Local News
Music director hits the high notes at Glenside Catholic school
St. Joseph the Protector School has a music program that is producing top musicians in the archdiocese, thanks to band director Alex Schmauk, who sees the value of teaching children over a four-year period.
Archbishop Chaput: Thankful for pope’s thoughts on marriage, family
The archbishop called "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love") "a serious and extensive reflection on Christian marriage," and he echoes Pope Francis' advice to read the unusually long document with patience. In English and en Espanol.
Pinwheels point to church’s child abuse prevention efforts
Archbishop Charles Chaput led about 150 Catholic students in displaying pinwheels, "symbols of a carefree childhood," Thursday, April 7 in Philadelphia. He noted the archdiocese's training and prevention efforts.
Bishop Shanahan students lay wreath at Arlington National Cemetery
Visiting the cemetery as part of their history classes, 43 honors students of the archdiocesan high school in Downingtown participated in a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Local refugees recall peace in the Middle East, not long ago
Five refugees from Middle Eastern countries who worship at St. Maron Church in South Philadelphia spoke to CatholicPhilly.com about the problems in their homelands and their peaceful lives before the wars to control oil began.
New life of faith springing from troubled city neighborhood
The Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia has many problems, but due to the efforts of a Norbertine priest, St. Gabriel Parish is strengthening from a renewed focus on the Mass and prayer outreach on the streets.
Pa. bill would ban late-term dismemberment abortions
Because a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks' gestation and the risk to the mother's health can rise during abortions that remove the limbs of the fetus, state Rep. Kathy Rapp has called for banning the procedure.
Catholic education office gets new funding from parishes
Parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese will pay a new assessment of $2.50 per registered family in support of elementary education and catechetical formation, after a foundation pulled its funding.
U.N.’s top official on Syria tells Bonner-Prendie of long road to peace
Kevin Kennedy, a former Marine and now the United Nations’ coordinator for the crisis in Syria, brought home to students of his alma mater the realities of the Middle East, which they are learning about in classes.
Catholics of archdiocese donate $645K to retired religious
The 33,000 retired religious sisters, brothers and priests in the U.S. benefit from the annual collection, of which 80 percent remains in the Philadelphia Archdiocese for the care of local religious.