Visitation BVM Parish
There is no missing the twin spires of Visitation Church as you drive down Lehigh Avenue in Kensington, Philadelphia.
Rising above abandoned houses and trash-strewn streets, Visitation stands as a visible sign of confidence, investment, and faith in a community that is often forgotten or dismissed as a hopeless cause. There is also no missing the fact that Visitation really matters to many people in the community- those who enter its doors weekly and those who have never stepped foot in the church.
One of the only anchor places in the neighborhood, Visitation has offered stability for over 137 years; the parish has been a continual presence through the education of thousands of school children, its monumental outreach efforts with an estimated annual impact of over $22 million, its role as a spiritual home for so many, and its work as an advocate for its neighborhood. Welcoming the outcast and the downtrodden, Visitation opens its doors as a place of safety and growth to all its neighbors. At the center of three convergent cultural groups, Visitation serves and works to unite Latino, Vietnamese, and Anglo communities that have traditionally remained segregated. The parish's school provides a personalized education to children in Kindergarten through eighth grade who would be unable to afford a quality education otherwise, giving them the hope of a future, meeting their special needs, and empowering them through learning. After school, four After Care Programs allow students time for extra help with academics as well as a safe haven until their parents are finished with work.
The parish's community center sustains Visitation's social outreach to the community, acting as a staging ground for town hall meetings, social gatherings, health fairs, and neighborhood clean-ups. Moreover, it is here that over a hundred families are given food each month from Visitation's food pantry, coats and warm clothing are provided when the winter sets in, furniture is distributed to new immigrants and single parents, and on late nights, women engaged in prostitution have a place to take refuge and seek assistance. Adult learners work towards earning their GED and mastering English as a second language through center-run classes, while high school and middle school youth find programs that enable them to play basketball, learn to cook, develop relationships, and grow community gardens in a safe environment.
The structure of the community center itself is a testament to the larger role Visitation plays in the revitalization of the neighborhood. The center brought new life to an abandoned, but locally well-known social hall, the Starlight Ballroom. The adaptive reuse of this neighborhood landmark further ensures that Visitation is a vital part of the neighborhood by creating a safe recreational space so desperately needed in the neighborhood. The physical renewal of the building transformed the corner of Kensington and Lehigh Avenues from an eyesore to a fully modernized community center.
Ultimately, Visitation is a place where hope flourishes and a community is grounded. Without a doubt, this place matters!
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