Local News
Pa. won’t set up health insurance exchanges, might opt out of abortion in federal plan
UPDATE -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett announced Dec. 12 that the state would not set up its own health insurance exchanges and instead join the federal exchange, which will cover elective abortions. Just how the decision will impact such issues as abortion is not totally clear.
Christmas concert at St. Charles Seminary draws capacity crowd
The 25th annual Christmas concert at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary was so successful that seminarians had to hustle to find folding chairs to accommodate an enthusiastic capacity audience. More than 600 people filled the seminary’s St. Martin’s Chapel Sunday night, Dec. 9, and were treated to an hour and a half of selections of sacred music and two traditional Christmas carols by the 25-voice seminarian choir.
Supreme sacrifice of Phila. priest chaplains recalled at Seminary
Call it a premonition or maybe just a fitting epitaph. “Courage is fear that has said its prayers and there is no greater prayer than squaring souls away for God.” That was written in the last letter to his family by Father Anthony Conway, chaplain in the U.S. Marines and a priest of Philadelphia, ordained May 22, 1937, and who died on a Guam beach July 23, 1944.
Archbishop Chaput recovers from knee surgery, expresses gratitude for people’s prayers
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.Cap., successfully underwent knee replacement surgery Tuesday, Dec. 4. In the following statement released Dec. 7, he responds to the many expressions of prayerful support he received in the days before and since the surgery.
First Communion to be received by children in 2nd grade, confirmation in 6th, archbishop says
The ages at which Catholic children in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia receive the sacraments of first holy Communion and confirmation will remain as they are today, Archbishop Chaput told priests of the archdiocese in a letter Nov. 30. Currently most children in grade two receive first holy Communion, and most children receive confirmation in grade six. Some parishes routinely confirm their children in seventh or eighth grades, while other parishes with small congregations combine sixth, seventh or eighth graders into a single group for confirmation.
So far, St. Charles Seminary’s fund drive topping last year
Everybody knows St. Charles Borromeo Seminary provides formation for Philadelphia’s future priests. Right now there are 50 men studying for Philadelphia at St. Charles, but there are 85 others studying for eight other dioceses and two religious congregations. “You see magnificent buildings and get a sense of history, but the seminary is not a museum or Independence Hall,” Bishop Senior said. “This is a place where formation is happening today."
Msgr. McLoone named pastor of St. Joseph’s, Downingtown
Msgr. Joseph C. McCloone has been named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Downingtown by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. Parishioners of St. Joseph’s were informed of the appointment at weekend Masses Dec. 1-2.
Secretary for Catholic Education Richard McCarron announces retirement
Richard V. McCarron Jr., the top lay official for Catholic education in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, tendered his resignation last weekend. After serving as superintendent of schools before being named secretary for Catholic education in 2001, the 68-year-old McCarron will conclude 25 years in leadership with the archdiocese when his resignation becomes effective Feb. 1, 2013. “It is time for me to step down so that new leadership can guide and direct the mission of Catholic education,” McCarron said in a statement. “While it is difficult to step back from this role and from those whose dedication, commitment and passion for Catholic education have helped to mold thousands of students in the Catholic faith, I feel blessed for the opportunity to have worked with such devoted people.”
La Salle University award goes to CRS for agency’s humanitarian efforts
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — La Salle University gave one of its highest honors, the Signum Fidei Award, to Catholic Relief Services for its humanitarian outreach around the world. The university’s Alumni Association presents the award each year to an individual or organization “that has made noteworthy contributions to the advancement of humanitarian principles in keeping with […]
For a century, parish brings a taste of Italy to Conshohocken
How did it happen that an Italian personal parish founded a hundred years ago in Conshohocken took the name SS. Cosmas and Damian, which honors twins who are believed to have been born in Arabia and martyred in Syria in the early 4th century? The reason is most of the founding parishioners were from Isernia, […]