Press Release

Special Prayer Service Honors Emergency Responders - New Date
PLEASE NOTE - The date of the Blue Mass has been changed to Friday, May 16.

Holy Family University will honor and pray for the protection of police, fire and emergency personnel on campus, across the city and across the nation during its Second Annual Blue Mass, 11 a.m. on May 16. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is expected to attend this solemn service in which many reflect on the sacrifice emergency responders have made.

Special invited guests also include Chief Inspector Jim Tiano, Captain Debra Kelly of the 8th Police District, Lieutenant Sue Farley of the 8th Police District, Sergeant Brian McBride of Central Detectives, and Bob Valentine of FOP Lodge 5.

The majority of Holy Family University’s security personnel are retired police officers. Campus security and other police officers are expected to attend the mass as well as officers from area fire departments. Holy Family University’s Campus Minister Reverend James MacNew, OSFS will officiate the mass, which will include a candle- lighting ceremony. Holy Family Director of Safety and Security Joseph F. McBride is coordinating the program.

The Blue Mass will be held in the Lower Lobby of the Campus Center, Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. The community is welcome to attend the prayer service. For information or directions to Holy Family University call 215-637-7000 or log onto www.holyfamily.edu.



Class of 2008 Commencement Gets New Venue
On May 23 Holy Family University’s graduating Class of 2008 will march to Pomp and Circumstance played on the magnificent Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

This year the University has moved commencement exercises off campus to a permanent new home, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. The new location promises to add prestige to an already momentous event. This year’s exercises promise to be spectacular and moving for students and their families.

Three hundred ninety-four graduate students and 469 undergraduate students will receive Holy Family University diplomas. The graduate commencement program begins promptly at 9:30 am. During that ceremony, Sister Mary Reap, IHM, former president of Marywood University in Scranton, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Holy Family University. Sister Mary was president of Marywood University for 20 years before recently retiring.

The undergraduate commencement program starts promptly at 12:30 pm. His Eminence, Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters during the ceremony. Also receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters will be Sister M. Celine Warnilo, CSFN, current treasurer of CSFN Mission and Ministry, Inc., Provincial Superior of the former Immaculate Conception Province of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

During commencement this year University President Sister M. Francesca Onley, CSFN, Ph.D., will also honor the Class of 1958, the university’s first graduating class.

More commencement information is available at www.holyfamily.edu.



University Breaks Ground for New Residence Hall
The groundbreaking Tuesday afternoon on Holy Family’s Northeast Campus officially marked the start of construction on the new Stevenson Residence.

Members of the Holy Family University Board of Trustees, construction and architectural executives, the Provincial Superior of Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and other officials joined Sister M. Francesca Onley, Ph.D., CSFN with shovels in ceremonially breaking ground on the new residence hall scheduled for completion in 2009.

Sister Sally Marie Kiepura, CSFN, Provincial Superior congratulated the university on its higher education ministry. “You do a wonderful job - a wonderful, tremendous work here. And I think the building of this new residency will be another wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of so many other individuals in so many other ways,” said Sister Sally. She was among several dignitaries who offered congratulatory comments during the groundbreaking. Other speakers included Dennis Colgan, chairman of the Board of Trustees, David Panichi, CEO of TN Ward construction management company, James Cornwell, Principal of Metro Architects, Brett Buckridge, Director of Residence Life and representatives from the offices of State Senator Michael J. Stack III and Philadelphia Councilman Brian J. O’Neill.

Reverend James MacNew, OSFS led the prayer service. The ceremony was held on softball and soccer fields behind the Campus Center where the new residence hall will sit.

When this $20 million project is complete, Stevenson Residence will accommodate 148 students within 67,430 square feet of space. It will also offer four resident advisor suites, a suite for a residence life professional and 128 parking spaces.

Future plans could include two additional phases that would provide up to 112,580 square feet and house up to 358 students.

The building is designed by Metro Architects based in Narberth, Pa. Construction will be managed by TN Ward Company based in Ardmore, Pa. Financing is provided by TD Commerce Bank.





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