WHAT: Construction of Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford, Montgomery County will reach a milestone on Thursday, April 2 with the completion of steel framing for the new state-of-the-art facility. To commemorate the occasion and mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, will bless a cross that will be raised over the building to its place of installation on the new school.

At the blessing ceremony, two steel beams will also be presented that have been signed by the freshman and sophomore classes of St. Pius X High School and Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School. The beams demonstrate the unity of the two school communities as they prepare to merge into one student body when Pope John Paul II High School opens in September 2010.

WHEN: Thursday, April 2, 2009, 9 a.m.

WHERE: Future Site of Pope John Paul II High School
181 Rittenhouse Road (at S. Township Line Rd.)
Royersford, PA 19468 (Montgomery County)

WHO:
" Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia
" Dr. Richard McCarron, Secretary for Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
" The Honorable Mike Vereb, State House of Representatives, 150th Legislative District
" The Honorable Thomas J. Quigley, State House of Representatives, 146th Legislative District
" Students from St. Pius X High School and Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School

KEY VISUALS:
" Cardinal Rigali blessing the cross that will be installed at the new school
" The raising of the cross over the building to where it will be installed
" Presentation of two steel beams that have been signed by the freshman and sophomore classes of Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School and St. Pius X High School

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ABOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has 269 parishes serving almost 1.5 million Catholics. Currently there are 182 parish and regional elementary schools, 20 high schools and five schools of special education in the Archdiocese, located throughout Bucks, Chester , Delaware , Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. For more information about the schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia please visit www.keepingfaithinmind.org.

Contact
Kevin Mulligan
Assoc. Director for Communications
215-587-3747