CatholicPhilly.com staff report • Posted October 26, 2021

SS. Cyril and Philomena Catholic School, an Independence Mission School in Delaware County, was dedicated Oct. 5 during a ceremony led by Bishop Michael Fitzgerald along with students, school administrators and civic officials.

The school community and members of the public witnessed the renovated facilities that opened this academic year following a move of the program from St. Cyril School in East Lansdowne to St. Philomena School, located less than a mile away in Lansdowne.

St. Cyril became an IMS Catholic school in 2012 one year before the parish closed and merged with St. Philomena. With the relocation of the school program this year to the St. Philomena building, the new joint saints’ name was chosen.

[hotblock]

The new school building includes a separate gym and cafeteria, allowing for more space for students and activities, air-conditioned classrooms, updated well-insulated windows and new floors and lighting.

Another highlight of the move is that public transportation will be more easily accessible for the SS. Cyril and Philomena School community with a SEPTA stop on the corner of the school property. Local school districts will also continue to provide bus service for students.

“Independence Mission Schools is constantly seeking out ways to strengthen the Catholic educational experience for our students,” said Bruce Robinson, president and CEO of Independence Mission Schools.

“By moving St. Cyril into the St. Philomena building, not only are we providing a markedly improved setting for learning, but we are also bringing a Catholic school back to the grounds of the parish, which has been without one since 2011, and pairing an active parish with our engaged school community.”

St. Philomena’s pastor, Father Paul Castellani, has served as a spiritual adviser to St. Cyril School for many years, and he will continue to partner with the school to help revitalize the community’s spiritual identity and religious practice.

Vision Academy, the charter school currently leasing the St. Philomena school space, is purchasing the St. Cyril campus from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and will be moving into that space next school year.