Local News
St. Laurentius Church in danger of collapse, will be closed immediately
Cracks and deterioration of the brownstone facade of the church in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia mean it is unsafe for use and will be shut, according to the archdiocese.
Cardinal O’Hara names new principal; OCE welcomes tech, finance leaders
Peter Balzano is the new principal for the Delaware County archdiocesan high school, effective immediately. Two administrators from Bonner-Prendergast and Archbishop Ryan high schools will lead the technology and financial aid efforts in the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education.
New Catholic senior housing facility meeting a need in Kensington
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia took the lead in securing tax credits for a project to build a 40-unit development in a poor and gentrifying section of the city. It allows seniors to stay in their neighborhood with family, friends and church.
Archbishop Chaput discusses HHS mandate, divorced Catholics
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Archbishop Charles Chaput gave a wide-ranging interview two days before Pope Francis was scheduled to receive President Barack Obama at the Vatican and the same day the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the contraception mandate. The archbishop credited the pope with teaching Catholics that they must preach the Gospel before transmitting the church's moral teachings.
Religious fault lines underlie Ukraine-Russia tensions
Philadelphia Ukrainian Archbishop Stefan Soroka described the complex interplay of three Christian communities in Ukraine during an exclusive interview with CatholicPhilly.com. If the West shows weakness by not standing up to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, it might embolden more aggression against Ukraine, he suggested.
Use social media and invite Pope Francis to Philadelphia
You can join Archbishop Chaput, Gov. Corbett, Mayor Nutter and other leaders in personally inviting Pope Francis to come to Philadelphia next year for the World Meeting of Families. See our links to social media channels to get #PopeInPhilly trending Tuesday and Wednesday.
Young Catholics flock to old church for Mass Mob
The concept was to take stately old St. Francis Xavier Church in Philadelphia and fill it for one Mass (at least) with vibrant, young adults. The idea worked, they agreed.
Cathedral Mass offers prayers, lifts ‘a dark veil’ on clergy sexual abuse
Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrated a healing Mass for victims and their families March 22 at which he asked for forgiveness and apologized for “all that happened in the leadership” of the community.
Thomas Eakins leaves the seminary
Paintings by the famous Philadelphia artist and others have been kept at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary for years. Now they will be sold to benefit ongoing restructuring at the seminary in keeping with its mission of priestly formation.
Largest crowd to date ‘mans up’ for Catholic gathering
About 1,400 men came to St. Joseph’s University for the sixth annual Man Up Philly Men’s Spirituality Conference where they shared prayer and friendship for the day. They also learned about the insidious evil of pornography.