News
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 […]
Blue Ribbon Commission on Catholic Education: Final report to be released
In December 2010, when Cardinal Justin Rigali announced the formation and membership of a Blue Ribbon Commission to chart the future course of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, it was charged with examining current programs with the objective of defining a strategic plan that would assure a sustainable Catholic education system into the […]
At Neumann-Goretti High School, the Apples are for the students
Apples for the teacher are a long tradition. How about Apples for the students? You’ve got to hand it to the class of 1960 at what was Bishop Neumann High School. When they celebrated their 50th anniversary they asked what is now SS. John Neumann and Maria Goretti High School to suggest a purpose for […]
St. Joseph Prep students collect 22,000 books for book bank
Adrienne Jacoby, executive director of Philadelphia Reads accepted 22,000 new and gently used children’s books collected by Joseph Coyle’s English class at St. Joseph Preparatory Academy. The Dec. 21 donation is the single largest donation of books to the Book Bank — a free teacher book store operated by Philadelphia Reads.
For Pope, 2011 was year of evangelization, travel and technology
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — An interfaith meeting in Assisi, a new book on Jesus of Nazareth and a website-launching tap on an iPad were among the highlights of 2011 for Pope Benedict XVI. Although the year saw a further cutback in individual papal audiences, the 84-year-old Pope still enjoyed a productive and busy 12 months, […]
Midnight Masses canceled in Iraq because of growing security concerns
LONDON (CNS) — Chaldean Catholic officials have canceled traditional Christmas Eve midnight Masses because of security risks. Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk in northern Iraq told the agency Aid to the Church in Need that Christians will spend Christmas in “great fear” because of the risk of new attacks.