News

Former Nazareth Academy teacher, Sister Mary Irene, dies at 95

Sister Mary Irene Geisheimer, C.S.F.N. (formerly Sister Amata), spent most of her 50 years in education teaching German and English at Nazareth, run by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

New trade deal a step up, Catholic leaders say

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is no panacea, according to Catholics involved in labor matters, but it is better than the North American Free Trade Agreement it is designed to replace.

Supreme Court to hear cases of fired Catholic school religion teachers

The court agreed Dec. 18 to take up the combined cases of two California Catholic schools that were sued by teachers they had fired who claimed they had been victims of job discrimination.

Sister Beatrice Mary Keegan, S.S.J. dies at 89

A member of the Sisters of St. Joseph since her entrance into the order in 1947, the former Sister Joseph Beatrice ministered in the archdioceses of Philadelphia and Newark, and the Diocese of Trenton.

Sainthood sought for Catholic teacher of those with disabilities

Bishop Lawrence Persico Dec. 17 announced the opening of the canonization cause for Gertrude Barber of Erie, Pa., who dedicated her life to serving children and adults with intellectual disabilities/autism.

Sister Marie Natalie Sommer, S.S.J., dies at 88

The former Barbara Ann Grace Sommer, a grad of St. Athanasius Grade School and Little Flower High School in Philadelphia, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1950 and ministered in the Philadelphia region.

Sister Kathryn Miller dies at 98; was congregational leader

A professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 79 years, the former Sister Lillian Francis would go on to earn a bachelor's and master's in education after entering religious life in 1937.

Mexican president: Leave church-state separation alone

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador disapproves of a proposal that would scrap some of the restrictions separating church and state, but also could have broken the seal of confession.

Sister Mary Breen, 86, dies after 67 years in ministry

The Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, formerly Sister Patrick Mary, was born in County Cork, Ireland. She ministered primarily in food services and as a licensed practical nurse.

Sister Barbara Cossaboon, I.H.M., dies at 77

The Sister Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with the religious name Sister Elizabeth Bertrand served for 54 years as a teacher and later as pastoral care minister at St. Martha Manor.