Local News
Paoli parish’s volunteers put in hard work to feed the needy
St. Norbert Parish's Food Procurement Program has tripled the number of families it supports through weekly distribution of food at the church, thanks to team of creative parishioners.
Parishioners look forward to public Masses with joy, anxiety
CatholicPhilly.com spoke with dozens of local Catholics in city and suburbs, and heard voices of eager anticipation of the return of public Masses June 6-7, along with apprehension for its effects on health.
St. Rita Shrine marks feast day with nationally televised Mass
EWTN, the global Catholic programming network, televised the May 22 Mass from the South Philadelphia shrine, celebrated by Archbishop Perez. St. Rita's life "is a reminder that with God, all things are possible,” said the priest homilist.
Catholic singles find each other despite COVID
A speed dating service that's helped some 30 couples to the altar so far moved online during the pandemic, keeping participants connected to each other and to God.
Archbishop Perez's messages
Archbishop Perez’s blessing for the Class of 2020
Listen to the Archbishop's message or read the text as he prays for this year's school graduates.
National News
PPP loans to parishes not as large, or as many, as believed
Some news media overstated how many of the 17,000 parishes in the U.S. received Paycheck Protection funds and the amounts, instead characterizing it as "this evil church getting money from the federal government."
Trump calls for ‘essential’ houses of worship to reopen
Saying America needs "more prayer, not less," President Donald Trump May 22 directed the country's governors, although he lacks the authority to do so, to reopen churches, synagogues and mosques.
Colorado drive to end late-term abortion close to goal for signatures
Organizers of an initiative to prohibit abortion after 22 weeks said because support has been building in recent weeks they expected to get the 20,000 signatures needed by May 29 to put the measure on the November ballot.
World News
In Italy, signs of rise in prayer, religious fervor amid pandemic
After COVID-19 restrictions forced churches to close, "the frequency of prayer and participation in religious services increased, although these could be attended only virtually," said a new study.
The quiet pandemic victims: Those grieving death
Since funerals and family visitations are forbidden during the pandemic lockdown, there is no closure for surviving family and friends as the world focuses on getting through the current crisis.
Vatican cautions Israel over West Bank annexation plan
The Holy See was "following closely "an Israeli plan to unilaterally annex a large portion of land on which sit some 130 Jewish settlements. The U.N. has called them a "flagrant violation" of international law.
Profile
The youth from Nigeria will be a priest for Philadelphia
When Kevin Okafor is ordained a priest by Archbishop Nelson Perez on June 20, it will be the end of an almost three-decade journey from a farming village to lay mission work to St. Charles Seminary.
Commentaries
Women are a driving force in charitable giving
Through empathy, their own wealth and household decision making, women are doing much -- and more than men -- to support their sisters and brothers in need, writes Sarah Hanley.
Mobile eucharistic procession brings Christ to the people
Kim Griffin tells how a parishioner and priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Doylestown visited more than 500 homes in Bucks County last Sunday. And a little girl's cry summed up the day: "Jesus is here!"
In time without Mass, let’s be ready when it returns
When we ease back into parish life, it will be more important than ever to reach out to people, writes Sarah Albanese, who offers ways we can prepare to build stronger parishes.
People and Events
Villanova U names Augustinian priest VP for mission and ministry
Father Kevin DePrinzio will lead the office that helps ensure the university’s commitment to living out its Augustinian Catholic mission. He succeeds Barbara Wall, who will retire after 50 years at Villanova.
TV Mass continues every Sunday morning on Channel 6
See the schedule for coming weeks, with celebrants and liturgical ministers, for the Mass televised on 6ABC every Sunday morning.
Culture
A shaggy ‘Scooby-Doo’ film returns with modern refit
Nostalgia aside, "Scoob!" salutes unity, loyal friendship, courage and self-sacrifice. It's a passable piece of animated entertainment but won't make much of an impression.
New memoir shares raw tale of journalist’s path to Catholic faith
Readers who stick with "Sunday Will Never be the Same" will find themselves rooting for Dawn Eden Goldstein, a rock 'n roll journalist who opened her ears to God through a chaotic life.