Local News
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.”
Local events mark Year of Faith across Philadelphia Archdiocese
Archbishop Charles Chaput will launch the local efforts in the universal Church’s Year of Faith to deepen the faith of Catholics with a Mass Oct. 14 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The Year of Faith began Oct. 11 with a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, which was also the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “The entire purpose of the Year of Faith is an encounter with the living Christ,” said Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, who with his staff is working to promote and coordinate activities for the year in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “Through his writings the Holy Father constantly points out that Christianity is an encounter with the living God and out of that flows everything else.”
Knights of Columbus to honor pro-life leaders
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Knights of Columbus will honor two local leaders in the pro-life movement at their annual Columbus Day Dinner, to be held this year on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. at Twining Hall, 4900 Street Road, Trevose. To be honored as Man of the Year is Bill Miller, a former president […]
New CEO to lead foundation operating Catholic schools
Faith in the Future Foundation, the group that assumed operational control of the 17 high schools and four schools of special education owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, announced it has hired a new chief executive officer Oct. 8. Samuel Casey Carter, 46, becomes the first CEO of the foundation that was formed early this year to raise funds for the archdiocesan Catholic school system, and which took over control of school management Aug. 21.
North Wales parish marks 25 years, and still growing
Parish names always have a reason. Maybe it is for the patron saint of the founding pastor’s mother, or of a bishop or the Pope, or any one of the titles of the Blessed Virgin. Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in North Wales belongs to the latter category, but in a unique way. Founded in […]
Day of Service marks La Salle’s 150th anniversary
La Salle University continued its 150th anniversary celebration with the LaSallian Day of Service Sept. 29. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of La Salle volunteered their time with civic and social organizations at more than 30 sites in Philadelphia, as well as alumni clubs in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties. Other sites included Washington, D.C.; […]
La Milagrosa to be sold by Vincentians to benefit order’s retirees
The Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentians, intends to sell Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Chapel and other properties in order to support the retired priests and brothers of the order in Spain, where it is headquartered in Barcelona. Best known in the Hispanic community as La Milagrosa, the chapel is associated with the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul and located just blocks from the cathedral at 1903 Spring Garden St. in Philadelphia. In a statement released Sept. 28, the Archdiocese said it does not own the property and does not have the funds to purchase it from the Vincentians.