The Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence (DGDP), part of the Intellectual Disabilities Division of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS), will celebrate the Feast day of their patron, Saint Luigi Guanella (Don Guanella), a 19th-century Italian priest who ministered to children with physical and intellectual disabilities, with a special Mass.
Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, who oversees the Secretariat for Catholic Human Services as part of his administrative and pastoral responsibilities, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. He will be joined by Father Amalraj Sawarimuthu, SdC and Father Dennis Weber, SdC, priests of the Servants of Charity founded by St. Luigi Guanella.
Following the Mass, Bishop McIntyre will tour the Divine Providence Village (DPV) Campus in a socially distant fashion to provide for the health and safety of residents. The residents and dedicated staff members who provide for their care will greet Bishop McIntyre from a distance outside the DPV cottages.
Thursday, October 22, 2020
10:00 a.m. (Mass)
Divine Providence Village Chapel
686 Old Marple Rd
Springfield, PA 19064
This year also marks the 60th Anniversary of the opening of Don Guanella School, what is now known as Don Guanella Village, which opened in Springfield, PA on October 30, 1960.
Social distancing guidelines will be followed. The Mass will be streamed via Facebook Live from The Communities of DGDP’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DGDPCommunities/.
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Editor’s Note: The Communities of DGDP are dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Dedicated staff and volunteers provide a continuum of care offering a wide range of programming options including: Community and Campus-Based Living Arrangements, Life Sharing Through Family Living, In-Home Supports, Respite Care, and Day Programs. For more information, please visit https://dgdpcommunities.org/
Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) offers community-based and residential programs and services to support men, women and children in need as an expression of the charitable works of our local Church throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. To learn more about CSS programs that serve a wide variety of human needs, please visit https://cssphiladelphia.org/