| In 1912 the first archdiocesan Office of Catholic Charities, later named the Catholic Charities Bureau, was established in Philadelphia by Archbishop Edmond F. Prendergast. While the Bureau met the needs of children’s service throughout the Diocese of Philadelphia at that time, services for adults, families of needy children and the elderly were lacking.
It was in 1958 that John Cardinal O’Hara realized the time had come to provide a solid financial support base for these expanding services and needs. It was in this year that the Catholic Charities Appeal was founded. Over $2.1 million was raised in the first appeal.
Today, the Catholic Charities Appeal funds over 80 agencies and programs throughout the five counties of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and raised an average of $10.3 million annually since 1995.
Coordinator for Saint Cecilia's Parish
Mr. Louis A. Galasso
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