Local News
As it was in the beginning: Malvern Retreat House has been firing up faith for 100 years
When Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrates Mass for the 100th Anniversary of Malvern Retreat House at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, it really is a big deal. Malvern’s St. Joseph’s in the Hills is the largest and most active Catholic retreat facility in the country and very possibly the world.
Festive crowds celebrate first female Native American saint in Bensalem
There may have been showers on Rome on Sunday, Oct. 21 where Pope Benedict XVI officially proclaimed seven new saints, but it was gorgeous in Bensalem, Pa.; you could even say Indian summer. That’s appropriate because among the new saints was Kateri Tekakwitha, North America’s first female Native American saint. It was quite a celebration […]
Story of newest saint, Marianne Cope, has Philadelphia angle
The ceremony that saw Kateri Tekakwitha declared a saint also included six others, and for the first time two Americans were canonized at the same time: St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Marianne Cope. Cope (1838-1918) was born in Germany but brought to America at age 1, and received automatic citizenship under the laws of the […]
Plans to build new Lansdale Catholic shelved; upgrades made to present building
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Office for Catholic Education have decided not to move forward with the construction of a new school for Lansdale Catholic High School in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, the Archdiocese said in an Oct. 23 statement. Parents were notified the previous day. The new school, to be renamed Lansdale Catholic Regional High School, would have been on a 68-acre tract seven miles from the current school which was purchased by the Archdiocese mostly in 2001.
Archdiocesan Review Board gets new leaders, members
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has appointed veteran prosecutors to lead the Archdiocesan Review Board, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Oct. 17. Former Philadelphia prosecutor Robert Spinelli is the new chair of the board and former Philadelphia First Assistant District Attorney Arnold Gordon is the vice chair. Both men have served on the board since June […]
St. Albert Parish celebrates 50 years serving Huntingdon Valley
June 6, D-Day, is certainly auspicious in American history. It’s auspicious too in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia because that’s the date 50 years ago St. Albert the Great Parish was erected. One of the larger parishes in the Archdiocese, its campus is in Huntingdon Valley, Montgomery County, but many parishioners live in adjacent Northeast Philadelphia. […]
Priest cleared to return to ministry, despite violation of ‘Boundaries’ code
Father Joseph DiGregorio, a former Army priest chaplain who served in Iraq but since last year was one of 26 priests suspended following a 2011 grand jury report on child sexual abuse, has been found suitable to return to priestly ministry by Archbishop Charles Chaput, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Oct. 15. The archbishop approved the recommendation for Father DiGregorio based on the work of the Archdiocesan Review Board and the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of more than 20 investigators with experience in child abuse issues. But the team found that the priest had violated the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries in an incident more than 40 years ago. In itself, such a violation of the Archdiocese’s code of conduct would preclude a return to ministry, but the archdiocesan statement cited “compelling evidence that makes him suitable for ministry.”
Local events mark Year of Faith across Philadelphia Archdiocese
Archbishop Charles Chaput will launch the local efforts in the universal Church’s Year of Faith to deepen the faith of Catholics with a Mass Oct. 14 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The Year of Faith began Oct. 11 with a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, which was also the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “The entire purpose of the Year of Faith is an encounter with the living Christ,” said Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, who with his staff is working to promote and coordinate activities for the year in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “Through his writings the Holy Father constantly points out that Christianity is an encounter with the living God and out of that flows everything else.”
Knights of Columbus to honor pro-life leaders
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Knights of Columbus will honor two local leaders in the pro-life movement at their annual Columbus Day Dinner, to be held this year on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. at Twining Hall, 4900 Street Road, Trevose. To be honored as Man of the Year is Bill Miller, a former president […]
New CEO to lead foundation operating Catholic schools
Faith in the Future Foundation, the group that assumed operational control of the 17 high schools and four schools of special education owned by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, announced it has hired a new chief executive officer Oct. 8. Samuel Casey Carter, 46, becomes the first CEO of the foundation that was formed early this year to raise funds for the archdiocesan Catholic school system, and which took over control of school management Aug. 21.