Why is a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker outside Saint Monica Catholic Church dedicated to a boxer? You might not expect a church to memorialize a prizefighter. But this marker honors Tommy Loughran, a long-time resident of the neighborhood and parishioner of Saint Monica Catholic Church. Loughran fought professionally from 1919 to 1937 during boxing’s “Golden Age.” Known as the “Philly Phantom,” he was one of the all-time great fighters in the light heavyweight division. The church’s history dates to the late 1800s. It was built with materials from a closed church to support the expanding Roman Catholic population in South Philadelphia. Archbishop Patrick John Ryan directed Father Owen P. McManus to organize the new parish. Father McManus was the assistant pastor at Saint Theresa Church. The chapel was completed on May 24, 1895. Saint Monica Parish officially opened for services. In 1971 a fire destroyed everything in the church except the walls. It was rebuilt and opened on May 25, 1971. The church and Loughran’s marker stand as reminders of the community’s history and the parishioners who shaped it.
Zion Baptist Church
Founded in 1882 Zion Baptist Church stands proudly in Philadelphia. It’s a testament to faith resilience and community. This wasn’t