CatholicPhilly

Photo features

Photos: Cathedral Basilica Celebrates 50th Anniversary as Minor Basilica, Hosts Relics of St. Margaret Mary

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez celebrated a solemn anniversary Mass Sept. 13 as the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul commemorated 50 years as a Minor Basilica, with relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque also on display for veneration.

Archbishop Pérez Celebrates Mass for Philadelphia Legatus Chapter

Legatus is a membership-based group of business leaders united in Christ to serve the church.

Seminary Opens 195th Academic Year with Mass of the Holy Spirit

During the Mass, new faculty and staff made their Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity. Traditionally, new and returning seminarians receive a blessing from the Archbishop as they start off the academic year.

See more stories in Photo features

Local News

American Catholic Historical Society Sets Yearlong Lecture Series

Spanning this fall through next spring, the six-part series on Catholic history begins Sept. 20 with a talk on the contributions of Catholic sisters to the development of health care in the U.S.

Vocations Program Drawing 100K Viewers to Positive Stories of Priests

Rising numbers of social media followers and email subscribers are reflecting interest in hopeful stories about priests and supporting vocations with prayer, thanks to the locally based Shepherding Future Shepherds initiative.

Leaders of Order Aiding Holy Land’s Christians Meet in Philadelphia

The eastern U.S. leadership of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem met with Archbishop Pérez Sept. 14 to discuss their mission of supporting the Church in the Holy Land and efforts to recruit new members.

See more stories in Local News

Spirituality

The Confiteor: The Culturally Unfashionable Prayer

People apologize in ways that don’t admit fault, but Father Patrick Brady shows how an innovative prayer of the Mass seeks God’s mercy to repair relationships damaged by sin.

Mercy, the Medicine of Life, Is God’s Gift to Us

Jesus' mission is to share the Father's mercy, writes Msgr. Joseph Prior. Not only does this mercy help heal us, it also helps heal the wounds inflicted by the merciless.

See more stories in Spirituality

Vatican News

This Week: Remembrances of Sept. 11, 2001

CatholicPhilly presents a weekly roundup of international news from Vatican News, the official news portal of the Holy See. The following report on the week of September 6, 2026 links to stories on VaticanNews.va.

See more stories in Vatican News

Sports

Student Athletes Sacrifice Their Summer to Prep for Fall Sports

Members of girls’ and boys’ teams say they are glad to give up a summer at the beach to return with teammates for mid-August practices ahead of this fall’s competition.

PCL Players, Coaches Finally Hit Field at Citizens Bank Park

Champions of the annual Carpenter Cup tournament, the Philadelphia Catholic League team was recognized before a Phillies game this month. It was a thrilling end to the team’s dominating run this year.

See more stories in Sports

Calendar of Events

History Fair to Highlight Philadelphia’s Catholic Heritage

The St. Augustine Heritage Foundation will host a history fair from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 10 at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia.

In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America Screening at St. Augustine Sept. 21

This compelling film explores the people, movements, and pivotal moments that have shaped Philadelphia and the nation.

EcoPhilly Hosts Season of Creation Synodal Conversations

EcoPhilly and its partners will host three public synodal listening sessions this fall, inviting participants to reflect on the themes of "the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor" during the Season of Creation.

See more stories in Calendar of Events

People and Events

Project Magis to Honor Allen D. Wilen with 2026 Award

Project Magis will honor Allen D. Wilen with its 2026 Magis Award for his leadership in helping nonprofit, health care and faith-based organizations navigate crises while safeguarding vulnerable populations and advancing the common good.

Young Adults Invited to Apply for 2027 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

Applications are open through Oct. 15 for young adults ages 19-29 to serve as Perpetual Pilgrims on the 2027 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage.

Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Education Announces HR Leadership Transition

The Office of Catholic Education announced Aug. 19 that longtime Human Resources Director James J. Molnar will transition to a part-time leadership development role Oct. 1 as Jessa Lodovici, a veteran Archdiocesan HR manager and Rising Stars Leadership Program graduate, prepares to succeed him.

See more stories in People and Events

Commentaries

The Difference One Person Can Make

Our smallest acts of love, including especially the gift of our active listening to the people God has placed in our lives, have tremendous value, writes Anne DeSantis.

See more stories in Commentaries

USCCB

U.S. Bishops’ Administrative Committee Establishes a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence

See more stories in USCCB

250th Anniversary

Quakers’ Toleration Led Skeptical Young Nation to Accept Catholics as Americans

Catholics were present in colonial America but faced restrictions and discrimination. In Philadelphia, the cradle of religious liberty, they found freedom to worship and earned respect from their peers.

Not All Were Patriots: Remembering American Catholics Loyal to the British Crown

While many noted 18th century Catholics sided with the American patriots during the Revolution, numerous lesser-known Catholics sided with Crown forces – and paid a price when they left Philadelphia.

Catholics Had Prominent Roles in Last 3 Milestone Celebrations of America’s Founding

The large-scale commemorations of 1876, 1926, and 1976 in Philadelphia saw contributions and leadership from the Catholic community, a local historian points out.

George Meade’s Catholic Faith Made Him a Merchant of the Revolution

The Philadelphia philanthropist and father of 10 played a major economic role in funding the American colonists’ eventual victory over the British empire.

Catholic Faith Shaped Commodore John Barry’s Life, Service in American Revolution

The Irish immigrant’s legacy and his imprint on the United States Navy affords him a permanent place of honor in Philadelphia.

See more stories in 250th Anniversary

Hispanic Catholics

De jugar a la Misa a vivir el sacerdocio: la vocación del P. Rafael Arteaga – La Voz de Dios September 13, 2026

Esta semana en La Voz de Dios, conversamos con el P. Rafael Arteaga, O.P., joven sacerdote dominico de raíces colombianas, sobre su llamado al sacerdocio, la espiritualidad dominicana y su experiencia sirviendo a una Iglesia diversa.

See more stories in Hispanic Catholics