A Neighborhood Parish on Township Line Road
Saint Dorothy Parish has long been a presence on Township Line Road in Drexel Hill, a residential community in Delaware County just outside Philadelphia. Today the parish serves roughly 2,250 families, gathered around a sanctuary that welcomes people in times of joy and stands with them in times of sorrow. From its earliest days the parish has tried to be what its pastor calls a place that is "nourishing and enriching both spiritually and emotionally" and a center of worship for Catholics across the neighborhood.
The parish church itself was built with accessibility in mind. A ramp entrance near the front of the building on the rectory side leads directly into the nave, and two handicap-accessible pews - one just inside the ramp door, another in front of the Blessed Mother statue on the left side of the church - make it easier for those using wheelchairs or with limited mobility to take part in the liturgy.
The Mass Schedule
Mass is celebrated every day of the week. On Saturday evening the parish gathers for a 4:00 PM Vigil Mass, and three Sunday Masses follow on the next morning at 7:30, 9:30, and 11:00 AM. The 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on YouTube for those at home or away. Daily Mass is offered at 7:00 AM Monday through Friday and at 8:00 AM on Saturday mornings; on national holidays the daily Mass is celebrated at 8:00 AM. Holy Days bring three Masses, at 7:00 and 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is heard every Saturday from 8:30 to 9:15 AM in the church, with face-to-face confession available in the rectory by appointment. Communal Penance Services are held in Advent and Lent in preparation for Christmas and Easter.
Other devotional rhythms shape the week. The Rosary is prayed publicly every morning immediately after the 7:00 AM Mass in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine. Eucharistic Adoration fills Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. During Lent, the Stations of the Cross are prayed together, and in October the parish gathers for an afternoon Liturgy of the Sick in which those who suffer from chronic illness or are anticipating surgery are anointed with Holy Oil.
The Seven Sacraments Made Accessible
Saint Dorothy walks families through every sacramental milestone. Baptism is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, immediately after the 11:00 AM Mass. Parents preparing for the baptism of their first child attend the Pre-Jordan program, a one-session class held on the first Sunday of the month in the church annex (under the church, reached by the exterior stairs nearest the school). Classes are about thirty minutes long, and children and godparents are welcome to attend.
First Eucharist is received by second graders on the first Saturday in May. Confirmation is administered each fall to students in seventh grade, with preparation beginning in fifth grade; adult Confirmation takes place once a year at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul with the Cardinal Archbishop. Marriage preparation is handled through the online Pre-Cana program at phillycatholicmarriageprep.com, which the parish requires of all engaged couples - the parish no longer hosts an in-person Pre-Cana. Funeral and anointing-of-the-sick services are arranged through the rectory, and priests bring Communion every two months to those who cannot attend Mass in person.
Saint Dorothy Parish School and PREP
The parish school, St. Dorothy Parish School, offers a Catholic education for children in Pre K-3 through eighth grade. The school mission places God at the center of every phase of elementary education and pairs a strong academic program with extracurricular activities, forming "caring, responsible, and educated citizens" in cooperation with parents. Parents who want more information can call the school at (610) 789-4100.
For children in public school, the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) provides religious instruction from kindergarten through eighth grade. Its goals are to teach the basic truths and traditions of the Catholic faith, build a community among faculty, students, and parents, develop a habit of prayer that leads to Christian service, and equip parents as the primary religious educators of their children. Registration is handled by the Director of Religious Education.
Family to Family: Practical Mercy Within the Parish
One of the most distinctive ministries at Saint Dorothy is Family to Family, a parish-wide network of practical and prayerful support begun by Father Murphy in the fall of 2006. It started as a meal program for families dealing with serious illness or accident and has since grown to encompass sympathy cards, Mass stipends for families in need, flowers for parishioners who have lost an immediate family member, Christmas Giving Trees, a monthly rosary and prayer chain, and bi-yearly care packages sent to college freshmen - a particularly popular extension called College Outreach packages snacks, Dots memorabilia, letters of encouragement, and religious items to students at their campus mailing addresses. Parents are asked to submit those addresses to Helen Stranick each fall.
The Family to Family model treats every household as both a giver and a possible receiver, building the kind of "Christ-centered community" the parish talks about. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion also visit homebound parishioners on Sundays, and Communion is brought every two months by the priests themselves.
Music, Lectors, and the Choir Loft
The Adult Choir welcomes men and women who can read music or simply love to sing. Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 in the church choir loft. The choir sings at the 10:00 Mass on alternating weeks and at parish celebrations such as Confirmation, Christmas Eve, and Holy Week, under the direction of Sr. Thomasina Marie, RSM. Cantors, lectors, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion round out the liturgical ministries; their schedules rotate by season and are published on the parish website.
Feed the Hungry and the Respect Life Committee
Outreach to the wider community runs through several long-standing programs. The Feed the Hungry Community Outreach Project picks up day-old bread, pastries, and other products donated by Panera's Havertown and Lawrence Park locations and delivers them to food banks and shelters across Delaware County. Food for the Needy accepts donations in green bins at every church entrance, with food distributed once a month to local families in need.
The Respect Life Committee keeps a pro-life information table at the main church entrance, coordinates monthly meetings with neighboring parishes, partners with the Elizabeth Ministry and Mother's Home to support pregnant women, sponsors Masses for respect-life intentions, and gathers each October for a prayer service at the parish's own memorial between the church and the rectory. Members also attend the PA March for Life in Harrisburg and the annual Life Chain along Baltimore Pike in Springfield on the first Sunday in October.
Landings, Courage, and the Parish Nurse
Saint Dorothy hosts two programs aimed at accompanying Catholics in particular circumstances. Landings is a pastoral outreach for those who have drifted from regular practice of the faith and want to find their way back to the sacraments; Courage is a spiritual support group for men and women seeking to live in accordance with Catholic teaching on human sexuality, with confidentiality assured.
A parish nurse coordinates health-related initiatives, including the popular Hoops for Hope weekend - an around-the-clock basketball marathon featuring teams from grades K through 12, men's and women's divisions, and family time slots. Hoops for Hope combines athletic competition with cancer awareness: the first $5,000 collected helps offset tuition for St. Dorothy families affected by cancer, with any remainder donated in memory of parishioners to the American Cancer Society. The weekend features Hearts for Hope tributes, a Nurse Ministry display on cancer prevention and resources, Ryan's Case for Smiles pillowcase sewing, and an Alex's Lemonade Stand, with a food court serving nightly specials.
CYO Athletics and the Parish Gymnasium
Saint Dorothy fields Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) athletic teams, drawing young people from the parish and the school into competitive sports. The parish gymnasium, listed among the parish facilities, supports both the CYO program and parish events, and the Hoops for Hope marathon rotates between the gym and the parish school. Scrip gift cards for ACME, ShopRite, and Giant are sold at the rectory office Tuesday through Friday as another way to support the school and parish through ordinary household spending.
The Patron Saint: Dorothy of Caesarea
The parish takes its name from Saint Dorothy, a young Christian woman of Caesarea in Cappadocia (modern Turkey) martyred on February 6, 311 AD during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Refusing to sacrifice to the Roman gods, she was condemned to death. On the road to her execution a young lawyer, Theophilius, mocked her faith and asked her to send him fruit and flowers from the garden of her heavenly bridegroom. She agreed; at the moment of her death an angel appeared with a basket of three apples and three roses, which was delivered to Theophilius, who recognized that such things could not grow on the arid Cappadocian steppe, converted on the spot, and was himself later martyred. Saint Dorothy - whose name means "Gift of God" - is the patron saint of brides, florists, and gardeners, and her story is reflected in the church's deep devotion to Mary and to the sacraments.
Parish Leadership and the Sisters of Mercy
Saint Dorothy is pastored by Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Prior, with Rev. Msgr. Daniel J. Kutys serving as senior priest and Rev. Richard Maisano assisting on weekends. Rev. Michael D. Murphy, who began the Family to Family ministry, is pastor emeritus. Deacon Michael Fohner assists at the parish. Religious of the Sisters of Mercy (RSM) serve in several roles: Sr. Thomasina Marie directs liturgy and music, and Sr. Alice Gray oversees evangelization. Mrs. Sue Phelan is the Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Karen Tomasetti serves as school principal, and Mrs. Karen Dina is the business manager. A 2026-2027 Parish Council of elected parishioners works alongside the clergy on the life and mission of the parish.
Joining and Visiting
New parishioners can register through the rectory or by submitting the Join Our Parish form online. The rectory office is open Monday through Friday, and the parish website lists directions, a property map, and a general inquiry form. Confessions are heard Saturday mornings, daily Mass is offered every weekday, and the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed for those who wish to follow along from home. Online giving is available through PayPal at paypal.me/stdotsDH and through Venmo at @st-dorothy. The parish bulletin, posted regularly online, lists the week's Mass intentions, ministry schedules, and parish events.