News

Catholic hospital systems, including Catholic Health East, mulling merger

Two of the United States' largest Catholic hospital systems, Pennsylvania-based Catholic Health East and Michigan-based Trinity Health, are exploring a consolidation that one spokesman said benefits from "mission overlap." In the Philadelphia area, CHE operates St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne; and Mercy Health System, which runs Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia and Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia, Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown and Mercy Home Health Services in Springfield, Delaware County.

After Sandy, ‘people need everything,’ says Catholic Charities official

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The damage from the wind, rain and flooding brought by Hurricane Sandy "is almost overwhelming," said Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. "We're reaching out to parishes and getting them to directly assist those in critical need -- they know their own people and their neighborhoods," he said Oct. 31. Several Catholic agencies and religious communities have stepped forward to address the greatest needs of victims of the super storm.

Archbishop visits St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

During his homily he invited students volunteer to come sit with him to answer some questions on the understanding of humility and pride.

All Saints’ Day calls for deeper belief in eternal life, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The feast of All Saints should prompt Catholics to believe more deeply in eternal life, Pope Benedict XVI said. The day “reminds us of our eternal destiny, where we will dwell, as St. Thomas Aquinas says, in true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy and gladness without end,” he said […]

Curriculum aims to help students understand range of pro-life issues

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The pro-life issue “is one of most important issues our culture faces” and “we thought the time had come for someone to take it as serious as math or science or English,” said one of the developers of a new curriculum with that aim. Camille Pauley is co-founder and president of Healing […]

Girl’s soccer semi-finals

Lansdale Catholic beat Archbishop Wood in girl's soccer on Wednesday October 24. They will face Archbishop Ryan who beat Saint Hubert the same day. The championship game will be held on October 31 at 5:30 at Archbishop Ryan. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

Archdiocese unveils new policies for handling complaints of improper conduct with minors

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia released its comprehensive Policies for the Protection of Children and Young People Oct. 31. The policies, most of which have been already in effect, become fully effective Nov. 1 and can be read at the archdiocesan website, www.archphila.org. The policies were developed and provisionally implemented since the release of the 2011 Philadelphia grand jury report on child sexual abuse in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

Investigator explains reason for delays in suspended priests’ cases

The Policies for Protection of Children and Young People is really a living document, according to Al Toczydlowski, who brings to the table his 30 years’ experience in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to the archdiocesan Office for Investigations, which he has headed for the past year and a half.

At Mass for Malvern Retreat House, archbishop urges openness to Holy Spirit

“Happy Anniversary, we are grateful for the past; now let’s talk about the future,” paraphrases the basic message from Archbishop Charles J. Chaput during his homily at the 100th Anniversary Mass for Malvern Retreat House held Oct. 28 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul before a packed congregation composed of supporters of America’s largest retreat facility.

Holy Father prays for victims of Hurricane Sandy

Vatican Information Service released the following message of Pope Benedict XVI regarding Hurricane Sandy Thursday, Oct. 31 from Vatican City: “Conscious of the devastation caused by the hurricane which recently struck the East Coast of the United States of America, I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those engaged […]