Local News
Black Catholic students express admiration for saintly forbears
Three local youths won a trip to the next World Youth Day for their winning essays on five Black American Catholics, whose stories of sanctity and courage continue to inspire.
Bishop DeSimone, hero to Italians, beloved by all, goes home to God
The bishop could not attend a dinner in his honor on Oct. 4 because he was preparing for his most important journey. On First Friday, Oct. 5, he died, leaving a legacy of love and respect. See his full obituary.
Bishop Louis DeSimone, beloved retired pastor, dies at 96
A funeral Mass for the retired auxiliary bishop will be celebrated Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., preceded by a viewing at 9 a.m., at the cathedral. His full life included Army service in World War II, and leadership at St. Monica Parish.
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.