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Coronam Fidelitas Merebit

 

Welcome to the Archbishop Wood Ministry Webpage!
Our motto, Coronam Fidelitas Merebit, is translated ‘Faithfulness Merits the Crown’.

Here at Archbishop Wood, we strive to merit a crown not of earthly glory and honor, but a crown that comes from faithfully accepting the gifts of Almighty God.  Our Lord gives us countless gifts, beginning with our own very life, and His gifts never cease.  Faith is God’s gift to us all to believe in Him, to believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior, and to become His disciples.  

We strive to live our faith, to be true to our faith, to be faithful, and in doing so, the Lord gives us the crown of being called a Christian.  At the heart of our school is faithfulness.  Faithfulness to the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in all that we say and do.  Our hope is that our students may come to realize the beauty of their faith, the joy a placing Christ at the center of their lives, and to receive a crown that cannot be seen, but the only crown that really matters!

Deacon Steve                                         Fr Flanagan

Deacon Steve Guckin                                                 Fr. Shane Flanagan
      Campus Minister                                                               School Chaplain

[email protected]                             [email protected]                                                       

 

 

Saint Carlo Acutis

Patron Saint of Archbishop Wood High School

Carlo

 

For more than sixty years, Archbishop Wood High School has been educating young ladies and gentlemen in the traditions of the Catholic Church, enhanced by academic, spiritual, service, and extra-curricular activities that enable students to be productive, responsible Christians in a rapidly changing world.

The Catholic Church has always held in deep reverence, the memory of devout men and woman recognized for their Christian faith and devotion leading to their canonization as saints.  The custom of rendering honor to the name of a saint and placing them as the advocates and intercessors of a particular group is a longstanding tradition.

On January 15, 2025, Archbishop Nelson J Perez, Archbishop of Philadelphia, entrusted Archbishop Wood High School to the patronage of Carlo Acutis.  Subsequently, Archbishop Perez celebrated a school wide Mass at Archbishop Wood on April 8, 2025 to publicly mark the dedication of our new Patron Saint.  

 

Carlo Acutis was a devout Italian millennial known for his deep love of the Eucharist and his use of technology to share his faith, particularly his website about Eucharistic miracles.  After his death from leukemia at age 15, his cause for sainthood progressed.  He was beatified in 2020 and Pope Francis officially recognized a second miracle attributed to his intercession in May 2024, paving the way for his Canonization by Pope Leo XIV on September 7th 2025 as the Catholic Church's first millennial Saint. 

 

 

Key Aspects of His Life and Faith

  • Devotion to the Eucharist:

Carlo called the Eucharist "my highway to heaven," attending Mass daily and spending time in adoration. 

  • Use of Technology for Faith:

He combined his skills in computer coding with his love for the Eucharist to create a website showcasing Eucharistic miracles, which he hoped would bring people closer to Jesus. 

  • Compassionate and Mature:

As a child, Carlo displayed unusual devotion and maturity, encouraging his non-religious parents to become more involved in their faith and standing up for classmates being bullied.  He also enjoyed playing soccer, PlayStation, making home movies, playing with his pets and hanging with his friends.

  • Offering His Sufferings:

Before his death from leukemia, he offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church, believing that everything in life, including suffering, has meaning. 

 

His Path to Sainthood

  • Beatification:

He was beatified on October 10, 2020, by Cardinal Agostini Vallini on behalf of Pope Francis, becoming the first millennial to be beatified. 

  • Miracles:

The process for sainthood requires at least two recognized miracles.  A miracle involving the healing of a young Brazilian boy from a rare pancreatic disorder was confirmed in 2020, leading to Carlo’s Beatification. 

Pope Francis recognized a second miracle in May 2024, involving the miraculous healing of a Costa Rican student after a brain hemorrhage, completing the requirements for Carlo’s eventual Canonization. 

 

  • Canonization:

Carlo was originally scheduled to be canonized in April 2025.  However, this date was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis.  Consequently, Carlo Acutis was canonized on September 7, 2025, along with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati by Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first millennial to be canonized.

 

His Legacy

  • Inspiration:

Carlo Acutis is seen as an example of holiness in the modern, digital age, showing that faith can be integrated into all aspects of life. 

  • Patron Saint:

Carlo Acutis is consideration a patron saint of the National Eucharistic Revival in the United States, The Internet (known as “God’s Influencer”) and Archbishop Wood High School, serving as a role model for young people. 

 

 

The Campus Ministry Program at Archbishop Wood has four Main components:
1. Sacramental Life

2. Prayer Life
3. Service to Our Neighbor
4. Respect Life Group

SACRAMENTAL LIFE: The Sacraments are Jesus Christ’s loving gifts to us.

A)The Celebration of the Mass
      • The entire school assembles in the auditorium for Mass – once a month.
      • Daily Mass is celebrated each day at 7:00AM in the Saint Katherine Drexel Chapel.
      • Daily Mass is also rotated during the day when the School Chaplain is in.


B) The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
          1. Penance Services are held for every Theology Class during Advent and Lent.
          2. Confessions are also available on Thursdays when the School Chaplain in in.
          3. At any time by appointment.  See Deacon Steve to arrange to see a Priest.

 

PRAYER LIFE:  Speaking and Listening to God - Learning to Live with God. 
A)The Morning Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance are offered each morning by the Campus Minister at the beginning of Homeroom.
B) Each Class begins with Prayer.
C)Guided Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Live Vertical, takes place at least once a month in the Auditorium or Saint Katherine Drexel Chapel. The Eucharist is placed on the Altar from 1st Period Exposition until Benediction at 8th
D) Various Prayer Services are held at different times throughout the school year, which may include The Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Liturgy of the Hours, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, May Procession and Novenas.
E)Retreats
      • Each grade level is required to complete a Class Retreat during the school year. These Class Retreats may consist of Prayer, Adoration, Mass, Guests Speakers, a Service Project and an opportunity for confession. Class Retreats may be held on or off campus.
      • Kairos Retreats for Seniors and Juniors:  A special 4 Day, overnight Retreat held at an area Retreat Center, which is led by Adult and Student Leaders.  See the Kairos Page for further details.
Service to Our Neighbor – Whatsoever you do for others, you do for Me.
    • The Community Service Corps (CSC)
      The Community Service Corps (CSC) is a group of students dedicated to serving our neighbor inspired by the words of Jesus: “What you did to the least of my brothers you did it for me” (Mt 25:41). Hearing Jesus’ words “you did it for me” confirms that service to our neighbor is service to Jesus.  In serving our neighbors, our students grow in appreciation and thankfulness for their own gifts and talents and experience the joy of giving.  Truly our student’s faith is strengthened by living out their faith in service to the community.  The CSC group is involved in various activities and all are welcome to participate.  See the CSC Page for further details.

 

    • The Ministry Club – Faith In Action Today (I.A.T.)

The purpose of the group is to meet regularly to discuss and live out the Catholic Faith in a predominantly anti-Catholic world.  Activities are designed to be peer student led and facilitated by Adult Moderators.  As Mary is our first Patron Saint, so the acronym F.I.A.T. reminds us of Mary’s “Yes!” to God and how she can help us with our own Faith.  F.I.A.T. members will also serve the school community as altar servers, readers, choir, ushers, etc.

Additionally, our members will be invited to share their time and talents by volunteering to serve at school events, class retreats, Adoration, etc. F.I.A.T. will host our own events (Praise/Worship) and encourage peers to attend youth group events regionally, nationally and at their home parishes.

 

Respect Life Group

 

The Respect Life Group is a group of students dedicated to promoting the proper respect for all human life.  All human beings are created in God’s image and likeness and possess a special dignity given to them by God alone (cf. Gen 1:27).  Indeed, Jesus himself has described His whole mission as a mission to give life – “I came so that they may have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10).  

 

Inspired by the truth that God is the author of life and thus all people have a right to life, a right not given to them by a government, but given by God himself, these students promote the protection and respect for all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  At the heart of every believer is a grateful heart – grateful for the gift of life.  In thanksgiving for their many blessings, our students stand up for those who are most vulnerable, for those who have no voice, and defend their lives.  Among the topics discussed are abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, among others.  All students are always welcomed to participate.