MON-FRI:            8:30 AM to 12 PM 
                            1:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Closed on Holy Days of Obligation and National Holidays

Parish Office:  215-725-1240

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming Catholic? Have you been away and want to come back to the Catholic Church? Would you like to know more about our Catholic faith? For information, call Fr. Lucas at 215-725-1240 and begin a new journey with Jesus Christ and His Church.


CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

Our Charismatic Prayer Group meets Mondays in the Cecilian Room  in school from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

All are welcome to join us.

Caring For Friends invites volunteers to help us help the homebound elderly and the sick by being a volunteer cook in your own home, a visitor, a driver, etc.
For information on how you can help, please call Bernadette O‘Donnell at 
215-379-3448 or Caring For Friends at
215-464-2224. Learn more at caringforfriends.org.

Freezer Hours at St. Cecilia:
Everyday from 8:30am-4:00pm. 

Effective immediately, we are changing the materials we use for a cost-effective option. We will provide the same tray with a cardboard lid and a label on top. If you have any of the old supplies please use them until they run out or return them to Caring For Friends. There will be copies of the Update on the desk to the right of the freezer. Any questions please call Bernadette O’Donnell 215-379-3448.

Our parish and school comply with the requirements of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of PA regarding a safe environment for everyone.  All individuals 18 years of age and older who come in contact with children must complete background checks and attend safe environment classes.  Every employee must also complete background checks every five years.  Please contact Lisa Hnat, Safe Environment Coordinator for more information at 215-725-2201 or lisa.hnat@stceciliafc.org.

Rafferty Roofing 

For Quality & Honest Work at Reasonable Prices

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215-281-0771

Dear St. Cecilia Parish Community,

Praised be Jesus Christ from whom all blessings flow! The end of the school year is a time of great excitement as we bid farewell to our 8th Grade, celebrate our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten “moving up”, and honor the many accomplishments of each of our students. It has been a beautiful year and I have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know our school community. With the end of one school year, and the beginning of another, there are also many changes. I know that not everyone likes change, so I know that these announcements will cause anxiety to many. Please join me in trusting in the Lord who is always faithful.

1. As you may have heard, Archbishop Perez has reassigned our Parish’s Parochial Vicar, Fr. Robert Lucas to serve as a Chaplain at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The Archbishop has graciously assigned Fr. Phong Le, a newly ordained priest to serve at St. Cecilia. This change is effective June 19th.

2. Sister Mary Ellen Tennity, IHM, the General Superior of the IHM Sisters, has reassigned our Vice Principal, Sr. Carolyn Braun, IHM, to serve as Principal of Queen of Angels School in Willow Grove. The IHM Sisters are not able to send us another Sister to serve as Vice Principal. Sister Mary Ellen has also reassigned two sisters who have generously volunteered in our school for many years, Sr. Marita Shaun and Sister Bernadette. Sr. Marita will retire to Camilla Hall and Sr. Bernadette will serve in the archives at the IHM Motherhouse. Join me in thanking God for the gift these three dear sisters have been to St. Cecilia. These changes are effective August 1, 2023.

3. We welcome Mrs. Kathleen Robbins to the staff of St. Cecilia School. Kathleen will serve as our Tuition Manager. She started in this position two weeks ago and has been a wonderful addition. She can be reached at tuition@stceciliafc.com or 215-725-2201. Kathleen is a member of the parish and her children graduated from our school. She brings years of experience to her role at St. Cecilia.

4. We also welcome Mrs. Patty Grabowski as our Safe Environment Coordinator. Patty has been serving St. Cecilia as one of our Receptionists in the School Office. We are grateful for her assuming this role to ensure that all of our staff and volunteers have proper clearances and training to keep our children safe.

5. For the 2023-2024 School Year, in addition to the natural reduction to two 3rd Grade Classes (since we currently have two 2nd Grade Classes), we will reduce 4th to two classrooms as well. The projected enrollment in next year’s 4th grade is 56 (with 28 in each classroom). We initially thought we would need to reduce 5th grade to two classrooms as well but we have a projected enrollment of 60. Thus, as long as enrollment is maintained, we will keep three classes of 5th grade. Reducing the number of classes per grade has been a continuous reality at St. Cecilia since the 1990s. I hope that we reach the point of maintaining a healthy enrollment to serve your families for years to come without the need for further reductions. We do not anticipate laying off any faculty members as some of our wonderful teachers have informed us of their intention to use their gifts in other areas at the end of this school year. Saint Cecilia School A Christ Centered Community Committed to Excellence

6. Our Principal, Sister Catherine, IHM will work with the faculty to maintain instructional standards and meet the needs of our students and teachers. Announcements regarding teacher classroom assignments and roles will be made over the summer. I hope that you can trust that your child will continue to receive the quality education you expect from St. Cecilia School as we make these necessary adjustments.

I realize I have initiated many changes within my first year. Other changes have occurred outside of my control. I realize many parents and other stakeholders in our school have questions and perhaps concerns given these many changes. I invite you to join Sr. Catherine and me for another round of Town Hall style meetings to discuss these changes.

Join us on Thursday, June 1st at 6:00pm or Friday, June 2nd at 2:00pm to raise questions, share concerns and continue contributing your ideas to the future of St. Cecilia School. Both Town Hall Meetings will be in the Auditorium.

You are welcome to email me at frchriswalsh@stceciliafc.com should you desire.

Sincerely,

Father Christopher M. Walsh
Pastor


 

Goodbye and Thank You Father Lucas!

As we prepare to bid farewell to Fr. Lucas, please make time to express thanks to him through a note or an email (frlucas@stceciliafc.org). Never under estimate the value of sharing with someone how they blessed your life: perhaps through his pastoral care at a time of illness, in confession, through a homily or some other way. Plan to be with us for his farewell gathering on June 11th (after the 11am Mass)
Please  call the Parish Office and let us know so that we can plan well!

Mondays from Noon ~ 7:00pm. 

First Sunday of Month Noon ~ 5:00pm
Spend some quiet time with Jesus

The response from our parishioners to spend an hour with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration has been so very beautiful! We are averaging 8-12 adorers at every hour, often many more. For the time being going forward, we will not have the sign-up sheets on the clipboards in church, as we have established a solid foundation from which to build this ministry. We ask that you please honor your commitment in the weeks ahead. Should you not be able to make it, you are encouraged to ask a friend to take your place, if possible.

Everyone is welcome to come into church for 5, 15, 30, or more minutes--Jesus will be happy to see you! Eucharistic Adoration will continue to be held the first Sunday of every month from noon to 5pm, ending with Evening Prayer and Benediction, and every Monday from noon to 7pm, ending with Benediction. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Anita Schragen at 215-512-4910 or Theresa Kuhar at 215-694-3709. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

The next Coffee Talk gathering will be Saturday, June 17th in the Cecilian Room in School beginning at 9:30am. We gather to listen to one another and share our stories and suggestions about the lose of a loved one and how we grieve.
Join us for some comfort and coffee.
Pre-registration is required by contacting Paula Potts at 215-317- 9802.

 

Summer Book Club

Have you read a good book lately? Did it help you grow in faith? Our parish would like to offer a variety of “Summer Book Clubs” where 6-8 people gather (on our campus or in your home) for 6-8 weeks reading the same book and gathering each week to discuss what was read. Right now, we need to gather people who are willing to be Group Leaders: you choose the book, the datestime-place of your meeting and then parishioners can sign up to join you. Interested in being a Group Leader?

Call the Parish Office and Sue will get you signed up. Once we have a sufficient number of Group Leaders, we will publish our list of offerings and start sign-ups!

 

Night at the Phillies

Join St. Cecilia School at Citizens Bank Park!  

Friday ~ June 9 Phillies vs. Dodgers 7:05pm
Ticket cost: $17
Link for purchase.  https://scsfoxchase.org/phillies-tickets
Join St. Cecilia School at Citizens Bank Park!


 

St Cecilia Blood Drive

Save the Date!
July 11th is Save a Life Tuesday
1:30-6:30pm
St. Cecilia Auditorium

 

Humanitas

Humanitas Life-minded parishioners at St. Cecilia have formed a new group called Humanitas, whose focus is to promote the sanctity of life from conception through natural death. We are participating in “Philly’s Largest Baby Shower.” If you would like to be a part of that, please bring diapers (all sizes) and wipes to church and deposit them in the boxes in front of St. Joseph.
The collection runs until June 18. All donated items will benefit Birthright, Guiding Star Mother’s Home, and The Cenacle at the Padre Pio Ctr. For more information contact Chuck Kuhar at 215-694-3708.

We want to expand our Greeter Ministry to the 5pm Mass. Are you a person with a pleasant personality? Do you enjoy smiling and chatting with people? Do you attend the 5pm Mass and are you willing to commit to coming at 4:30 once a month and greeting people? We hope to launch just after Easter! Call Sherri at 215-399-6178
 

Eucharistic Ministry

One of our greatest gifts as Catholics is the Holy Eucharist. When Catholics face illness or old age, not receiving the Eucharist is a great hardship. The parish wants to continue expanding our bringing the Eucharist to those at Jeanes Hospital (once a month commitment; ideally on a Sunday after morning Masses) and to the homebound (two to three times a month to one person). If you are a practicing Catholic (in a valid marriage) and would like to learn more, call Josie at 267-625-3693. Training will be provided.

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