News
The Mount makes Magic happen, takes Academies League hoops crown
Mount St. Joseph’s Academy was just too tough. There’s really no way of getting around that. Although Villa Maria Academy enjoyed its moments here and there, the Hurricanes were unable to solve a balanced attack by the Magic, and the Mount rolled to a hard-fought, 57-41 Catholic Academies League championship victory. “This is great,” said […]
Clerical changes announced
Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia, announces the following appointments effective as noted: RETIREMENT Deacon Philip E. Heaney, Permanent Deacon, Maternity B.V.M. Parish, Philadelphia, effective January 15, 2013 Deacon Thomas J. Horan, Permanent Deacon, Saints Peter and Paul Parish, West Chester, effective January 15, 2013 Deacon Joseph E. Iannucci, Permanent […]
Becoming Catholic: Catechumens celebrate Rite of Election with Archbishop Chaput
Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrated the Rite of Election at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul last weekend, Feb. 16-17. In the rite, catechumens — people who are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church including baptism, first communion and confirmation — are presented to the Archbishop. He then deems […]
Conclaves: Vatican Library official shares interesting, strange facts
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of the book, "History of Papal Elections," shared facts and curiosities with journalists at the Vatican Feb. 20.
Canonist explains ‘rigid, highly formal’ rules for electing pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The voting by cardinals to elect the next pope takes place behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, following a highly detailed procedure that underwent major revisions by Blessed John Paul II and a small, but very significant change, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Twelve to watch as cardinals gather in Rome
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Wherever journalists and bookmakers may be getting the names on their lists of top candidates for the next pope, it's not from the cardinals who will actually vote in the election. Both custom and canon law forbid the cardinals to discuss the matter in such detail with outsiders. Moreover, the true "papabili" -- literally, pope-ables -- are likely to emerge only after all the worlds' cardinals -- not just the 117 who will be under 80 and eligible to vote -- begin meeting at the Vatican in the coming days.
Milan cardinal’s theological expertise is focused on culture, family
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan is a tweeting, intellectual archbishop deeply concerned about the negative impact modern culture is having on the faith lives of Christians. He also is convinced that Christian values have the potential to build societies that are more virtuous and more respectful of the rights of all.
Canon law sets specific steps to follow before a parish can be closed
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Rarely is closing a parish easy. Even though the task has been undertaken countless times in the history of the U.S. Catholic Church as neighborhoods change and faith communities evolve, the process has received wider attention in recent years as the number of closings has escalated, prompted by changing demographics, fewer priests […]
Catholic Charities Appeal launches with goal to ‘transform reality’ via annual fund drive
The reality is, human needs abound in any community. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia those needs include shelter for those without a home, care for special-needs people, a safe environment for children after school, and many others. Charity – the material outreach of love – can transform those realities and improve the human condition.
To reach youths who have drifted from church, go ‘where they are’
OMAHA, Neb. (CNS) — Todd Christensen can’t really pinpoint when he started to drift away from the Catholic Church. Growing up, the 27-year-old attended Mass with his family and religious education classes at St. Leo the Great Parish in Omaha. But like so many young adult Catholics, that changed after high school when Christensen moved […]