Parish History (Continued)

In the Fall of 1975, Monsignor Moors suggested a parish celebration in honor of our 65th Anniversary since there had been no formal celebration for our 50th Anniversary. On Sunday, October 3, 1976, we celebrated the Anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving at 5:00 P.M., followed by a dinner-dance at the Four Chefs Restaurant.

The stained-glass window above the main altar was the inspiration for the logo that was used for the 65th, 70th and 75th and 100th Anniversary celebrations. The logo was designed by John Watko, a long-time parishioner and graphic artist. John went to his eternal rest in 2008.
 

The year 1976 was also a Year of Spiritual Renewal, in conjunction with the International Eucharistic Congress held in Philadelphia from August 1 through August 8. The theme for the Congress was “The Hungers of Man”. Numerous buses transported hundreds of parishioners to John F. Kennedy Stadium for the solemn closing of this historical, spiritual event on Sunday, August 8, 1976.

In 1978, Cardinal Krol approved Monsignor Moors’ request for Lay Eucharistic Ministers to bring the Holy Eucharist weekly to our sick and home-bound parishioners. when the initial group was installed in September 1978, we became the first parish in the Archdiocese to bring The Holy Eucharist, each Sunday, to home-bound parishioners.

Pope John Paul II visited Philadelphia in 1979 and celebrated Mass on JFK Parkway on Wednesday, October 3. Hundreds of our parishioners attended the open-air Mass. Many of our parish members also served as “Marshals” to help direct the huge gathering of the Faithful at the Mass.

The year 1981 represented the 70th Anniversary of the parish. A Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Bishop John Graham on October 4, 1981 to mark the occasion. Following the Mass, a dinner-dance was held at Williamson’s Restaurant in Horsham. This year was also memorable because the parish debt was finally eliminated.
 

On June 15, 1985, Monsignor Moors died, leaving an outstanding record of achievement as an excellent administrator and pastor for 13 years. Prior to his death, Monsignor Moors began preparations to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the parish in 1986.

Father Francis X. Dreger was appointed as the sixth pastor of St. Cecilia Parish on July 8, 1985. Prior to coming to St. Cecilia, Father Dreger had served as pastor at Holy Cross parish. Previously, he had served on the faculties of Monsignor Bonner High School and Roman Catholic High School and was Director of Vocations at Roman Catholic. His other assignments included parishes in Coaldale, Shillington and Spring City, Pennsylvania. He also served at Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint Ignatius of Loyola parishes in Philadelphia.

Father Dreger was ordained on May 19, 1951. He was named an “Honorary Prelate ”, with the title of Monsignor, by Pope John Paul II on May 29,1991.

Shortly after coming to St. Cecilia, Father Dreger completed and enacted the plans for the 75th Anniversary celebration. The year-long observance began with an opening Mass in October, 1985. Numerous activities for the next 12 months were dedicated to the Anniversary. The celebration culminated on October 5,1986 with a Mass, followed by a dinner-dance at Williamson’s Restaurant.

Monsignor Dreger’s tenure as pastor was marked by a substantial increase in school enrollment, reaching a peak total in excess of 1100 students in the final decade of the 20th century. The old school building was expanded, at that time, to accommodate the increased enrollment. New classrooms and two new meeting rooms were added.
 

The years between 1991 and 1993 were marked by a successful capital campaign, initiated by the Archdiocese. The goal of the campaign, known as “Catholic Life 2000”, was to raise 100 million throughout the Archdiocese. A portion of St. Cecilia’s goal of $750,000 was used to help fund the construction of the new school addition.

On October 22, 2000, several hundred parishioners, priests and I.H.M. Sisters from
St. Cecilia joined thousands of fellow Catholics for a twilight Sunday evening “Candlelight Procession” on the Parkway, led by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua. The procession, a major event of the Archdiocesan celebration of the Jubilee Year 2000, gave public witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. The parish delegation was led by Monsignor Dreger.

On July 11, 2000, Father Robert E. Brennan died at Holy Redeemer Hospital, at the age of 61. Father Brennan had been in residence at St. Cecilia for almost a quarter of a century, from 1968 until 1991, while on the faculty of Cardinal Dougherty High School. At the time of his death, Father Brennan was “Pastor Emeritus” of St. Titus Parish in East Norriton, PA.

In June 2001, Monsignor Dreger retired as pastor of St. Cecilia as he attained the mandatory retirement age of 75.

In June 2001, Father Charles E. Bonner was appointed as the seventh pastor of our parish, replacing the retiring Monsignor Dreger. Prior to Father Bonner’s appointment to St. Cecilia, he had served as pastor of St. Louis parish in Yeadon. His earlier assignments include St. Joseph the Worker parish in Fallsington, Our Lady of Grace in Penndel, St. Matthias in Bala Cynwyd; and St Leo, St. Anne and Nativity B.V.M parishes in Philadelphia. Father Bonner was ordained in 1965.

Father Bonner has continued the tradition of his predecessors to ensure that St. Cecilia School is a model of excellence and learning for all students. Under his guidance, the school’s curriculum and facilities have kept pace with modern technology. However, none of the school’s success would be possible without the dedicated work of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the day-to-day activities and leadership of the devoted lay faculty and a dedicated staff. For the school year that ended in June, 2011, St. Cecilia had a total enrollment of 661 students, including 40 non- Catholic children.

Another of Father Bonner’s concerns is the proper up-keep of all the physical facilities. Church, school buildings, convent and rectory remain in good repair and have proper maintenance.

In January 2003, a special envelope was mailed to all parishioners for renovations to the Church and Auditorium in anticipation of the centenary in 2011. There was an overwhelming response to this appeal. Due to the extreme generosity to the appeal, more than $200,000 was raised to help cover the cost of improvements.

As a dedicated shepherd, Father Bonner’s major concern is for the spiritual well-being of the congregation that has been entrusted to him. In 2006, with the consent of the Pastoral Council, the parish initiated a Stewardship/ Tithing campaign. Parishioners reacted favorably to the program, resulting in an increase in weekly contributions to maintain the financial stability of the parish.

In the fall of 2009, the parish embarked on the “Heritage of Faith - Vision of Hope” campaign initiated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to raise $200 million among all parishes for future needs of the Archdiocese, parishes and schools. St. Cecilia parishioners pledged a total of $550,000; approximately $192,000 of this total will eventually be used for parish needs, with the remainder used for Archdiocesan needs and Catholic Social Services.

On January 31, 2003, Father Thomas Hagan, Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia, died after a brief illness. Father Hagan had served the people of St. Cecilia since June, 1997.

Our parish has been blessed with the ordination of two of our members to the Permanent Diaconate. Louis S. Malfara was ordained on June 5, 1994 and was immediately assigned to St. Cecilia Parish. Deacon Malfara was transferred on January 2, 2006 to serve as Deacon at our neighboring parish, Saint William. He continues to reside in our parish.

Patrick J. Diamond was ordained as a Permanent Deacon on May 30, 2009. Deacon Diamond was assigned to our parish and continues to serve us.

Our Centennial Celebration Year was opened, officially, on Sunday, January 16, 2011 with Mass at 12:30 P.M. celebrated by His Excellency, Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Thomas. The church was full as parishioners responded to the opening Mass and celebration. Bishop Thomas, drawing upon his many years in Rome, concluded his homily with a traditional Italian greeting commonly used at festivities and celebrations. The greeting, “PER CENTO ANNI”, translates to “FOR A HUNDRED YEARS”. Bishop Thomas, then, extended his greetings to the parish for “Another 100 years” of love and faith.

Following the Mass, a reception was held for Bishop Thomas in the school auditorium. Many parishioners attended the reception to meet and greet Bishop Thomas, who was extremely friendly and charismatic with each and every parishioner.

Planning for this Anniversary celebration began in 2010. Students from our parish school were invited to submit slogans to mark our first century. Two of our students, sisters Allyssa and Leanna Schultz, created the slogan for our 100th Anniversary observance -- “Celebrating a Century as a Faith Community”.

The Centennial was marked with various activities, as part of the year-long celebration of our parish as “A Faith Community”.

These included a Novena to St.Cecilia was begun. Prayer cards were given to school children and parishioners.

Catholic Schools Week with an open-house of the school and all its facilities.

A Valentine Mass for all married couples. Mr. and Mrs. John Venuti, married 70 years, were the longest-married couple in attendance. Flowers and prayer cards were presented to all couples celebrating 25 or more years of marriage.

A “Quizzo” trivia night event in the auditorium.

A Parish Mission, conducted by Father Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.SS.R.

A group of 83 parishioners departed or a pilgrimage to Italy, the trip featured a Mass, celebrated by Father James Cox, at the Church of St. Cecilia in Rome.

A Poor Man’s dinner was held in the gymnasium.

A Texas Hold ‘em Tournament

Marian Devotions 

The St. Cecilia school students presented a Theatre Troupe musical performance, entitled “Dear Edwina”.

The 11:00 A.M. Mass on Sunday, September 11th was dedicated in memory of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, military veterans and current military services were in attendence.

The Home and School Association sponsored a cookbook, containing 180 recipes submitted by parishioners and friends.

On Sunday October 2, 2011, we celebrated with a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by a dinner-dance at the Williamson Restaurant.

A reunion for all graduates of St. Cecilia School was held in the auditorium and gymnasium
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fitzgerald celebrated the 5:30 Vigil Mass prior to the "All Class Reunion". His Excellency also attended the reunion to meet and greet the graduates.

Our year long celebration concluded with our Annual Novena to St. Cecilia and Forty Hours Devotions. 

As of September 2019, under the guidance and support of our Pastor Father Charles Bonner,  our parish continues to grow as a thriving Catholic community meeting the spiritual and temporal needs of Catholic families living in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia.