Pastor recognized by Archdiocese By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE
CS&T Staff Writer
Ask the students from St. Christopher School why their parish pastor, Msgr. Joseph P. Garvin — a.k.a. “Father Joe” — deserves to receive an award, and they’ll say it’s because he gave the go-ahead for the school to buy a new water fountain for the gymnasium.
Or, because of the way he relates to students who wear braces, since he, himself, wears them.
Or, because of his general respect for all the students and the school.
Whatever the reason, they all agree he deserves recognition.
On the first day of Catholic Schools Week, Msgr. Garvin received that recognition, in the form of a certificate of appreciation from the Archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Education.
“It’s great — he deserves it. He does work hard,” said 14-year-old Ted Bordelon, an eighth-grader and St. Christopher’s student council president.
“In working with him, we’ve requested different things and he’s always complied. He’s really nice about it,” Bordelon said.
Case in point: “The water fountain in the gym didn’t work anymore, so we asked for another one,” Bordelon said. Now, Msgr. Garvin and the student council are working on getting that fountain.
Bordelon said he appreciates Msgr. Garvin’s consistent consideration of the needs of others — from the small and very local effort of providing a new gym water fountain, to the school’s work raising money for relief of the tsunami victims on the other side of the world.
That compassion flows from Msgr. Garvin’s mantra for his students: “Believe in God and follow in His footsteps.”
Fifth-grader Tripp Kenney, 11, said he is also happy that Msgr. Garvin has received the honor: “It’s cool, because out of all the other schools, he got it.”
Added Christine Kopaczewski, 12, a seventh-grader and student council representative: “He always waves and says ‘hi.’ He talks to the kids. He’s very friendly and down-to-earth.”
After Msgr. Garvin got braces in recent months he let all the students who wear braces know he can relate to them in a special way, she said. And in fact, Msgr. Garvin, himself, says he’s sought the advice of those students in dealing with braces-related issues — such as bracket replacement.
Msgr. Garvin was honored for his involvement with the school, and his support for its students, when he was presented with the archdiocesan certificate of appreciation, during the noon Mass he celebrated Sunday, Jan. 30 at St. Christopher’s Church.
The award was a surprise. Mary E. Rochford, the Archdiocese’s assistant superintendent for elementary educational services, came to the church under the ruse that she would speak briefly at the Mass as part of St. Christopher’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week.
“The staff of the Office of Catholic Education is always on the alert to examine, and make certain, our [201] parish elementary schools are places where the children are receiving quality, Catholic education,” Rochford said. “We must steep our children in the faith, so that all of the talents they will develop as they are academically educated will be used by them in this world of ours.”
Msgr. Garvin accepted the certificate on behalf of the parish and school, commending St. Christopher’s principal and every one associated with the school.
Patricia Kilbride, the school’s principal, said Msgr. Garvin consistently works to advance Catholic education at St. Christopher’s — even making personal time to work with children who need extra guidance.
“He sees that the students are key to the future of the Church,” she said. “He truly does.”
Mary Tremper, the vice-principal, added enthusiastically, “It’s a wonderful choice. Everybody’s proud and happy for him. He’s most humble about everything.”
Msgr. Garvin, 57, has been a priest for nearly 32 years. He, himself, is a product of Catholic schools.
Before he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in 1965, he graduated from Incarnation of Our Lord School and La Salle College High School.
A former Secretary for Catholic Human Services, and a former director of Catholic Social Services, after his ordination Msgr. Garvin was first assigned to be a parochial vicar of St. Christopher Parish — a post he held until 1979. He returned there as pastor in 1997.
“There’s only one reason we have a school at St. Christopher’s, and only one reason that Catholic schools exist anywhere — and
that is so that every student will have a shot at deepening the faith,” Msgr. Garvin said in his homily at the Jan. 30 Mass.
Referring to the Gospel reading for the day, about the Beatitudes, Msgr. Garvin told the congregation that students in Catholic schools are taught to “go the extra distance — to seek out the kid
who doesn’t have any friends, and be nice to him.”
“We have a wonderful school at St. Christopher’s. We have a wonderful parish,” he said in his concluding remarks. “And the only reason ... is because of good families. God Bless you.”
Contact CS&T staff writer Christie L. Chicoine at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org
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