NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
September 9, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Cristina Diaz
Media and Community Relations Manager
215.753.3684

Chestnut Hill College Prepares for World Meeting of Families

Philadelphia, PA- In preparation for Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families, Chestnut Hill College will be marking this historic and spiritual event through numerous celebrations. The College’s annual Mission and Legacy week will provide opportunities for the College community and the public to engage in the event.

Chestnut Hill College Events in Celebration of Pope Francis’ Visit to Philadelphia

• Sept. 9, 2 p.m., Main Chapel of Kieran Hall, Opening Liturgy,: As part of the Mass, the College will dedicate papal portraits of St. Pope John XXIII and Pope Francis, which will join the College’s portrait of St. Pope John Paul II as a testament to the Catholic tradition and foundations of the College.
   
• Sept. 10, Campaign for Mercy and Justice: The College will begin its involvement in the Campaign for Mercy and Justice’s advocacy and public witness projects through a letter writing campaign to Congress advocating for an end to poverty in keeping with Pope Francis’ call to mercy and justice. The College will also be participating in the Mary Undoer of Knots public art project, a special effort in honor of the pope’s favorite devotion to Mary by signifying the burdens each person carries on strips of fabric tied into lattices in a downtown art display.  Open to the public.
   
• Sept. 16, 4 p.m., Gruber Theater, Brother Mickey McGrath, OSF “The Message of Pope Francis”: This lecture and multimedia presentation, including Brother Mickey’s art, will offer a chance to reflect on the pontiff’s message of Hope and Joy, with a special focus on Pope Francis’ call to young people.  Open to the public.

As the World Meeting of Families begins, so will the College’s Mission and Legacy Week, which runs from September 23 through September 30. This annual event, designed to celebrate the College’s heritage as a sponsored work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia, will draw on the theme of active, inclusive love as emphasized by both Pope Francis and the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
 

• Sept. 24, 8:45-11:a.m., East Parlor, Viewing of Pope Francis’ Address to U.S. Congress: The Viewing will also feature a pre-speech prep with Jacki Reich, Ph.D., coordinator of the Political Science Program, live Twitter monitoring during the speech by political science professor, Jeffrey Carroll, and post-address conversation and discussion. Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to take part in this lively discussion.
   
• Sept. 24, 2 p.m., East Parlor, “A Culture of Encounter: Leadership Inspired by Pope Francis.”: Krista Bailey Murphy, Ph.D., dean of student life, will present a lecture titled “A Culture of Encounter: Leadership Inspired by Pope Francis.”
   
• Sept. 25, Day of Service: The College will join in a Day of Service to mark the Pope’s visit in solidarity with the community. Two opportunities will be available. A group will serve at St. Joseph Villa with those suffering cognitive disability and diminishment through guided technological exercises on iPads.  Another group will launch the College’s Midnight Run program, a weekly service initiative to collect and distribute leftover food from local restaurants to area soup kitchens. 
   
• Sept. 27, 3 p.m. Mass: The College will celebrate its weekly Sunday Mass in Carlino Chapel followed by a broadcast of the Papal Mass on the Parkway at 4 p.m. in the East Parlor.
   
• Sept. 29, 2 p.m., East Parlor, “Doing the Laundry and Dirty Shoes: Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis,” Chris Lowney: Chris Lowney, renowned author of the book, “Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, Lessons from the First Jesuit Pope,” will present a lecture titled, “Doing the Laundry and Dirty Shoes: Leadership Lessons from Pope Francis.”
   
• Sept. 30, 2 p.m., East Parlor, “Reflecting on the SSJ Charism and Mission,” Katherine Hanley, CSJ: The College will celebrate Founders’ Day, a commemoration of Chestnut Hill College’s founding in 1924 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, with a talk given by Katherine Hanley, CSJ titled, “Reflecting on the SSJ Charism and Mission.” This talk will explore the connection between the mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the message being preached by Pope Francis and the call today to live a mission of active, inclusive love.  Open to the Public.

For more information about these events contact Joannie Cassidy, SSJ, director of campus ministry, at 215.248.7095 or cassidyj@chc.edu. For more information regarding the lectures offered by Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, or Chris Lowney, contact Susanne Harkins, assistant to the dean of the school of undergraduate studies at 215.248.7019 or harkinss@chc.edu.

###

About Chestnut Hill College

Celebrating 90 years of tradition and risk, Chestnut Hill College is a four-year coed Catholic college in the Ignatian tradition that offers a traditional liberal arts undergraduate program as well as accelerated undergraduate degrees, master’s and doctoral programs. The College has been rated by US News & World Report as among the best master’s universities in the North, as among the best Northeastern colleges by The Princeton Review, and has been classified as selective by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Since 1924, the College has offered a rigorous curriculum that provides students with a broad background in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The goal of Chestnut Hill College has been to prepare students for life’s challenges by helping them to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and socially.