Many of us are finding life to be a little more difficult this year as a result of the economic and political uncertainty that our country faces.  The challenges we face are multiplied many times over in other parts of the world where resources are much more limited and people struggle to survive even in normal times.  Many of the Catholics in the 34 countries and 14 dependent territories in Latin America are experiencing serious challenges.  A high percentage – 31% – of the people in Latin America live in […]

Jesus sat in the middle of the crowd on the hillside.  Some of them had been with him for a few days as he began his public ministry, but many of them were new today.  They had all come to hear his teaching.  Rumors were running wild about what he was going to say.  Most of the rumors were about this new kingdom he had announced was at hand.  Everyone was interested in a new kingdom.  They weren’t at all happy about the one that the Romans had imposed on […]

It’s been an unusually cold winter, hasn’t it?  I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for spring!  Liturgically, Lent – which means “spring” – is almost here; it starts this week with Ash Wednesday.  Just as the natural world is reawakened and renewed every spring, each year, the Church, in her wisdom, offers us this liturgical Season of Lent, a season for reconciliation and renewal in preparation for Easter, when we celebrate the new life Jesus offers through his death and Resurrection.

On Ash Wednesday, we will again be […]

Every Eucharistic celebration draws us into communion with Jesus Christ, our hope and our strength.  His life, death and Resurrection demonstrate so clearly God’s care for all of us.  While he was in our midst, Jesus showed God’s love so clearly by healing the sick, feeding the hungry and teaching us how to love one another as God loves us.  As his disciples, we are called to do the same and the Catholic Charities Appeal is one of the best ways we can be most effective in doing this throughout […]

Farewell and God Bless to Deacon David

For almost three years, we’ve been privileged to have Deacon Wei Wang – whom we have come to know as Deacon David – with us as he pursued a graduate degree in theology at Villanova University.  Deacon David received his master’s degree in theology there last May.  He was eager to be ordained a priest and serve here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia before possibly returning to his home Diocese of Zhaoxian in China.  Due to the challenging situation in the Church […]