Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will bless and dedicate the new Villa Saint Martha, the first supportive independent living project to be undertaken by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Villa Saint Martha offers independent living apartments as well as assisted living suites and a unit providing assisted living with memory support. Villa Saint Martha welcomed its first residents in January 2003 and currently has 45 residents.

Thursday, March 27, 2003
4:00 p.m.
Villa Saint Martha
490 Manor Road
Downingtown, Chester County

Cardinal Bevilacqua will preside at the dedication service and will be joined by Reverend Monsignor Timothy C. Senior, Secretary for Catholic Human Services, civic leaders from Downingtown and Caln Townships, members of the Board of Directors of Catholic Health Care Services, area clergy members, residents and their family members and Villa Saint Martha staff members.

Also attending will be descendants of Margaret and Gunard Carlson, a Presybeterian couple, who donated the land to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1967. Villa Saint Martha, Saint Martha Manor and Saint Joseph Parish are all located on the land donated by the Carlson's. The Villa Saint Martha unit providing assisted living with memory support has been named The Carlson Center.

The 120 bed supportive independent living community in Downingtown, Chester County is adjacent to Saint Martha Manor, a nursing home which opened in1989. Both Villa Saint Martha and Saint Martha Manor are sponsored by Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

This is the first of seven major projects to be completed by Catholic Human Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2003.

FACT SHEET

Major Projects of Catholic Human Services
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2003
$41 MILLION TOTAL IN 2003 PROJECTS

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

St. Francis - St. Joseph Homes for Children, Bensalem, Bucks County
On April 4, 2003, Cardinal Bevilacqua dedicates new $7.5 million complex. St. Francis - St. Joseph Homes for Children cares for 50 dependent and neglected children, all of whom are from Philadelphia. The campus includes five new residential cottages, each housing ten boys, a school building, a gymnasium/recreation complex and an administrative building.

St. Gabriel's Hall, Audobon, Montgomery County
On June 26, 2003, Cardinal Bevilacqua rededicates St. Gabriel's, which has undergone a $12 million renovation. St. Gabriel's System, which includes St. Gabriel's Hall as well as community based services, has provided residential education and treatment to more than 2000 court-adjudicated delinquent youth over the past 100 years. St. Gabriel's Hall currently cares for 205 boys, ages 13 to 18, most from Philadelphia. Included in the renovations is a new ranch style home for The Mitchell Program, a residential farm-based community for 24 young men in shorter term stays. The project also includes renovations to other residential units, roof replacements and kitchen renovations.

Kensington Transitional Housing and Community Center, Kensington, Philadelphia
In November 2003, $5.2 million project to be completed. 18 new units of transitional housing offering a safe haven for mothers and children moving from shelters. Community Center will be located at the site of the former Starlight Ballroom which has been abandoned for years and will include a new gymnasium and recreation space for the community as well as meeting rooms and office space.

St. Vincent's, Tacony, Philadelphia
Renovations costing $3 million are underway at this comprehensive, 40-bed emergency shelter for dependent, neglected boys and girls, ages 2-15.

St. John's Hospice, Philadelphia
Renovations costing $625,000 are underway at this 40-bed shelter for homeless men which provides housing and 6000 meals per month.

Mercy Hospice, Philadelphia
Renovations costing $325,000 are underway at this 50-bed shelter for homeless women and children.


CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Villa Saint Martha, Downingtown, Chester County
On March 27, 2003, Cardinal Bevilacqua dedicates the new Villa Saint Martha, the first supportive independent living project to be undertaken by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Villa Saint Martha offers independent living apartments as well as assisted living suites and a unit providing assisted living with memory support. Villa Saint Martha welcomed its first residents in January 2003. The 120 bed supportive independent living community in Downingtown, Chester County is adjacent to Saint Martha Manor, a nursing home which opened in 1989.
###

Contact
Donna Farrell
Broadcast and Media Specialist
215-587-3747