Local News
Maple Glen parish marks 50 years of close ‘family bond’
In 1963, as part of the great migration of Catholics from the Philadelphia core to its outlying areas and the suburbs, nine parishes were founded. One of them, a spin-off of St. Anthony in Ambler, was St. Alphonsus, Maple Glen. With about 1,700 households and almost 1,300 in Mass attendance each week, it has a lot going for it. In addition to the many long-running and some new parish programs are 75 or so men and women who attend daily Mass.
Shanahan speaker wows them at the podium, credits his ‘circle of faith’
Jonathan Weyand, who graduated from Bishop Shanahan High School on June 5 and is headed for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is one heck of a speaker. He was not only the valedictorian for his high school, but he was chosen to represent all the Catholic high school graduates in a speech given at the Academic Honors Convocation presided over by Archbishop Charles Chaput May 21 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.
Philadelphia selects Catholic Social Services as partner for serving at-risk youth
Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) has been selected as a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) for the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services (DHS) under its new model Improving Outcomes for Children. CSS is one of three community-based organizations most recently selected by DHS to manage the cases of the city’s most at-risk youth.
Inner-city kids learn math through baseball fantasy league in CSS program
Fifty North Philadelphia children flexed their math muscles on Saturday, June 8, at the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center in Kensington by using baseball as a way to teach math concepts. Fourth- to eighth-grade students of local public and parochial schools and community-based organizations spent the last four months using the program to build fantasy teams, analyze data and play simulated baseball games with their peers, all while demonstrating their math ability on baseball statistics and developing critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Priest retirements announced
The following priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have been named pastor emeritus or have retired. CatholicPhilly.com wishes each priest many more years in the Lord's service -- ad multos annos!
Clergy assignment changes announced
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia, announces the following appointments effective July 1, 2013: PAROCHIAL VICAR Reverend Angelo J. Hernandez, from Coordinator, Hispanic Ministry, Delaware County, to Parochial Vicar, Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia RESIDENCE Reverend Steven J. Harris, Staff, Office of the Metropolitan Tribunal and Chancery Office, from […]
June 30 set aside for ‘Justice for Immigrants’ day in Philadelphia
Sunday, June 30 is “Sunday for Justice for Immigrants” in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput announced June 7. He will celebrate a Mass for the intention of justice for immigrants at 6:30 p.m. on June 30 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. The archbishop encouraged all people in Southeastern Pennsylvania to respond to the issue of immigration on that day in three ways.
For 48 years in Catholic schools, Chaykowsky made friends, influenced students
Forty-eight years is a long run in any profession. When Helen Chaykowsky, the principal at Archbishop Ryan High School, retires this month, that’s how many years she will have had in Catholic education. "I wish everyone could find a career that would make them as happy as I have been," she said. "I became the woman I am because of my experience. I loved every minute of it, and now I feel ready for whatever plan God has for me.”
Pa. Senate passes abortion opt-out for federal health care exchanges
The Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill June 5 that prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions in the federal health care exchanges. Without a state health care exchange under the federal health care law, Pennsylvanians would choose from the federal exchanges, which include abortion coverage. The law allowed for state legislation to ban abortion funding in the federal exchanges for residents of the state, which the new bill accomplished. Gov. Tom Corbett has promised to sign the bill.
Archbishop Chaput, Vatican official, offer prayers in wake of city building collapse
The collapse of two buildings in center city Philadelphia June 5 that left six people dead and more than a dozen injured drew the attention of Catholic leaders, including those at the Vatican. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, wrote a letter June 6 to Archbishop Charles Chaput expressing sympathy for the victims and pledging prayers.