Bill Text: PA HR357 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of Saint Cecilia's Parish in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-12)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-29 - Adopted (200-0) [HR357 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR357-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2230
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 357 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY K. BOYLE, B. BOYLE, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DAVIS, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GOODMAN, W. KELLER, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURT, PARKER, PASHINSKI, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, SABATINA, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SONNEY, THOMAS, VEREB, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 28, 2011
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 28, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the 100th anniversary of Saint
Cecilia's Parish in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia.
WHEREAS, On October 1, 1911, Archbishop Prendergast
officially established Saint Cecilia's as a parish and appointed
the Reverend William C. Sheridan to serve as the founding
pastor; and
WHEREAS, As an act of benevolence, James McMenamin, a
faithful parishioner, offered the pastor use of his home which
served as the parish rectory until 1914 and was often the site
of daily Mass; and
WHEREAS, On October 7, 1911, the first recorded baptism, that
of Gertrude and Isabelle Shire, took place in Saint Cecilia's
Parish; and
WHEREAS, In 1911, Saint Cecilia's Parish purchased property
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that ran from Rhawn Street to Stanwood Street from Patrick
McGinn for $500; and
WHEREAS, On June 30, 1912, 5,000 of the local Catholic
faithful participated in a procession in an effort to
appropriately mark the laying of the cornerstone for the
basement of the church by Archbishop Prendergast; and
WHEREAS, On October 6, 1912, the first Solemn Mass was sung
in the new church; and
WHEREAS, On October 9, 1912, Joseph Nees and Mabel Grookett
were the first parishioners united in holy matrimony in the new
church; and
WHEREAS, In May 1913, the initial Holy Communion class was
received; and
WHEREAS, On April 16, 1914, the first confirmation was
administered by Bishop John J. McCort; and
WHEREAS, On June 23, 1919, the Reverend John F. Burke was
appointed as the second pastor of Saint Cecilia's Parish after
the passing of Father William C. Sheridan on June 16, 1919; and
WHEREAS, On August 17, 1924, the cornerstone was laid for the
Saint Cecilia's Parish School at 530 Stanwood Street, which
commenced its first class in September 1925; and
WHEREAS, In June 1926, under the instruction of Mother
Marianna, the school's first principal, the school graduated its
first class of students; and
WHEREAS, In September 1927, the school added a two-year
Commercial High School which required a nominal tuition from
both parishioners and nonparishioners in order to meet expenses;
and
WHEREAS, During the many funding shortfalls which
characterized the Great Depression, Saint Cecilia's Parish was
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the benefactor of many acts of generosity, including those of
its first custodian, Larry Wendell; and
WHEREAS, As a result of this community-wide culture of
selflessness and piety, Saint Cecilia's Parish has managed to
overcome many obstacles and setbacks and today finds itself a
well-respected and revered house of worship; and
WHEREAS, Saint Cecilia's Parish School has skillfully
instructed and graduated several future priests and successful
alumni, including former NFL star and the 2002 Most Valuable
Player of the National Football League, Rich Gannon; and
WHEREAS, Saint Cecilia's Parish rich and longstanding
traditions of faith, charity and community have been the
foundation for its 100 years of success; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
honor the 100th anniversary of Saint Cecilia's Parish as both a
Faith Community and as an asset to the Greater Philadelphia
area.
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