Invitation to the Official Archdiocesan Back-to-School Celebration/Monday, September 11th at 10:00 a.m.

On behalf of Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education, I extend an invitation to help kick off the 2017-2018 academic year at the official back-to-school event and pep rally on Monday, September 11th at 10:00 a.m. on the steps of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Students from our Catholic elementary schools, high schools, and schools of special education will line the steps of the Cathedral to help celebrate the beginning of the 234th school year in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald will join Mr. Mominey to welcome students from the 119 parish and regional elementary schools, 17 high schools and 4 schools of special education back to school.

The event will feature the Bishop Shanahan High SchoolAcapella Group singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and the Saint Francis de Sales School Choir performing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

The pep rally will also include members of the Conwell-Egan Catholic High School Cheerleading Team and theCardinal O’Hara High School Marching Band and Color Guard. In addition, mascots from Archdiocesan high schools will complete in a friendly mascot race!

The event will be streamed live from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Schools website atwww.aopcatholicschools.org.

You are welcome to attend in person or participate via Livestream. A copy of the prayer that will be said in unison that morning is attached for you .