Father Judge athletes join Director of Institutional Advancement Brian Patrick King and President Fr. Joe Campellone for the groundbreaking ceremony at Ramp Playground. Photo by Michelle Alton.

The rain couldn’t keep Father Judge administrators, city officials and students athletes away from Ramp Playground Wednesday.

As the city slid into the holiday break, the group celebrated the ground breaking of the Ramp Playground Renovation Project across the street from the school’s doors. By spring, Ramp will have two new synthetic turf fields, dual energy efficient lighting, exterior & interior fencing, sod/seed for non-turf areas, a walkway for fans/players between fields and scoreboards at each field. continue reading »

Chestnut Hill College President Sr. Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, and Father Judge High School President Fr. Joe Campellone celebrate their signed agreement with the help of the Father Judge Crusader.

Fr. Joe Campellone and Sr. Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, couldn’t have dreamed up a better fit. The two — and many of their colleagues, came together last night to sign a formal agreement allowing Chestnut Hill College to hold evening classes at Father Judge High School.

“I’ve always been a proponent of lifetime learning,” Campellone, president of Judge, said at the event. “We’re really excited.”

The agreement, which began informally at the end of August, brings adults from around the Northeast to Judge two nights a week for evening classes as part of Chestnut Hill College’s continuing education program.

“I think its’ a marvelous opportunity for us to have a presence in this area of Philadelphia,” Vale said of the partnership. “I think we can provide an invaluable service to the people of this area.” continue reading »

An aerial view of Father Judge's bigtop circus tent. Photo provided by Father Judge High School.

Father Judge, along with the Retired Police, Fire & Prison Guard Association, hosted a circus Tuesday.

The event was run by Philadelphia’s retired civic servants as a thank you to those who’ve contributed to the association over the years. With two afternoon performances and one in the evening, the circus was hard to miss, especially given the two-story tent in the main parking lot and elephants roaming about.

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More than 900 people attended the fifth-annual Taste of Northeast Philadelphia to sample food from local vendors. Photo by Christopher Wink.

Northeast residents came together Saturday night for a 30-course meal, live music and gift basket raffle. It was the Taste of Northeast Philadelphia, a yearly event hosted by Father Judge High School, which invites local vendors to set up shop in the cafeteria and meet their longtime (and potential) customers.

Father Joe Campellone, president of Father Judge, calls the fundraiser a “celebration of our neighborhood,” something he started five years ago, based on a similar South Philadelphia event. Taste of Northeast grows each year, with more vendors and more people. Campelone said he expects to raise between $40,000 and $50,000 this year — money that will support Father Judge.

Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Father Campellone, a slideshow and more from the event. continue reading »