Yesterday, over 300 Catholic school students gathered on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to celebrate the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year in the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This celebration signaled the opening of the 234th consecutive year for Catholic education in the region.
You can view the full video here https://vimeo.com/catholicphilly/review/233422220/1f6a1d1c4a. Further details about the event are below.
The several hundred students in attendance represented young people from the 119 parish and regional Catholic elementary schools, 17 Archdiocesan high schools, and four Archdiocesan Schools of Special Education in the City of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees the Office of Catholic Education, and Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education, addressed students, parents, faculty, administrators, and staff members in the crowd.
The event concluded with a pep rally featuring the Conwell-Egan Catholic High School Cheerleading Squad, Fairless Hills (Bucks County), and the Cardinal O’Hara High School Marching Band and Color Guard, Springfield (Delaware County). In addition, mascots from many Archdiocesan high schools competed in a race judged by the Phillie Phanatic.
Please join in praying for our students, school families, administrators, teachers, and staff members as they open the new school year. Thank you.
