News
Sister Marlene Smittle dies 78, was S.S.J. sister almost 60 years
The former Sister Joseph Virginia grew up in Northeast Philadelphia at St. Martin of Tours and would be a teacher in three dioceses, including Philadelphia.
Men in Black: Belief in aliens not so far out for some Catholics
The pope's own Jesuit astronomers have long been active in discussions about extraterrestrial life, the ethics of space exploration and the religious significance of a universe that could be teeming with life.
Sister Alice Gleason, I.H.M., dies at 88
The former Sister Regina Cordium entered the Sisters, Servants, of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1950. She would go on to teach in Catholic schools and was development director at St. Hubert High School.
Sister Barbara Ann Lucas dies; was teacher, spiritual minister
A native of Philadelphia and St. Matthew Parish, the former Sister Eleanor Marie was a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 58 years.
Franciscan Sister William Clare Platt dies at 91
A member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 71 years, she grew up in Media and earned her education degree at Villanova. She would teach in archdiocesan schools for 45 years.
Hard work, tender hearts: Pope prays for Madagascar’s working poor
Standing where the phrase "by the sweat of their brow" is a daily reality for hundreds of Madagascar's poor, Pope Francis prayed for those whose daily bread is earned by hard physical labor and for the unemployed longing to earn a living for their families.
Text of pope’s prayer for workers at Madagascar stone quarry
Here is the Vatican's English translation of Pope Francis' "Prayer for Workers," which he prayed Sept. 8 at the Mahatazana stone quarry.
Solidarity, not poverty, is God’s plan, pope says in Madagascar
Close to 1 million people gathered on the Soamandrakizay field for the pope's Mass, according to local organizers. Many had spent the night, sleeping on straw mats or plastic tarps and bundled up against a windy winter chill.
Change the world, don’t just gripe about it, pope tells young people
Tens of thousands of people of all ages were gathered for the vigil on the wide-open diocesan field at Soamandrakizay Sept. 7; the older folks came because the pope was scheduled to celebrate Mass there the next morning.
Help the poor, protect the environment, pope says in Madagascar
In Madagascar, where the destruction of the environment and the suffering of the poor are inextricably bound, Pope Francis urged government officials to promote development projects that protect nature.