The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces that Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, has appointed Mr. Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr. as Secretary for Catholic Human Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Mr. Sweeney is the first lay person to hold the post and succeeds Monsignor Joseph A. Tracy, whom the Cardinal appointed as Pastor of Saint Stanislaus Parish in Lansdale. Mr. Sweeney had been Deputy Secretary and Chief Executive Officer for Catholic Health Care Services (CHCS). As Secretary for Catholic Human Services, Mr. Sweeney will oversee Catholic Social Services and Catholic Health Care Services, the Office for Community Development and Nutritional Development Services.

Mr. Sweeney said, "I am honored and humbled in being named by Cardinal Rigali as the new Secretary for Catholic Human Services. The programs and facilities comprising this Secretariat have a long and illustrious history of care, compassion and healing; deeply rooted in the mission of the Church in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This appointment is both a privilege and an opportunity to continue to live my faith through my work."

Mr. Sweeney has been part of Catholic Human Services for the past 23 years beginning at St. Francis Country House in Darby, Delaware County where he was Director of Finance and later an Assistant Administrator for Support Services and Finance. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of CHCS in its administrative offices in Lansdale, Montgomery County and Deputy Secretary for Catholic Health Care Services since November 2004. Mr. Sweeney has a B.S. in Accounting from LaSalle University, an M.B.A. from Duquesne University and a license in Nursing Home Administration. He is a member of the Finance Committee of Catholic Social Services and is on the board of Sacred Heart Manor and the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in Yardley. Mr. Sweeney and his wife Agnes live in Richboro, Bucks County.

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Donna Farrell
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215-587-3747