About the Catholic Heritage Center...

• state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility for the preservation and exhibition of Catholic art, history and culture

• will include interactive museum, special exhibits gallery, an archival and research center and many educational programs

• will serve as a home for the Archdiocesan archival collection now located at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

• will preserve and foster the sacred arts and fine arts collection of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Archdiocesan art collections evaluated by outside experts have been deemed among the richest and most valuable collections of their kind in the United States

• will provide an opportunity to educate Catholic families and students about their heritage

• will make the history of the Catholic Church more available to those of all faiths

Mission of the Catholic Heritage Center...

• to renew the faith of practicing Catholics, evangelize the unchurched, educate school children and adults, preserve our cultural heritage and inspire a spirit of pride in church and community

• to answer the call of Pope John Paul II, who challenged the world to preserve the rich history of the Catholic faith through art and culture

Acquisition of the Building...

• purchased by Archdiocese of Philadelphia in November 1996

• purchase price for building and property - $1.3 million

• Archdiocese became aware of the property after Old Saint Joseph's Church expressed an interest in the office building parking lot for additional parking for Sunday Masses

Historical Significance of the Site...

• adjacent to Old Saint Joseph's Church, Willings Alley, where Mass has been celebrated since 1733

• near Old Saint Mary's Church, 246 South 4^th Street, founded in 1763, first cathedral of the diocese of Philadelphia; George Washington attended services while participating in the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and during his second term as President of the United States (1793-1797)

• Quaker Almshouse located at 320 Walnut from 1729 to 1841. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used the setting for the reunion of the fictional Evangeline Bellefontaine and Gabriel Lajeunesse

Goals of the Catholic Heritage Center...

• to invite the general public to experience Catholicism from the 1700's to the present

• to demonstrate the challenges and opportunities that American democracy and religious freedom presented to Catholics who settled here

• to encourage the sacred arts and foster awareness of the role of the arts in the expression of religious belief

• to display artifacts from Archdiocesan parishes, which tell their stories and preserve their history for future generations

• to bring religious education to children in a user-friendly, interactive way that relates the history of the Philadelphia Catholic Church to their own families and communities

About the Archives...

• currently located in the basement of Saint Martin's Chapel at Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

• conditions at the present location not in accordance with fundamental principles of preservation, i.e. proper ventilation, humidity, lighting and temperature control

• contain documents and artifacts that define and preserve the history of Catholicism in Philadelphia as well as material from across the country, including collections from the American Catholic Historical Society

• move to Catholic Heritage Center will insure long-term preservation

• relocation to historic district of Philadelphia will increase public accessibility and attract new visitors

Cost and Funding of the Project...

• project cost estimated at $15 million (additional $5 million endowment for operational expenses is planned)

• $1 million had been designated for the preservation of archdiocesan archives fromCatholic Life 2000, a $100 million archdiocesan campaign which began in 1991 to assist Catholic schools, struggling parishes and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary as well as to preserve the history of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia

• no other archdiocesan funds will be used for the project

• additional funding will be solely through the generosity of individuals, foundations, grants and corporations

Catholic Heritage Center

Exploring Yesterday, Celebrating Today, Shaping Tomorrow

Questions regarding contributions of artifacts or monetary donations should be directed to call

215-965-4CHC (4242). Callers will be asked to leave a message and will be contacted.

Office for Communications

03/07/01