Local News
Little Flower High School partners with Holy Family U to expand courses, cut costs
Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls and Holy Family University in Philadelphia agreed to work together closely in a partnership announced May 16. The agreement will enable students of the girls-only high school who graduate with at least a 2.5 grade point average to apply to the university without paying application fees. Dual-credit courses will be available for the students at Holy Family and credits will count toward both high school and college requirements.
Catholics called to mark May 24 as day of prayer for culture of life
Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell will likely spend the rest of his life in prison but the efforts to oppose abortion and build a culture of life continue through prayer and sacrifice. All parishes are being “strongly encouraged” to participate in a day of prayer and penance on Friday, May 24, according to an unsigned letter […]
County-level boards advising growth, governance of Catholic grade schools
Parish and regional elementary schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have just received a new ally in their quest to sustain viability in these challenging times. A new governance model has been established with an Executive Board of Elementary Education chaired by Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, with five County Advisory Councils, representing the five counties of the Archdiocese working on the local level.
Observers hope Gosnell’s guilty verdicts force reappraisal of abortion
UPDATED -- In a plea bargain with prosecutors, abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell accepted a sentence of life in prison without parole May 14. By accepting the sentence he avoided the death penalty that prosecutors had sought, and he agreed to waive appeals of his convictions.
Permanent deacon candidates set for ordination June 1 at Cathedral
Fifteen men will be ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput on Saturday, June 1 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. CatholicPhilly.com invites you to read the following biographies of the men, and pray for them and the 275 permanent deacons serving the Archdiocese.
Gosnell convicted of murder of three babies, manslaughter of adult
UPDATED -- PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- A Philadelphia jury May 13 found Dr. Kermit Gosnell guilty of murder in the deaths of three babies born alive during abortions and acquitted him of a fourth similar charge. He also was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death by a drug overdose of a patient who had an abortion. Gosnell, 72, was accused of snipping the spines of babies born alive during illegal late-term abortions. Pennsylvania law prohibits abortions after 24 weeks of gestation.
At funeral, Bishop McFadden recalled as champion of new evangelization
With a solemn Mass of Christian Burial, faithful from Harrisburg, Philadelphia and beyond filled Holy Name of Jesus Church to offer the ultimate prayer for Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, who died suddenly of a heart attack May 2 while in Philadelphia to attend a meeting of the state’s bishops. A congregation of nearly 2,000 mourners filled the pews and the extra chairs set up for the Mass. Among them were Cardinal Justin Rigali, Archbishop Charles Chaput and other archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, religious sisters, lay faithful and people from other faith traditions.
Homily of Bishop Barres at the Solemn Funeral Mass for Bishop Joseph P. McFadden
May 8, 2013 To John and Mary Jo, Sister Jane, Ellen and Pat and Bishop McFadden’s large and loving extended family, to the Cardinals, to the Archbishops, to his brother bishops, to the priests, deacons, religious and the people of God of the Diocese of Harrisburg and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, we offer you our prayers and sympathy as we celebrate this Solemn Funeral Mass for the soul of Bishop McFadden and for the people he has served.
Three preparing for priesthood reflect on God’s calling in their lives
Three transitional deacons -- Sean Loomis, John Stokely and Thomas Viviano -- will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput on May 18 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. (Everyone in the Archdiocese is invited to the ordination, which begins at 10 a.m.) The three men have two things in common: all are relatively young and all are on fire for the Lord.
Spouses love as Christ loves, Archbishop says at wedding anniversary Mass
The Mass celebrated on the evening of May 4 by Archbishop Charles Chaput for couples celebrating their 25th or 50th anniversaries of married life or even more, was in keeping with a Philadelphia custom dating back for more than 30 years. “We Catholics say that marriage is a sacrament," he said. "What that means is your marriage in the Catholic Church is a sign to the rest of us, to the world, what God’s love for us is like."