Local News
Archbishop’s residence to be sold
The home of Philadelphia’s Catholic archbishops since the 1930s will soon be sold, archdiocesan officials confirmed Dec. 31, 2011. The 10,000-square-foot mansion located on more than eight acres at 5700 City Avenue next to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia was purchased by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty in 1935. It has been used as the home of […]
Different lives, same call to priesthood
Two men, very similar yet uniquely different. Jim Cardosi and Kevin Mulligan attended classes together and shot hoops together for four years at Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown, graduated in 1973 and then went their separate ways. Cardosi went to the U.S. Naval Academy, became a pilot and married father of five. After attending […]
God still has a mission for her
When you are 92 years old, it’s quite understandable if you just want to sit back, relax and let others do the work. Don’t tell that to Eleanor Stretz; she’s just about as involved as you can get at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensalem, and that’s just the way she wants it. For […]
Parishes to take next step in plan
All of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 266 parishes are beginning to examine each parish’s mission, identity and goals, “while working to determine if (each) has the resources required for sustained operation,” according to a Dec. 14 statement by the Archdiocese. Archbishop Charles Chaput directed the ongoing archdiocesan Parish Pastoral Planning Initiative in a letter to […]
Glad to be Home for Christmas
The atmosphere was already crackling with excitement in Maternity B.V.M.’s parish hall Dec. 13 as first grade students filed in to “Santa’s Secret Shop” to buy presents for their parents. But the tables were turned on one of the little ones when she realized the surprise in store for her. Daijah Fordham, 6, was sitting […]
Blue Ribbon Commission on Catholic Education: Final report to be released
In December 2010, when Cardinal Justin Rigali announced the formation and membership of a Blue Ribbon Commission to chart the future course of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, it was charged with examining current programs with the objective of defining a strategic plan that would assure a sustainable Catholic education system into the […]
Youth perform “Live Nativity” at St. Robert Parish
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the St. Robert Bellarmine Youth Ministry Program in Warminster presented “Live Nativity – The Christmas Story Comes to Life.” The main cast and crew included students from St. Joseph/St. Robert School, PREP, and parish youth through 12th grade. Supporting cast consisted of live sheep, donkeys and llamas. […]
More than 1,000 attend Cardinal John Foley’s funeral Mass
One thing was crystal clear at the Dec. 16 funeral for Cardinal John P. Foley, 76, at Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. The man was loved. Technically the thousand or so at the Mass were mourners, but the word just doesn’t seem to fit, because it was basically a happy gathering remembering […]
A loving remembrance of John Cardinal Foley
Click on links to 35 articles, reflections, photo galleries and videos about the late Cardinal John P. Foley’s life and his enduring legacy. In the CatholicPhilly.com’s comprehensive package: Funeral coverage, obituary, statements from Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Charles Chaput; and homilies by Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Thomas and New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, plus video […]
Parish schools demonstrate season’s spirit of giving
In Holland, St. Bede the Venerable students visited homebound parishioners during the annual Advent Day of Prayer Dec. 13. Seventh grade students joined seniors for lunch; kindergarteners and eighth grade students sang Christmas carols after the meal.