By Gia Myers • Posted December 10, 2024

Two leaders from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were recognized for promoting peace, unity, and equity by the City of Philadelphia as part of the Mayor’s Clergy Appreciation Day on Nov. 20.

Kathia Arango, director of the Office for Hispanic Catholics, and Father Joseph Okonski, pastor of St. Athanasius Parish in West Oak Lane, were among 20 people from Philadelphia’s faith community – including Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith traditions among others – to be awarded citations by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on behalf of the Mayor’s Commission on Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs.

Born in Paraguay, Arango has spent the last decade overseeing the archdiocesan Office for Hispanic Catholics, and she was a speaker at last July’s National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. She lives in New Jersey with husband Andrés, who leads Hispanic ministry and evangelization for the Diocese of Camden.

Arango works to support 37 parishes where Spanish is spoken in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, connecting Hispanics Catholics to Catholic Social Services including food pantries and family assistance, as well as working with the larger Philadelphia community on other social issues including immigration.

Her office also connects Hispanic Catholics with spiritual resources, including parish prayer groups and social ministries, where they can feel supported and find friendship.

“As a Catholic Church, we’re working with the different communities to try to accompany them,” she said.

Arango says she has no idea how the City of Philadelphia became aware of her work in the local Hispanic community, except to say that Hispanic community leaders may have contributed to this awareness through the city’s Office of Latino Engagement, newly created by Mayor Parker during her first 100 days in office.

“Though the recognition is for Kathia, I believe the recognition is for the Office for Hispanic (Catholics) as a team, because my work is possible thanks to the support of my bishop and the staff of the office,” Arango said.

Arango was referring to Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Cooke, as well as retired Bishop Edward Deliman, who have pastoral responsibility for the Spanish-speaking Catholic community that is spread over many parishes in the Philadelphia region. Both bishops attended the Nov. 20 ceremony to support Arango.

Also honored was Father Okonski, who received both a citation and a Liberty Bell Award, the highest honor the city bestows for service to the community, in recognition of the spiritual and social services offered at St. Athanasius Parish.

Ordained in 1990, Father Okonski was appointed pastor of St. Athanasius Parish in 2008 as the only pastor in the city of Philadelphia who is also a son of his parish.

Father Okonski provides spiritual leadership at two churches, St. Athanasius and, starting in 2013, St. Benedict in Germantown.

Along with Principal Mona Bradwell and faculty, he leads St. Athanasius School, the only  parish grade school serving an all-Black community.

Father Okonski describes the school as thriving, with an enrollment of 224 students, and even provides a K-8 robotics program funded by the Foundation for Catholic Education.

The parish additionally provides a community food pantry housed at St. Benedict, which takes in more than 10,000 pounds of food per week and distributes food to some 400 families per week.

The three components of St. Athanasius Parish – the churches, school and food pantry – are what make it “visible and active and caring in our community,” Father Okonski said.

“I don’t consider it a personal award,” said the priest. “Any award I receive is only possible because of all the volunteers and the many people who work with me.”

Some of the St. Athanasius Parish staff attended the Nov. 20 ceremony to support Father Okonski, as well as Father Anayo Nna, in residence at St. Athanasius, and Father Francis Foley, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in the Gray’s Ferry section of the city. Father Foley was born and raised in St. Athanasius Parish.

At a two-hour City Hall ceremony, both Arango and Father Okonski received formal citations signed by Mayor Parker, a Baptist who grew up in West Oak Lane, which commended their “exceptional leadership and service” and their “vital partnership with local government in building a thriving, inclusive, and resilient city.”

The Mayor’s Clergy Appreciation Day recognizes Philadelphia’s spiritual leaders for helping to make Philadelphia a safer and more successful city and ensure a brighter future for all residents.