Our Lady of Grace (OLG) school kicks off the 2022-2023 school year celebrating a century of life. Founded in 1908, OLG plans a year-long celebration to honor 100 years of excellent Catholic education in Lower Bucks county.
Education was very important to Rev. Richard P. Phelan, a young priest from Ireland who in 1922 was serving the community of Langhorne as interim pastor of Our Lady of Grace parish. With the approval from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the dream of opening a school became a reality. A three-story house across from the church with 12 rooms was purchased and converted to a school and convent.
On September 8, 1923, OLG opened its doors for the first time, with a staff made up of four Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. OLG school welcomed 70 students between first through eighth grades in their inaugural year.
The legacy of the school continued to grow, as well as the student body. Enrollment in 1939-1940 reached 150 students. The school community was outgrowing their original 12 room school building. Fr. Phelan’s vision for the school had expanded, so he wrote to the Archdiocese concerning the school’s overcrowded conditions and the need for building a new one. In order for the Archdiocese to approve such an undertaking, the parish had to be in better financial shape. In July of 1939, Fr. Phelan kicked off an effort to raise $25,000 over the next 15 months as a start for the money needed for the new school. By the end of 1940, the parish was debt free, but the building of a new school was challenged by many other factors.
As the school approached its 25th anniversary in 1948, construction finally broke ground on the new school building. At this time, enrollment reached 320 students for the 1949-1950 school year, with an additional 150 students in the Christian Doctrine classes. On October 2, 1949, His Excellency, Most Reverend Hugh L. Lamb, DD, VG laid the cornerstone and blessed the new parochial school building. The new two-story building included a cafeteria and spacious classrooms to accommodate the growing number of students.
As housing construction continued in Penndel in 1951, OLG was again experiencing growth. As the parish expanded beyond Penndel, transportation to the school became a big issue. In July of 1954, the parish purchased its first school bus. In September of that year, permission was granted to begin construction on the gymnasium that Fr. Phelan worked hard to get added to the school.
Enrollment in the parish school hit its peak in the early 1960’s when more than 1,000 students were enrolled. At that time, some classrooms had up to 61 students in them. In October of 1997, the IHM sisters announced that it would be their last year teaching at the school due to the decreasing number of sisters left. As class sizes grew smaller, the quality of education and community of family spirit remained.
Today, OLG celebrates a century of pride and a future of promise. Throughout the 2022-2023 school year, OLG plans to celebrate and reflect on the last 100 years with multiple events, including: the 100-year kick off mass on September 11 at 10 a.m., a Time Capsule Burial & Tree Planting on October 12 at 9 a.m., a Gala celebration on June 2, and a closing mass with the Bishop of Trenton on June 4 at 10 a.m. OLG invites the surrounding community to join the celebration throughout the year.
“For 100 years, OLG has had an unwavering belief in a rigorous, Christ-centered education. OLG provides a transformative education, preparing students to meet the challenges of their future educational endeavors and to be disciples filled with the zeal of the Gospel. It is grounding to be a part of this rich history but humbling to steer OLG towards its next 100 years,” said Principal Eric Harper.
To learn more about Our Lady of Grace School or if you have questions regarding the 100-year celebration, please visit olgschoolpenndel.org or call 215-757-5287.
About Our Lady of Grace
Founded in 1923, Our Lady of Grace is a Catholic, co-educational elementary school in Penndel, PA for children in Pre-K through eighth grades. The mission of Our Lady of Grace school is to cultivate each child’s unique God-given gifts and talents by upholding the highest academic standards while instilling in all students a spirit of devotion and service in the Catholic tradition. Our Lady of Grace provides a safe and vibrant environment where the community is family. Our Lady of Grace is a member of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is accredited by the Middle States Association. To learn more, visit www.olgschoolpenndel.org.