Philadelphia Catholic school musters a meatball extravaganza for annual fundraiser  

One private Catholic school has found a unique way to fundraise. 

At Mother of Divine Grace Interparochial Catholic School, about 20 volunteers have prepared 5,000 large meatballs by mixing 300 pounds of ground beef with breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, garlic and eggs for its annual Italian Festival. 

Additionally, chefs have prepared 140 pounds of pasta, 300 pounds of peppers and onions, 200 pounds of sausage and 55 gallons of tomato sauce in the school’s largest annual fundraiser. 

The festival will occur in the school’s hallways and on its outside blacktop May 29-31 and June 5-7. 

It often raises over $100,000, helping the school continue to provide Catholic education for 160 students pre-K through 8th grade. 

“(The festival) is very important,” volunteer Fran Harrigan told Catholic Philly. “We’re a small school. We have devoted families. It’s an independent school so we rely on fundraisers. This helps keep our school open.” 

Beyond pasta dinners, the event will include carnival-style foods such as sausage and pepper sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, pizza and fried dough. It will also features children’s games and musical performances. 

Mother of Divine Grace Parish (MDG) was one of four Catholic parishes in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia that merged into St. John Paul II Parish in 2019. 

Although most of the recently combined parishes closed their local schools and put their students in Our Lady of Port Richmond Regional Catholic School, MDG wanted to keep its school open and independent even after the merger. 

Father James Olson at St. John Paul II Parish agreed to let the school’s proponents try to keep it open. 

Jane Lockhart, the school’s principal, received help from the Strategic Planning Assistance Team (SPAT), administered by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education. 

The program helps schools with business skills such as accounting, budgeting, marketing and development to become more financially sustainable. 

“Without SPAT we wouldn’t be here,” Lockhart told Catholic Philly. “I can’t say enough about it. 

“(SPAT) gave me and our staff and the families the confidence that it can be done,” she added. “We’re living proof that it does work. It takes some long days, but in the long run, look at us –  we’re here.”