Local News

Men’s group opposes Wing Bowl’s ‘debauchery’

The raucous eating contest known as Wing Bowl has drawn thousands of fans of the face-stuffing spectacle for 22 years in Philadelphia. This year the King's Men organization plans a peaceful outreach to protest the event at the Wells Fargo Center.

Rice Bowl begins with blessing at North Philadelphia parish

The annual sacrificial program collects funds for the poor overseas through CRS. Some money stays local to help 40 parish food cupboards like the one at St. Martin de Porres Parish.

Newly appointed Harrisburg bishop dedicated to holiness, social justice

Bishop Ronald W. Gainer introduced himself as the 11th bishop of the Harrisburg Diocese and as a shepherd dedicated to the sanctification and ministry of his people.

Local Ukrainian Catholic faithful to pray for justice in their homeland

Philadelphia Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Stefan Soroka has asked all priests in churches of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia to lead the faithful in prayer at all services this weekend for a peaceful end to the tragic events and violence in Ukraine.

Catholic Charities Appeal aims to give hope in 2014

Archbishop Chaput led a press conference to launch this year's appeal to support more than 80 social service programs of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Though needs are growing, so is the response: Last year the $10 million goal was exceeded, thanks to almost twice the donors from the previous year.

Philadelphians make it through snowstorm to join March for Life

Few Philadelphia-area Catholics made it to Washington for the largest annual pro-life march in the world. But some did manage to join the thousands who marched in witness to the sanctity of human life.

Kentucky bishop, grad of St. Charles Seminary, named to head Harrisburg Diocese

Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, 66, currently head of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., will be installed as the 11th bishop of Harrisburg on March 19. He succeeds Philadelphia native Bishop Joseph McFadden, who died suddenly last year. He and Bishop Gainer, ordained a priest of the Allentown Diocese, both studied at St. Charles Seminary.

Special Mass will give hope to infertile couples

The St. Gerard Mass on Jan. 29 for couples experiencing difficulty conceiving children will help them feel they’re not alone, says the lead organizer. A 12-week follow-up course to the Mass will be offered beginning in February.

Philadelphia buses cancelled for march on Washington

Due to heavy snowfall along the Northeast corridor, all buses of Catholic faithful scheduled to depart from the Philadelphia Archdiocese for the March for Life to Washington, D.C., have been cancelled, the archdiocese announced Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 21.

Lily’s Gift helps ease the pain when new baby’s diagnosis is grim

A new ministry of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, a collaboration of pastoral care, pro-life and social service workers, helps parents who decide not to abort their baby who receives a poor prenatal diagnosis. Volunteers counsel and support families during and after the baby's birth and natural death.