Local News
Philadelphia priest chaplain earns Bronze Star for ministry in Afghanistan
After Mass at a typical parish, it’s fellowship over coffee and donuts. But for troops stationed in Afghanistan, after Mass it’s cigars smoked down to the nub. Father Stephen McDermott, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and a U.S. Army chaplain who recently was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan, just completed a year-long tour of duty in the country. “I never realized the power of a cigar when it comes to ministry,” he said.
Philadelphia-area Catholics meet Pope Francis during visit to offer $8.6 million
When 120 officials, donors and their family members from around the United States signed on for the Bala Cynwyd-based Papal Foundation’s annual pilgrimage to Rome to present the Holy Father with this year’s grant they had no idea they would be meeting a brand-new pope. At the April 11 meeting in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall when the $8.6 million grant was presented, Pope Francis personally greeted each of the pilgrims instead of reading his prepared statement.
BVM Parish celebrates 100 years serving Darby, Delaware County
Every parish has distinctive features. Blessed Virgin Mary, Darby, where Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrated a 100th anniversary Mass on Sunday, April 14, is diverse -- it always was and probably always will be. The nicest thing about it, all the people pretty much get along with one another, they always have and probably always will.
Archbishop gives stark, frank assessment of archdiocese at Philos dinner
Archbishop Charles Chaput accepted the 2013 award of the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute April 12. “This is an extraordinary place,” Archbishop Chaput said of the Philadelphia Archdiocese. “But things have changed immensely.” “The problems we have financially are not admitting we have to change. Not in terms of our values and enthusiasm but in terms of how we look at our structures." Change, he said, is going to be awkward and difficult, but “if we are going to be the Church that Jesus Christ wants us to be, we have to be different.”
Study shows challenge of Church holding or selling vacant Catholic schools
All over America Catholic school systems are imploding, especially because of rising costs but also in many cases the rise of free charter schools. The number of Catholic schools in the United States peaked at 13,292 in 1965-66. That number is now down 47 percent to 7,094. What happened or is happening to the buildings?
Terri Schiavo remembered at Mass celebrated by Archbishop Chaput
The battle for the life of Terri Schindler Schiavo ended March 31, 2005 through death by denial of nutrition and hydration in a Florida hospice. She had been in a coma for more than 15 years after collapsing in her home. Her life was ultimately terminated at the request of her husband but against the […]
Archdiocese announces clergy assignment changes
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announced the following four appointments April 10, effective as noted.
Eight students awarded scholarships from St. John Vianney Parish
Parishioners from St. John Vianney Parish in Gladwyne presented a $3,000 a year scholarship April 4 to Naybria Brown, an eighth grade student from St. Martin de Porres School in Philadelphia. The scholarship will enable Brown to attend any archdiocesan high school for all four years.
Archbishop deems three suspended priests unsuitable for ministry
Three suspended priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been deemed unsuitable to return to ministry, the Archdiocese announced Sunday, April 7. Fathers Joseph J. Gallagher and Mark S. Gaspar had been placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese since in 2011 after being named in the Philadelphia grand jury report on sexual abuse of minors by clergy.
Catholic Charismatics set for all-day celebration of joy April 6
If you need a theme for a Charismatic conference, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength,” certainly encapsulates the movement. Approximately 400 area Catholic Charismatics will converge on St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Media, on April 6 and it’s a guarantee, they will be joyful.