News
West Chester woman takes vows as Franciscan sister in Aston
Sister Sara Marks professed her first vows as a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia Aug. 11. The profession took place during a Mass at Our Lady of Angels Convent, the congregation’s motherhouse in Aston.
St. Mary Medical Center celebrates 40 years, welcomes Indian archbishop
St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special Mass of Thanksgiving Aug. 13 led by Archbishop Soosa Pakiam of Kerala, India. Above, Archbishop Pakiam (right) with Deacon John Hynes blesses the hands of pastoral care workers at St. Mary. At center in background is Msgr. John C. Marine, pastor of nearby […]
St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes’ alums plan anniversary party
Alumni of St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of what were then separate institutions on Sunday, Sept. 8, rain or shine, at the main campus, Route 13 and Street Road, Bensalem. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. followed by a picnic. St. Francis was founded in […]
Franciscan Father Lynch, 96, dies in New Jersey
Father Robert B. Lynch, O.F.M., 96, a professed Franciscan friar for 75 years and a priest for 70 years, died Aug. 13 at Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J. Father Lynch was born in Philadelphia to Francis and Kathryn (nee Duffy) Lynch and baptized at St. Carthage Church in Philadelphia. He attended St. Joseph Preparatory School […]
Vatican orders slight change in text for baptism
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To emphasis that the sacrament of baptism formally brings a person into the church of God and not just into a local Christian community, the Vatican has ordered a slight change of wording in the baptismal rite.
Officials dubious of retired pope’s extraordinary ‘mystical experience’
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation in February, he made it very clear that he had done so only after intense prayer and that he intended to live the rest of his life praying and studying.
Traveling icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa to visit Cathedral Basilica
A copy of the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa will be displayed in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul next month. A welcoming ceremony will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. (prior to the 5:15 p.m. Mass) and the icon will be displayed until 8 […]
Teams find thousands of flooded-out Filipinos at parishes, centers
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -- Teams of relief workers visited evacuation centers and Catholic parishes-turned-shelters across a wide area of the Philippine capital as they began assessing the needs of thousands of people who fled homes inundated by floodwaters. Since Aug. 19, about 300,000 people have been displaced since around Manila, according to government reports.
Priests find physical health to be as important as spirituality
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- On a recent hot summer evening, a group of lacrosse players gathered around a fellow athlete on the Gonzaga College High School field before the start of their game. The 35-year-old man with perspiration beading on his forehead was more than just another player leading them in a prayer. He was a priest.
Helping priests, seminarians maintain good health of concern to church
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic priests are not immune to the more sedentary lifestyle affecting much of society today, brought about by technological advances over the past century. Several priests Catholic News Service interviewed talked about the need to stay physically fit to ward off illnesses and avoid being overweight.