Local News
Bucks County parish sends windows, hope to Mississippi Delta
A distance of more than 1,100 miles separates the suburban sprawl of Holland in Bucks County from the Mississippi delta town of Greenwood. But the simple act of giving has connected the two communities, and the churches that serve them. Both Franciscan Fathers Gregory Plata and William Stout understand the chasm, in both demographics and […]
Valentines for veterans
Giving back to the community and helping others are values instilled in every St. Francis de Sales school student. As part of Catholic Schools Week activities, students created valentine cards to share with local VFW Post 6613 to show appreciation for their patriotic efforts. Students and families also donated specific items for Armed Forces Care […]
Parishes in Philadelphia, Chester Co., evaluated
Seven parishes in Northwest Philadelphia and four parishes in Coatesville, Chester County, submitted written recommendations for Archbishop Charles Chaput’s consideration regarding merging, consolidating or closing some of the parishes in those Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs). The proposals were due Feb. 15, and will be discussed among the parish pastors and a Strategic Planning Committee comprised of archdiocesan experts in several aspects of Church life. PPA 540 includes nine parishes located in the Germantown, Mount Airy and Oak Lane sections of Philadelphia and a detailed study of seven of those parishes began last October. The parishes affected are St. Vincent de Paul, founded in 1851; St. Francis of Assisi, founded in 1899; Immaculate Conception, founded in 1902; St. Benedict, founded in 1922; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, founded in 1925; St. Athanasius, founded in 1928; and St. Raymond of Penafort, founded in 1941.
Attending St. Dot’s a family tradition
Legacy families add up at school When Brian Gallagher and his wife Trisha (McCalla) Gallagher went to an open house last year at St. Dorothy School in Drexel Hill, it was like walking into a class reunion. Like themselves, their grade school classmates from the 1980s are now parents of children who go to school […]
Raising funds for Catholic schools
Catholic education is of utmost importance to Al Gabriele, a retired businessman and entrepreneur, whose career most recently was in the printing field. A member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales, he recently finished chairing a highly successful $25 million capital campaign for La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor. It took […]
Children’s mission of mercy feeds the hungry, homeless
Kick boxing, piano lessons, St. Mary Interparochial School, food preparation and Mercy Hospice. What on earth could they have in common? It’s complicated. About 10 kids attending the lower grades at St. Mary, located in Olde City, Philadelphia, meet at the home of the Holahan family every Friday after school for piano lessons, which are […]
Archbishop Chaput: High schools will stay open, new foundation will aid Catholic schools
Archbishop Charles Chaput announced in dramatic fashion today at a press conference that all four archdiocesan Catholic high schools that had been recommended for closure would remain open. As the archbishop made the announcement at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Philadelphia, where he was joined with some of the top state legislative leaders and local […]
Archdiocese of Philadelphia welcomes new chief financial officer
Timothy O’Shaughnessy, 48, has been named chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia effective April 16, according to a statement today by the archdiocesan Communications Office. O’Shaughnessy most recently served as CFO for St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia since 2008. In that role he was responsible for overseeing all finance-related matters including the […]
Devon Prep student recalls recent visit to Haiti
Just over two years ago a devastating earthquake hit the small country of Haiti destroying the capital city of Port au Prince, killing thousands of people and leaving even more homeless.The country received aid from around the world in the months after the earthquake, but two years later the needs of the Haitian people continue […]
Father Cantalamessa speaks at St. Mary Magdalen in Media
As the Church in America continues to shoulder the cross brought about by clergy sexual abuse, and as the local Church of Philadelphia faces the possible merging and closure of parishes and schools due to the declining number of active priests to staff them, the role of the laity is becoming more and more prevalent. […]