News
Cardinal Dolan dismayed that White House rebuffs religious freedom concerns
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In a strongly worded letter to his fellow bishops, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York charged that White House officials failed to consider the U.S. bishops' concerns that the federal mandate governing employer coverage of contraception and sterilization under the health care law violated religious freedom principles.
Archdiocese issues statement on Father McCormick
At approximately 5 p.m. Friday, March 2, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia learned that Father Patrick G. McCormick was arrested Feb. 23 and charged with patronizing a prostitute, according to a statement by the archdiocesan Communications Office. “This information is deeply troubling,” the statement said. It explained that Father McCormick informed the Archdiocese on Feb. 24 that he had […]
Bishop DeSimone celebrates 90th birthday at St. Monica Parish
It was a full church for the Saturday vigil Mass at St. Monica Church in South Philadelphia on Feb. 18 when retired Auxiliary Bishop Louis A. DeSimone returned as the parish honored him for his 90th birthday on Feb. 21. Bishop DeSimone, who was pastor of St. Monica’s for a quarter century before his retirement, […]
La Salle College High School welcomes new principal
Michael A. O’Toole has been named principal of La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, effective July 1. “I am grateful to have a man of such caliber join our administrative team,” said Christian Brother Richard Kestler, who made the announcement Feb. 21. Joseph L. Marchese, current principal of the school, will step down at […]
Bucks County parish sends windows, hope to Mississippi Delta
A distance of more than 1,100 miles separates the suburban sprawl of Holland in Bucks County from the Mississippi delta town of Greenwood. But the simple act of giving has connected the two communities, and the churches that serve them. Both Franciscan Fathers Gregory Plata and William Stout understand the chasm, in both demographics and […]
Valentines for veterans
Giving back to the community and helping others are values instilled in every St. Francis de Sales school student. As part of Catholic Schools Week activities, students created valentine cards to share with local VFW Post 6613 to show appreciation for their patriotic efforts. Students and families also donated specific items for Armed Forces Care […]
Parishes in Philadelphia, Chester Co., evaluated
Seven parishes in Northwest Philadelphia and four parishes in Coatesville, Chester County, submitted written recommendations for Archbishop Charles Chaput’s consideration regarding merging, consolidating or closing some of the parishes in those Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs). The proposals were due Feb. 15, and will be discussed among the parish pastors and a Strategic Planning Committee comprised of archdiocesan experts in several aspects of Church life. PPA 540 includes nine parishes located in the Germantown, Mount Airy and Oak Lane sections of Philadelphia and a detailed study of seven of those parishes began last October. The parishes affected are St. Vincent de Paul, founded in 1851; St. Francis of Assisi, founded in 1899; Immaculate Conception, founded in 1902; St. Benedict, founded in 1922; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, founded in 1925; St. Athanasius, founded in 1928; and St. Raymond of Penafort, founded in 1941.
Choir gives girls opportunity to sing sacred music
Cathedral Girls Choir Mandi Gureki traveled from her Lansdale home to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul last August because she thought it would be “fun” to sing in the newly formed Cathedral Girls Choir. But after a heart-stopping moment when she was told the session she attended was actually an audition, her spirits sank.
Attending St. Dot’s a family tradition
Legacy families add up at school When Brian Gallagher and his wife Trisha (McCalla) Gallagher went to an open house last year at St. Dorothy School in Drexel Hill, it was like walking into a class reunion. Like themselves, their grade school classmates from the 1980s are now parents of children who go to school […]
Raising funds for Catholic schools
Catholic education is of utmost importance to Al Gabriele, a retired businessman and entrepreneur, whose career most recently was in the printing field. A member of St. Rose of Lima Parish in North Wales, he recently finished chairing a highly successful $25 million capital campaign for La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor. It took […]