ith the solemn blessing of the new high school acquired by St. John the Baptist's parish, Manayunk, through its pastor, the Right Rev. Monsignor Eugene Murphy, the Catholic boys of Manayunk, Falls of Schuylkill and Roxborough will be afforded a higher education which will fit them for the business of life and lead to college and university courses, as well as that necessary religious training to prepare for the life hereafter. His Eminence, the Cardinal, officiated at the blessing of the new school on last Sunday afternoon, September 8th, at 4 o'clock, following a civic demonstration held by the members of St. John's and adjacent parishes as a form of welcome to their chief Shepherd.
In the spirit of charity and zeal for religion, as pointed out in an address made by the Cardinal at the blessing of the building, Monsignor Murphy has thrown open the doors of the new high school to the boys of the neighboring parishes, so that none might be denied the privileges of a sound Catholic education. His Eminence warmly congratulated the Right Reverend Pastor of St. John's, and extended his thanks both to Monsignor Murphy and his loyal parishioners, expressing the hope that the example afforded to the diocese by the acquisition of this high school will be quickly followed by other parishes. The address of the Cardinal will be found appended.

A TRIUMPHAL PARADE

Thousands of people had lined the streets of Manayunk during the progress of the parade, which bore in triumph the chief pastor of a devoted flock through the principal streets to the school. The Cardinal was escorted to the new building by a committee of the parishioners headed by Monsignor Murphy and the Right Rev. Monsignor M. C. Donovan.
The parade was a veritable pageant. The time-stained brick of factories was hidden beneath gorgeous scarlet, blue, and gold of flags and banners. Across the street at short intervals, was flung bunting emblazoned with words of welcome. Thousands of participants, from the young children garbed in white and red, to the oldest members of St. John's and adjacent parishes, marches in even rank through the streets, which were a symphony of color. Virtually every house displayed flags or was decorated with appropriate emblems.
Those who participated in the parade were as follows: Mounted police, flag bearers, St. Monica's Junior Holy Name Band, High Hat Marching Club, escort and guard of honor, parochial school children, Girls' Alumanae Association, Boys' Alumni Association, Epiphany Naval Battalion and Band, Holy Name Society, Band, men of the parish, Sodality of the B. V. M., and women of the parish, St. Mary's parish, St. Bridget's parish and large detachment of members of the Holy Name Society headed by the Right Rev. Monsignor W. J. Walsh and the Rev. Joseph W. McMahon, Holy Family parish, St. Josaphat's parish, St. Lucy's parish, boys and girls of the high school, Junior Holy Name Society, the Merriwell Boys' Club, and the Ladies T. A. B. Society.
John F. Gallagher acted as chief marshall and was assisted by the following aides: James J. Boyle, F. J. Armbruster, William Bogle, Charles Bogle, John Manning, Charles Dougherty, John Flemming, William Duffy, William Everly, Theodore Hosephros, Patrick McCarry, Joseph Stimmler, James Fleming, John McGill, William Wall, James Fagan, Joseph Makem, Frank Higgins, and Frank McIlvaine.
The route of the parade was as follows: assemble on Rector Street and proceed to Main Street, thence to Walnut Lane to Pechin Street and to the building at Seville and Pechin Streets.

GREAT THRONG AT SCHOOL

The immediate vicinity of the school was the scene of a gathering of more than ten thousand people when the parade broke rank in front of the building. Here the throngs listened with close attention to the addresses and punctuated with applause the mention of the names of those who had contributed to the development of Catholicity in Manayunk and made it the stronghold of the faith that it is said to be. . . .

-- as initially reported in The Catholic Standard, September 16, 1922

"That photograph is of the High School dedication ceremony and dates from Saturday, September 8th 1922. It was published in the Catholic Standard and Times 8 days later on Sunday September 16th. The building at Seville and Pechin Sts. was much older, and had been acquired by St John's parish for use as a high school. I'm not familiar with its former use. My father Leon Stimmler (1905-1964) graduated from there in just 3 years (skipped 2nd year) in the first graduating class, in that building, in June 1923 and lettered in 3 sports, baseball, football and track. I think prior to that time, they were using what later would be exclusively the grade school building on Rector St., just up the street from the church. In the History of St. John's Parish 1831-1931, grandfather Joseph Stimmler (1867-1943) was listed on page 370 on the parade marshall's committee and presumably one of those on the dias with Cardinal Dougherty for this very dedication ceremony. No doubt there were many Stimmlers and Hennessys in the crowd shown in the photo that day." From an e-mail by Paul T. Stimmler dated January 5, 2003