Local News
300 women share true meaning of Advent at St. Elizabeth Parish
The parish in Chester Springs hosted the "Advent by Candlelight" event Wednesday evening, Dec. 4 for women to socialize, reflect on two talks and pray together before the Christmas rush begins.
Santa makes lunch stop in NE Philly
The Claus couple delighted some 30 clients of archdiocesan Catholic Social Services with a Dec. 6 appearance at a Christmas party for busy parents and their kids.
St. Charles Seminary hosts Ukrainian-rite liturgy
Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak celebrated an elaborate Divine Liturgy Nov. 20 in St. Martin's Chapel. The head of Byzantine Ukrainian Catholics in the region urged seminarians to "serve where the need is greatest."
National News
Beatification for Archbishop Sheen postponed
UPDATED - The Vatican has postponed the Dec. 21 ceremony "at the request of a few members" of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Peoria Diocese said "there has never been, nor is there now, any allegation against (Archbishop) Sheen involving the abuse of a minor."
Cleveland priest charged with possessing child pornography
Father Robert McWilliams, 39, was being held on $100,000 bond in Cuyahoga County Jail Dec. 6, a day after he was taken into custody at St. Joseph Parish in Strongsville.
Bishops take new actions to hold themselves accountable for abuse in 2019
The clergy sexual abuse crisis continued to command a large amount of attention and action from the U.S. bishops throughout 2019.
World News
Vatican unveils Nativity scene, lights Christmas tree
The 85-foot-tall spruce tree came from the forests of the Veneto region in northeast Italy and another 20 smaller trees were donated by communities in the region's province of Vicenza.
Australian government revising religious discrimination legislation
The Australian government has decided to revisit its religious discrimination legislation after key religious groups -- including the Archdiocese of Sydney -- said they would withdraw their support.
Pope says he is ‘scandalized’ by anti-migrant rhetoric
During his apostolic trip to Thailand, Pope Francis spoke about resistance to addressing climate change and about hostility to migrants and refugees.
People and Events
Fundraising effort sending youths to pro-life events
Eighty local high school students will be attending the annual March for Life and the conference of Students for Life Jan. 24-25, 2020, and funds are sought to send 200 more teens.
Kids and teachers join in prayer, holiday meal
Students and staff from Our Lady of Confidence Day School and the Marion Bolger Recreational Program gathered on Nov. 22 to give thanks and show off their cooking skills.
Spirituality
Advent: Putting your house in order before Christ’s return
With the busy-ness of life, time is short, but the time also is now to repent and prepare a welcome by recognizing the Lord in each other, reflects Msgr. Joseph Prior on the Second Sunday of Advent.
Justice, peace won’t happen without hard work
The Second Sunday of Advent calls us toward a world of harmony, and to endurance in the struggle to bring it about. Much work is still to be done, so writer Mike Nelson urges, "Let's get busy."
What we can learn from John the Baptist, a man for Advent
The Baptist who cries out "Prepare the way of the Lord" is a figure rooted in the Old Testament and an example of one driven by the Spirit that Christians witnessed after Jesus' resurrection.
Commentaries
Rather than curse our life’s situation, seek hope in Christ
The fault in relationships that don't satisfy or jobs in which we're stuck lies not in "our stars." Rather, the cure for the dismay many people feel this time of year is hope amidst darkness, writes Father Eric Banecker.
Tell those family stories – they link old to young
Sister Constance Veit points to studies that show young people, despite their screens, really are listening and learning when their elders tell relatable, funny tales. And Christmas is the best time for them.
Calendar of Events
Cathedral Choir leads Christmas concert, prayers
On Dec. 8 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, the Cathedral Choir and a chamber ensemble will present seasonal choral music and sing-along holiday favorites, plus Advent prayers.
2019 ACHS Annual Christmas Social
You are invited to welcome the Christmas season with the American Catholic Historical Society on December 13, 2019, from 6-9 pm.
Christmas Tree Blessing
Join our CCD Program for a Tree Blessing and prayer service.
Listen to CatholicPhilly.com
You can talk about religion and politics, but carefully
Father Thomas Dailey shares with Inside CatholicPhilly.com how it's possible to live out the Catholic faith in the voting booth as well as in church, and how you can "stand for what you believe without running over other people."
Culture
9 new children’s books discuss growth in Catholic faith
A selection of books by diverse authors including musician/songwriter Matt Maher can help fill your gift list for children this Christmas, even if they won't fit into a stocking.
‘Love and Mercy: Faustina’ explores history of a popular devotion
The award-winning docudrama recounts how a Polish nun's visions of Christ spurred a worldwide movement that extols God's infinite, lifesaving compassion.