Father Edward J. Sourin founded the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute in December 1850. Since then, the Philo, as it is called, has focused on a particular mission: to support traditional and non-traditional Catholic education throughout the Philadelphia region.
The Sourin Award was created in 1960 to recognize individuals who have followed the example of Father Sourin in dedicating their lives to the implementation of their Catholic faith in their family lives, their businesses, and in their social activities. as a means to create a social space for Philadelphia’s Catholic immigrant families and through civic action in the work of building up the City of Brotherly Love.
Since 1959, the Philopatrian honors Father Sourin annually through The Sourin Award Dinner. This year’s award was presented to Archbishop Nelson J. Perez at the Union League on February 23. It is always a festive occasion but this year it was truly “A Philly Thing” when the Mummers showed up. Amber Edwards was there to commemorate the occasion with her photos.
