Our Lady of Confidence Day School celebrates 50 years

By LOU BALDWIN
CS&T Staff Writer

The late Auxiliary Bishop John J. Graham was surely smiling down from heaven March 28 at St. David Church, Willow Grove. On that day, Our Lady of Confidence Day School, a special education school, was celebrating its 50th anniversary with a Mass and dinner at the parish.
Our Lady of Confidence takes its name from the favorite Marian devotion of Bishop Graham, who, as archdiocesan superintendent of schools, was its founding father and constant supporter.
He used to tell the story of hearing confessions at the school, which was, at the time, located at 10th and Lycoming streets.
A little chap confessed his very minor sins, and then-Msgr. Graham gently told him to tell God he was sorry. The child turned to the altar then turned back with two tears streaming down has face. “That was an act of perfect love, perfect contrition,” Bishop Graham said.
For most of its existence, Our Lady of Confidence was a freestanding facility, but since 1998, in keeping with current philosophy of the education of the mentally challenged and developmentally delayed, it has relocated to St. David School, Willow Grove for elementary grades and Cardinal Dougherty High School for the secondary grades. The upper grades, which educate young people until age 21, also include “life skills” programs of nonacademic training.
“We integrate in religious and social functions but with separate classrooms for everything else,” explained Sister Francis Christi, who has been principal of OLC for the past 15 years, and has about 30 years total service to the coeducational school.
Our Lady of Confidence, she said, receives about 70 percent of its funding through the Catholic Charities Appeal.
“People need to know these schools exist and are being supported by the Church.” she said.
In an era when prenatal testing reveals most birth defects in advance, Sister Francis Christi has great admiration for parents, who, knowing theirs will be a special child, resist pressure for abortion.
“People take a leap in faith in God when they have these children, it’s a lifetime commitment. These children won’t go away to college, they won’t get married at 25,” she said. “Schools like this ease the burden for the parents.”
Schools such as Our Lady of Confidence are a wonderful mission for the Church, she said, and the children have the opportunity to be immersed in a Catholic atmosphere through the daily instruction as well as prayer and sacraments.
“Loving, caring and learning,” is a mantra for Our Lady of Confidence, and parents of children enrolled report it’s not a mere slogan. One mother described the school as a place where special children can learn without experiencing anxiety.
“I’m so pleased that the Archdiocese has provided a special education for my special child. I would never consider sending her to another school,” she commented.
The host schools, St. David and Cardinal Dougherty, are just as pleased to have our Lady of Confidence on their campus.
Father Carl Janicki, school minister at Cardinal Dougherty, noted how the OLC children always seem to be so happy. “They always smile, and offer a high five, it reminds me of God’s simple blessings,” he said.
During a pre-liturgy ceremony at St. David Church, Sister Francis Christi read brief highlights for each year as proud students bearing electric candles stood and tinkled small bells.
Principal celebrant of the anniversary Mass was Msgr. Richard T. Bolger, pastor of St. David and a longtime supporter of Our Lady of Confidence. Former principals and faculty were honored at the celebration, which was attended by students families, friends and alumni. Also honored was Bishop Graham, whose plaque was accepted by a niece.
The presence of Our Lady of Confidence at St. David’s School has been a real blessing to the parish, and there is a great deal of interaction between OLC and St. David students, according to Msgr. Bolger.
“Our children will benefit by this, maybe later they will be more committed to the dignity of every human life and the whole Gospel of Life. It’s touching to see how our children respond to these children,” he said.
For further information on Our Lady of Confidence Day School, call (215) 657-9311

Contact Lou Baldwin at (215) 587-3672 or lbaldwin@adphila.org