Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is scheduled to visit Saint Mary Interparochial School in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia to celebrate Mass with the school community. The event will take place at Old Saint Joseph Church on October 30, 2025.

Reverend Francis Hannafey, SJ, Pastor of Old Saint Joseph Parish, and Reverend Paul Galetto, OSA, Pastor of Saint Paul Parish and Parochial Administrator of Saint Augustine Parish, will join Archbishop Pérez as concelebrants. These three parishes are among the 26 represented by students at Saint Mary Interparochial School.

The day’s events will begin at 9:15 a.m. with the Black Sweater Presentation for fifth grade students. This tradition marks their transition from lower to upper school and recognizes their new roles as role models and ambassadors within the school community.

Students from Saint Mary Interparochial will participate in the Mass as readers, altar servers, and presenters of offertory gifts. Music during the service will be provided by students along with Eric German, Business Manager of Old Saint Joseph, and Marianne Lipson, Cantor.

After Mass, Archbishop Pérez will meet with members of the newly formed Campus Ministry Club and tour the school facilities.

"Saint Mary Interparochial School was founded in 1782. Saint Mary is a fiscally independent Catholic elementary school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and provides an outstanding faith-based Catholic education. The school is located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district and serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade from neighborhoods throughout the city. Saint Mary Interparochial School challenges its diverse student body to grow morally, academically, and socially into passionate, confident, and Christ-centered leaders. Saint Mary Interparochial School was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2016 and 2023."