By Matthew Gambino • Posted July 19, 2018

Our Lady of Angels Regional School in Morton, Delaware County was heavily damaged in an overnight fire Wednesday, July 18.

News video on Thursday morning showed only the outer frame of a one-story, 1950s-era wing of the school still standing, with the roof and windows completely destroyed. The wing abuts a newer portion of the school that was mostly undamaged, thanks to a fire wall.

[hotblock]

The school is located on the campus of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, whose church was unaffected by the fire.

The fire was “a moment of deep sadness for parish and school families as well as the Catholic community at large in the region,” said Ken Gavin, chief communications officer for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, in a statement July 19.

He called it a blessing that no one was injured in the fire and praised the work of firefighters and first responders, “many of whom are alumni” of Our Lady of Angels School.

The regional school, formed in 2012 with students from Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Schools plus other surrounding Delaware County Catholic schools, enrolls 400 students taught by lay faculty and Sisters of St. Francis.

In order to open school on time in September and “to keep the entire school community together,” Gavin confirmed Thursday afternoon, July 19 that students and teachers will begin the new school year utilizing space at Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield, Delaware County.

Logistical details of the arrangement are still under discussion and will be communicated to school families soon, Gavin added.