Commentaries
Portugal Gives Glimpse of a Reviving Church
On a trip with his wife, Guy Ciarrocchi sees a country with a vibrant, deep-rooted Catholic faith – universal and yet culturally distinct. Despite reports of a fading Catholic Church in Europe, it appears alive and well.
October Conference Aims to Empower Catholic Youth Ministry
Ministers with youth and young adults, educators, and other Church leaders from across the eastern U.S. will meet in Philadelphia as Archbishop Pérez leads discussions of the U.S. bishops’ plan to accompany and evangelize young people.
A Sacred Home in Center City Faces a Critical Crossroads
After 187 years of prayer, service, and welcome, Father Thomas Betz, O.F.M. Cap., pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Center City, Philadelphia, says the historic church must raise funds to preserve its mission and repair aging infrastructure.
Giving Students Fish and Teaching Principals to be Fishermen
The Foundation for Catholic Education, led by the Parsons family, gives both money for students’ tuition at Catholic schools and business expertise to school leadership, writes Guy Ciarrocchi. He also points out other help available for families to choose a Catholic school.
Live Aid Put the Fun in Fundraiser, Left a Legacy of Unity
Forty years ago, the all-star concert event raised money for famine relief. Participant Matthew Gambino remembers that day at Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium as a call to unity that echoes to the present.
The ‘Big Bill’ in Congress Imperils the Poor, U.S. Bishops Warn
Writer Matthew Gambino takes a close look at the letter that a group of Catholic bishops sent to U.S. senators last week about the problematic provisions of a bill now in its final stage of review.
This Summer, Include a Catholic Pilgrimage on Your Family’s Trip
Whether your family is planning a vacation far away or staying local, Sarah Albanese suggests using the time to visit a Catholic church or shrine and make lifelong spiritual memories.
Catholic Teachers Make Pilgrimage of Courage for Racial Healing
A pilot program by “New Encounters: Catholics Confronting Racism” invited 18 teachers from local Catholic schools to tour sites of significance to Black Catholics in Philadelphia and address ways to heal from the sin of racism.
One Culture, Three Religions
On a tour of Spain with interfaith leaders, Msgr. Gregory Fairbanks reflects on how at one time Christian, Muslim, and Jewish residents of the country lived and worked together, and how more unites people than divides.
Goodness, Truth, Beauty Remain Amid Year of Changes at Seminary
Bishop Keith Chylinski reflects upon St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s move to its new campus, his own time as its rector, and the endurance of God’s abundant grace.