Honoring The Life and Legacy of Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Bishop Joseph P. McFadden epitomized what it meant to be a “true Philadelphian.” One of four children of Thomas and Ellen Griffin McFadden, the Bishop was baptized at St. Rose of Lima Church, graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School, both in Overbrook, and was a 1965 graduate of St. Thomas More High School, where he was class valedictorian and a standout basketball player; and

WHEREAS, At his alma mater, St. Joseph University, McFadden was on the freshman basketball team and earned a bachelor of science degree in political science in 1969; and

WHEREAS, He taught and coached both basketball and baseball at West Catholic High School, becoming Athletic Director in 1972 and leading the basketball team to a berth in the Catholic League championship game in 1976. Bishop McFadden is the school's only Hall of Fame inductee who did not graduate from West Catholic; and

WHEREAS, Bishop McFadden, at the age of 29, chose to put aside his dream of becoming an NCAA basketball coach to enter St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, graduating summa cum laude and being ordained into the priesthood on May 16th , 1981 by Cardinal John Krol; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after ordination, Cardinal Krol appointed Bishop McFadden as his administrative secretary, a position he held until becoming the first President of Cardinal O'Hara High School in 1993. O'Hara always held a special place in the Bishop's heart, where students and alumni will forever refer to Bishop McFadden by his nickname, “Monz”; and

WHEREAS, Bishop McFadden was consecrated as a Bishop in 2004 and was given the responsibility of overseeing the archdiocesan school system. Two years later he was appointed as the head of the archdiocese's capital campaign, raising pledges of over $200 million; and

WHEREAS, After spending six years as an auxiliary bishop and 29 years as a priest, Bishop McFadden was installed as the 10th Bishop of the Harrisburg Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI in August, 2010, serving over 250,000 Catholics; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden was unexpectedly called home to be with God on Thursday, May 2, 2013; and

WHEREAS, He served as a member of many organizations, including as president of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference; chairman of the United States Bishops' Committee on Catholic Education, as well as their task force committee on Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe and in 2009, became the recipient of the first Shamrock Award presented by the Alumni of St. Thomas More and West Catholic High Schools; and

WHEREAS, He will always be remembered as a strong advocate for Catholic education; for his terrific sense of humor and of his tireless efforts to advance the mission of Catholic education; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the life and legacy of Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.

RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the extended family of Bishop Joseph P. McFadden as further evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

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