West Philadelphia Catholic High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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ree ecwond AW Our .xdckieuemenfd The Rxght Reverend Monsmgnor Iolm I Bonner D D Supermtendent of Schools The D1ocese of Phlladelphla was establxshed one hundred and thtrty stx years ago At that t1me there was a total of three Cathohc Schools plus an orphanage asylum rn th1s d1Slf1Ct lt was the Slsters of Charlty who saw that Phlladelphra was a promlslng held for educatlonal work and so they took charge of a free school lor German Catholtcs ln October 1818 Fachonal the church ot Phlladelphla a prey for open schrsm and cr1'uc1sm for twenty years Progress ln Cathohc educatron 1n Phlladelphta was checked for the tlme Wlth the arr1val of Brshop Kenrlck from Kentucky obstacles were re moved and the road paved for future lmprovernents Prtor to l853 however the school system was LU comparattvely poor cond1t1on W1th the arrlval of the Chr1st1an Brothers rn that year thmgs took on a bnghter aspect lt was now posslble to have proper educatlonal fac1l1t1es for boys ol h1gh school age Q s troubles however, had arisen in Saint Mary's Parish which resultedin making

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ln l894 Reverend I. W. Shanahaw reported that there were then thirty-six thousand pupils in attendance at eighty-six schools in Philadelphia, This number was not sufficient, however, so more schools were added, until at the turn of the century, Reverend P. R. McDevitt, at that time President of the School Board of Inspectors, disclosed that there were now one hundred and ten schools in ninety-eight separate parishes in the rapidly expanding diocese. And so it was year after year, working, planning, expanding, giving more children the chance for a Catholic education. Now in l944, the number of children in Diocesan schools has risen to one hundred thirty-seven thousand, forty-seven, Three thousand, six hundred and fifty-six Religious are teaching in two hundred ninetyvfour Parochial schools. Over this vast network is a man of untiring faith and ability, Monsignor Iohn I. Bonner. To assist him in this work are Reverend loseph A. Gorham and Reverend Edward Reilly, The splendid efficiency of our school system is due to these outstanding men who assure the fulfillment of the purpose for which these schools were erected, the training and education of the Catholic men and women of tomorrow. These men of the Church mean for us a supernatural wisdom of the Catholic Church originating from the infallible guidance of the Holy Ghost and from the experience of nineteen hundred years. ln its care of its young the Catholic Church has always been most solicitous, most wise, and understanding. West Catholic is proud of such an outstanding graduate A recent addition to our capable Diocesan administrative as Dr Gorham whose prominent work in our Catholic staff is friendly Father Edward Reilly. I.C.D.. who has school system as Assistant Superintendent has made him competently filled the position vacated by Father I G one of our foremost educators. Cox. I.C.D. Father Reilly has his office at West Catholic Girls. -uri.. xen-