Profile
Raised Catholic then lapsed, she now has ‘a love affair with God’
When Cynthia Brown of Our Lady of Hope Parish decided to reengage her Catholic faith in memory of her father, she hit the ground running. She leads so many Catholic initiatives, she was awarded a special medal.
Twin sisters heard God’s call and entered religious life together
Sister Regina Christine O’Brien, I.H.M., and Sister Regina Anita O’Brien, I.H.M., are celebrating their more than 60 years ministering in the archdiocese. They even taught first grade at the same school, with more than 80 children in each class.
Lay woman heads the Philos for first time in 167-year history
Theresa Flanagan Murtaugh recently became the 77th president of the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute. The Delaware County attorney, wife, mother of three and active parishioner is working to "make our area a better place."
Sister lives her twin vocations as nun and doctor at Temple Hospital
The long journey of native Philadelphian Sister Jocelyn Edathil is unusual in that she is the first woman religious of the Syro-Malankara Catholic rite born in North America, and she is a doctor serving at a secular hospital.
Father, husband, leader: A Catholic layman for today
Dan Milani of SS. Simon and Jude Parish in West Chester is a director of faith formation, personifying the active layman in the Catholic Church. He considers it "a privilege to be on the front seat of God’s work.”
Phila.’s new D.A. relies on Catholic education to serve, not to judge
Kelley B. Hodge, who takes over the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office from her disgraced predecessor, is an active member of St. Raymond Parish. She has worked as a defense attorney and a prosecutor.
David Ripsom believes in the product he leads: Catholic Charities
The incoming lay leader for the appeal is a convert to Catholicism who over time increased his donations and his service to St. Cornelius Parish, Chadds Ford. Now he offers his leadership talents to the archdiocese.
In new role, Lizanne Hagedorn leads work of feeding the needy
The new executive director of archdiocesan Nutritional Development Services, where she has worked for 38 years, continues her lifelong mission of answering people's needs.
Kidney donation leads to deacon’s ordination and fast friendship
Joe Murphy and Jack Pfeifer both were studying to become deacons. When Jack went on dialysis, Joe donated a kidney, and was there when Jack was ordained last Saturday.
North Philadelphia native priest to take over Black Catholics Office
Father Richard Owens, a Franciscan priest ordained in 2014, will lead the archdiocesan office serving African American Catholics. He wants to reach out to young Black Catholics like himself.