News
New report shows decreased use of death penalty in U.S.
Use of the death penalty in the United States continues to decrease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the Death Penalty Information Center.
Thousands attend funeral Mass for slain New Jersey police officer
Thousands of people attended the Dec. 17 funeral Mass for Detective Joseph Seals, the police officer fatally shot Dec. 10 at a cemetery in Jersey City just prior to the deadly attack at a kosher grocery store in the neighborhood.
Parish rebuilds ’70s-style church, unites Delco Catholics
When three parishes merged into one unremarkable St. John Fisher Church, Boothwyn in 2013, the pastor set about unifying the people and rebuilding the edifice into a traditional Catholic church. The beautiful result was consecrated by Bishop John McIntyre Dec. 15.
Expert on Turin shroud, Guadalupe tilma shares research
Massimo Paris presented a talk on the miraculous images Dec. 12 at Annunciation Parish in Havertown, and 30 people were encouraged to draw closer to whom the images represent: Jesus and Mary.
Bishop, former chaplain to queen, to be received into Catholic Church
Bishop Gavin Ashenden of the Christian Episcopal Church will become a Catholic Dec. 22 in Shrewsbury cathedral. A Dec. 17 statement from the Diocese of Shrewsbury said Bishop Ashenden's Anglican orders will be suspended and he will become a lay Catholic theologian.
Set up a Nativity scene, pray there before Christmas, pope suggests
Putting up a Nativity scene before Christmas is a reminder to stop and remember what Christmas is really about and to prepare one's heart like a manger for the coming of Christ, Pope Francis said.
Sister Margaret Ann Maguire, S.S.J., dies at 69
The Cardinal Dougherty High School graduate entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in September 1968 and would go on to minister in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the dioceses of Allentown and Trenton.
Sister Joan Gray, S.S.J., dies at 88
Sister Joan ministered in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the dioceses of Allentown, Camden and Harrisburg during her 66 years of religious life.
Sister Loretta Dinda, 81, dies; was teacher, care minister
The I.H.M. sister originally from St. Barnabas Parish, Philadelphia taught middle grades in archdiocesan schools for 33 years and ministered to the sick at Philadelphia hospitals for 19 years.
More aid from South Florida for Bahamas like an early Christmas present
In time for Christmas, a trailer loaded with supplies furnished through donations from Catholics and charitable foundations around the South Florida region, reached the Bahamas capital and port city of Nassau Dec. 7.