Local News
Parish’s broken, renewed statue reflects wounded wider church
At a Sept. 28 Mass members of St. Gabriel Parish in Philadelphia celebrated signs of hope and healing for a scandal-scarred church in the story of a long-forgotten statue of their patron.
Of 49 private schools named Blue Ribbon in U.S., 9 in Archdiocese
A total of 349 schools were named Blue Ribbon schools nationwide Oct. 1. This includes 19 schools for all of Pa., and eight of those were parish or regional Catholic schools in the Philadelphia region.
Local Hispanic leaders get to work on top priority: youth ministry
The need to refocus on young Hispanic Catholics who want to work in ministry was one of the takeaways from the national Encuentro V meeting last month, and its local delegates are home reflecting on the experience.
St. Hubert’s girls learn how small sacrifice for CRS can save a life
The little meal that Thomas Awiapo received from Catholic Relief Services in his village school in Ghana saved his life. The students he spoke to in Philadelphia know their Rice Bowl donations will help other people profoundly.
Forged from closures, St. Katharine marks 25 years serving Chester
Born from the contentious closing of five Catholic parishes in the city in 1993, St. Katharine Drexel has earned street cred for its ministry to the poor and commitment to education, along with optimism for the future.
Relief collection invited for hurricane-flooded areas of Carolinas
Archbishop Chaput has asked that all archdiocesan parishes consider taking up a special collection Sept. 29-30 or Oct. 6-7 to support relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
Pa. diocese to open first Catholic ‘sober’ high school in U.S.
Opening next September, the Allentown Diocese's Kolbe Academy will educate students in treatment for substance abuse. The academy aims to improve the odds for teens in recovery, who only have a 20 percent chance of avoiding relapse in mainstream schools.
Lay-religious collaboration continues with local Redeemer Sisters
Caring for sick people -- and Christ in them -- was the mission of a now-beatified 19th-century woman whose vision remains with the Sisters of the Redeemer and their lay associates in the Philadelphia area.
AbbeyFest rocks 4,000 kids, families with concert, fun, prayer
The day-long Christian music festival brought thousands to their feet, while Mass and eucharistic adoration brought them to their knees in a moving display of faith and family under the stars at Daylesford Abbey.
3,000 expected under the big top at Malvern Retreat House
A free, all-day Catholic tent revival featuring speakers, music, games for kids, food and faith for all, including Mass, rosary and healing prayers, is set for Sunday, Oct. 7 on the fields of the retreat center.