News

Students honor patron St. Lucy

Just as Father Tom Higgins started his homily for the Dec. 13 St. Lucy Feast Day Mass at Holy Innocents Church in the Juniata section of Philadelphia, the lights went out, except for the liturgical candles. It was intentional. Holy Innocents is the present-day location of St. Lucy School for Children with Visual Impairments as […]

Theology of the Body Institute names executive director

The Theology of the Body Institute in Exton has named Damon Owens as the first executive director of the organization. “We are very pleased to appoint such an outstanding Catholic leader to this position at the Theology of the Body Institute,” said David Savage, the organization’s  board chair. “Damon has been committed to the work […]

Archbishop’s residence to be sold

The home of Philadelphia’s Catholic archbishops since the 1930s will soon be sold, archdiocesan officials confirmed Dec. 31, 2011. The 10,000-square-foot mansion located on more than eight acres at 5700 City Avenue next to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia was purchased by Cardinal Dennis Dougherty in 1935. It has been used as the home of […]

Different lives, same call to priesthood

Two men, very similar yet uniquely different. Jim Cardosi and Kevin Mulligan attended classes together and shot hoops together for four years at Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown, graduated in 1973 and then went their separate ways. Cardosi went to the U.S. Naval Academy, became a pilot and married father of five. After attending […]

God still has a mission for her

  When you are 92 years old, it’s quite understandable if you just want to sit back, relax and let others do the work. Don’t tell that to Eleanor Stretz; she’s just about as involved as you can get at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bensalem, and that’s just the way she wants it. For […]

Boys Basketball preview

The 2011-2012 basketball season is well under way. Among the city Catholic League boys’ teams that are off to a fine start are the Father Judge Crusaders, the Roman Catholic Cahillites and the Archbishop Ryan Raiders. Father Judge officially opened their season Friday, Dec. 9, when it hosted and upset Strawberry Mansion, 71-61. The Crusaders […]

Parishes to take next step in plan

All of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 266 parishes are beginning to examine each parish’s mission, identity and goals, “while working to determine if (each) has the resources required for sustained operation,” according to a Dec. 14 statement by the Archdiocese. Archbishop Charles Chaput directed the ongoing archdiocesan Parish Pastoral Planning Initiative in a letter to […]

Former Flyers’ goal: serve food, help others

On a brisk afternoon in late December, Philadelphia Flyers legend Bobby Clarke had just finished serving food for about 90 minutes at St. John’s Hospice. Exiting the Center City respite that feeds roughly 350 men five days a week, he was asked about the importance of volunteerism. “Well,” he said, “I know I got a […]

Father Judge off to a hot start

When it comes to making playoffs and winning championships, a team’s record against non-league competition doesn’t exactly amount to a whole lot. It might garner a tournament trophy or two. Or perhaps provide some fun braggers’ rights. Or aid in the cosmetics of personal statistics. But as soon as the games that count in the […]

Glad to be Home for Christmas

The atmosphere was already crackling with excitement in Maternity B.V.M.’s parish hall Dec. 13 as first grade students filed in to “Santa’s Secret Shop” to buy presents for their parents. But the tables were turned on one of the little ones when she realized the surprise in store for her. Daijah Fordham, 6, was sitting […]