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There will be a presentation about Padre Pio in St. Joachim Church on Saturday, September 23rd at 10 AM with Mass to follow. Cook out on the patio with children’s activities will wrap it all up. ALL ARE INVITED!!!
See details below.
The Friars are a Roman Catholic religious order of men who work in various ministries. Some serve in parishes. Others are at work at St. John’s Hospice down on Vine Street and one is a chaplain at Curran-Fromhold prison.
They had been living in West Philly but purchased the former St. Joachim convent at 1509 Church Street and have now moved in.
The residence is called a Friary and along with the Friars are postulants who are young men in the process of deciding whether they will join the order.
Early in 2017 there will be a daily Mass, Monday through Saturday, open to the public at St. Joachim Church. The times and other details will be made public as they become available.
Brother Kip Ledger, Guardian of the Friary (R) and the postulants at the St. Joachim Feast Day Mass held in July.
If you see any of the Friars or postulants in the neighborhood, say hello. They are a friendly group and are getting to know the community.
Father Thomas Higgins, Pastor of Holy Innocents Parish in Juniata Park, announced last Sunday that the former St. Joachim convent of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at Church and Penn Streets, had been sold to the Capuchins.
They will relocate the Padre Pio Friary from its present location in West Philadelphia to here in Frankford over the next few months as renovations to the building are accomplished.
Community concern about the future reuse of this building has been growing as it sat idle and was a target for vandalism. The likelihood that it might have become a recovery or boarding house was a possibility. The Capuchins are a good fit for the community and should be good neighbors. Welcome to Frankford, Brothers!
photo credit: St. Padre Pio via photopin (license)
