The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will celebrate a Mass in appreciation of Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, for his years of service to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Archdiocese welcomes everyone to this Mass and the reception that follows to offer congratulations to Bishop Martino on his appointment as Bishop of Scranton. Bishop Martino will be the celebrant and homilist. Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua will preside.

Thursday, September 18, 2003
7:00 p.m. Mass
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia

Reception immediately following Mass
Archdiocesan Office Center
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia

Bishop Martino will be installed as the ninth Bishop of Scranton on October 1, 2003 at Saint Peter's Cathedral in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Cardinal Bevilacqua will attend the installation. (For more information, please visit www.dioceseofscranton.org) Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Martino as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 25, 2003.

Bishop Martino has served as an Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal Bevilacqua since March 11, 1996. Since 1997, Bishop Martino served as Director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Previously, he was a parish priest, high school teacher and seminary dean. In the early 1980's, he researched and authored position papers for the Canonization Cause of Mother Katharine Drexel.

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