Local News
Black, white parishioners forge model for racial healing
About 120 faithful and clergy from St. Martin de Porres and St. John Chrysostom parishes met in a June 29 virtual town hall to learn what keeps racial and ethnic groups apart.
Destroying Serra statues sign of ‘woundedness,’ confusion, says Phila. priest
Controversial missionary St. Junipero Serra was a man of his time who evangelized indigenous people as best he could, according to Serra researcher Father Matthew Guckin.
Food relief drive for local families needs a ton of help
With hunger and unemployment made worse by COVID, Nutritional Development Services is 2,000 pounds short of its goal for nonperishable items. It's not too late to donate.
Connelly Foundation steps in to COVID response with grants
Every organization has been affected by the pandemic, and the local nonprofit is helping numerous groups continue operating with $3 million in grants since March 26.
Catholic education, also at risk from COVID, getting help
Faith in the Future Foundation, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Foundation for Catholic Education and BLOCS will aid struggling school families through the Tuition Assistance Campaign.
Two Chester County Catholic schools won’t reopen in fall
Sacred Heart School in Oxford and St. Cornelius School in Chadds Ford have closed because of enrollment dwindling to a point that the schools could not be sustained.
State’s ‘green’ phase allows more in pews, but precautions continue
Churches can now seat up to 75% of their building occupancy, but face masks and receiving holy Communion by hand are still "strongly recommended" by the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
Local DACA youth ‘can breathe’ for now after Supreme Court ruling
A June 18 decision to uphold the program, which protects qualified undocumented youth from deportation, inspired relief -- but "we still have so much work to do," said one area recipient.
What to do with old electronics? St. John Chrysostom has the answer
The Delaware County parish partnered June 20 with a local recycling nonprofit that employs former prisoners reentering society. Residents brought out three truckloads, and good wishes.
Liturgical artist uses gifts to heal wounds of racism
Oblate Brother Mickey McGrath has created a series of images that take a faith-based look at the struggle for racial equality. He relies on Black Catholic spirituality.