St. Cyprian will be established as a new Parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Reverend Monsignor Federico A. Britto will be installed as Pastor at a Mass of Thanksgiving on July 2, 2000. St. Cyprian Parish will be formed through the consolidation of St. Carthage Parish and Transfiguration of Our Lord Parish (56th Street and Cedar Avenue). The Pastoral Plan for Cluster 33, which was accepted by Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua in January 1998, called for the consolidation. The church for the new Parish will be at the site of the former St. Carthage Parish. The mass will take place

Sunday, July 2, 2000
10:00 a.m.
St. Cyprian Parish
Cobbs Creek Parkway at Cedar Avenue
Philadelphia

Members of the new Parish will gather at 9:45 a.m. at the far end of the Parish property (62nd Street and Cedar Avenue). At 10:00 a.m., there will be a Scripture reading followed by a one block procession to the Church. Monsignor Britto, representing the parishioners, will knock on the church doors and ask for entrance to the new Parish. Reverend Monsignor John T. Conway, Vicar for Philadelphia South, will be inside of the church to welcome the parishioners.

St. Cyprian Parish
--Named for an African nobleman
--Will serve approximately 1,125 registered households or 2,448 parishioners
--Boundaries will be a combination of St. Carthage and Transfiguration of Our Lord boundaries

St. Cyprian Parish School
--Daycare plus grades 1-5 will be located at the former Transfiguration Parish School
--Grades 6-8 will be located at the former St. Carthage Parish School

The two schools, St. Carthage and Transfiguration, had a combined enrollment of over 600 students during this past school year. St. Cyprian Parish School will continue to offer a quality Catholic education to the community.

St. Cyprian was an African nobleman born about 200 A.D. He converted to Christianity in his middle age and distributed all of his wealth to the poor. He was ordained a priest in 248 and later consecrated a Bishop.
As Bishop, Cyprian played a leading role in the history of the Church. During the time the emperor Decius persecuted the Church, Cyprian went "underground" and directed his clergy and laity from a place of hiding.

Through many trials, Cyprian emphasized the unity of the Church. His writings were followed by St. Augustine and are read to this day in the Church. Cyprian was beheaded during the persecution of the emperor Valerian circa 258. His feast day is September 16.

Parishioners have been extensively involved in decisions involving the new parish, and recommended the name "St. Cyprian" to the Cluster Pastoral Planning Committee.

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