West Catholic Preparatory High School to Install New President, Sister Danielle Gagnon, RSM
Over 550 members of the West Catholic community will be present for the installation Mass.
West Catholic Preparatory High School (West Catholic Prep) will celebrate the installation of its new president, Sister Danielle Gagnon, RSM within the celebration of Mass for the school community. Reverend Robert Ngageno, who serves as the school’s chaplain and Parochial Administrator of Saint Francis de Sales Parish in West Philadelphia, will be the principal celebrant and homilist.
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
10:00 a.m.
West Catholic Preparatory High School
4501 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
West Catholic Prep students will serve as altar servers and readers.
Representatives from the Sisters of Mercy; Christian Brothers; Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education; and West Catholic Preparatory High School Board will be present.
The Philadelphia Gospel Choir under the direction of Tonya Taylor-Dorsey will provide liturgical music.
Background Information on Sister Danielle Gagnon, RSM
In June 2026, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education announced that Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez appointed Sister Danielle as President of West Catholic Prep.
A Sister of Mercy, who professed her final vows in 2019, Sister Danielle joined the West Catholic Prep community earlier this year when she began serving as Director of Student Success and Partnerships. She holds 25 years of exemplary service in education at the middle and high school levels in roles including classroom teacher, campus minister, and school administrator. Prior to joining West Catholic Prep, Sister Danielle spent four years at Merion Mercy Academy, holding two distinct roles: first as Director of Mission, Ministry, and Belonging, and then as Assistant Head of School for Mission Integration.
Sister Danielle holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Humanities from Harvard University Extension School as well as a Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality from Fordham University. She also holds certifications in Spiritual Guidance from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Cornell University.
Background Information on West Catholic Preparatory High School
West Catholic Preparatory High School has proudly served West and Southwest Philadelphia for over 100 years since opening in the fall of 1916. In 1926, the De La Salle Christian Brothers arrived at what would become West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, then located on 49th Street between Chestnut and Market Streets. In 1989, the Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C.); the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.); and the Sisters of Saint Joseph (S.S.J.), along with over 1,000 students, merged the Boys and Girls Schools, to become West Philadelphia Catholic High School at the present location of 4501 Chestnut Street.
The school’s primary mission is to prepare each student to face the challenges of everyday life, to embrace leadership positions in society, and to value service in an ever-changing global society.
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Editor’s Note: For information about Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit, aopcatholicschools.org/.