News
Missionary spirit of India’s Syro-Malabar Church hailed on jubilee
NEW DELHI (CNS) — The missionary zest and vibrancy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was lauded at a celebration of the church’s first missionary venture. “The Syro-Malabar church has contributed to not only the evangelization of India but outside,” said Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio to India and Nepal, at a public meeting Nov. 18 […]
Catholic workers, Missionaries of Charity praised by Muslim refugees in Indian camps
KOKRAJHAR, India (CNS) — Besides her family, the most valuable things Majoni Bibi has these days are a few clothes, medicated mosquito nets, cooking utensils, water storage buckets and sleeping mats. Bibi, a Muslim refugee forced with her family from their home as fighting erupted in July between tribal Bodos and Muslim settlers in Assam […]
In Boston, 288 parishes to share limited resources in 135 ‘collaboratives’
BRAINTREE, Mass. (CNS) -- A pastoral plan approved by Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley calls for the Boston Archdiocese to organize its 288 parishes into approximately 135 groups called "parish collaboratives." Led by one pastor, a group of priests, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers, called a pastoral team, would provide pastoral services to parishes in the collaborative. Under the plan, each parish in the collaborative group will maintain its separate identity and retain control of its own property and assets.
Holy Child Sister Mary Henry O’Connell dies at 102
Sister Mary Henry O’Connell, S.H.C.J., who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 79 years, died of heart failure at Holy Child Center in Rosemont Nov. 16. She was 102. Born in Morton, Delaware County, Sister Mary Henry graduated from the former St. Leonard’s Academy in Philadelphia in 1930 then entered the Convent of the Sisters […]
St. Barbara Parish marks feast day, holds Christmas bazaar
St. Barbara Parish celebrates its feast day Sunday, Dec. 2 with Mass at 9 a.m. at the church located at 54th Street and Lebanon Avenue in Philadelphia. A reception for fellowship follows in the parish hall. All are welcome. The St. Barbara Social Trendsetters will hold the parish’s annual Christmas bazaar the previous day on […]
Renowned Catholic writer to give ‘energy boost’ retreat
Are you in need of a spiritual energy boost? Come on a retreat with Timothy Gray at Malvern Retreat House and enjoy his talk, “Biblical Reflections: A Faith Worth Dying For” Friday to Sunday, Dec. 14-16. Gray, a nationally renowned Catholic speaker and writer, shares how Scripture can give you a significant energy boost for […]
Catholic Life Congress helps 700 people share their faith with others
In a message to the more than 700 teachers and catechists who attended Catholic Life Congress Nov. 17, Archbishop Charles Chaput said, “The Second Vatican Council, which began its work exactly 50 years ago this fall, reminded us that Jesus founded His Church to be a lumen gentium – a ‘light to the nations.’ At baptism each of us becomes part of that light. Nobody can really follow Jesus Christ without also preaching and teaching Christ to the world around us. “As we grow, it becomes our task to form our hearts and minds in the light of God’s truth, and to bring other people to believe in Him.”
Catholics in Archdiocese reach out, give much to victims of Superstorm Sandy
Hurricane Sandy, which struck the East Coast during the last week of October, may have been mostly hype in Philadelphia but it was absolutely devastating elsewhere. Especially hard-hit were neighbors in New Jersey and New York, and also a serious matter in places like Bucks County that experienced extended power outages. Here in the Archdiocese […]
School and pre-K programs touted at open house
SS. Colman – John Neumann School, Byrn Mawr, invites guests to tour the school, meet the principal and learn about the excellent academic program and the new and expanded facilities during the school’s open house Sunday, Dec. 2 at 11:30 a.m. An information session about the pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-old children will begin […]
Youths giving ‘absolutely incredible’ aid to storm victims
NEW YORK (CNS) — Father Donald Baker is really impressed by how young Catholics have really stepped up to help those affected the most by Hurricane Sandy. “The ‘millennials,’ those young people in the neighborhood who are in their 20s — who’ve become adults since the millennium — have been outstanding — absolutely incredible,” said […]