Local News
Santa Claus enjoys gift-giving mission
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T “I really am Santa Claus,” he said. “Call me St. Nicholas or St. Nick if you like. “Never,” he added with a twinkle, “call me Old Nick. He’s quite a different fellow.” There he sat in his ermine-trimmed crimson suit and stocking cap, which by trick of the soft […]
‘I can’t live without God in my life’
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T PHILADELPHIA -If you are looking for programs in Hispanic ministry at Holy Innocents Parish in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia Ani Figueroa is the go-to person, which means she’s pretty busy because Hispanics have become the majority ethnicity in the parish. Originally from Salina, Puerto Rico, and formerly […]
A family brought together by God
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T It was what they call an unplanned pregnancy. “Jane” was in her late teens and unmarried with a baby on the way. The best thing, she thought, was to have an abortion. But she kept putting it off; maybe part of her was repulsed by the idea. Finally, in […]
A wrapping Christmas ‘elf’
By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD – As a Santa’s helper, 18-year-old Julia McGrath is all set for the December duties and festivities that accompany the archdiocesan-sponsored Operation Santa Claus: collecting toys, cutting reams of wrapping paper, unraveling spools of curling ribbon, sorting, wrapping, bagging, boxing and delivering presents to children in need. A […]
Couple are ‘heart and soul’ of parish
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T We really shouldn’t be writing about Patrick and Mary Ann Purcell. They never did anything that great and there are so many other people we could write about. That’s what they both say, but you be the judge. The Purcells, both 82, have been the heart and soul of […]
Beneficial’s president receives Barry Award
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T As the recipient of the American Catholic Historical Society’s John Barry Award at the Union League of Philadelphia Nov. 20, Gerard P. Cuddy joins a distinguished list of presidents of Beneficial Bank who have been similarly honored. Former presidents George Knight, Joseph McLaughlin and John Gallagher also received the […]
The business of devotion
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T EXTON – Jim Dibrino, 62, a member of SS. Philip and James Parish in Exton, changed careers in midlife. After a quarter-century as an information technology executive with SunGard Systems, a few years ago he struck out on his own. First he did consulting work and then opened the […]
Doing God’s work as a ‘fisher of women’
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T Jesus deputized His apostles as “fishers of men.” Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth Michele Vincent Fisher thinks of herself as a “fisher of women.” She’s the national vocations director for her congregation and brings obvious joy to her ministry, loving every minute of it. Sister Michele, who […]
Sharing others’ sorrow is privilege
By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T Staff Writer CHELTENHAM – Annette Foley, the bereavement ministry coordinator at Presentation B.V.M. Parish in Cheltenham, contemplates the crucifixion as she consoles those who are grieving. “As a Catholic, I look at the crucifixion and the promises of Jesus,” she said. “I know that what He suffered for us was not […]
Working to find the face of Christ
By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T Sister Felice Marie Long of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary entered her congregation 51 years ago and spent the first 35 years of her ministry teaching in schools, mostly in the upper grades in Philadelphia and the suburbs. But she slowly came to realize that […]