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BiographyThe Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, D.D. Edward Peter Cullen was born March 15, 1933, and grew up in Yeadon, the second of five children of the late Edward P. Cullen Sr. and Julia (Leahy) Cullen. It was a traditional Irish-Catholic family. At West Catholic High School, the future bishop excelled in athletics - especially football and track - and was involved in the school newspaper. After-school and summer jobs, such as working as a cashier at the local Acme, were also part of the young Edward Cullen's upbringing. It was in 1953 when the future prelate, an engineering student at Drexel Institute of Technology, took steps toward a priestly path. He entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. His Eminence John Cardinal Krol, then archbishop of Philadelphia ordained him a priest in May of 1962 at the Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The bishop was serving as assistant pastor of St. Bartholomew Church in Philadelphia when a call from Cardinal Krol changed the course of his vocation. The cardinal wanted the young priest to serve as assistant director of Catholic Social Services (CSS) and study social work at the University of Pennsylvania. The CSS assignment was the springboard to two decades of service in social work; Bishop Cullen continued to serve as CSS assistant director until 1983, and was director 1983-88. Today, CSS is the largest voluntary social service agency in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In April of 1982, then-Father Cullen was named an Honorary Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor. In 1988 he was appointed vicar for administration and vicar general for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The bishop also served on many community boards in Philadelphia. Then-Monsignor Cullen was consecrated a bishop, as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia in April of 1994. In December of 1997 the Holy Father accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Thomas J. Welsh, Second Bishop of Allentown and appointed Bishop Cullen as Bishop-Elect of the Allentown Diocese. Cardinal Bevilacqua installed Bishop Cullen as the Third Bishop of Allentown on February 9, 1998. Since becoming leader of the Allentown Diocese Bishop Cullen has reorganized diocesan administration and launched a spiritual initiative called Renew 2000, a diocesan-wide, parish level program in keeping with Pope John Paul II's call for new evangelization in the church. In November of 2001 Bishop Cullen was elected chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Women in Society and the Church. In 2003 Bishop Cullen was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Catholic University of America. He also serves on the boards of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and Alvernia College. He also launched a $28 million capital campaign called "Strengthening Our Future in Faith." "This historic endeavor will allow the Diocese to build upon the foundation that those before us have laid and to help the Church meet the future with renewed vigor," the Bishop said. When the campaign closed a year later $53.6 million had been raised...191% of the goal. Coat of ArmsCoat of Arms of The Diocese of Allentown
Coat of Arms of The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, D.D. Bishop of Allentown
This symbol is taken from the arms of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from which the Diocese of Allentown was carved. For his personal arms, seen in the right side, Bishop Cullen has retained, with a modification, the design that was adopted at the time of his ordination as a Bishop. On a red field is seen a silver chevron. These main parts of the design are taken from the Cullen "family" arms. Above the chevron, to the upper left is a golden barb of wheat. This Eucharistic symbol is taken from the Leahy "family" arms, and by using these main points Bishop Cullen honors his parents Edward Peter and Julia Catherine (Leahy) Cullen. To the upper right of the design is a silver star taken from the arms of tile Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which His Excellency had the honor to serve as a priest and as an Auxiliary Bishop. Below the chevron are the crossed silver and gold keys of St. Peter, to honor the Bishop's second baptismal patron and which also symbolically expresses the Bishop's dedication and fidelity to the See of Peter and to the Most Holy Father, For his motto Bishop Cullen has chosen the three words "CHRIST CHURCH - COMPASSION." Understanding historically that first came Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then came the Church that he founded and that Church was founded on Christ's Love and Compassion for all. The arms are completed with the external ornaments which are a gold processional cross, that is placed in back of the shield and which extends above and below the shield, and with the pontifical hat, called a "gallero," with its six tassels in three rows, on either side of the shield, all in green. Bishop's ArticlesRead the Bishop's articles by clicking on a translation below; the article will open in a new window.
Copyright
2003 The Catholic Diocese of Allentown |
The
golden ring on the silver bar symbolizes St. Catharine of Siena, the titular saint
of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Allentown. The ring designates her mystical
marriage to Christ, a ring given to her by our Lord in an apparition. The red
background of the diocesan shield signifies the sufferings of Catharine at the
hands of her parents, and recalls her devotion to the Church leading to the persuasion
of Pope Gregory XI to return from Avignon to Rome. The two silver fleurs-de-lis
are taken from the coat of arms of His Holiness, Pope John XXIII, to honor the
Pontiff who established the Diocese of Allentown. The silver roundel bearing the
red cross is derived from the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
to commemorate the See which gave the Counties of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Northampton,
and Schuylkill to form the entire territory of the Diocese of Allentown. 
On
the left of the shield appears the arms of the Diocese of Allentown. These arms
are displayed on a red field which is used to call to mind the suffering and the
shedding of the Lord's blood. On this field is seen a silver bar that is interlaced
by a gold ring to signify the mystical marriage to Christ of Saint Catharine of
Siena, titular patron of the Cathedral Church in Allentown. Above the bar and
ring are two silver fleur-de-lis that are taken from the arms of His Holiness,
Pope John XXIII who established the Diocese of Allentown in 1961. Below the bar
and ring is a silver plate that is charged with a red cross. 