Profile
Drawn by music, immersed in parish life, he’s ready for ordination
Transitional Deacon Brandon Artman will be ordained a priest in Philadelphia May 19, culminating a journey that had its seed in a model priests and sprouting through the words of an old woman in a nursing home.
Through a youth group and a magazine, man hears God’s call
Manuel Flores wasn't especially religious, but he joined a teen PREP program while attending vo-tech school. Against all odds and with help from friends old and new, he will be ordained a priest next month.
New abbot leads ‘ministers of peace and reconciliation’ for church
Norbertine Abbot Dominic Rossi, newly elected head of Daylesford Abbey, aims to "strengthen and heal this unity we have in Christ" and help everyone to enter "into communion with Christ.”
After close-up look at priestly ministry, he’s ready for ordination
Patrick Muka dreamed of priesthood as a boy, studied engineering as a young man, then entered St. Charles Seminary to study for the priesthood. Unsure, he left, but shadowed priests. He will become one next month.
For Penn grad soon to be priest, peace comes with achievement
Get to know Eric Banecker, who will be ordained this May 19. The South Philadelphia native honed his accomplished writing skills at U Penn, and now he believes, "whatever you do you must do well."
Long road to priesthood began in Vietnam, will end in Philly
Quy K. Pham left Vietnam by boat in 1983, frustrated by circumstances that left his seminary training unfinished. In the U.S., he found further frustration, but also a happy marriage. The widower will be ordained a priest next month.
John Delaney Jr. brings prosecutor’s eye to sex abuse probes
The new director of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office for Investigations spent a career in the city D.A.'s office. Now he will look into allegations of child sex abuse in the church, knowing that abuse "cuts across all society."
St. Joseph Sister leads spiritual direction for parish
The new position at St. John Chrysostom Parish in Wallingford is perhaps unprecedented for an archdiocesan parish, but Sister Maria McCoy brings vast experience in helping the average parishioner to pray.
Good relations with lawmakers key to ‘vocation’ as lobbyist
Before his retirement as executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, Robert O’Hara reflects on his 21 years representing the Catholic Church in the state capitol on a range of issues, including Catholic education.
Jim Lackey, longtime editor who embraced old and new media, retires
From 1979 until last December, the longtime journalist for Catholic News Service covered the White House and national news both in print and, later, in digital media. Amidst his accomplishments, he's remained humble.