Representatives from multiple Catholic ministries met at St. Philip Neri parish in the Bronx last week, as renovations of neighboring St. Philip Neri School continued ahead of the start of classes on September 7.

Workers were busy installing new windows, electrical outlets, and a security system when The Good Newsroom visited on Wednesday, August 2.

The parish, the school, and new housing being built and operated by Catholic Homes New York, a Catholic Charities of New York partner, are becoming part of a pilot project on the Grand Concourse, the St. Philip Neri Catholic Education and Family Center, to allow the multiple ministries that serve the community to properly allocate resources so that families can access the services they need in a coordinated manner, representatives said. 

Along with Catholic Charities, Archcare, the continuing care community of the Archdiocese of New York is expected to play a role at the center.

Members of the St. Philip Neri community were asked what services would most benefit them. Those services include a local food pantry and Spanish-language, after-school activities for students.

At St. Philip Neri School, initiatives such as the Archdiocese of New York Drug Abuse Prevention Program (ADAPP) and Catapult will continue for students, along with evidence-based counseling for violence prevention and drug prevention, representatives said.

The school’s new academic dean, Regan Haney, assumed her new role on August 1, joining the school’s new principal, Amy Rowe, who was hired in May.

“We are bringing together all the ministries of the archdiocese — rich, robust services that are faith-filled, academically excellent, and Christ-centered as we accompany families on their journey in the city of man to the city of God,” said Michael Coppotelli, deputy superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York.

Founded by migrant laborers from Italy, St. Philip Neri parish celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year, under the leadership of its pastor, Father Dan O’Reilly. St. Philip Neri School was established later to serve the educational needs of the local Catholic community.

The first of two new Catholic Homes New York buildings is expected to open in September.