News
Venerating Fatima statue, pope entrusts world to Mary
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Before a congregation of more than 100,000 in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis formally entrusted the world to Mary. "We are confident that each of us is precious in your sight," the pope said Oct. 13, facing the statue of Mary that normally stands in the shrine at Fatima, Portugal. "Guard our lives in your arms, bless and strengthen every desire for goodness." The short ceremony was the culmination of a special Marian Day organized for the Year of Faith
Some chaplains returning to ministry despite federal shutdown
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Some civilian Catholic chaplains, unable to perform religious duties at U.S. military bases during the first weekend of the federal government shutdown, were getting back on the job as the shutdown continued into its second week. "We're now being told priests can return to work," John Schlageter, general counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, said Oct. 9.
St. Francis Country House staying true to its mission of care, after 100 years
St. Francis Country House, Darby, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s oldest nursing home, marked the centennial of its distinguished existence with an Oct. 4 Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput. “We have a wonderful place, a place of love and faith,” said John Chapman, current administrator of St. Francis, which is part of Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “That hasn’t changed. Many of our co-workers have been here for years and have that same dedication.”
Sports: Catholic League standings
Catholic League Boys’ Soccer Father Judge 9-0-0 Lansdale Catholic 7-1-1 St. Joseph’s Prep 7-1-1 Roman Catholic 6-2-1 La Salle 6-3 Archbishop Wood 5-3-1 Bonner-Prendergast 3-4-1 Archbishop Ryan 2-4-2 Conwell-Egan 2-7-1 Archbishop Carroll 1-7 Cardinal O’Hara 0-7 Bishop McDevitt 0-9 Catholic League Girls’ Soccer Archbishop Ryan 9-1 Archbishop Wood 7-0-3 Little Flower 8-2-1 Lansdale Catholic […]
Marketing success: Allentown Diocese shows how to raise school enrollment
Allentown was the only diocese in Pennsylvania to show a school enrollment increase and the only diocese in the Northeast states to show an increase in elementary school enrollment. How did they do it? A bishop's committee looking into how to market the schools better included seven chief executive officers. The reasoning: If you want to sell a product, listen to people who know how to sell products. The EITC and OSTC state tax credit programs, plus the Healey Education Foundation, were also keys to success.
Foundation crucial to Allentown’s success now helping six schools in archdiocese
Part of the turnaround of the Allentown Catholic schools was the adoption of methods pioneered by the Healey Education Foundation. Along with funding by the Connolly Foundation, the methods are coming to schools in Philadelphia, Levittown and West Chester.
Most Catholics aren’t searching for spirituality online, study says
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Most U.S. Catholics are not looking for spirituality online, in fact, half of them are unaware the church even has an online presence, according to researchers at Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. The most widely used communication tool in Catholic Church is the parish bulletin, followed by a […]
The economic and moral dimensions in debt-ceiling debate
Economics professors from Villanova and other universities consider one of the biggest economic decisions the United States has ever faced: Do we increase the national debt ceiling, or allow the federal government's borrowing power to run out Oct. 17? And what are the moral implications of either choice?
Pope meets Rome Jews, commemorates deportations to Auschwitz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- At a meeting with members of Rome's Jewish community, Pope Francis denounced anti-Semitism and recalled the 1943 deportation of more than 1,000 of the city's Jews to the most notorious Nazi death camp -- an incident that has proven a major source of tension between the papacy and Jewish leaders. Of the more than 1,000 people sent to Auschwitz by the German occupiers on Oct. 16, 1943, just 16 eventually returned.
Pope declares medieval mystic a saint, without second miracle
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of seven men and women, including a Canadian and an English founder of two religious orders for women. He also declared the Italian medieval mystic, Blessed Angela of Foligno, a saint, foregoing the usual process of canonization and without formally recognizing a second miracle.