April 29, 2010

The Most Reverend John O. Barres, S.T.D., J.C.L., D.D., Bishop of Allentown has appointed John P. Petruzzelli as Principal of Bethlehem Catholic High School effective July 1. Petruzzelli will join Father Robert Finlan on the Bethlehem Catholic leadership team. Father Finlan has been President at Bethlehem Catholic since 2007.

Petruzzelli, 41, comes to Bethlehem Catholic from St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, Delaware where he has been Associate Principal since 2006. Before that he was Director of Admissions and Director of Campus Ministry at the school. He has also been an administrator at St. Joseph's Prep School in Philadelphia and a teacher at St. Elizabeth's, at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia and at Our Lady of Calvary Grade School in Philadelphia.

Petruzzelli is a graduate of St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia where he earned a Bachelor's degree in History. He has a Masters in Education from Wilmington University in Delaware.

A 12-member search committee including teachers, administrators, parents, a feeder school principal, a pastor and advisory board members recommended Petruzzelli for the position. Diocesan Secretary for Catholic Education Philip J. Fromuth praised the new principal. "Mr. Petruzzelli is an outstanding Catholic educator and administrator and brings a wealth of experience to Bethlehem Catholic High School. He and Father Finlan will form an excellent administrative team," he said.

Bethlehem Catholic High School, founded in 1925, has an enrollment of 767 students.  

Contact: Matt Kerr610-871-5200, Extention 265