Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez to Celebrate Mass for Over 1,000 Archdiocesan School Students to Honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Students representing Archdiocesan secondary schools, parish and regional elementary schools, and
schools of special education will come together to celebrate Holy Mass and honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Over 1,000 students representing Archdiocesan secondary schools, parish and regional elementary schools, and schools of special education throughout the five-county region will come together to celebrate Catholic education with Mass and devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist. The Mass will serve as the keynote celebration for the year-long Sacred Heart initiative through which all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese will enthrone an image of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Most Reverend Keith J. Chylinski, the Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia who oversees Catholic education as part of his pastoral and administrative responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will concelebrate.

Reverend G. Dennis Gill, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and Director of the Archdiocesan Office for Divine Worship, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.

Friday, October 16, 2026
12:05 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel
18^th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Students representing Archdiocesan secondary schools, parish and regional elementary schools, and schools of special education will participate throughout Mass including:

• Cain Schick ’27 a student from Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia will proclaim the First Reading;
• Charlotte Roberts, Vivian Roberts, and Ariana Medlin students from Saint Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments in Northeast Philadelphia will lead the Prayer of the Faithful;
• Molly McCabe, Maggie Leso, Matthew Kohlenberg, Violet Hack, Thomas DiBona, and Gia Giacomucci students from Sacred Heart Parish School in Havertown (Delaware County) will serve at the altar;
• Students representing secondary schools, parish and regional elementary schools, and schools of special education will present the offertory gifts:
  • Connor Hnat representing Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor (Delaware County);
  • Gianna Severino representing Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia;
  • Madison Wylesol and James Wilson representing Saint Hilary of Poitiers Parish School in Rydal (Montgomery County);
  • Ella Nicholl representing Our Lady of Confidence School at Archbishop Wood High School campus in Warminster (Bucks County); and
  • Avery Anglin representing Saint Katherine School at Archbishop John Carroll High School campus in Radnor (Delaware County).
• A choir of approximately 50 students from secondary, parish and regional elementary, and schools of special education will provide liturgical music. The choir is under the direction of Sister Lauretta Linsalata, IHM and Ms. Jennifer Monaghan.

The Archdiocesan celebration of Catholic education and Sacred Heart Mass falls on the memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, whose life and spirituality are closely associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Background Information on the Sacred Heart Initiative

On June 11, 2026, in honor of the 250^th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) consecrated our nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart initiative provides Archdiocesan schools with the opportunity to carry the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus into the daily life and to the mission of Catholic education throughout the Archdiocese. For more information about the Sacred Heart Initiative in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit here.

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Editor’s Note: For more information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit aopcatholicschools.org/.