocese to express their views on how to continue to address their spiritual needs."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the eventual selection of the topics for the Synod by the Archbishop. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia is available at www.synod-phl.org.


###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Bucks County Residents Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

BUCKS COUNTY RESIDENTS NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Mr. Stephen Pawlowski of Bensalem, Bucks County and Mr. Edward Klenk of Warrington, Bucks County are among the 27 people who have been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future.

Mr. Pawlowski is President of Archbishop Ryan High School. He and his wife Anna Marie have three children: Denise; Stephen and Christine. The couple have six grandchildren and they belong to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Bucks County. Mr. Klenk is General Manager at Premier Products Co., a supplier of commercial doors and hinges. He and his wife Maureen have two sons: Matthew and Michael. The Klenks belong to Saint Robert Bellarmine in Warrington where both Klenk boys play music for Sunday masses.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another. Mr. Pawlowski of Bensalem said, "This is a great opportunity for the people in the Philadelphia Archdiocese to participate and have a voice in the activities of the Church. This is an excellent way to give input and direction."

The 27 members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. According to Mr. Klenk, "The Synod's focus is on the future of the Church. It is an honor to be part of a vision for the Church in the Archdiocese."

The consultation of the people to have their "voices" heard will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask anyone interested to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will invite people to assemblies or regional meetings and ask them to respond to possible topics. The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

###


Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Chester County Residents Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Rev. Mr. Clemen J. McGovern, Jr. of Chadds Ford, Sister Helen Rapine, I.H.M., of Caln Township, Mr. Ward Sproat of Tredyffrin and Mr. Carlos Questell of East Goshen, are among the 27 people who have been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future.

Rev. Mr. McGovern Jr. is a Permanent Deacon at Saint Cornelius Parish in Chadds Ford and a retired Judge. He and his wife Maureen have lived in Chadds Ford since 1976. The couple has five sons: Terence, Timothy, Clement III, Francis and Jonathan. Sister Helen Rapine, I.H.M. is the President of Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown and is a member of Saint Joseph Parish in Downingtown. Mr. Carlos Questell is vice president for real estate for Penske Trucking Corporation. He and his wife, Migdalia, belong to Saints Simon and Jude Parish and have two children: Carlos and Zulieka. Mr. Ward Sproat is an executive with Exelon Generation. He and his wife Heidi have three children: Kristen; Eric and Keith.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. Mr. Sproat, of Tredyffrin, said, "The Synod is the single most important event in the Catholic church in Philadelphia in the last 40 years!" The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another. Deacon McGovern said, "I believe the Synod offers a special opportunity for every interested Christian to be heard and have their opinions considered by our Archbishop. A healthy breath of fresh air!"

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. According to Sister Helen Rapine, I.H.M., "The coming Synod gives opportunity for all of the people of God to help shape the future of the Church and to respond to the universal call to holiness."

The consultation of the people to have their "voices" heard will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask anyone interested to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will invite people to assemblies or regional meetings and ask them to respond to possible topics. The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Olney Woman Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

OLNEY WOMAN NAMED TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Mrs. Gloria N. Lopez of the Olney section of Philadelphia has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Mrs. Lopez is office manager in the Internal Medicine Department of Hahnemann University. She has worked at the University for 26 years. Mrs. Lopez and her husband are members of Incarnation of Our Lord Parish and they have two daughters.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another. Mrs. Lopez is one of twenty-seven people appointed to the General Preparatory Commission. She said, "I believe people should see the Synod as a vehicle to change and as a way to understand the Church. It can give a lot of insight at the same time it allows for expression of ideas and questions that have existed for a long time."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

South Philadelphia Man Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA MAN NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Mr. Chinh V. Dinh of South Philadelphia has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Mr. Dinh belongs to Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and is a mechanical engineer. He and his wife, Quy Dinh, have two sons: Giang and Christopher. Mr. Dinh is President of the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish, member of the Parish Pastoral Council and Treasurer for the Holy Name Society. Mr. Dinh came to the United States as a refugee in 1975 after the fall of the Republic of Vietnam.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another.

Mr. Dinh is one of twenty-seven people appointed to the General Preparatory Commission for the Synod. He said, "It is a privilege and an honor to be a GPC member. People should be interested in the Synod because it is a wonderful opportunity for them to have their voice heard in promoting the three-fold responsibility of the Archbishop: to teach, to govern and to sanctify."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Roxborough Man Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

ROXBOROUGH MAN NAMED
TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Mr. John P. Delaney, Jr. of the Roxborough section of Philadelphia has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Mr. Delaney is a member of Holy Family Parish and is Deputy District Attorney supervising the Juvenile Division of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. He and his wife Beth have three children: Katie; Colleen and John Patrick. Mr. Delaney is a graduate of Saint Clement Parish Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia and West Catholic High School in West Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Villanova University School of Law.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another.

Mr. Delaney is one of twenty-seven people appointed to the General Preparatory Commission for the Synod. He said, "It is a great privilege and challenge to participate, as a layperson, in the development of the structures and procedures for this historic gathering. The Synod will help chart the course that we as a Church travel in the years to come."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Mt. Airy Man Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

MT. AIRY MAN NAMED TO
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Mr. William Bradley of the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Mr. Bradley and his wife Cynthia are members of Saint Raymond of Penafort Parish. Mr. Bradley is the Controller for Creative Financial Group in Newtown Square, PA. He said, "The Synod of the Archdiocese is a truly special event for all Catholics of the Archdiocese. It is an opportunity to assist the Archbishop in guiding the direction of the Church for many years to come."

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Cardinal Bevilacqua is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another. Mr. Bradley is one of twenty-seven people appointed to the General Preparatory Commission. He said, "People should be interested in the Synod because it is an opportunity to have a voice in the shaping of the Church in Philadelphia."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Priest Named To Archdiocesan Synod Commission

November 6, 2001

PRIEST NAMED TO ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD COMMISSION

Reverend Thomas R. Betz, O.F.M. Cap., Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees has been appointed to a General Preparatory Commission for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Synod which will be held in the Fall of 2002. A Synod gathers the members of the local Church to consider prayerfully and seriously the current state of the Church's life in order to create a vision and a plan for the future. Father Betz resides in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia and is a member of Nativity B.V.M. Parish.

The Synod to be held in the Fall of 2002 is an historic event in the lives of the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has been sixty-eight years since the Archdiocese held a Synod. The calling of this Tenth Synod for the Archdiocese by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the culmination of a series of planning programs. It affords the Archbishop a special opportunity for him to hear the voice of his people on their hopes, concerns and desires for the faith they hold in communion with him and one another.

Reverend Betz is one of twenty-seven people appointed to the General Preparatory Commission for the Synod. He said, "This is one of the most exciting times in Church history. There is an explosion of lay involvement; the Church has become truly international and the Church has projected a face of concern for human needs."

The members of the General Preparatory Commission are charged with writing a Directory which guides the preparations for the Synod and the norms for conducting its meetings. One of the important tasks of the Commission is to devise a method for all of the people of the Archdiocese to express their needs and concerns to Cardinal Bevilacqua as input for the Archbishop's eventual selection of the topics for the Synod. The consultation of the people to hear their "voices" will be in two parts. The first part, this fall, will ask them to write down their own needs and hopes. The second part, in the spring of 2002, will ask them to respond to possible topics during assemblies or regional meetings.

The sessions of the Synod will be held on several days during Fall 2002. The matters that are placed before the Synod at its sessions will result in recommendations to be considered by the Archbishop. Additional information about the Tenth Synod of Philadelphia at www.synod-phl.org.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Issues First-ever Legislative Update Guide Informs Catholics Where Legislators Stand On Issues

November 8, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE ISSUES FIRST-EVER LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
GUIDE INFORMS CATHOLICS WHERE LEGISLATORS STAND ON ISSUES

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia issued its first-ever Legislative Update this week which details the voting records of state and federal legislators. The Legislative Update lists how lawmakers voted on issues that are of importance to Catholics and that are advocated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC)* or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

There are 90 lawmakers included in the Legislative Update. They are members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly or the United States Congress. They represent the five county area of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Among the issues covered in this Legislative Update are school choice, designation of hospitals and police stations as safe havens for unwanted newborns, cloning and faith-based initiatives. The Legislative Update lists specific pieces of legislation and whether the PCC or the USCCB supported or opposed the legislation. The Legislative Update then lists whether the representative or senator voted to support to oppose the legislation. The final vote total is also listed so voters know whether the legislation was passed. The Legislative Update will be issued on a regular basis and will be distributed to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It will also be available on the Archdiocesan web site at www.archdiocese-phl.org/opaweb.

Editor's Note: To receive a copy of the Legislative Update, call the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747 or visit the Archdiocesan web site at www.archdiocese-phl.org/opaweb.

*Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) is the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania's Catholic Bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania. There are 10 Catholic dioceses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the PCC.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

T.o.d.a.y. Thanksgiving Dance

November 9, 2001

T.O.D.A.Y. THANKSGIVING DANCE

The Office for Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will hold a Thanksgiving Dance for members of the T.O.D.A.Y. Program (Transforming Opportunities for Disabled Adults and Youth) on

Saturday, November 17, 2001
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
St. Timothy Parish
Levick and Battersby Streets
Philadelphia



The T.O.D.A.Y. Program is an Archdiocesan-wide program focusing on providing social, spiritual and educational experiences for disabled youth. More than sixty members of the T.O.D.A.Y. Program will enjoy a fun evening making new friends and dancing to the music of a DJ.


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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass At Catholic Life Congress 2001

November 15, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS AT
CATHOLIC LIFE CONGRESS 2001

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist at a special Mass during Catholic Life Congress 2001 on

Saturday, November 17, 2001
9:30 a.m.
Valley Forge Convention Center
1210 First Avenue
King of Prussia, PA


Catholic Life Congress 2001 is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is an annual educational gathering for all laity, religious and clergy, professionals and volunteers, young and old, men and women from every walk of life. This program is designed for people who wish to learn more about the Church, its teachings and practices, and all who serve in leadership positions in the Church. Approximately 800 participants are expected to attend.

The agenda for the day is as follows:

8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration, Exhibits, Local Art and Music
9:30 a.m. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Celebrant and Homilist at Mass
11:00 - 12:00 noon Presentations
12:00 - 1:15 p.m. Lunch Buffet
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Keynote Address by Dr. Michael Downey, Professor in
Systematic Theology and Spirituality, and Author
Topic: Many Gifts, One Call: Sharing in the Mission of Word and Spirit
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Presentations
4:00 p.m. Closing Prayer

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Message From Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Archbishop Of Philadelphia Regarding American Airline Crash

November 12, 2001

MESSAGE FROM ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
REGARDING AMERICAN AIRLINE CRASH

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in today's crash of American Airlines Flight #587. "I ask the people of the Archdiocese to remember the victims of this crash in their prayers as well as to pray for the victims' families asking God to grant them strength during this difficult time."

"The people of New York have my deepest sympathy at this time of tragedy which follows so closely upon the events of September 11," said Cardinal Bevilacqua. "I ask the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to join me in praying for an outpouring of God's grace for all those affected by this tragic event."


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Contact
Cathy Rossi
Director
215-587-3747

John Redmond Tournament Basketball Tournament In Memory Of Deceased Philadelphia Firefighter

November 20, 2001

JOHN REDMOND TOURNAMENT
Basketball Tournament in Memory of Deceased Philadelphia Firefighter

For the 7th year, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host a basketball tournament in memory of John Redmond, a Philadelphia Firefighter who lost his life in the line of duty in 1994. Mr. Redmond was a former coach and active leader in the CYO. Sixteen elementary school basketball teams (8 boys teams, 8 girls teams) will participate.

Friday and Saturday
November 23 and 24, 2001
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Girard College Gym
Corinthian and Girard Avenues
Philadelphia, Pa.


Tickets are available at the door and all proceeds will benefit the Catholic Youth Organization. Tickets are $5 for an adult and this covers entrance to events for both days. Students and children are free.

On Friday, November 23rd, games are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. On Saturday, November 24th, semi-final games will begin at 10 a.m. The girls championship game will be held at 12:30 p.m. and the boys championship game at 1:45 p.m.

Participating teams are:

Boys
St. Matthew, Northeast Philadelphia
St. Nicholas, South Philadelphia
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, South Philadelphia
St. Anastasia, Newtown Square
St. Katharine Drexel, Chester
St. Eleanor, Collegeville
Assumption, Feasterville
St. Theresa of Child Jesus, Mt. Airy

Girls
St. Matthew, Northeast Philadelphia
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Doylestown
St. Nicholas, South Philadelphia
St. Eleanor, Collegeville
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, South Philadelphia
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Westtown
Holy Cross, Mt. Airy
St. Anastasia, Newtown Square

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Pilgrims Depart For Rome Blessed Leonie Frances De Sales Aviat To Be Canonized

November 19, 2001

PILGRIMS DEPART FOR ROME
BLESSED LEONIE FRANCES DE SALES AVIAT TO BE CANONIZED

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will concelebrate the Mass of Canonization of Leonie Frances de Sales Aviat on Sunday, November 25, 2001 at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy at 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. Eastern time) Mother Aviat will then be known as Saint Leonie Aviat. Pope John Paul II will canonize Mother Aviat, who is credited with the miraculous intercession in the healing of Bernadette McKenzie Kutufaris, Drexel Hill, Delaware County. While in Rome, those attending the Canonization will have an audience with Pope John Paul II on Monday, November 26, 2001 and celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving, also on November 26th.

Approximately 220 people from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland will join the official pilgrimage of the Oblate Sisters of Saint Francis de Sales, the order of nuns founded by Mother Aviat. Buses for the official pilgrimage will depart for Philadelphia International Airport on


Thursday, November 22, 2001 (Thanksgiving)
1:30 p.m. (pilgrims will arrive earlier; buses will pull out at 1:30 p.m. sharp)
Saint Bernadette Parish
1035 Turner Avenue (between Bond and Marvine Avenues)
Drexel Hill, Delaware County

History:

In March 1990, at the age of 12, Bernadette McKenzie experienced severe pain and underwent surgery for a tethered spinal cord. Two subsequent surgeries occurred in January and November of 1991. Her surgeon referred her to another physician, solely for pain therapy, since he felt that her case was insolvable. A novena (nine days of prayer) was begun on March 22, 1992 to Mother Aviat, by family, friends and parishioners. On the fourth day of the novena, Bernadette experienced a sudden and complete reversal of pain and debilitation. On March 31, 1992, her physician examined her again and stated that he found no media explanation for her recovery. On December 18, 2000, Cardinal Bevilacqua announced that Pope John Paul II decreed that Bernadette's healing was attributed to the intercession of Mother Aviat. The Holy Father's decree was the last major step needed for the canonization.

Since the cure occurred in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the diocesan inquiry regarding the case was opened by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua on September 8, 1994. It was submitted to Rome in November 1994. On February 17, 2000, a board of medical experts decided that there was no scientific, natural or medical reasons for the cure. On June 23, 2000, a board of theologians decided that the healing was due to the intercession of Mother Aviat. On December 5, 2000, a board of cardinals and bishops, members from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, recommended the healing to the Holy Father as miraculous. On December 18, 2000, the Pope decreed the healing was miraculous.
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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Operation Santa Clause 35,000 Toys Needed

November 26, 2001

Operation Santa Clause
35,000 Toys Needed

Peace on earth, goodwill towards men....and more than 10,000 needy children in the Philadelphia area. You can be a part of this holiday program! The Office for Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia displays the spirit of Christmas through a wonderful, nondenominational program called Operation Santa Claus. New, unused and unwrapped toys are collected, wrapped and distributed to children from struggling families throughout the Philadelphia area. Requests for toys come from parish social ministers, community based organizations, and churches of various denominations. During the drive, December 3 - December 14, toy collection boxes are located in all branches of Beneficial Bank.

People may also choose to give monetary contributions which will be used for Santa costumes, wrapping paper, trucks, vans, transporting volunteers, toys, printing and postage. All monetary donations are used solely for the program. Individuals, businesses, clubs or groups who wish to play a larger role in the success of Operation Santa Claus, should contact the Archdiocesan Office for Youth and Young Adults at 610-649-9476.

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Editor's Note: Archdiocesan news releases can be found on our website at www.archdiocese-phl.org

Contact
John Cox
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Statement Of Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua Archbishop Of Philadelphia Statement Regarding Human Embryo Cloning

November 26, 2001

STATEMENT OF ANTHONY CARDINAL BEVILACQUA
ARCHBISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA
STATEMENT REGARDING HUMAN EMBRYO CLONING

The recent announcement by a research firm that it has created the first human embryo by cloning is disturbing news for the people of our nation and our world. No matter what benefits are claimed by those who carried out this act, it is to be morally and unequivocally condemned. The Catholic Church encourages and supports the efforts of scientists to use technology and medical advances to ease human suffering and work towards the elimination of disease as long as those efforts are guided by ethical norms which protect the true dignity of the human person.

Cloning and the research which led to it does not respect the value of human life. Each human life from the moment of conception until natural death is sacred and worthy of protection by those engaged in medical research. The act of cloning a human embryo for the possible harvesting of cells for research or for any other reason is morally reprehensible. It reduces a human life to the sum value of cells. The potential exists for the use of stem cells from adults, umbilical cords and other morally acceptable methods.

I strongly urge the United States Senate to join the House of Representatives in protecting human life by passing a ban on human cloning. I commend President George W. Bush for his consistent condemnation of human cloning.


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Editor's Note: Cardinal Bevilacqua is the newly appointed Chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities.





Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua Appoints Chair For Special Gifts Committee Dr. Marianne Ritchie Gordon To Head Committee For 2002 Catholic Charities Appeal

November 27, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA APPOINTS CHAIR FOR SPECIAL GIFTS COMMITTEE

Dr. Marianne Ritchie Gordon to Head Committee For 2002 Catholic Charities Appeal

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has appointed Marianne Ritchie Gordon, M.D., of Haverford, Delaware County, as Chair of the Special Gifts Committee for the 2002 Catholic Charities Appeal. Dr. Ritchie Gordon is a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Bryn Mawr. She is the Chairperson of the annual May Procession at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, a member of the Stewards of St. John Neumann and a speaker for Pennsylvanians for Human Life.

Dr. Ritchie Gordon also a member of the Jefferson Medical College Executive Alumni Committee and a committee member of the annual Catholic Hall of Fame. She is married to Stuart Leon Gordon, M.D. and has three children: Andrew, Victoria and Phillip. Dr. Ritchie Gordon is a gastroenterologist.

Dr. Ritchie Gordon succeeds Mr. Brian Gail, President of GailForce Communications, who served as Chairperson during the past two years. The Special Gifts Committee of the Catholic Charities Appeal was created in 1980 and is intended to attract larger monetary gifts from those who are able to afford them. Last year the Special Gifts Committee raised $1.7 million. The Catholic Charities Appeal raises the dollars necessary to fund the human services programs of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Dr. Ritchie Gordon will be introduced as the Chairperson of the Special Gifts Committee at a Day of Inspiration that will take place at Saint Gabriel's Hall in Audobon, Montgomery County.


Saturday, December 1, 2001
3:00 p.m. Tour
4:15 p.m. Mass
Saint Gabriel's Hall
1350 Pawlings Road
Audubon, Montgomery County

At the conclusion of Mass (approximately 4:45 p.m), the Most Reverend Robert P. Maginnis, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will introduce Dr. Ritchie Gordon as the new Chairperson.

The Day of Inspiration is an opportunity for the Special Gifts Committee members to visit one of the agencies they help to support. Saint Gabriel's Hall is part of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is a comprehensive residential program for adjudicated boys, ages 12 to 17, and is conducted by the Christian Brothers.

The Catholic Charities Appeal serves people of all faiths. In 1999-2000, more than 70 agencies, schools, programs and residences provided care and support to over 250,000 men, women and children throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Christmas Card Project Helps To Feed The Hungry For 20th Year

December 7, 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA CHRISTMAS CARD PROJECT
HELPS TO FEED THE HUNGRY FOR 20TH YEAR

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Nutritional Development Services has a new design for its annual Christmas card project. The Gift of Peace is printed in royal blue ink on cream card stock with little angels on the cover. On the inside, there is a Nativity scene with the words, "May the Christ Child bring us together in peace."

This is the 20th anniversary of the Alternative Christmas Card Project. All proceeds from the sale of the cards are used to purchase food to stock area soup kitchens and food cupboards. The annual project provides an alternative to people who wish to avoid the commercialism of the Christmas season and prefer to focus on the true meaning of the holy day.

Cards are available in the new design, The Gift of Peace, or in one of the designs from past years: The Christmas Tree, The Tree Trimming Angel, The Christmas Lamb, Angel of Bounty and The Littlest Angel. All cards are 5"x7" and are printed on high quality paper stock. Cards are sold in packs of ten cards for $15.00 or packs of 20 cards for $25.00. Each card explains that the greeting represents a donation made to help feed the hungry.

For more information or to order cards, please call Nutritional Development Services at:
215-895-3470

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Celebrate Mass For Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe

December 7, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO CELEBRATE MASS
FOR FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will celebrate Mass at Saint Patrick Parish in Norristown, Montgomery County on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Mass will be concelebrated by Reverend Monsignor John Marine, Vicar for Montgomery County, Reverend Louis Bier, Pastor, Saint Patrick Parish, Reverend Charles J. Kennedy, Coordinator for Hispanic Ministry in Montgomery County and Reverend Ignatius Marneni, Parochial Vicar, Saint Patrick Parish. All parishioners are invited to attend.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates the four appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1531 to Blessed Juan Diego on a hill outside Mexico City. In 1754, Pope Benedict XIV, authorized a Mass under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe to be celebrated every December 12th. Our Lady of Guadalupe was designated patroness of the Americas by Pope Pius XII in 1945. The Mass will take place on


Wednesday, December 12, 2001
6:45 p.m. Procession
7:00 p.m. Mass
Saint Patrick Parish
714 De Kalb Pike
Norristown, Montgomery County

Saint Patrick Parish is one of 26 parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia that offers Mass in Spanish every week. Since 1997, attendance at the weekly Mass in Spanish at Saint Patrick's has increased from 47 people to over 400 and sometimes is standing room only. The majority of those who attend are recent immigrants from Mexico.

Before the Mass begins there will be a procession into the Church. At the front of the procession, several men will carry a large statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. There will be bilingual booklets for the Mass and a Spanish choir or coro.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Local Teens Will "skate With Santa" Fund Raiser To Buy Toys For Needy Children

December 10, 2001

LOCAL TEENS WILL "SKATE WITH SANTA"
FUND RAISER TO BUY TOYS FOR NEEDY CHILDREN

More than 500 area teens will put on their roller skates and join Santa Claus for the annual "Skate with Santa" party sponsored by the Office for Youth and Young Adults of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on

Monday, December 10, 2001
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Palace Roller Rink
11600 Roosevelt Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA


The monies raised will buy toys for needy children through "Operation Santa Claus," the non-denominational annual toy drive sponsored by the Archdiocese. The teenagers are members of youth programs in the Archdiocese, the Catholic Youth Organization and the Community Service Corps. Last year, Operation Santa Claus delivered toys to more than 11,000 needy children in the Philadelphia area.


# # #

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Don Guanella School Presents Disney On Skates

December 10, 2001

DON GUANELLA SCHOOL PRESENTS DISNEY ON SKATES

Don Guanella School will present its annual holiday show Disney Christmas on Skates. This show will delight the audience with its fancy costumes and beautiful scenery but most especially with the talents of more than 30 special needs skaters. Don Guanella is an Archdiocese of Philadelphia school in Springfield, Delaware County, for boys with a wide variety of disabilities ranging in age from six to 21.

Wednesday, December 12, 2001
7:00 p.m.
Don Guanella School Gymnasium
Route 320
Springfield, Delaware County

Those attending will be treated to artistic skating routines and scenes from The Grinch, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Snow White and The Little Mermaid. There will also be more than 30 volunteers on hand from Cabrini College, Springfield High School and Merion Mercy Academy.

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Editor's note: For more information, please contact Robert Neely, Activities Director at Don Guanella School at 610-543-1418.








Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua To Host Annual Christmas Party For Children

December 17, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA TO HOST ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR CHILDREN

Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will host the 46TH annual Cardinal's Christmas Party for approximately 400 children of different races, ages and creeds. All of the children who attend the party are served through various programs of Catholic Social Services. The party will begin with a colorful parade, followed by presents and entertainment.


Wednesday, December 19, 2001
2:30 p.m.
Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel
17th Street between Vine and Race Streets
Philadelphia

Cardinal Bevilacqua will lead a parade of marching bands, clowns and jugglers into the ballroom at 2:30 p.m. There will be a short play at 2:50 p.m. After the parade, all of the children will sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Santa Claus will arrive at 3:00 p.m. to distribute gifts.

The Cardinal's Christmas Party for Children raises funds to support the programs of Catholic Social Services, which is the largest private non-profit social service agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2000, donations totaled $209,000. Catholic Social Services assists more than 135,000 children, adults and families throughout the five-county area of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The entertainment will be provided by students from Roman Catholic High School for Boys, Bishop Shanahan High School, Archbishop Ryan high School, Archbishop John Carroll High School, Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, Archbishop Wood Catholic High School and Saint Joseph's Preparatory School.

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Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747

Cardinal Bevilacqua's Christmas Message To The People Of The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia

December 19, 2001

CARDINAL BEVILACQUA'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Below is Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua's Christmas Letter to be communicated to the people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia the weekend of December 22nd and 23rd. Please feel free to quote from the letter or to print it in its entirety.



Christmas 2001


My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

At this joyous time of the year, I wish to offer my prayerful best wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy and holy New Year. It is my hope that God will fill your hearts with every good gift and grace as we rejoice in the birth of His Son.

The celebration of the birth of our Lord fills our minds and hearts with a tremendous sense of gratitude and awe for the love God our Father has shown us in the gift of His Son. The words of Saint John capture for the Church the depth of this love and gift, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might not die, but have eternal life." [John 3:16]. With the birth of this Child, the hope of a life stronger than death, a light greater than darkness, and a peace more enduring than hatred dawned upon the human race. During this difficult time for our nation and our world, this hope gives us assurance and confidence that God is, indeed, still with us, to protect and guide us.

The wondrous birth of the Savior also renews within us gratitude for the gift of Faith. We are told by Saint Luke that "Mary treasured all these things and reflected upon them in her heart. The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen." [Luke 2:19-20]. This holy season of the year offers us the opportunity to treasure what we have seen and heard and recommit ourselves to give as a gift what has been so generously given to us. Our hearts and minds are thankful for the gift of the Church, family and friends who have passed the gift of Faith on to us and shown us the love God has for us. We pray that their example and goodness will encourage us to do the same for all those God has entrusted to us.

May God our Father bless you and your families with the grace and peace offered by His Son Jesus and may Mary our Mother watch over you always.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Santa And His Elves Are On Their Way To Needy Children The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia's Operation Santa Claus Project

December 20, 2001

SANTA AND HIS ELVES ARE ON THEIR WAY
TO NEEDY CHILDREN
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Operation Santa Claus Project

More than 175 teams of teenage volunteers from Archdiocesan youth programs will dress as Santa and his elves to deliver toys to over 800 needy families on

Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24, 2001
12:00 noon
Saint Martin of Tours School
Roosevelt Boulevard and Cheltenham Avenue
Philadelphia


The Operation Santa Claus Project has estimated that 4,000 teenagers from Archdiocesan sponsored programs are involved in collecting, wrapping and delivering toys to children in the five-county Philadelphia area. Approximately 35,000 toys will be delivered to 11,000 needy children. The toys were collected from the donation boxes at all branches of Beneficial Bank, local parishes, and other community organizations.


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* SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of confidentiality, the media is asked NOT to accompany the teens to the homes of the families receiving toys.

Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Operation Santa Claus Ends With A Special Liturgy

December 21, 2001

OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
ENDS WITH A SPECIAL LITURGY

After distributing toys to more than 11,000 needy children that benefit from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Operation Santa Claus Toy Drive, hundreds of teenage volunteers, their family members, and staff workers will gather for a special liturgy, followed by a holiday social on

Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24, 2001
4:45 p.m.
Adams Mark Hotel
City Line Avenue and Monument Road
Philadelphia, PA


Reverend Thomas Higgins, director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults, will celebrate the Mass which ends the Operation Santa Claus Toy Drive. Throughout the drive, more than 4,000 teen volunteers and their families have volunteered their time and services to help those less fortunate.

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Contact
Marie Kelly
Associate Director
215-587-3747

Christmas Liturgies Cathedral Basilica Of Saints Peter And Paul 18th Street And Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, Pa

December 26, 2001

Christmas Liturgies
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA

Monday, December 24, 2001

5:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass with music provided by the Cathedral Contemporary Ensemble

7:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass with music provided by the Archdiocesan Boy Choir

11:00 p.m. Office of Readings - A liturgy of Psalms and Christmas carols, with singing by the Cathedral Collegiate Choir


Tuesday, December 25, 2001

12:00 a.m. Christmas Midnight Mass celebrated by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia. Music provided by the Cathdral Collegiate Choir under the direction of Michael Sheerin


Other Masses on 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. (Congregational singing)
Christmas Day

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Contact
John L. Cox
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747