Local News

20 years later, her spirituality still grows

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T Immaculate Heart Sister Mary James McCaffrey, a classroom teacher for 28 years and now a director of religious education for 20, was an unlikely candidate for the convent when growing up. The middle of five children of James and Esther McCaffrey, or as she puts it, “the meat between […]

‘I loved the life from the time I entered’

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T When Sister Deborah Krist, who just celebrated her 25th anniversary as a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, was an infant she was sickly because of an RH blood factor. At her baptism, her dad placed her on the altar and dedicated her to God. “He still takes partial […]

Cathedral ambassadors cross state lines

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T It’s an interstate love affair. Two of the most committed parishioners at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul live in New Jersey. Nick and Louise Pascale travel in from Cinnaminson, and it’s not just for Sunday Mass. “It’s not that far,” Louise said. “We come over the […]

Religious teacher marks 50 years in classroom

By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T Staff Writer PHILADELPHIA – Five-year-old Rosalie Fullam reported to the first grade at St. Anthony of Padua School in South Philadelphia in September 1945 – a year ahead of schedule because she couldn’t wait to begin. At that time, there was no kindergarten. Little Rosalie Fullam is now 69-year-old Sister Joseph […]

Their brother’s a bishop

By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T Staff Writer As newly ordained Auxiliary Bishop Timothy C. Senior continues to do his part to build up the Church as a priest and now as a Bishop, he can be certain that his siblings, Jim Senior and Myra Senior DiNicola, will continue to do their fair share as devoted laity […]

Proud parents of a Bishop

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T Daniel and Josephine Cistone were not the least bit surprised when their middle son, Joseph, left home at age 18 to enter St. Charles Seminary in Wynnewood to study for the priesthood. He hadn’t applied to any colleges while in his senior year at Father Judge, and he’d been […]

Pastor of St. John the Evangelist: Parish has history of outreach to the poor

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T PHILADELPHIA – When Capuchin Franciscan Father Frank Yacobi arrived at St. John the Evangelist Parish on south 13th street five years ago, he found himself pastor of one of Philadelphia’s most dynamic faith communities. As he quotes one of his confreres, Brother James, “You can find many things here. […]

Supporting vocations through work with Serra Club

By Lou BaldwinSpecial to The CS&T PHILADELPHIA – Religious vocations are crucial, and Dawn Renee Chism, a lawyer and assistant general counsel with the Philadelphia School District, knows it well. “Promoting vocations for priests and nuns is important because they are at the foundation of the Church,” she said. That’s why she is a member […]

Holy Trinity to close, St. Justin Martyr to merge

By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T Staff Writer Holy Trinity Parish, a German personal parish in the Society Hill section of Philadelphia, is closing, but the church will remain open as a worship site of Old St. Mary’s Parish, which is two blocks away. In Montgomery County, St. Justin Martyr Parish in Narberth is merging with St. […]

A father’s father

Updated Web Version By Christie L. ChicoineCS&T staff writer FAIRLESS HILLS – The private Mass Father Brian Kean celebrated for his parents on Father’s Day last year was one of the best presents the then-newly ordained priest has ever bestowed upon his father Bruce. “To see our son in that role as a priest – […]