Local News
Secretary for Catholic Education Richard McCarron announces retirement
Richard V. McCarron Jr., the top lay official for Catholic education in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, tendered his resignation last weekend. After serving as superintendent of schools before being named secretary for Catholic education in 2001, the 68-year-old McCarron will conclude 25 years in leadership with the archdiocese when his resignation becomes effective Feb. 1, 2013. “It is time for me to step down so that new leadership can guide and direct the mission of Catholic education,” McCarron said in a statement. “While it is difficult to step back from this role and from those whose dedication, commitment and passion for Catholic education have helped to mold thousands of students in the Catholic faith, I feel blessed for the opportunity to have worked with such devoted people.”
La Salle University award goes to CRS for agency’s humanitarian efforts
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — La Salle University gave one of its highest honors, the Signum Fidei Award, to Catholic Relief Services for its humanitarian outreach around the world. The university’s Alumni Association presents the award each year to an individual or organization “that has made noteworthy contributions to the advancement of humanitarian principles in keeping with […]
For a century, parish brings a taste of Italy to Conshohocken
How did it happen that an Italian personal parish founded a hundred years ago in Conshohocken took the name SS. Cosmas and Damian, which honors twins who are believed to have been born in Arabia and martyred in Syria in the early 4th century? The reason is most of the founding parishioners were from Isernia, […]
PCC praises Pa. task force’s report on child protection laws
The Task Force on Child Protection released its report recommending several changes to existing state laws governing child abuse Nov. 27 in Harrisburg, and the policy arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops was quick to praise the task force’s work. In the wake of the child sex abuse scandal that resulted in the conviction last year of former Penn State University athletic director Jerry Sandusky, the 11-member panel was created by Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly to examine the state’s laws and procedures designed to protect children from abuse.
Accepting award, Father Byron calls for national service program
Father William Byron, S.J., accepted the Barry Award from the American Catholic Historical Society Nov. 16. Cicero said it best. “The first law of history is to not dare to tell a lie and not fear to tell the truth.” Pope Leo XIII quoted this in 1881 when he opened the Vatican Archives for scholarly research. The American Catholic Historical Society was founded in Philadelphia three years later and has striven to be true to this dictum ever since. Rodger Van Allen, the society’s 52nd president, also made reference to this famous quote at its annual Commodore John Barry Award Dinner held Nov. 16 at the Union League of Philadelphia.
New website promotes Catholic adoptions in Pa.
Catholic social service agencies across Pennsylvania have teamed up to launch AdoptionPa.org, a website that connects mothers and families with a Catholic adoption agency in their area and also offers encouragement and support to those who experience unintended pregnancies. “A statewide website that features each Catholic diocesan adoption program allows birth parents to have a one-stop […]
Cabrini College, Catholic Social Services bring Thanksgiving feasts to 280 families
Cabrini College and Catholic Social Services helped make festive Thanksgiving feasts for 280 families in Montgomery County by donating 1,289 pounds of turkeys and all the trimmings – including fresh produce and baked goods – to CSS’ emergency food cupboard in Norristown Nov. 20.
African American Catholics celebrate faith, family, community
The theme was “It’s a Family Affair: Praising Loving and Living 2012” when about 200 African American Catholics and their friends gathered joyfully for the Sixth Annual Philadelphia Peter Claver Award Banquet held Nov. 18th at the Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill. Sponsoring the gala were the Knights of Peter Claver and the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, and the principal honoree was Father Stephen Thorne, pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish, Philadelphia.
Catholic Life Congress helps 700 people share their faith with others
In a message to the more than 700 teachers and catechists who attended Catholic Life Congress Nov. 17, Archbishop Charles Chaput said, “The Second Vatican Council, which began its work exactly 50 years ago this fall, reminded us that Jesus founded His Church to be a lumen gentium – a ‘light to the nations.’ At baptism each of us becomes part of that light. Nobody can really follow Jesus Christ without also preaching and teaching Christ to the world around us. “As we grow, it becomes our task to form our hearts and minds in the light of God’s truth, and to bring other people to believe in Him.”
Catholics in Archdiocese reach out, give much to victims of Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy, which struck the East Coast during the last week of October, may have been mostly hype in Philadelphia but it was absolutely devastating elsewhere. Especially hard-hit were neighbors in New Jersey and New York, and also a serious matter in places like Bucks County that experienced extended power outages. Here in the Archdiocese […]