Archdiocese of Philadelphia parish and regional elementary schools and secondary schools throughout the five-county region will commemorate the 20^th anniversary of September 11, 2001 with several commemorations planned for Friday, September 10, 2021 and Saturday, September 11, 2021.

Friday, September 10, 2021

Delaware County

Cardinal O’Hara High School; 1701 South Sproul Road; Springfield, PA 19064
8:00 a.m.-8:50 a.m.

Colonel Richard Breen, a 1973 Graduate of Cardinal O’Hara High School and proud United States Army veteran will visit the school. Colonel Breen will speak to members of the class of 2024 in the school’s auditorium. Colonel Breen is the Director of Strategic Communications and Outreach at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. He was on the ground at the Pentagon and was a spokesman on September 11, 2001.

Following his talk, students will be escorted outside to the September 11^th Memorial and Flag Pole in front of the school. Father John Masson, Cardinal O’Hara’s Campus Minister will lead the September 11^th ceremony. It will include Taps, the National Anthem, and the Folding of the Flag. Taps will be played by a student musician.

Bucks County

Saint Ephrem School; 5340 Hulmeville Road; Bensalem, PA 19020
Saint Ephrem Church; 5400 Hulmeville Rd; Bensalem, PA 19020
9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.

The Saint Ephrem School community will gather for a prayer service to mark the 20^th anniversary of September 11^th. The assembly will take place in front of Saint Ephrem Church. Local firefighters and police officers will participate. The prayer service will begin with a moment of silence and the church bells will ring to honor first responders and all those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks 20 years ago in addition to those who fought and died in the Global War on Terror.

Each teacher will be accompanied by a student to receive a flag that will fly outside their classroom this academic year.

Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic School; 1053 Holland Road; Southampton, PA 18966
1:15 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic School will have a special outdoor prayer service on the school’s front lawn near Holland Road. Each student will receive a hand-held American flag to place in the ground near the school’s main sign in remembrance of September 11, 2001.

Montgomery County

Saint Albert the Great Catholic School; 214 Welsh Road; Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
1:00 p.m.-1:20 p.m.

Saint Albert the Great Catholic School community will reflect on the 20^th anniversary of September 11^th by praying a decade of the rosary over the school’s public address system.

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Montgomery County

Pope John Paul II High School 181 Rittenhouse Road; Royersford, PA 19468
12:57 p.m. Approximate Moment of Silence
1:00 p.m. Kick-Off

Pope John Paul II High School will hold a moment of silence before the singing of the national anthem at the school’s football game against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. PJPII will celebrate the graduating classes from 1991 and 2001 from its legacy high schools. Archbishop Kennedy, Bishop Kenrick, St. Pius X, and Kennedy-Kenrick at this game.

Philadelphia County

Father Judge High School
The football game will take place at Northeast High School; 1601 Cottman Avenue; Philadelphia, PA 19111
6:45 p.m. Moment of Silence
7:00 p.m. Kick-Off

Prior to the Father Judge High School football game against Archbishop Ryan High School there will be a flag ceremony and a moment of silence. Alumni first responders will be invited on the field to help hold the American flag, the Father Judge High School flag, the Archbishop Ryan High School flag, and the Father Judge “27” flag. The Father Judge “27” flag represents the number of the school’s alumni who were killed in the Vietnam War.  Student-athletes from Father Judge and Archbishop Ryan will also provide assistance with the flags. In addition, Father Judge created a commemorative logo that blends the 20^th anniversary of September 11^th with elements of the school’s brand.

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Editor’s Note: For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Faith in the Future Foundation, please visit faithinthefuture.com/. 

Contact:

Meredith Wilson
Media and Events Specialist
215-587-3747