Photo features
Stations of the Cross: A meditation in glass
The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary. Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the 14 stations currently found in almost every Catholic church in the world. The images of this popular devotion shown here with quotations from Scripture, are from St. Anne Church in Philadelphia. (Photos by Sarah Webb)
Mass for Persons with Disabilities
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput celebrated Mass for persons with disabilities Saturday, March 23 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. Persons with various types of mental or physical disabilities were represented in various roles through the Mass. After the Mass special awards were given to groups active in ministries to persons with disabilities.
Pope Francis’ first week in his new ministry
Pope Francis was elected the 266th Supreme Pontiff March 13. Our photo gallery with Catholic News Service shows his first week was a whirlwind of activity greeting ordinary people and dignitaries, and praying with thousands. Click on each photo to see a larger version.
Cultures in Archdiocese celebrated with Mass at Cathedral
This year’s Cultural Heritage Mass, held March 16 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul with Archbishop Charles J. Chaput as the principal celebrant, featured groups representing approximately 20 different nationalities. Many of the participants, dressed in native attire, marched proudly behind their country’s banner in the opening procession.
St Patrick Observance
The theme of this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade was the Philadelphia Irish Memorial: A Decade of Remembrance. The day began at St. Patrick Church in Philadelphia for the 9:30 a.m. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Chaput. A crowd then gathered at 16th Street for the parade route down Benjamin Franklin Parkway where the streets were lined with celebrating onlookers.
Generation Phaith youth conference
Approximately 200 teens and their adult chaperons enjoyed a day of exploring the Catholic faith, and having fun too, March 3 at Archbishop Carroll High School, Radnor. Formerly the archdiocesan Teen Convocation, the event was renamed Generation Phaith this year. The day included workshops, prayer, music and games. The day ended with Mass celebrated by Bishop Daniel E. Thomas and the homily preached by Father Daniel Kredensor, a teacher at Carroll High School.
Writer accepts national award on St. Katharine Drexel’s feast day
Long-time writer for The Catholic Standard and Times and CatholicPhilly.com Lou Baldwin recalled his career as a Catholic journalist and his life’s connections to St. Katharine Drexel and her Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament March 3, after he received the order’s National Social Justice Award at the Bensalem motherhouse and shrine to the saint on her feast day. See our photo gallery from the day, by photographer Sarah Webb.
The campus of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
CatholicPhilly.com's staff photographer, Sarah Webb, toured the seminary's campus recently for an overview of the buildings and ground. This gallery presents her photos, plus some from the archdiocesan archives, where noted.
Catholic League girls, boys basketball champions crowned
The Philadelphia Catholic League basketball championships were decided Feb. 25 at the famed Palestra in Philadelphia. In the evening's first tip-off, the Cardinal O'Hara girls edged the ladies of Archbishop Wood, 31-25. Both teams move into the District 12 playoffs this weekend. In the nightcap, Neumann-Goretti's boys ran past St. Joseph's Prep, 60-42. It was the Saints' fifth straight Catholic League title. (Photos by Sarah Webb)
Visitation B.V.M. Parish celebrates Vietnamese New Year
The Vietnamese community of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia celebrated their new year at Visitation B.V.M. Parish in North Philadelphia on February 10, 2013. The Tet Festival of 2013 is designated the year of the snake. The day began with mass at 9 a.m. and continued with singing, dancing, games, food and more. Staples of the celebration were the dragon dance and fireworks which symbolize scaring off the devil. (Photos by Sarah Webb)