Local News
Tie with CRS helps Villanova University make connections to world
WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the Villanova Wildcats beat the Seton Hall Pirates 84-76 in men’s basketball Jan. 18, it wasn’t just a hard-fought victory in the tough Big East conference. The game also was a win for the people of the Republic of South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, thanks to a partnership between Villanova […]
Students, leaders reflect on school changes
Compromise, teamwork and respect. That’s what it took for four struggling parish schools to come together and successfully form a thriving regional school. “We opened one year ago September,” said John Mundy, principal of Levittown’s Holy Family Regional School formed though the consolidation of Queen of the Universe, Immaculate Conception, St. Frances Cabrini and St. […]
Mission schools: Two success stories
Most of the attention from the Blue Ribbon Commission Report to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been focused on the recommendations for consolidation; achieving cost savings through the creation of new schools through combining two or more existing schools. Less attention has been given to the recommendation that “mission schools” be established in neighborhoods where […]
School offers lessons students can bank on
A class of wiggling, chattering kindergarteners were silenced in curiosity as they watched their teacher talk to a bank teller about opening up an account to save for a new bicycle. Patty Price, a teacher at St. Andrew School in Newtown, animatedly explained to the little learners what she was doing at this student-operated branch […]
New director ready to lead growth
One of Damon Owens’ greatest satisfactions as he takes the helm as the Theology of the Body Institute’s first executive director is that he’s overseeing an organization that’s already a success. His role is to lead the seven-year-old Exton-based group through a time of growth. “I’ve been in awe of what’s been accomplished so far, […]
St. Leo Parish holds first Spanish Mass
Face it. Sermons at times can be more tedious than uplifting, and if you don’t speak the language they can be murder. At least that’s how the families of the mostly Irish industrial workers of Tacony felt in the early 1880s when the only Catholic chapel in the area was at St. Vincent German Orphanage. […]
Principal garners top honors
Last October, when the annual Catholic school administrators’ conference was held in Avalon, N.J., Immaculate Heart Sister Virginia Paschall was startled when she received a Distinguished Principal Award. Her school, Blessed Virgin Mary in Darby, certainly isn’t large. It has at this point 214 students K-8, and it’s a struggle; Darby is by no means […]
Calling on men to step up in faith
The fourth annual Men’s Spirituality Conference, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is breaking new ground. “We have an incredible group of speakers with compelling stories, and, for the first time, we are having a woman speaker,” said Dominic Lombardi, director of the archdiocesan Family Life Office. That person is Immaculee IIibagiza, a survivor of […]
Conference explores faith and health care
The 20th World Day of the Sick is Saturday, Feb. 11. It is also the day that Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, will be in Philadelphia to lead the “Conference for Health Care Workers and Medical Professionals.” The conference will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in […]
A Lenten sacrifice so that others may eat
As the liturgical year brings us closer to the season of Lent, Catholic Christians worldwide will soon reflect on beautiful traditions in preparation for the observance of Christ’s Passion and the celebration of His Resurrection. These traditions may include simple Lenten meals, Scripture studies, abstaining from favorite foods and adding spiritual activities to their daily […]