Local News
Before conclave, Cardinal Rigali lists qualities cardinals will seek in electing next pope
Philadelphia’s Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal Justin Rigali, was just as surprised as everyone else by the almost unprecedented Feb. 11 announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he would resign from the papacy at 8 p.m. Rome time, Feb. 28. "We all know the extraordinary issues he has to face day in and day out," the Cardinal said, "so he very candidly said, ‘I had been thinking about this and I am now convinced the role of successor St. Peter is so involved, I don’t have the strength.’ This was beautiful, because he certainly gave his all in everything that he did.”
Lansdale parish aims to bring back inactive Catholics by listening first
Many Catholics say they “used to be Catholic” or call themselves Catholic but rarely if ever go to church. Reaching out to those inactive Catholics is the goal of “Bridging the Breach,” an evangelization initiative of Corpus Christi Parish in Lansdale that began with its first session Sunday, Feb. 10. Even before that, organizers knew that inactive Catholics had to be invited personally to share their thoughts and feelings about why they no longer practiced their faith.
St. Anne Parish preserving its legendary history at Villanova U’s website
As cemeteries go, St. Anne Cemetery, which is adjacent to St. Anne Church, in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, is not large. Many if not most of the tombstones have seen their inscriptions obliterated and lost to memory, save that of a dwindling number of descendants, and the written records of the grand old church. That is about to change.
Lent begins this week, Archbishop to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass at Cathedral
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 13, and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput will be the principal celebrant for the Ash Wednesday Mass at 12:05 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. Catholics in 252 parishes across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will attend Mass or a Liturgy of the Word that […]
St. Donato Parish to merge with Our Lady of Lourdes in West Philadelphia
St. Donato Parish in West Philadelphia will merge with Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, it was announced at weekend Masses Feb. 2-3. St. Donato Church, at 65th and Callowhill streets, will become a worship site for occasional use, according to a statement by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia released Feb. 4. The merger of the parishes, whose churches are located only 1.25 miles from each other, becomes effective Feb. 24.
Don Guanella Village, serving intellectually disabled men, switching to cottage homes for care
An era will end when, as announced recently, Don Guanella Village begins to move from a full campus-based program to smaller, community-based group homes. The facility for intellectually disabled men in Springfield, Delaware County has been run by archdiocesan Catholic Social Services for almost half a century.
Despite evidence, media underplayed March for Life, overplayed gun control rally
“All the news that is (if politically correct) fit to print” seems to be the new motto for American journalism. Take the coverage by the Philadelphia Inquirer of the huge March for Life in Washington on Jan. 25 compared to much smaller rallies or marches for gun control within days of it. Both causes make […]
Thousands from Philadelphia join youth-heavy March for Life in D.C.
UPDATE — You didn’t read about it in your local newspaper or see a televised report. The fact is at least 2,000 Catholics from the Philadelphia area were among the vast throng in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25 to witness against the killing of the unborn, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Roe […]
Confirmation Schedules – Fall 2013
(July 25, 2013- subject to change) To see a list in alphabetical order by parish, click here. CELEBRANT:, ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT, O.F.M. CAP. Thursday, November 7 at 6 p.m., St. Bernard, Philadelphia, Thursday, November 21 at 6 p.m., Our Lady of Charity, Brookhaven Saturday, November 23 at 10 a.m., St. William, Philadelphia Friday, […]
New panel to study girls playing football, management of CYO system
Goodbye football helmets and pads, hello red and yellow flags? The elimination of full-contact football at the CYO level in the Philadelphia Archdiocese is just one possible recommendation from a panel of experts that is expected to meet soon.