Local News
Four parishes in Phoenixville will merge into two
Archbishop Charles Chaput has accepted the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee’s recommendations to merge the four Catholic parishes of Phoenixville, Chester County, into two. The announcement was made Sunday, June 3 and read in the affected churches at weekend Masses. Holy Trinity Parish, founded in 1903 to serve Polish Catholics, will merge with St. Mary of the […]
School choice rally held at Philadelphia City Hall
Hundreds of Catholic high school students, parents, community advocates, legislators and community leaders held a school choice rally Wednesday, May 30 at Philadelphia City Hall. Auxiliary Bishop Michael Fitzgerald also spoke at the rally. Other speakers included Chris Berry, a junior from SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School and Lisa Marie Richburg, parent […]
In trial of priests, Msgr. Lynn defends actions, cites superiors’ roles
Msgr. William J. Lynn took the witness stand in his own defense May 23 and told jurors that “in my heart” he put the interests of children first as he handled allegations of sexual abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The former secretary for clergy of the Archdiocese faces two counts of endangering the welfare of children by recommending for assignment some priests accused of sexual misconduct with children.
Archdiocese celebrates ordination of six priests
Saturday, May 19 was a beautiful, sun-filled day. But even if there had been a roaring hurricane, it would have been a beautiful day inside the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. That’s because at that day and place six men, after years of study and discernment, received ordination to the priesthood at the […]
Nearly 400 priests gather for convocation
For Msgr. Michael Magee, the two days spent in Hershey, Pa. with 380 other priests was a prayerful time, a learning experience and an all-too-rare chance for diocesan clergy to relax and enjoy one another’s company. The occasion, held May 14-16, was the second Convocation for Priests, scheduled in anticipation of a “Year of Faith,” […]
Our Lady of Calvary School receives $5,000 grant from Beneficial Bank
The Beneficial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Beneficial Bank, awarded a $5,000 grant to Our Lady of Calvary School in Northeast Philadelphia for placing first in the Grades 4-8 category of The Beneficial Foundation School Challenge. Our Lady of Calvary School will use the grant to fund a new OLC Mission Control Initiative program, which […]
Promoting peace and forgiveness
The Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation at Chestnut Hill College, which is headed by St. Joseph Sister Catherine Nerney, works “for the forgiveness of divisions within and among human persons and communities by providing forgiveness and reconciliation at every level of life.” All things considered, that is something very much needed in the Archdiocese of […]
Father Eugene Cusick, pastor emeritus of St. Bede Parish, dies
Father Eugene G. Cusick, pastor emeritus of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland died Sunday, May 20. The Reception of the Body will be held at Saint Bede the Venerable Church, Holland, on Friday, May 25 at 4 p.m., followed by a viewing. A parish Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Auxiliary Bishop […]
Six men ordained as priests for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Saturday, May 19 was a beautiful, sun-filled day. But even if there had been a roaring hurricane, it would have been a beautiful day inside the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, because that was the date and place where six men, after years of study and discernment, received ordination to the priesthood at […]
Prosecution rests its case in clergy trial; conspiracy charges dropped
For weeks the words of Msgr. William J. Lynn in testimony before a 2004 Philadelphia grand jury investigating clergy sexual abuse were used against him by state prosecutors. They intensified their use of the testimony and a trove of hundreds of archdiocesan memos and letters, narrated by Philadelphia police detectives and assistant district attorneys along […]