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Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center Celebrates Milestone with the Naturalization of its 100th Citizen

PHILADELPHIA, PA (11/01/2011) The Sisters of Joseph of Philadelphia today announced the milestone occasion of the SSJ Welcome Center’s 100th Citizen Carmen Rosales.

The SSJ Welcome Center, located in the Kensington area of Philadelphia, has been established to respond to the needs of newcomers in our neighborhood, community and country. Through the SSJ Welcome Center, the Sisters of Saint Joseph reach out to those in need by offering English classes, citizenship test preparation classes and guidance, computer skills classes, and a variety of social services. Focusing on the betterment of the community and the improvement of cultural integration in Philadelphia, the SSJ Welcome Center is devoted to the immigrant community of Philadelphia.

  

Carmen Rosales, the SSJ Welcome Center’s 100th Citizen, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico.  She came to the United States in 1991 and lives with her husband and two daughters. Her older daughter is a student at Chestnut Hill College.  Carmen came to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Welcome Center three years ago to study English and after mastering English she was ready to apply for citizenship and to begin her study of US History and Civics.  Thanks to the volunteers who tutored Carmen and her own determination Carmen passed her citizenship test and interview and became a naturalized citizen on October 28, 2011.

Persons interested in more information on the SSJ Welcome Center may visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thessjwelcomecenter.  

Text Box: Carmen Rosales Celebrates Becoming a US Citizen

 

St. Martin de Porres

Elementary School welcomes

a bright future

 

  

   Sister Nancy Fitzgerald and Mr. Jack Donnelly share this belief:

St. Martin de Porres

is a "jewel," a shining light, for

students in North Philadelphia.

   “This is an amazing day,” said principal Sister Nancy Fitzgerald as she greeted the student body assembled for a press conference held in the school auditorium on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

   “It is a wonderful day, for the Friends of St. Martin de Porres School Board, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, our faculty and staff, parents, guardians, Congressman Chaka Fattah, our pastor Rev. Stephen Thorne and our former pastor Rev. Edward Hallinan, Nancy said, noting that Father Hallinan could not be present.

   During the press conference, principal Sister Nancy Fitzgerald, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia Rev. Timothy Senior, Chair of Saint Martin de Porres School Board John F. “Jack” Donnelly and student leader Franklin Neblett signed papers marking the public announcement that Saint Martin de Porres is now an       independent Catholic   elementary school.

   Mr. Jack Donnelly,

Board Chair

of the Friends of St. Martin de Porres School, explained how the Board will oversee and support the school.

    Bishop Senior spoke of the event as an “exciting celebration for the Catholic Church of  Philadelphia,” and Chair of the Board, Jack Donnelly spoke of the Board’s goal of doubling current endowment and increasing scholarships.

   

 

Jack hopes that St. Martin’s will become a model for other Catholic schools.

Student Leader Franklin Neblett, Mr. Jack Donnelly, Bishop Senior, and Sister Nancy Fitzgerald sign as the new model becomes official.

   Sisters Catherine Gerald Kelly, Margi Savage, and Sheila Kennedy witness this

historic event.

   Nancy pointed out that while there has been no increase in tuition for the last three years, there has been significant improvement in students’ TerraNova Test Scores. She referenced the scripture passage, “To whom much is given, much will be required,” as she invited the student body to bring “head, heart, and soul” to every day’s effort to:

Stand up

and

Stand out!

 

   These students, who served as Greeters to welcome event guests, are definitely ready. They will Stand up and Stand out!.
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