Philly To Kick Off Catholic Schools Week

Hundreds of students from high schools, elementary schools, and schools of special education will package 1,500 care bags to benefit Catholic Social Services’ Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm.

National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) began in 1974. CSW will be celebrated nationally Sunday, January 26-Saturday, February 1, 2025. This year’s theme is Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community. While observances will be ongoing in our schools and parishes throughout the week, Thursday, January 30, 2025, has been designated for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s keystone CSW event. The theme for that day is Celebrating Vocations.  

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will mark that day by hosting a service initiative at Father Judge High School for Boys’ new Career Pathways Academy building. 

It will be the keystone event for the celebration of Catholic Schools Week (CSW) in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and feature participation from hundreds of students representing Archdiocesan high schools, parish-based elementary schools, and schools of special education. 

These young people will combine efforts to package 1,500 care bags with non-perishable items for individuals served by Martha’s Choice. Handwritten notes with prayerful encouragement will also be included in the bags. 

Archbishop Pérez will be joined by Mrs. Heather Huot, Secretary for Catholic Human Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Doctor James Black, Director of Youth Services Division for Catholic Social Services; Mr. Patrick Walsh, Director of Programs for Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm; and Mr. Eli Wenger, Director of Operations for Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm, as well as Mr. Brian Patrick King, '97 President of Father Judge High School. 

Thursday, January 30, 2025
 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 Father Judge High School – Career Pathways Academy
 3301 Solly Avenue
 Philadelphia, PA 19136

Leadership from the Office of Catholic Education including Mr. Jay DeFruscio, Chief Operating Officer for Secondary Schools; Andrew McLaughlin, Ed. D., Secretary for Elementary Education; and Mr. William Brannick, Superintendent for Secondary Schools and Schools of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be present and participate in the service activity. 

Martha’s Choice Marketplace, the beneficiary of this service program, is a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Located in Norristown, Martha’s Choice is the largest and most visited food pantry in Montgomery County.

In addition to packaging the bags students will have an opportunity to hear from Mr. Walsh and Mr.  Wenger on the impact their act of service will have in assisting those served by Martha’s Choice. 

Background Information on Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm 

Located in Norristown, Martha’s Choice Marketplace is the largest and most visited food pantry in Montgomery County. The ministry also operates Martha’s Community Farm, which is located on the grounds of the former Saint Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon. Through the Martha’s Community Farm initiative, thousands of pounds of fresh produce are grown each year, with the specific goal of providing pantry guests with culturally appropriate items that are not widely available at regional food banks such as tomatillos, sweet potatoes, peppers, and cilantro.

In 2023, 25 different crops and 20,000 pounds of food were produced and distributed. Produce grown at Martha’s Community Farm further supplements households benefiting from Martha’s Choice.

For the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023, Martha’s Choice completed nearly 19,500 household food pantry distributions to over 3,850 families made up of 16,000 individuals, over 7,000 of which are children. Nearly 2.3 million pounds of food, personal care, and household items were distributed during that period alone. 

In addition to distributing food, Martha’s Choice also provides a holistic approach to hunger prevention by offering nutritional education and personal empowerment opportunities uplifting each client’s dignity. For more information about Martha’s Choice, please visit marthaschoicemarketplace.com/. 

Note: For information about Father Judge High School for Boys, please visit fatherjudge.com/. For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Catholic Schools Week, please visit here.