Local News
Archbishop Chaput offers statement on Hurricane Sandy
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput issued the following statement Monday, Oct. 29 regarding Hurricane Sandy. Archdiocesan parochial and secondary schools will remain closed Tuesday, Oct. 30, as will the offices of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center.
New Blessed Teresa Church dedicated in Limerick
The winding country roads of Limerick host modest homes, small churches and businesses as any town. But now high spires poke out of the Montgomery County landscape as parishioners of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish now worship God in their new church. Archbishop Charles Chaput dedicated the 22,000 square foot Gothic edifice Saturday, Oct. 27.
Archbishop Chaput: Catholic teaching trumps party loyalty on abortion
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Church teaching against abortion "requires absolute adherence" on the part of Catholic voters, who must "stand united" in opposition to the practice regardless of party affiliation, said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia. "(Abortion) really is a big issue today, and I think what it requires of Catholics is a loyalty to the church prior to their political party," Archbishop Chaput told Catholic News Service Oct. 20 in Rome. (See a video interview)
As it was in the beginning: Malvern Retreat House has been firing up faith for 100 years
When Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrates Mass for the 100th Anniversary of Malvern Retreat House at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, it really is a big deal. Malvern’s St. Joseph’s in the Hills is the largest and most active Catholic retreat facility in the country and very possibly the world.
Festive crowds celebrate first female Native American saint in Bensalem
There may have been showers on Rome on Sunday, Oct. 21 where Pope Benedict XVI officially proclaimed seven new saints, but it was gorgeous in Bensalem, Pa.; you could even say Indian summer. That’s appropriate because among the new saints was Kateri Tekakwitha, North America’s first female Native American saint. It was quite a celebration […]
Story of newest saint, Marianne Cope, has Philadelphia angle
The ceremony that saw Kateri Tekakwitha declared a saint also included six others, and for the first time two Americans were canonized at the same time: St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Marianne Cope. Cope (1838-1918) was born in Germany but brought to America at age 1, and received automatic citizenship under the laws of the […]
Plans to build new Lansdale Catholic shelved; upgrades made to present building
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Office for Catholic Education have decided not to move forward with the construction of a new school for Lansdale Catholic High School in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, the Archdiocese said in an Oct. 23 statement. Parents were notified the previous day. The new school, to be renamed Lansdale Catholic Regional High School, would have been on a 68-acre tract seven miles from the current school which was purchased by the Archdiocese mostly in 2001.
Archdiocesan Review Board gets new leaders, members
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has appointed veteran prosecutors to lead the Archdiocesan Review Board, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Oct. 17. Former Philadelphia prosecutor Robert Spinelli is the new chair of the board and former Philadelphia First Assistant District Attorney Arnold Gordon is the vice chair. Both men have served on the board since June […]
St. Albert Parish celebrates 50 years serving Huntingdon Valley
June 6, D-Day, is certainly auspicious in American history. It’s auspicious too in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia because that’s the date 50 years ago St. Albert the Great Parish was erected. One of the larger parishes in the Archdiocese, its campus is in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, but many parishioners live in adjacent Northeast Philadelphia. […]
Priest cleared to return to ministry, despite violation of ‘Boundaries’ code
Father Joseph DiGregorio, a former Army priest chaplain who served in Iraq but since last year was one of 26 priests suspended following a 2011 grand jury report on child sexual abuse, has been found suitable to return to priestly ministry by Archbishop Charles Chaput, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Oct. 15. The archbishop approved the recommendation for Father DiGregorio based on the work of the Archdiocesan Review Board and the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of more than 20 investigators with experience in child abuse issues. But the team found that the priest had violated the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries in an incident more than 40 years ago. In itself, such a violation of the Archdiocese’s code of conduct would preclude a return to ministry, but the archdiocesan statement cited “compelling evidence that makes him suitable for ministry.”