275th CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Annual St. Ignatius Day Parish Dinner

Saturday, July 26, 2008 ~ 6:30 pm ~ Barbelin Hall

Missioning Sunday Mass: Cardinal Justin Regali Presiding

Sunday, September 21, 2008 ~ 10:30 am

Parish Brunch to follow in Barbelin Hall

Rededication of Knights of Columbus Religious Freedom Plaque

Saturday, October 4, 2008 ~ Time: TBD

(Location: Church, North Patio)

Blessing and Dedication of the New E. M. Skinner Organ / Recital

Sunday, October 19, 2008 ~ 3:00 pm

Reception to follow in Barbelin Hall

275th Anniversary Gala Dinner

National Constitution Center

Saturday, November 8, 2008 ~ 6:30 pm

Organ Concert by Peter Conte

Sunday, November 16, 2008 ~ 4:00 pm

Reception to follow in Barbelin Hall

First Sunday of Advent: Vespers/Marian Concert

Sunday, November 30, 2008 ~ 4:00 pm

Those individuals and corporations which are sponsoring our 275th anniversary celebration through their financial gifts include: Voveo Marketing Group, Old Saint Joseph's Historic Preservation Corporation, Kensington Court Assisted Living Community (Tinton Falls NJ), Oppenheimer & Co, Inc. (Joseph Nowak, VP Investments), Judy and Bob Palestini, Joseph Petko, Cozen O'Connor Foundation, Inc., Ristorante Panorama, Fera Donna Inc. T/A The Downtown Club, Ronald Rex Piselli Funeral Chapel, Inc., Coldwell Banker Realty Corp. (Louise Cruz-Vizcaino and George Cahill), The Willings at Independence Park, and Milner + Carr Conservation, LLC.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know? Blacks attended OSJ from the 18 th century. Several Catholic families owned slaves who were baptized here and St. Mary's Charity School educated blacks in the early 19 th century. Many black refugees from Santo Domingo were baptized and married here. By the 1850s there was a Sunday Mass and Vespers for blacks. In 1859-60 a school for black children was established on Lombard Street with 75 pupils under lay teachers. Later the Oblates of Providence from Baltimore staffed the school.

Did you know? On March 21, 1852 plans to establish a church for Italian Catholics were made at OSJ. Later that year, with the blessings of Bishop John Neumann, the church of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, the first Italian national parish church in America, was founded in South Philadelphia. An interesting note in parish records at this time is, "Two Italian ladies are available for singing lessons two nights a week."

Did you know? Financier Francis A. Drexel, father of St. Katharine Drexel, was a major benefactor of Old St. Joseph's. He was baptized at Old St. Joseph's in 1824 and Fr. Barbelin presided at his marriage to Emma Bouvier in 1860. From his office nearby, Francis Drexel often stopped by OSJ to play the church's Corrie organ in the afternoon. Later, both Catharine and Josephine Drexel taught African American youngsters catechism in Old St. Joseph's parish hall.

Did you know? The bequest of Francis A. Drexel funded the building of a new parish school on Orianna Street (now St. Joseph's Way) in the rear of 262 South 3 rd Street, which became the convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph who staffed the school. OSJ's parochial school operated at this site from 1886 until 1958. St. Mary's Inter-parochial School was built in 1968.

Did you know? In 1904, altar renovations were made to the church. Under the direction of Rev. Michael Byrne, S.J., architects Walter F. Ballinger and Emile George Perrot enlarged the sanctuary and designed a new altar. The present mosaic tile floor, the brass IHS gates, and the marble altar rail were installed at that time. The previously wood-grained organ case was newly painted in ivory and gold.