Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will visit Archbishop Wood High School (AWHS) and the new home of Our Lady of Confidence High School Special Education Program (OLC) in Warminster (Bucks County). Archbishop Pérez will also celebrate Mass for the school community as they begin the new academic year.
Prior to Mass, the Archbishop will greet AWHS administrators, teachers, and staff as well as members of the class of 2022 and 2023. He will be joined by Mr. Gary Zimmaro, President of AWHS, and Mrs. Cloe O’Grady, Principal of AWHS. Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Ms. Irene Horstmann Hannan, Chief Executive Officer of Faith in the Future, will also be present.
The Archbishop will tour AWHS lead by members of the student council.
In addition, he will welcome students, administrators, teachers, and staff of Our Lady of Confidence High School Program to their new home. The Archbishop will be joined by Ms. Katie Bier, Principal of OLC, and Dr. Danielle Heeney, Director of Special Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
7:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m. Mass
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Archbishop Wood High School
655 York Road
Warminster, PA 18974-2098
Monsignor Richard Bolger, Pastor Emeritus of Saint David Parish in Willow Grove (Montgomery County), and Father Paul O’Donnell, AWHS’ Campus Minister, will concelebrate Mass. Saint David’s is the home of Our Lady of Confidence School, which educates children aged 4 to 14 years old with special learning needs.
During the Mass, Archbishop Pérez will bless several crucifixes that will be placed in the new OLC classrooms. OLC’s High School Program was formerly located at Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote (Montgomery County).
Portions of the Archbishop’s visit will be streamed live from Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook Page@ ArchbishopPerez.
Social distancing guidelines will be followed. The Mass will be streamed live on the Archbishop Wood High School Facebook Page @ ArchbishopWood and from the Archbishop Wood High School website.
Background Information on Archbishop Wood High School
Archbishop Wood High School is one of 15 Archdiocesan high schools and provides a comprehensive, college-preparatory curriculum enhanced by spiritual, service, and extra-curricular experiences that will enable all students to be productive, responsible Christians in a technologically complex, rapidly changing world. The school is located on thirty-two acres in Warminster Township and named to honor the memory of the Most Reverend James F. Wood, the fifth Bishop of Philadelphia and its first Archbishop. The school opened in September of 1964 as a twin facility, separating the boys and girls schools and became one coeducation institution on July 1, 1990.
Background Information on Our Lady of Confidence School
Our Lady of Confidence is one of the three Archdiocesan schools of special education. Our Lady of Confidence School, Saint Katherine School, and Saint Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments meet the needs of students with visual and sensory impairments, physical impairments as well as those on the autism spectrum in the tradition of Catholic education and values.
OLC opened its doors in 1954 to educate children with special needs in a Catholic environment. The school’s mission is to facilitate the complete development of students with intellectual disabilities to their fullest potential, spiritually, intellectually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. OLC’s program embraces the value of life and is committed to guiding students toward seeking God’s purpose for their life and fostering independence to become vital, contributing members of the local community and the greater global society.
Note:
For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/. For information about Faith in the Future Foundation, please visit faithinthefuture.com/. For additional information about Archbishop Wood High School, please visit archwood.org/. For additional information about Our Lady of Confidence Day School, please visit ourladyofconfidence.org/ .
