Saint John’s Sunday bulletin always includes information on Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School. Some may wonder why Holy Redeemer’s information is part of our bulletin. Holy Redeemer was founded from Saint John the Evangelist Church and still canonically a mission of Saint John’s. Holy Redeemer is an amazing missionary venture that came out of and still is part of Saint John’s remarkable history and present reality. Holy Redeemer is the first Catholic Church built in the United States specifically for Chinese Catholics. In 1939, Bishop (later Cardinal) Paul Yu Pin of Nanking, China, visited Philadelphia. Upon meeting Dennis Cardinal Dougherty and discovering that there was only one Chinese Catholic family in Philadelphia, the Archdiocese began evangelization and service in the Chinese Community Cardinal Dougherty had the wisdom to entrust this mission to a young priest, Monsignor William A. Kavanagh, who is remembered with great love at Holy Redeemer as the founder of the community. Monsignor Francis X Wastl, one of Saint John’s truly great pastors, worked also to establish Holy Redeemer Church and School with the support and care of Saint John the Evangelist Church. Holy Redeemer was, and still is, canonically part of Saint John Parish.
Undaunted by lack of money, Cardinal Dougherty made a personal gift of the money he received for his Golden Jubilee. He built Holy Redeemer Church and School which was dedicated on October 5, 1941. At the dedication, Bishop Yu Pin bestowed a Chinese name upon the school, “Pui Dok,” which means “nurturing values.”
The school thrived under the direction of teaching Sisters, the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity. The church was served, and still is, by the priests from St. John the Evangelist Church. Through the years, thousands of Chinese American children received their education at Holy Redeemer and thousands of Chinese Americans embraced the Catholic faith.
Since the mid-1980’s Mass has been offered each Sunday at Holy Redeemer in three languages--Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese and English.
In 1992, the Missionary Servants withdrew from Holy Redeemer and the school is now staffed by lay teachers and administrators. Holy Redeemer School is now fully accredited by Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, a remarkable distinction for this small, but truly excellent, school. Holy Redeemer’s biggest challenge
today is that the enrollment of the school has dwindled to about 135 students. Parishioners and school staff have begun a marketing effort to increase enrollment. Students of all races and religions are welcome at Holy Redeemer.
About three years ago, Father Joseph Jin arrived to pastor the Chinese speaking community. Under his leadership, the church continues to grow. The numbers attending Sunday Mass today are the highest in Holy Redeemer’s more than 80- year history. Holy Redeemer, a mission of Saint John’s, has a fascinating history and a hopeful future.
