The Archdiocese of Philadelphia convened its annual Back-to-School Pep Rally on September 28, launching the 2026-27 academic year with a focus on the enduring legacy of faith-based schooling in the region.

Held at Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, the gathering brought together hundreds of students from elementary and secondary institutions across the five-county jurisdiction. The event served as both a welcome for the new semester and a commemoration of the 175th anniversary of Catholic education within the archdiocese.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez attended the rally alongside administrators from the Office of Catholic Education. Their presence underscored the hierarchy’s continued commitment to maintaining a robust network of parochial schools that serve families throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.

The milestone anniversary highlights more than a century and three-quarters of institutional continuity in providing religious instruction alongside secular curriculum. As the school year begins, the archdiocese emphasizes the role these institutions play in forming students intellectually and spiritually.