Local Soccer Stars Shoot R. C. to Glory
SOUTH PHILLY Strikers Juan Cora, Mark Casasanto, Alex Hartzag and Joe Franchine are leading Roman Catholic to success on the soccer field.
Vol. III No. 39 (Issue 103)
Epiphany Festival Set For Big Kickoff The fourth annual Italian Festival at Epiphany of Our Lord School is set to be the biggest yet, according to event organizers. 13th & Jackson Streets will be transformed into Little Italy this weekend as the church hosts their annual festival on Sep. 24-26. There will be delicious food, games of chance, children’s activities and amusements, as well as street vendors, live music, and an auction with fabulous prizes. Tony Mecca (who was last year’s Battle of Bands winner), DJ King Arthur, and the Hegeman String Band are among the (Cont. Page 2)
It’s been 12 years since Roman Catholic HS raised a banner that read “Catholic League Soccer Champions”. That singular title in 1997 was the only time the boys based out of Broad & Vine Streets would call themselves the best in the Catholic League, arguably, the most physically demanding high-school soccer league in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In its storied history of academics and athletics, it’s hard to imagine that in almost 120 years of existence only one Cahillite team of “footballers” earned the right to be called champions.
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Columbus Day Festival Set For Marconi Plaza
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If Coach Ray DeStephanis has his way, all that will soon be seen for just what it is: ancient history. But DeStephanis, who arrived at Roman in February of 2007, knows he has big shoes to fill. The owner of that sole title in 1997 was legendary coach and his predecessor at the helm, Pat Cain. “It’s definitely been a challenge,” DeStephanis said of his quest to turn the program around. “I know we are on the right track and you can see the program picking up steam each year.” (Cont. Page 7)
YOUNG Matteo De Jess offers prayer to Padre Pio during last annual Festival at Annunciation BVM. De Jess said he prayed every day for his mom to be cured of cancer, and he believes the intervention of Padre Pio helped Photo by Lee Buchanan his mom beat disease earlier this year! (For more pictures of Padre Pio Festival at Annunciation see page 6.)
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Pols Reach Out A Helping Hand For The Needy by R. George Linton A number of South Philadelphians can take advantage of government benefits, but herein lays a problem: residents don’t know the benefits are out there for them. That’s why Councilwoman Anna Verna, her colleague Bill Greenlee and State Rep. Kenyatta Johnson joined Bryant Baptist Church Pastor D. Omar Epps in hosting “A Helping Hand Workshop”. “We are working together to insure Philadelphia residents do not needlessly go without services that could dramatically improve their quality of life,” Greenlee said, explaining the event. “Due to present economic conditions, some people are in real need, so this is our at(Cont. Page 2)
Parade Canceled For Lack Of Funds by Rory McGlasson The 53rd Columbus Day parade will not take place Sunday, Oct. 11. With two weeks left, there were not enough contributions in hand to permit parade preparations to go ahead. Instead, all emphasis will be placed on celebrating the holiday at the annual Marconi Park festival which takes place at Parade’s end. Though financial responses came in as a result of an appeal published in the Philadelphia Public Record last week and letters seeking funds sent out by the Columbus Day Parade committee, it was not enough to bridge the gap to reach the $40,000 needed by the parade. A change in City policy a couple of years ago forced organizers of various ethnic parades to come up with a share of the costs once underwritten by the City. (Cont. Page 2)
LENDING A helping hand is Councilman Bill Greenlee at information workshop last week.
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