Documentary about Rev. Bill Atkinson to air on PBS
RADNOR » The world television premiere of “extraORDINARY / The Bill Atkinson Story,” the inspiring documentary film about the first quadriplegic priest to be ordained in the Catholic Church’s history, will be aired on PBS station WHY Y/Philadelphia on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 5 p.m. in celebration of All Saints Day.
“extraORDINARY/The Bill Atkinson Story” chronicles one Philadelphia man’s inspiring life, from tragedy to potential sainthood. Hospitalized and near death as a teenager, viewers will be able to follow his incredible journey through rehabilitation and recovery to becoming the first quadriplegic priest in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history. Father Bill, as he was fondly known, went on to positively influence the lives of so many individuals. He conducted baptisms and weddings as a priest and taught at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill from 1975 until 2004, educating and motivating students as a teacher.
Born in 1946, Rev. Bill Atkinson, OSA, was a native of Upper Darby, where he attended St. Alice Elementary School and then graduated from Bonner. He spent a year as a postulant at Augustinian Academy in Staten Island, N.Y., and then entered the Order of St. Augustine as a novice at Our Mother of Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., in 1964. It was there that his life-changing accident happened on Feb. 22, 1965.
On a cold day, Atkinson was tobogganing with his fellow novices when his toboggan hit a tree and he broke his spine, leaving him a quadriplegic. He was hospitalized in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., then spent a year at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. Although he had limited movement only in his head, neck, shoulders and arms, he was determined to continue his studies to become an Augustinian priest. He came to St. Mary’s Hall at Villanova University, at that time the Province’s Collegiate House of Formation, where he began his novitiate once again in 1969. He professed his simple vows; then in 1973, he professed his solemn vows. Throughout these years, a group of Augustinians cared for Atkinson who occupied a motorized wheelchair.
In 1974, nine years after his disastrous accident, Cardinal John Krol ordained Atkinson to the priesthood. Because Atkinson was a quadriplegic, Pope Paul VI had to make a special dispensation for the ordination, making Atkinson the first quadriplegic priest.
The documentary is executive produced by WorkShop Content Studios’ CEO and Philadelphia native Tom Farrell (“Basketball Or Nothing/Netflix; True North: The Sean Swarner Story”/PBS, Amazon). He and his brother were both students of Atkinson at Monsignor Bonner.
Steps are underway for the canonization of Atkinson. For more information on Atkinson’s life story, visit www.fatherbillatkinson.com. For more information on Workshop Content Studios, visit https://www. theworkshop.tv.
Chester Heights Fire Co. awarded $20G grant for emergency equipment
The Chester Heights Fire Co. formally accepted a grant this week in the amount of $20,503.58 from Energy Transfer. The grant aided in the purchase of equipment to enhance the department’s firefighting capabilities.
Energy Transfer is one of the largest and most diversified energy logistics companies in the country, with approximately 3,000 miles of pipeline infrastructure and gathering systems located in Pennsylvania.
“This grant came at a time when it is becoming harder to maintain the equipment that we use to save lives, because of stricter requirements and rising prices,” said Chester Heights Fire Co. President Sam Iannucci, Sr. “We are so appreciative of Energy Transfer for recognizing this need and for their continued support of first responders.”
The Energy Transfer First Responder Fund provides grants to help further the primary mission of first responder organizations, including local fire departments; emergency medical services; county emergency management agencies; county, regional and local police departments; and other eligible agencies. Grants are determined based on a competitive application and review process, and written applications are accepted on a rolling basis for the following cycle.
The Chester Heights Fire Co. is an all-volunteer fire department of 35 active members serving a tensquare-mile area including Chester Heights and a portion of Thornbury. Since
1947, Chester Heights Fire Co. has delivered fire, rescue and EMS services 24/7/365 days a year.
For more information, visit ht tps://chesterhe -
ights71.com/ or https:// www.facebook.com/ChesterHeightsFire.
Annual Veterans Day essay contest begins for middle school students
The Delaware County Intermediate Unit and the Veterans Legacy Project invite Delaware County students in grades 6-8 to enter the 2020 Veterans Day Essay Contest. The purpose of the contest is to challenge students to think about war and freedom in ways they never have before, to gain a sense of pride in our country and to honor and respect those brave individuals who have risked their lives for our freedom.
The first, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes and a certificate and will be invited to read their essays at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Media on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11:11 a.m.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional Veterans Day Parade will not take place. However, in its place will be a brief ceremony honoring all veterans, to be held in front of the Media Courthouse. The essay contest will focus on veterans of all wars. Only one entry per student is allowed.
To complete the essay, students must interview a family member or a close family friend who has served in the United States military and write an essay of about this person’s experiences. Students should include the veteran’s military branch, dates of service, his/her job/role in the service, where he/she served, any war experience and any advice the veteran may have for young people about serving in the military. Creativity is encouraged.
Essays will be read by a panel and judged according to adherence to the theme/ question(s), creativity and basic conventions of writing. The following rules apply:
• Maximum of 200 words, researched through veteran interviews. Publications, books, internet or classroom studies may also be used for additional resources.
• Essays must be typed on
8 ½ by 11 inch paper with a separate cover sheet indicating the student’s name, grade, phone number, email address, school and teacher’s name.
• Submission deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 4, by 4 p.m. Winners notified by Nov. 6.
• All entries become property of DCIU and the U.S. Veterans Legacy Project.
• All submissions must be emailed to the attention of Adriene Irving at airving@ dciu.org. Call 610-938-9000, ext. 2061, for further information or if there are any questions or concerns.