News
Vienna to reduce its parishes by more than 75 percent over 10 years
Austria's Vienna Archdiocese will press ahead with a major reorganization that will including liquidating most of its parishes over 10 years, despite objections from some local Catholics. The archdiocese's 660 parishes will be merged over the next decade into around 150 larger parishes, each served by three-five priests and offering regular Masses.
The mysteries of Christ’s life through the sacraments
Oct. 16 Jesus’ words and actions during his hidden life and public ministry were already salvific, for they anticipated the power of his Paschal mystery. They announced and prepared what he was going to give the Church when all was accomplished. The mysteries of Christ’s life are the foundations of what he would henceforth dispense […]
Archbishop Chaput speaks at St. Elizabeth Parish on faithful citizenship
Archbishop Charles Chaput hosted a town hall style forum on faithful citizenship on Saturday October 13, 2012. St Elizabeth parish in Uwcland hosted the event. Hundreds of people from the area attended to hear Archbishop Chaput speak and answer questions about Catholics and politics. He addressed issues of social justice, the HHS mandate, being Catholic and being Pro-Choice is not possible among others. When addressing the people he said “I call you as a Catholic to forget about the labels, be a liberal sometimes, a conservative sometimes, but a Catholic first”.
Faith: The gift of God
Oct. 15, 2012 When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus declared to him that this revelation did not come “from flesh and blood”, but from “my Father who is in heaven.” Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him. “Before this faith […]
Study your faith in Year of Faith, Archbishop advises in opening Mass
Archbishop Charles Chaput officially opened the Year of Faith called for by Pope Benedict XVI at the 6:30 p.m. Mass Oct. 14 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. Judging by the turnout it should be a very good year. There were 1,127 members of the laity, bishops, priests and religious filling the Cathedral for the liturgy. We know the precise figure because this happens to be October when the cathedral staff, along with every other parish, counts the house. Although many of us think we know all about the Catholic faith, none of us really do, and all must continue to study, the Archbishop explained.
Priest cleared to return to ministry, despite violation of ‘Boundaries’ code
Father Joseph DiGregorio, a former Army priest chaplain who served in Iraq but since last year was one of 26 priests suspended following a 2011 grand jury report on child sexual abuse, has been found suitable to return to priestly ministry by Archbishop Charles Chaput, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Oct. 15. The archbishop approved the recommendation for Father DiGregorio based on the work of the Archdiocesan Review Board and the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of more than 20 investigators with experience in child abuse issues. But the team found that the priest had violated the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries in an incident more than 40 years ago. In itself, such a violation of the Archdiocese’s code of conduct would preclude a return to ministry, but the archdiocesan statement cited “compelling evidence that makes him suitable for ministry.”
Jesuit Father Kevin Gillespie inaugurated as St. Joseph’s University’s 27th president
St. Joseph’s University inaugurated Jesuit Father C. Kevin Gillespie as its 27th president on Oct. 12. His appointment as president marks a return to St. Joseph’s for the Narberth-raised Father Gillespie, who after graduating from SJU in 1972 went on to earn master’s degrees in psychology from Duquesne University and in divinity from the Jesuit […]
Five honorees inducted in to the Archdiocese Hall of Fame
On Thursday October 11,2012 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia honored five remarkable Catholic school graduates with its 2012 Distinguished Graduate Award, also known as the Archdiocesan Hall of Fame. The event honors Catholic school alumni who have not only achieved professional success in their chosen fields, but also demonstrate a commitment to living their lives by the Gospel Values that guide and define Catholic education in the Archdiocese. Bishop Michael Fitzgerald presented the honorees with their awards. The Emcee for the evening was Mr. Bob Kelly, CBS 3 Traffic Reporter and Graduate of North Catholic High School. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. offered remarks as well as the final prayer. Mayor Michael Nutter also attended to congratulate the honorees. Guests were entertained by the 20 members of the All Catholic Jazz Band under the direction of Mr. Matthew Schwartz. Rachel Campana, a student at Archbishop Wood High School in Bucks County sang the National Anthem and Collin McDonald a student at Bishop Shanahan High School in Chester County performed on the piano.
Local events mark Year of Faith across Philadelphia Archdiocese
Archbishop Charles Chaput will launch the local efforts in the universal Church’s Year of Faith to deepen the faith of Catholics with a Mass Oct. 14 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The Year of Faith began Oct. 11 with a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, which was also the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “The entire purpose of the Year of Faith is an encounter with the living Christ,” said Auxiliary Bishop John J. McIntyre, who with his staff is working to promote and coordinate activities for the year in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “Through his writings the Holy Father constantly points out that Christianity is an encounter with the living God and out of that flows everything else.”
The Year of Faith and how we’re called to live it
In leading us into the Year of Faith, which began October 11, Pope Benedict calls on each of us as believers to “rediscover [God’s] joy,” to “radiate [God’s] word,” and to make our Christian witness “frank and contagious.” Now those are wonderful words, but how do we actually live them? We need to begin by realizing that we’re not being asked to do the impossible – only the uncomfortable and inconvenient. Benedict is asking us to examine our hearts and our habits of life without excuses or alibis. He’s asking us to tear down the cathedral we build to ourselves, the whole interior architecture of our vanities, our resentments and our endless appetites, and to channel all the restless fears and longings of modern life into a hunger for the Holy Spirit. If you think that sounds easy or pious, try it this week.