Local News

Closed Catholic school reborn to help autistic kids

The NHS School at St. Anne’s will serve children with special needs across the autism spectrum, while providing stable income for St. Anne Parish in Philadelphia's Port Richmond section.

Clergy changes announced in archdiocese

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announces the following appointments effective as noted.

Francis Festival offers fun, security-free zone in city

The "I'll Be There" campaign invites visitors into a large swath of center city Philadelphia, and encourages businesses and residents to welcome all for the historic September events.

Charismatics plan Mass and rally as pope comes to city

Organizers expect up to 5,000 Catholic Charismatics from around the world will attend their event in South Philadelphia on the day when Pope Francis arrives here.

Maryland group will walk to Philadelphia for papal Mass

A priest and an editor of the Baltimore Catholic newspaper will lead 20 pilgrims from the archdiocese's basilica in a 104-mile pilgrimage for the Sept. 27 Mass with Pope Francis.

Ancient texts of biblical world on exhibit at Penn Museum

Sumerian clay tablets, a papyrus fragment, illustrated manuscripts and early printed Bibles are on display at Penn, in time for the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis' visit.

From Fishtown to Rome: Local priest heads a global order

As a young man, Father David Nicgorski was a Philadelphia union roofer who began going on retreats, which spurred his vocation. Pope Francis named him to lead his religious order, and the priest reflects on his meeting with the pope.

Shanahan principal named new superintendent for high schools

Sister Maureen Lawrence McDermott, I.H.M., the principal of Bishop Shanahan High School for the past 14 years, has been named superintendent of secondary schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Vocations in Phila. up threefold, and new program will call more

The largest incoming class of seminarians in a decade arrived this week at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, and that is before a new initiative launches in the fall to raise priestly vocations.

Parish gets grant to rev up music for youth

St. Hilary of Poitiers School in Rydal enlivens the Montgomery County parish's liturgies with song, and they're about to get even better with a grant from a liturgical publisher.