WHEREAS, St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish was established on May 12, 1925 in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia on the same day that, in Rome, Pope Benedict XV declared the “Little Flower” a saint. The parish has the distinction of being the first Catholic Church in the world to be named in honor of Saint Therese of Lisieux. On October 19, 1997 Pope John Paul II declared Saint Therese a doctor of the Church in light of her outstanding holiness and profound teaching; and,
WHEREAS
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St. Therese, along with Saint Francis Xavier, is known as the patron of the Church’s missions throughout the world hence the parish is committed to remaining an evangelizing light in the community of Northwest Philadelphia; and,
WHEREAS
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The chrism of Blessed Katherine Drexel and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha are likewise part of the parish’s spiritual and educational heritage. Many of St. Therese’s parishioners and their families have been educated by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and share in their mission of evangelization; and,
WHEREAS
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When St. Therese of the Child Jesus was established, the allotted grounds included a large stable where the Sisters from Cecilian Academy first held Sunday school classes. Permission was obtained to rebuild that stable into a school that opened under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 6, 1927. The present parish school, located at Anderson and Upsal Streets, was built in 1951 and was awarded the 1951 award for the best school design in the United States for its unique L-shaped design with classrooms facing inward to an attractive schoolyard; and,
WHEREAS
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The culturally and racially diversified student body is staffed by a distinguished and dedicated lay faculty and, along with the parish, remains powerful evangelization instrument(s); now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the “little way” of spiritual childhood, which St. Therese lived so beautifully and is at the heart of the doctrine and philosophy of both the parish and school named in her honor.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Steven J. Harris, Pastor of St. Therese Of The Child Jesus Parish, as a symbol of this legislative body ‘s gratitude and in recognition of both the Parish and school’s commitment and dedicated service to God and Mankind.
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