Local News

St. Maximilian Kolbe Church hosts play on patron saint’s life

Leonard Difilippis performed his one-man play on the saint of Auschwitz Thursday, Oct. 23 for some 500 people at the West Chester parish church. The parish holds a special link and devotion to St. Maximilian.

West Chester priest arrested on child pornography charges

Father Mark J. Haynes, 55, an archdiocesan priest and parochial vicar at SS. Simon and Jude Parish in West Chester, was arrested Wednesday night. No allegations of sexual abuse of a minor had been lodged against him, nor were there prior indications he was involved with child pornography.

Bucks County teens have a field day at St. Bede’s

The Holland, Bucks County, parish hosted 90 teenagers from eight neighboring parishes and schools for friendly competition, games, food and prayer together at the second annual Bucks County Teens Field Day.

First African Heritage Mass deemed a rousing success

The Mass welcomed African Catholics from at least 10 nations to St. Cyprian Church in West Philadelphia last Sunday. Their strong singing voices and instruments set the standard for a joyful liturgy -- they even danced with joy to bring up the collection.

Watch installation of Bishop Thomas in Toledo

Bishop Daniel Thomas will be installed as bishop of the Diocese of Toledo today at 2 p.m. in Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. Watch streaming video of the installation Mass through our links to the website of the Toledo Diocese or from station 13abc in Toledo.

Church is growing in the far-off mission land of Mongolia

CatholicPhilly.com writer Lou Baldwin spoke by phone with the missionary bishop of the world’s youngest Catholic community. From zero Catholics at its founding 22 years ago, more than a thousand Catholics and their Mongolian compatriots are served by some 80 missionaries.

What Mission Sunday Mass revealed about the church today

Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrated the annual Mass on Sunday at which he spoke about the dearth of people going to church and what that means for today’s missionaries – lay and religious – passing on the faith to the next generations.

Catholics learn to use digital media for parish communications

The Digital Church Conference held Oct. 18 at St. Joseph's University urged participants to improve the parish website, since people visit it before visiting the church or school. Catholic communication, said a speaker, "should lead to communion."

Speaker: Technology can provide personal connection church members seek

A steady decline in the number of Christians who go to church doesn't mean Christianity is dying but that church members want a personal connection they aren't finding in church, said the keynote speaker at an Oct. 14 technology summit at Villanova University.

Office of Catholic Education names associate superintendent

In her new role Theresa Garvin will serve the city schools of the archdiocesan secondary school system, focusing on include curriculum, instruction and assessment.