Local News

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.

Archdiocesan official, Dr. Robert Miller, wins national award for Church research

Dr. Robert Miller, director of planning and research for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be presented with a prestigious award Oct. 16 for his extraordinary efforts in the area of research on behalf of the Church.

Once a thriving Kensington parish, Ascension to close Oct. 1

Ascension of Our Lord Parish was once among the largest in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It has experienced a dwindling population, with only seven infant baptisms, two marriages and average weekly Mass attendance of 188. The figures are less than half of what they were just four years ago.

Knights of Columbus organize voter registration drives in parishes

In a show of faithful citizenship and with the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC), the Pennsylvania State Council of the Knights of Columbus has urged the various local councils throughout the state to conduct nonpartisan voter registration drives in the parishes this month. Under the agreed upon terms, the Knights may not mention specific parties, candidates or issues; they are just signing up new voters or voters changing their registration.

At 100, she goes up and away for her birthday

So there you are coming up on your 100th birthday, and someone asks, “What is the one thing you want most for your birthday?” There happens to be a very good local organization, the Twilight Wish Foundation, that tries to grant such wishes to senior citizens within reason. A few months ago they were visiting […]