Local News
St. John’s Hospice marks 50 years of serving the homeless with gala
St. John’s Hospice, which opened its doors Sept. 7, 1963 to serve the needs of homeless and hungry men in the city of Philadelphia, will celebrate 50 years of service with an anniversary gala to raise funds in support of its mission.
Catholic presence at Battle of Gettysburg still shines 150 years later
They were Poles, Austrians, Germans, Czechs, Italians, Irish -- especially Irish -- and they had one thing in common. They were Catholics, many of them new immigrants but loyal Americans. Seven score and 10 years ago, as Abraham Lincoln might say, many of them participated in the crucial Battle of Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863. Certainly Catholicism was still very much a minority religion in 19th century America, but Catholics were there.
CatholicPhilly.com wins two national Catholic awards
CatholicPhilly.com won two awards from the Catholic Press Association at a presentation June 21, part of the annual Catholic Media Convention in Denver, Colo. The official news website of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and digital successor to The Catholic Standard and Times won third place for “Best General Publisher Website.” The award citation noted CatholicPhilly.com’s […]
Philadelphia’s immigration lessons: How fear and hatred led to 19th century riots
During sectarian riots, two Catholic churches were burned to the ground, another was saved only by military intervention. Virtually every Catholic church in Philadelphia County was threatened. Scores of houses were destroyed and dozens of people were killed. It happened in Philadelphia 169 years ago, but it still has lessons for today. Kenneth W. Milano, a Kensington historian who recently wrote “The Philadelphia Nativist Riots: Irish Kensington Erupts” (History Press, $19.99), gave a lecture on the riots at St. Michael Church (which was rebuilt two years after the riots) on June 20.
U.S. Reps. discuss ‘gross injustice’ of HHS mandate at forum
When does government regulation interfere with the constitutional right of freedom of religion? This question was at the heart of a forum titled “Religious Freedom and the HHS Mandates” held June 21 at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Philadelphia. Among the panelists were U.S. Congressmen Joe Pitts, Diane Black and Chris Smith. All three are strongly committed to the pro-life cause.
New Evangelization, life and family ministry focus of archdiocesan changes
Last June the Archdiocese of Philadelphia created the Office for Life, Family and Laity, with Steven Bozza as director, to lead the local Church’s efforts in those areas. The office represented a consolidation of former offices and personnel. One year later, the office is undergoing another evolution. Starting July 1, it will be reconfigured into […]
Bishop McDevitt grad last of a long line of high-achieving siblings
There had to be a bit of déjà vu for Mike and Mary DiCamillo and their family when Sophia, the youngest of their six children, stepped up to the podium on June 5 at Arcadia University as valedictorian for the Bishop McDevitt High School, Class of 2013, commencement exercises. She is the fourth member of the family to be McDevitt’s valedictorian.
Maple Glen parish marks 50 years of close ‘family bond’
In 1963, as part of the great migration of Catholics from the Philadelphia core to its outlying areas and the suburbs, nine parishes were founded. One of them, a spin-off of St. Anthony in Ambler, was St. Alphonsus, Maple Glen. With about 1,700 households and almost 1,300 in Mass attendance each week, it has a lot going for it. In addition to the many long-running and some new parish programs are 75 or so men and women who attend daily Mass.
Shanahan speaker wows them at the podium, credits his ‘circle of faith’
Jonathan Weyand, who graduated from Bishop Shanahan High School on June 5 and is headed for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is one heck of a speaker. He was not only the valedictorian for his high school, but he was chosen to represent all the Catholic high school graduates in a speech given at the Academic Honors Convocation presided over by Archbishop Charles Chaput May 21 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
Philadelphia selects Catholic Social Services as partner for serving at-risk youth
Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) has been selected as a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) under its new model Improving Outcomes for Children. CSS is one of three community-based organizations most recently selected by DHS to manage the cases of the city’s most at-risk youth.