News
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 […]
Charities Appeal tops $5 million mark
Maybe it’s because the theme “Because I am Catholic” touches hearts. Maybe it’s because of the improved economy. Maybe it’s because of an earlier starting date. Maybe it’s because of more imaginative marketing, including social media. Maybe it’s the explanatory video. The reason doesn’t really matter: What counts is that Philadelphia’s annual Catholic Charities Appeal […]
Ainsley a positive role model for young people
If a teenager’s merit is judged by his positive influence on youngsters, Holy Ghost Preparatory School senior Jeff Ainsley is way ahead of the curve. Take the reaction of those he helps coach during summer basketball camp. “The kids love Jeff,” said longtime Holy Ghost athletic director Jim Stewart. “Their eyes light up when he […]
A proper burial — 180 years in the making
They emigrated to the United States in the early summer of 1832 from Donegal, Tyrone and Derry Counties in Ireland. Hired off the docks in Philadelphia to work on a stretch of tracks on the Pennsylvania & Columbia Railroad (which later became the Reading and Columbia Railroad) between Philadelphia and Lancaster County, 57 Irish immigrants […]