"Holy Redeemer Chinese Church," Object Id 004956, The Robert and Teresa Halvey Collection

Members of the Catholic Chinese community using the St. Benedict's Hall at 15th and Race for catechetical instruction and youth programs.

The story behind the building of a strong and vibrant Chinese Catholic community began in 1939 when Archbishop Paul Yu Pin of China visited Philadelphia.[1] He stayed at St. John’s Rectory, just south of Chinatown, and wanted to address the Chinese population. However, at the time there was only one Catholic Chinese family in the entire area.[2] In response to this and under the guidance of the Sisters of the Holy Trinity, who did social work in the area, Cardinal Dougherty gave permission to open a catechism center on 15^th Street. The Archdiocese also set up a chapel at the CYO headquarters at 18^th and Arch to be used for Sunday worship. After the first year, nine members of the community converted to Catholicism, with 58 joining the following year.[3]

Construction of Holy Redeemer

With the increase in membership, Msgr. Kavanagh, in charge of missionary work, wished to build a church for the Chinese community. Henry Dagit and Sons, who built many churches in Philadelphia, such as St. Francis de Sales and St. Malachy’s, worked as the architects.[4] The church was dedicated on October 5, 1941 by Cardinal Dougherty and Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-Sin of Peking.[5] The church was established as a branch of St. John the Evangelist and has since grown to include a school and a convent. By 1966, the Catholic community had expanded, with 649 baptisms being performed as well as 86 marriages.[6]

“Cardinal Dougherty with Cardinal Thomas Tien Ken-sin at Holy Redeemer Church,” https://omeka.chrc-phila.org/items/show/6971

However, it was at this that time the existence of Holy Redeemer was threatened by city plans for the creation of the Vine Street Expressway. The parish's 25^th anniversary book shows the community was preparing for the destruction of the church when it stated that “the buildings do not constitute the holy reality we call a parish… the real Holy Redeemer is made up of all the people.”[7] However, there was immense pushback from the Chinatown community to the plans, which lead to the creation of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation to save the church and other parts of Chinatown. After numerous town hall meetings and protests, including occupying buildings to stop demolitions, the State of Pennsylvania was eager to resolve the problem.[8] Officials offered the Archdiocese one million dollars to move the church and also tried to redesign the project to spare the church but such a plan would have left Holy Redeemer isolated from the community it served.[9] Due to this, the Archdiocese and the community were not interested in such a move. After a;most 20 years of delays and negotiations, in 1983 construction began on a smaller version of the expressway saving Holy Redeemer.[10] The parish's members have continued to fight for the protection of the community being involved in successful efforts to block the construction of federal prison and a sports stadium within Chinatown.

Robert Halvey, The Catholic Standard and Times, (February 15, 1973), Catholic Historical Research Center

Holy Redeemer has continued to grow and thrive, serving as a bedrock in the Chinese community. The church has provided community programming including a free health clinic and English language classes to all members of the Chinatown community.[11] The school, open to both the Catholic and non-Catholic communities, offers both American and Chinese education, with English, Mandarin, and Cantonese being taught. [12]   Having recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary, Holy Redeemer looks to continue its role as a center for Catholic life in the Chinese community.

• [1] Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School: A Quarter of a Century, (1966), Parish History Collection, CHRC.

• [2] Ibid.

• [3] Ibid.

• [4] Opening of the New Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School, (1941).

• [5] Holy Redeemer: A Quarter of a Century.

• [6] Ibid.

• [7] Ibid.

• [8] “Wrecking Halted In Philadelphia,” New York Times, (August 5, 1973), 49, http://www.nytimes.com/1973/08/05/archives/wrecking-halted-in-philadelphia-chinatown-families-protest.html

• [9]  Letter from Cardinal Krol to Governor Shapp, June 8, 1973, Cardinal Krol Collection, Box 162a.

• [10]  Mary Yee, “The Save Chinatown Movement: Surviving Against All Odds,” Pennsylvania Legacies (May 2012), https://hsp.org/sites/default/files/attachments/save_chinatown_movement.pdf

• [11]  Lou Baldwin, “Chin Helping Chinatown Expand,” Catholic Philly, (April 6, 2011), http://catholicphilly.com/2011/04/news/local-news/chin-helping-chinatown-expand/

• [12] ibid.