Local News
Prospective high school site in Hilltown sold for $2.6 million
As part of a continuing strategy to plug its financial holes, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has sold a large property previously set aside for construction of a new Catholic high school. A 68-acre tract in Hilltown, Bucks County, is under agreement of sale for $2.6 million, archdiocesan spokesman Ken Gavin confirmed Oct. 24. Proceeds of the sale will go toward easing an $82 million shortfall in the archdiocesan Trust and Loan Fund.
Charges of sexual assault against priest dropped after death of accuser
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams announced Wednesday, Oct. 23 that he has dropped charges of charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault against Father Robert L. Brennan. The charges stemmed from an allegation of sexual abuse by 26-year-old Sean McIlmail, who was found dead from a drug overdose.
Chestnut Hill parish school seeing jump in enrollment, success in fundraising
Our Mother Consolation School in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia has been awarded a five-year scholarship grant totaling $100,000 from the Maguire Foundation. The gift from the foundation is part of the school’s $1 million fundraising campaign, which has raised $739,000, with 20 percent of the campaign fund pledged for tuition assistance.
Maguire Foundation supporting students from middle school through college
The foundation of insurance executive James Maguire and wife Frances is making grants totaling approximately $6.4 million annually to ensure children of modest means can obtain a quality education and hopefully be on the road to success themselves.
Father Terrence Toland, former president of St. Joseph’s, dies at 90
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Jesuit Father Terrence Toland, who as president of St. Joseph’s College welcomed the admission of women to the school, died of heart failure Oct. 18. He was 90. A funeral Mass was planned for Oct. 28 at St. Matthias Church in Bala Cynwyd. A priest for 61 years, Father Toland served as […]
St. Charles Seminary will retain, rebrand college program
A task force appointed last March to analyze the viability of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s College Division has unanimously recommended that the division remain open, the seminary announced Tuesday, Oct. 22. Although plans still call for the closure of the 285,000 square foot college building, the program itself will receive a renewed focus "as a college that has a unique mission – to form young men in accord with a program of priestly formation, apart from the Theology Seminary which is quite successful as well," said the rector, Bishop Timothy C. Senior.
Pennsburg parish sits down for a meal and talk with priest-chef
St. Philip Neri Parish's pastor praised the new life evident at the Catholic Family Life Center, converted from the former parish school. He invited a priest with a popular televised cooking show to talk to parishioners on a Sunday afternoon about the value of sharing meals together as a family.
New video to help Catholics intensify prayer, penance, sacrifice in face of threats
The U.S. Catholic bishops have developed a one-minute video to help Catholics around the country pray for the renewal of a culture of life, marriage and religious liberty in the United States. Archbishop Charles Chaput was among all the bishops who received a letter from the chairmen of four committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, including Cardinal Sean O'Malley, encouraging use of the video and prayer resources in every diocese.
World Mission Sunday celebrated with cathedral Mass, parish visits
Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre will be the main celebrant and homilist at the annual World Mission Sunday Mass Sunday, Oct. 20 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. The Mass recognizes the work of mission churches throughout the world and the support of their efforts by the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which last year amounted to more than $1.62 million. The archdiocesan Pontifical Missions Societies Office sponsors the Mass, which occurs in conjunction with weekend visits by missionaries to dozens of parishes in the archdiocese.
St. Charles Seminary names chair honoring Cardinal John Foley
Cardinal John Foley’s legacy as a world-class communicator and professor continues with the establishment of an endowed chair at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. The seminary recently announced the creation of the John Cardinal Foley Chair of Homiletics and Social Communications and named Oblate Father Thomas Dailey to hold the inaugural position.