And now for something new: MBS

As in Most Blessed Sacrament. You know, the parish I've gotten more emails on than just about any other. Haven't heard from them in a while, so how about a special return engagement from the parish that won't die?

Former parishioner Thomas Kildea writes in with some reminiscences and some questions as well.

PCP:

I attended Most Blessed Sacrament Grade School

during the late 1960's and early 1970's.

I was saddened to hear that the Parish has been

consolidated into St Frances deSales.

The history of MBS and its students along with the

enrollment rankings at its peak recently sparked some

discussion among friends.

My memories would suggest that MBS's student population

reached its apex during the late 1960's when an annex was

built to handle an anticipated overflow.

Sadly, I remember, the Kingsessing neighborhood along with

new student enrollments began their swift decline shortly

thereafter.

Was MBS ever the largest parochial elementary school in

Philadelphia? Where did it stand in national rankings?

Who were some of its more famous and infamous attendees?

Are any of the Clergy or Sisters still active in the Church. Sisters

Conchita(?) and Thomasina plus Father Kelly come to mind as

memorable influences during my childhood.

Sometimes I cry when recalling how swiftly things changed in the

vibrant neighborhoods surrounding the seemingly monumental

fortress towering above 56th St.& Chester Ave. Fond recollections

of MBS and my attendance from grades one through seven are

forever etched into my daily thoughts.

Any help with my requests will be appreciated.

You and a lot of people, Thomas. It never stops being sad, even more so considering the ease with which such things can swept aside by the time and tide of progress.

As to your questions, I can tell you that MBS was once the largest parochial school in the world. As to famous / infamous attendees and specific staff, I'll let the readership field this one.

If anyone knows, feel free to chime in.

Now Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

I'm not quite settled into my new digs, but I'm close enough that we can haul this thing out of spacedock. What do you say we get back to business?

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I just don't have enough opportunities to use that picture, you know?

Now that JC's on board, let's ease back into some things with a mailbag special, courtesy an anonymous fan.

Hi there-

I enjoyed your website today- very glad to see the work you have done and are doing.

I used to live across the street from St Rita's, or at least part of it, that housed the homeless and had Bingo several nights a week back in the late 1970's-early '80's. I read your section about St Rita's with special interest. You posed the question "Who is Lucas E Burke?"

I did some research- he was an attorney (Esq) and was noted for his financial work in particular. He's the guy who made St Rita's possible. Attached please find 2 vintage articles about St Rita's mentioning him. He died in 1886 leaving his siter to handle his estate and she died around 1900, so how all this got hashed out I don't know but it finally led to St Rita's getting the money after both were well-gone.

The question in, err, question comes from #6 on the St. Rita of Cascia images. You know, back when I had the energy to provide witty captions for all of my pictures.

You can view the articles below (click to enlarge):





It's a funny thing, really. Mr. Burke died some 20 years before the completion of the church, but his will still provided for the purchase of the land and the construction. In a time when so many parishes struggle financially, it's bittersweet to remember a time when people were far more generous--even from beyond the grave.