Community Newsbriefs

Lay men become candidates for ordination as permanent deacons

Twenty-one men are beginning their journey to become permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald celebrated Mass including the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders on Saturday, Sept. 28 in St. Martin’s Chapel at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood. The men now begin a five-year period of academic and spiritual formation before […]

Website honored for excellence

CatholicPhilly.com won the Faith-Based Standard of Excellence award Sept. 12 from the Web Marketing Association. The news website of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was the only Catholic organization to win an award in the contest this year. Last year the Archdiocese of Detroit won the award in the faith-based category, making the two websites the only two Catholic dioceses in the United States to be so honored.

New book on Padre Pio focus of event at Italian consulate in Philadelphia

To mark the 45th anniversary of the death of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, a book presentation and photo exhibit of the saint will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia. The consulate is located at 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia. The new […]

Professor to speak on science and religion at seminary

Professor Brad Gregory will present his talk on “Science vs. Religion? The Compatibility of Catholicism and the Natural Sciences” tonight, Sept. 12, at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood. The program begins at 7 p.m., and the cost for attending is $5. The talk is part of Archbishop Charles Chaput’s Year of Faith lecture series. Gregory is […]

Philadelphia Eagles and Chef Jose Garces help open new healthy food pantry

Christina Weiss Lurie, President of the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership, and Jose Garces, award-winning Iron Chef and co-founder of the Garces Foundation, took part in the grand opening of the Green Light Pantry at Casa del Carmen on Tuesday, September 11.  The Green Light Pantry at Casa del Carmen, a ministry of Catholic Social Services […]

West Catholic Preparatory High School present school’s new flag

Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Mr. Christopher Mominey, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education, Mr. Samuel Casey Carter, Chief Executive Officer Faith in the Future Foundation and  Dr. Carol A. Cary, Superintendent of Secondary Schools, visited West Catholic Preparatory High School and participated in the presentation of the school’s new flag reflecting the school’s updated name.  Chris […]

Students of Wallingford Catholic school thrill to gift of iPads

Smiles were everywhere — along with some cheers — when the students of Mother of Providence Regional Catholic School in Wallingford learned they were each getting an iPad computer this year.  Students were told about the program during opening week activity when Father Edward Hallinan, the pastor of St. John Chrysostom Parish, blessed the iPads […]

Our Lady of Grace, Penndel, opens school year with party

Students of Our Lady of Grace School in Penndel arrived for their first day of school Aug. 27 were surprised to be greeted by some familiar characters – Mickey Mouse, Sponge Bob, the Cat in the Hat, Curious George and others. Music from a DJ filled the morning air along with prizes flung by a […]

Letter of Archbishop Chaput to Jewish community

Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote the following letter to Rabbi Elisa Goldberg of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia on the occasion of the coming High Holy Days for the Jewish community:   Dear Rabbi Goldberg: In union with the Catholic clergy and people of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, I want to express my prayerful […]

St. Mary Medical Center celebrates 40 years, welcomes Indian archbishop

St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special Mass of Thanksgiving Aug. 13 led by Archbishop Soosa Pakiam of Kerala, India. Above, Archbishop Pakiam (right) with Deacon John Hynes blesses the hands of pastoral care workers at St. Mary. At center in background is Msgr. John C. Marine, pastor of nearby […]