News
Papal Foundation to present Pope with major donation for charity
Nearly 80 members and guests of the U.S.-based Papal Foundation will travel to Rome to present Pope Benedict XVI with a major gift to fund his charitable programs worldwide. The presentation will be made during a private audience with the Holy Father on April 21. The Papal Foundation was founded in 1988 to provide sustainable […]
Three new members appointed to Archdiocesan Review Board
Three new members have been appointed to the Archdiocesan Review Board, the consultative panel that advises the Archbishop of Philadelphia throughout the process of addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors, evaluating clerics’ suitability for ministry, and the continual review of archdiocesan policies and procedures related to these matters. With the appointment of these new […]
Catholics ask world leaders to help determine Sudan-South Sudan border
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Saying civilian lives are at risk, Catholic leaders appealed to the international community to step up efforts to prevent full-scale war from erupting over disputed territory along the tenuous Sudan-South Sudan border. Auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum, Sudan, said in an email to Catholic News Service that tensions between Sudan […]
Archbishop Chaput announces his final decisions for four Parish Planning Areas
Archbishop Charles Chaput, having been advised by the Strategic Planning Committee, and reviewing all proposals, has announced his final decisions for the first four Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs) in the Archdiocese that were examined for possible parish mergers and closures. Pastors of involved parishes received phone calls on Tuesday, April 10, informing them of the […]
Philadelphia firefighters laid to rest
Philadelphians were saddened by the deaths of two firefighters in a blaze that consumed a vacant Kensington factory in the early hours of April 9, Easter Monday. Lt. Robert Neary, and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney were both members of Ladder 10 Company, Platoon C, and both were products of Catholic schools. Neary, who died at the […]
More than 10,000 educators attend annual NCEA convention in Boston
BOSTON (CNS) — A national and international crowd of Catholic educators converged on Boston April 11 to kick off the National Catholic Educational Association 2012 Convention and Expo. According to organizers, more than 10,000 participants registered for the three-day event at the John B. Hynes Convention Center. The NCEA provided attendees more than 400 workshops […]
Father James Bajorek, former pastor of St. John Chrysostom Parish, dies
Father James R. Bajorek, 58, a former pastor of St. John Chrysostom Parish in Wallingford, died April 3. Father Bajorek was also a former pastor of several Philadelphia parishes. Born in Homewood, Ill., the son of LaVerne (Czapiewski) Bajorek and the late Robert Bajorek, he attended Holy Cross School, Euclid, Ohio, and St. Joseph High […]
Anglican parishes in Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Canada join Church
By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Anglican parishes in Philadelphia and Indianapolis were received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church in early April, and two Anglican bishops in Canada were slated to lead their clergy and congregants into the church later in the month. The Anglicans are joining the new U.S. Ordinariate […]
Bill banning late-term abortions in Arizona awaits governor’s signature
PHOENIX (CNS) — The executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops, said he was pleased the Arizona Legislature has passed a bill to outlaw abortions past 20 weeks gestation. “It’s very exciting news,” Ron Johnson told The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Phoenix Diocese. “It’s on […]
Parish fundraisers yielding positive results
Capital campaigns are never easy, and it is remarkable that the Heritage of Faith — Vision of Hope archdiocesan campaign that ended in early 2011 surpassed its stated goal of $200 million in pledges. It took a lot of grassroots effort in the parishes, and probably more so in the 18 parishes where planned parish […]