The 2013-2014 school year begins on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 for students who attend the 123 elementary schools, 17 high schools and four schools of special education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

This academic year begins on the heels of several key announcements including the hiring of Mr. Christopher Mominey as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the official designation of 14 Independent Mission Schools and the formation of an Executive Board of Elementary Education.

Back-to-School Events in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Several back-to-school events at Archdiocesan high schools, elementary schools and schools of special education are planned including:

Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.
Classroom Blessing of Special Education Students by Bishop Daniel Thomas
Saint Katherine Day School, 930 Bowman Avenue; Wynnewood, PA 19096 (Montgomery County)
Bishop Daniel Thomas will offer a classroom blessing to students and staff for the start of the 2013-2014 school year at the main school site in Wynnewood (Montgomery County). Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education and Ms. Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent of Elementary Schools, will also attend the blessing and greet students and staff.

Saint Katherine Day School is a Special Education school for Mentally & Physically Challenged & Developmentally Delayed Students ages 4 ½ to 21.

Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
Signing of Collaborative educational partnership between Saint Hubert High School and Holy Family University
Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, 7320 Torresdale Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19136
Administrators from Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls will be joined by officials from the Office of Catholic Education and Holy Family University to sign an agreement that enters both schools into a collaborative educational partnership. The agreement consists of three components, including admissions and scholarship, a university and dual credit agreement, and continuing education opportunities.

The partnership document will be signed by Mr. Francis Farrell, President of Saint Hubert High School; Dr. Joanne Walls, Principal of Saint Hubert High School; Dr. Carol Cary, Superintendent for Secondary Schools; Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, Ph.D., President of Holy Family University; Sister Maureen McGarrity, CSFN, Ph.D., Provost Holy Family University, and Dr. Michael Markowitz, Vice President of Academic Affairs Holy Family University.

Friday, September 6, 2013: at 9:30 a.m.
Opening Mass for Cardinal John Foley Regional School
Saint Denis Church, 2401 Saint Denis Lane, Havertown, PA 19083 (Delaware County)
Bishop John McIntyre will be the celebrant and homilist at the opening school Mass for Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School. Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education and Ms. Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent of Elementary Schools will attend Mass with Cardinal Foley students, faculty and staff. The 2013-2014 school year marks Cardinal John Foley Regional Catholic School's second year as a regional school formed by the merger of Saint Denis and Annunciation B.V.M. schools in Havertown (Delaware County) in 2012. Rev. Kevin J. Gallagher, Pastor of Saint Denis Parish and Rev. James Cox, Pastor of Annunciation B.V.M. Parish were appointed pastors of their respective Parishes this past spring 2013.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.
Mayor Nutter visit in Celebration of Mayor's Education Month at West Catholic Preparatory High School
West Catholic Preparatory High School, 4501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
In celebration of the Mayor's Education Month, The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education, Mr. Samuel Casey Carter, Chief Executive Officer Faith in the Future Foundation and Dr. Carol A. Cary, Superintendent of Secondary Schools, will visit West Catholic and participate in the presentation of the school's new flag reflecting West Catholic Preparatory High School's updated name. Mayor Nutter and Chris Mominey will also briefly address the student body. Following the presentation, Mayor Nutter, and Dr. Cary will take a tour of the school and visit with students in several classrooms.


Recent Major Announcements Regarding Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

New Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education Announcement:
On May 23, 2013 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Faith in the Future Foundation, announced the appointment of Mr. Christopher Mominey as the new Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, effective July 1, 2013.

Mr. Mominey came to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia after 17 years of education related roles in the Diocese of Syracuse. Most recently he was the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Syracuse.

Mr. Mominey is a highly-respected Catholic school administrator and passionate advocate of the Church, whose appointment marked an important milestone for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese and the implementation of the Foundation's strategic vision to strengthen and grow Catholic schools across the Philadelphia region.

Independence Mission Schools Announcement:
At a press conference on July 15, 2013 Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. joined Mr. Brian McElwee, Chairman of the Independence Mission Schools (IMS), and Mr. Al Cavalli, President of IMS, to announce that 14 Catholic elementary schools were officially designated operationally independent of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia allowing them to form the Independence Mission Schools system.

IMS is the umbrella organization overseeing these 14 independent private Catholic schools, which provides central staff to drive development and enrollment as well as standardized business practices and management of the school facilities.

Formation of Executive Board of Elementary Education and Five County Advisory Councils:
In February 2013 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the creation of an Executive Board of Elementary Education. This entity was formed in response to recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission and was created to better assist local pastors, parishes, elementary and regional schools with strategic planning, marketing, enrollment and governance to help sustain, grow, and strengthen their schools.

In addition to the Executive Board, Advisory Councils for elementary education are being created in each of the surrounding five counties.

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Editor's Note: For more information about schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit
www.catholicschools-phl.org.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747