Bishop Herbert A. Bevard, the newly ordained and installed fifth Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and former Pastor of Saint Athanasius Parish in the West Oak Lane section of Philadelphia, will be the celebrant and homilist at his farewell Mass on:

Sunday, September 14, 2008
11:00 a.m.
Saint Anthanasius Parish
Limekiln Pike and Walnut Lane
Philadelphia (West Oak Lane)

Bishop Bevard was ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

Following the Mass, a reception will be held at the Saint Athanasius-Immaculate Conception School Hall. For more information please contact the Saint Athanasius Parish Rectory at 215-548-2700.

Background Information on Bishop Bevard:

Father Bevard served as Assistant Pastor at several parishes within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1972 to 1983, including Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Media, Saint Robert Parish in the city of Chester and Saint Richard Parish in Philadelphia. He was also Newman Chaplain at Pennsylvania State University from 1972 to 1973 and at Widener University from 1973 to 1978. He was assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensalem from 1983 to 1989. He also served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anastasia Parish in Newtown Square from 1989 to 1994. At that time he became Pastor of Saint Athanasius Parish in Philadelphia. He was named a Monsignor with the title of Chaplain to his Holiness in 2003. Cardinal Rigali named Monsignor Bevard as Vicar for Philadelphia-North in 2007.

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Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747