Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will visit Graterford State Correctional Institute in Montgomery County, to celebrate Mass, visit with inmates and meet with men on death row. This is the fourth of six Mercy Works Service Projects throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this calendar year.

Saturday, July 14, 2001
Graterford State Prison
Montgomery County
9:00 a.m.

Schedule for Visit
9:00 a.m. Cardinal's Arrival
9:30 a.m. Mass in Prison Chapel
10:30 a.m. Cardinal meets with inmates (chapel)
11:00 a.m. Cardinal meets privately with inmates on
"J Block" (death row)

Cardinal's Prior Prison Visits
1) Graterford State Prison (June 1989)
2) Graterford State Prison (Maya 1994)
3) Montgomery County Correctional Facility (July 1999)
4) Philadelphia Detention Center (July 2000)

Graterford Prison has 3,000 inmates, 500 of whom are Catholic. There is currently a penpal program with all prisons in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia but more volunteers are needed. 700 prisoners are registered with only 50 volunteers. There is also a need for volunteers for tutoring, liturgies and bible study. Interested volunteers should contact the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office of Prison Ministry at 215-331-3640.

The Mercy Works Service Projects are based upon existing Archdiocesan volunteer efforts and are intended to be reminders that we are called upon to serve our neighbor all year long. Each Mercy Works Service Project will take place in a different Vicariate of the Archdiocese. In May 2001 volunteers visited residents at nursing homes in the Philadelphia - North Vicariate. In April 2001, volunteers worked at three homeless shelters in the Philadelphia-South Vicariate. In February 2001, volunteers filled and delivered breakfast bags to homebound seniors in the Bucks County Vicariate.

Feed the Hungry
Bucks County Vicariate
February 17, 2001

Shelter the Homeless
Philadelphia South Vicariate
April 7, 2001

Tend the Sick
Philadelphia North Vicariate
May 12, 2001

Visit Those in Prison
Montgomery County Vicariate
July 14, 2001

Clothe the Naked
Chester County Vicariate
September 29, 2001

Bury the Dead
Delaware County Vicariate
November 10, 2001

Editor's Note: Media (photographers and reporters) will be permitted to cover the Mass and the visit with inmates in the chapel and will have an opportunity to briefly interview Cardinal Bevilacqua and inmates after instruction by Graterford officials IF PRIOR CLEARANCE IS OBTAINED. Contact Mr. Al J. LeFevre, Public Information Officer, Graterford State Prison. (Phone) 610 - 489 - 4151 ext. 2422 (Fax) 610 - 270 - 1859

Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director
215-587-3747