HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP (Thursday, September 11, 2008) - Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, announced today that the new Archdiocesan high school proposed for Hilltown Township, Bucks County, will be named Lansdale Catholic Regional High School. This is the second of two new, state-of-the-art high schools planned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The first, Pope John Paul II High School in Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County, will open in 2010. Lansdale Catholic Regional High School, projected to open in 2012 pending appropriate funding, is designed for 1,200 students on a 68-acre tract at the intersection of Limekiln Pike and Rickert Road in Hilltown Township. Since announcing plans for these schools in January 2007, the Archdiocese has expanded its commitment to the Hilltown Township facility by acquiring two more properties, adding five acres to the Hilltown Township site and designating greater frontage for the school on Limekiln Pike.

The name of the school reflects the strong desire of the local community of Lansdale Catholic High School, located in Lansdale, Montgomery County, to retain their identity and traditions. Similarly, Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, Chester County, retained its name when the school was relocated from West Chester in 1998. In June 2008 an online survey was opened to members of the Lansdale community to gauge public opinion on a variety of potential names for the new school. More than 2,000 votes were cast in the survey, with an overwhelming 72% of respondents selecting Lansdale Catholic Regional High School as their top preference. The existing Lansdale Catholic High School facility will close when the new school opens in Hilltown Township, and students will be transferred automatically to Lansdale Catholic Regional High School.

"The future growth of our schools and our archdiocese is rooted in the traditions of academic excellence and Gospel values we carry with us today," said Cardinal Rigali. "Families in Bucks and Montgomery Counties have excellent options now when it comes to Catholic education for their children. The opening of Lansdale Catholic Regional High School allows the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to serve even more students in the area. "

The new high school features more than 29 state of the art classrooms; five science laboratories; three computer laboratories and a library/media resource center. Additionally, the school will have a television studio; a large fine arts center featuring two art studios and choral/band rooms; a large chapel, a 432-seat cafeteria; a 1200-seat auditorium; a 1000-seat main gymnasium, an auxiliary gymnasium and a fitness center. In support of athletic programs, plans also exist for six competition level sports fields, a running track with an all-weather surface and six competition level tennis courts. Lansdale Catholic Regional High School will be fully air-conditioned and feature modern security access and surveillance systems.

In August 2008, Cardinal Rigali appointed Mr. James W. Casey as President of Lansdale Catholic High School and Mr. Timothy P. Quinn as Principal. Mr. Casey was promoted from his previous position of Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs. Mr. Quinn, a 1995 graduate of Lansdale Catholic, most recently served as the school's Assistant Principal for Student Services. Both administrators will focus on the day-to-day operations of Lansdale Catholic while preparing for the opening of the new high school.

Additional information for Lansdale Catholic Regional High School and all of the schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia can be found online at www.KeepingFaithinMind.org.

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Donna Farrell
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215-587-3747