News

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.

Sister Daniel O’Connor, an S.S.J. nun for 71 years, dies at 90

The former Margaret Mary O'Connor, a product of Transfiguration Parish and West Catholic Girls High School, was a Sister of St. Joseph serving in the Philadelphia Archdiocese and Baltimore, Camden and Trenton.

St. Joseph Sister Eileen Haggerty dies at 83

The former Sister James Naomi graduated from Little Flower High School and entered religious life in 1956, ministering in the Philadelphia Archdiocese plus Allentown and Camden.

Solar robots, slime top afterschool program’s Christmas list

Archdiocesan Out of School Time sites have launched an Amazon Smile Campaign asking donors for much-needed materials that will provide science education for hundreds of at-risk youth.

Franciscan sister dies at 99, was longtime nurse, teacher

Sister Ann Joseph Hartman was a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 78 years during which she was a nurse, supervisor and caregiver, as well as a teacher in several dioceses.