Archdiocese names Syracuse man new secretary for Catholic education

The superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Syracuse has been named the new secretary for Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and chief operating officer for Faith in the Future Foundation, the archdiocese announced May 23.

Christopher Mominey, a former Catholic high school principal and author of two books on education, will assume his new position July 1. He succeeds Richard V. McCarron, the long-time education secretary who retired early this year.

Temple-West’s legacy of feeding the hungry honored in new scholarship

Patrick Temple-West, the late founding director of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Nutritional Development Services, was recognized May 15 by the establishment of a permanent scholarship in his name by St. Joseph’s University’s Academy of Food Marketing.

Pastor known for parish, family ministry marks 50 years of ‘very rewarding’ priesthood

Msgr. Charles McGroarty is celebrating 50 years as a priest. His prior experience working with lay people in previous assignments has served him well as a pastor in a parish, St. Matthew’s in Philadelphia, that still has one of the largest elementary schools in the Archdiocese. He believes there is too much emphasis placed on negative aspects rather than the positive accomplishments of the Church that are all around us.

“The challenge of a pastor is to meet the needs of present-day Catholics,” he said. “We should publicize the good things that are being done, not putting our light under a basket.”

Newly ordained priests receive parish assignments

Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia, announces the following appointments effective June 17, 2013:
NEWLY ORDAINED
Reverend Sean A. Loomis, to Parochial Vicar, St. Bede the Venerable Parish, Holland
Reverend John P. Stokely, to Parochial Vicar, St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Warrington
Reverend Thomas A. Viviano, to Parochial Vicar, Holy Innocents Parish, Philadelphia

Major grant aims to help Catholic high schools boost enrollment

This week the Faith in the Future Foundation received a big boost in its mission to run the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 17 Catholic high schools and four schools of special education with a $600,000 grant from the Philadelphia Schools Partnership.

Papal honors come to two lay Catholics in Archdiocese

One of the last acts of Pope Benedict XVI before his surprising retirement in February was to bestow papal honors to two Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Donna Farrell, the former director of communications for the archdiocese and Richard V. McCarron, the former secretary for Catholic education, both received letters dated May 8 from Archbishop Charles Chaput conveying the good news and inviting them to a formal award ceremony during the 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, June 2 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

Little Flower High School partners with Holy Family U to expand courses, cut costs

Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls and Holy Family University in Philadelphia agreed to work together closely in a partnership announced May 16.

The agreement will enable students of the girls-only high school who graduate with at least a 2.5 grade point average to apply to the university without paying application fees. Dual-credit courses will be available for the students at Holy Family and credits will count toward both high school and college requirements.

Catholics called to mark May 24 as day of prayer for culture of life

Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell will likely spend the rest of his life in prison but the efforts to oppose abortion and build a culture of life continue through prayer and sacrifice.
All parishes are being “strongly encouraged” to participate in a day of prayer and penance on Friday, May 24, according to an unsigned letter from [...]

County-level boards advising growth, governance of Catholic grade schools

Parish and regional elementary schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have just received a new ally in their quest to sustain viability in these challenging times.

A new governance model has been established with an Executive Board of Elementary Education chaired by Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, with five County Advisory Councils, representing the five counties of the Archdiocese working on the local level.

Observers hope Gosnell’s guilty verdicts force reappraisal of abortion

UPDATED — In a plea bargain with prosecutors, abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell accepted a sentence of life in prison without parole May 14. By accepting the sentence he avoided the death penalty that prosecutors had sought, and he agreed to waive appeals of his convictions.