Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will visit Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School (PJPII) in West Brandywine (Chester County) and celebrate a bilingual Mass for the school community.
Reverend Juan Mora, FM, Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Coatesville; Reverend Daniel Gnangba, FM, Parochial Vicar of Saint Joseph Parish in Coatesville; and Reverend Michael Olivere, Pastor of Saint Peter Parish in West Brandywine, will concelebrate.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
9:30 a.m.
Saint Peter Church
2835 Manor Road
West Brandywine, PA 19320
During Mass, PJP II students will serve as readers, altar servers, and present the offertory gifts. In addition, members of the school’s student choir will provide music.
Archbishop Pérez’s visit coincides with the national celebration of Catholic Schools Week January 26 – February 1, 2025. This year’s theme is Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.
Following Mass, the Archbishop will meet with recipients of the Padre Walsh Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide assistance to Hispanic families within parishes throughout the Archdiocese who wish to send their children to Catholic school, but struggle to afford tuition.
The Padre Walsh Scholarship was founded on the principal that helping parish families attend Catholic schools strengthens parish communities and that all families who attend Mass should be able to give their children the gift of a Catholic education.
Andrew McLaughlin, Ed.D, Secretary for Elementary Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Bernadette Dougherty, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education, will also be present for the Archbishop’s visit.
Background Information about Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School
Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School (PJPII) is a co-educational, parochial school for students from Preschool (3 years of age) through eighth grade. PJPII has a childcare program, Little Saints Academy, which serves infants and toddlers from 6 weeks to 36 months in age. The school has over 600 students.
PJPII is committed to pursuing spiritual growth and academic excellence. With Saint John Paul II as the patron and model, the school endeavors to meet the challenges of society through prayer, service, and the living of our Catholic faith.
PJPII welcomes families from the surrounding communities of Coatesville, Downingtown, Honey Brook, Thorndale, Morgantown, Gap, Cochranville, and Parkesburg. PJPII’s partner parishes include Our Lady of Consolation in Parkesburg, Our Lady of the Rosary in Coatesville, Saint Joseph in Coatesville, and Saint Peter in West Brandywine Township.
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Editor’s Note:
For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Pope John Paul II Regional Catholic Elementary School, please visit popejohnpaul2sch.org/.
Contact:Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747