Philos
honor Cardinal’s leadership
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
It is fitting that Philadelphia’s Catholic Philopatrian Literary
Institute chose the archdiocesan bicentennial year to bestow the organization’s
prestigious Sourin Award on the chief shepherd of the Archdiocese, Cardinal
Justin Rigali.
“The Cardinal was chosen,” Philopatrian president John J.
Kelly Jr. states in the program book citation, because “his dedication
to Catholic education, his clear teachings on Catholic doctrine and his
leadership of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are inspirational to all
Catholics.”
In remarks before a record crowd of about 420 on April 1 at the Union
League of Philadelphia, Kelly expanded on that statement. He told the
guests at the Philopatrians’ award banquet: “We honor Cardinal
Rigali tonight for his service to the Church, in keeping with his vocation.
We also honor the other priests, [religious] sisters and brothers, who
have served our Archdiocese and have done so for many years.”
In accepting the award, Cardinal Rigali thanked the Philos for their tribute
to the priests, religious and him.
“I am so grateful and humbled to serve as your Archbishop …,”
the Cardinal said. “A great gift of Vatican Council II was the gift
of understanding the role of the laity in the Church. This assembly tonight
is in a very special way an expression of that life. … Tonight we
gather as the people of God, and it is really extraordinary.”
The Sourin Award has been presented by the Philos for the past 48 years
to a distinguished list of honorees that includes cardinals, governors,
mayors and judges. It is named for Father Edward J. Sourin, the dynamic
third pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church. Father Sourin, who was
ordained in 1832, organized the Philos on Dec. 22, 1850 — the same
year he became pastor of St. John Parish.
The purpose of the institute was to provide a practical education for
mostly illiterate Irish and German Catholic young men, so they could better
themselves in life. Father Sourin, who was the first president, left the
diocesan priesthood for the Jesuits and eventually moved on to other assignments.
As time passed, the original Philopatrian’s purpose became less
pressing and the institute evolved into Philadelphia’s premier Catholic
social club, as it remains to this day.
Nevertheless, the Philo, which considers itself the nation’s oldest
Catholic lay organization, honors Father Sourin’s memory by emulating
his example.
“Most people know how to read these days,” said Philo vice
president David L. Altamore. “In order to stay with tradition, we
raise money for scholarships, which we give every year.”
Jim Murray, cofounder of the Ronald McDonald House, was the toastmaster
for the event. Co-chairs were James A. Fitzsimmons and William R. Sasso,
who gave the presentation address.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.