Local News
Catholic Foundation aims to engage lay Catholic donors in Philadelphia
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will not ask Catholics for money. Instead, the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia will not only “make the ask” but it will invite donors to indicate how they would like their contributions to be used in support of the good works of the church in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The new organization was announced at a press conference Tuesday, Sept. 24 at its center city Philadelphia headquarters at 20th and Arch streets.
Archdiocese set for pilgrimage to Our Lady’s shrine in Washington
Save the date -- on Oct. 5 Catholics from parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia along with seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary will board buses to Washington, D.C., for the biennial Philadelphia pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This will continue a tradition that goes way back almost to the beginnings of what has become “America’s Church.”
In the shadow the cross, the sick gain prayers for healing
As the universal church celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Sept. 14, worshipers participated in a healing Mass at SS. Philip and James Church in Exton to unite their suffering to exaltation. Infirm parishioners and their families, as well as caregivers, received prayers and the sacrament of anointing of the sick, which included having their foreheads and hands anointed with oil.
St. Aloysius School in Pottstown turns 100, keeps up with the times
When it opened in 1913 St. Aloysius School had 178 students, and over the years there have been ups and downs. But this year, according to principal Sarah Kerins, there are 250 children from pre-school through grade eight. Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald visited the Pottstown school on Sunday, Sept. 15, to celebrate a centennial Mass in the parish church for this singular milestone.
Northeast Philadelphia Catholic school wins $20K grant
St. Katherine of Siena School received a $20,000 grant from the Healey Education Foundation Sept. 5 for its school advancement efforts. Recent enrollment gains, a new governance board, fundraising and other initiatives show “a level of professionalism once seen only in higher education institutions."
La Salle prof brings St. Augustine’s classic biography into English
It has taken more than 20 years, but La Salle University professor and St. Augustine scholar Frederick Van Fleteren is nearing completion of the first full translation to English of a 17th-century classic French biography of Augustine of Hippo. “It is by far the most comprehensive and intensive biography of Augustine ever written," he said.
Official who issued same-sex marriage licenses removed as volunteer at Catholic school
Bruce Hanes, the Montgomery County Register of Wills, has been a long-time volunteer judge for the mock trial team at Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in Philadelphia. But not any longer.
Medical Mission Sister honored for work with victims of human trafficking
Medical Mission Sister Teresita Hinnegan has long worked to end to human trafficking and teach women how to value themselves. Recently she made history through her efforts. She was awarded the first ever Dawn’s Place Life Time Achievement Award, recognizing her life’s work to empower women and stop violence against them, the Medical Mission Sisters announced Sept. 17.
Conference at Neumann U shows sports as path to peace
Playing sports provides many valuable life lessons such as how to work as a team, how to be a good sport and how to get along with others. The last lesson was incorporated into a “Beyond the Divide” conference hosted by Neumann University Sept. 10. The all-day conference focused on how sports can bridge religious differences and reduce conflict.
46 parishes begin self-study phase of planning process
Parishioners at 46 parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia learned at Masses last weekend that their parishes will begin a program of self-study that may lead to mergers next year, the Archdiocese announced Sunday, Sept. 16. The parishes are grouped in seven Pastoral Planning Areas in sections of Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties, plus South Philadelphia.