This past week, over 50,000 faithful Catholics gathered in Indianapolis to participate in the historic National Eucharistic Congress.  Josh Parmet, who has been living here in our rectory over the summer to experience parish life as he discerns his call to priesthood, was one of eight seminarians who were sent by our seminary to the Eucharistic Congress.  Next week, he will provide us with some reflections on this important event in the life of the Catholic Church in our country; I’m sure you will benefit from it!

At the end of […]

Our archdiocese was blessed this past March by the episcopal ordination of three of our priests:  Reverend Keith J. Chylinski, Reverend Christopher R. Cooke and Reverend Efren V. Esmilla.  They, along with Bishop John J. McIntyre, are now the auxiliary bishops to Archbishop Nelson Pérez and assist him in the administration of our archdiocese which comprises five counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia), an area covering 2,202 square miles with a total population of 4.2 million, of which 1.6 million are Catholic.  There are 214 parishes served by 241 […]

Every week, when I review the Sunday collection, I find myself feeling both relieved and concerned.  I’m relieved that, unlike many other parishes, our Sunday collection income has remained steady through the pandemic and beyond.  At the same time, I’m concerned that it hasn’t kept pace with inflation.  According to the US Inflation Calculator, the consumer price inflation rose 21.6% between January 2020 and May 2024.  Just like you in your household or business, we have experienced this increase in so many of our regular expenses.  As a result, the […]

UPDATE ON OUR SCHOOL AND ITS

BOARD OF LIMITED JURISDICTION

As another very exciting year comes to an end at our school, I would like to offer an update for everyone; there’s lots of news to share.  As was announced just last week, Adria Crowley, who led our school over the past two years in many new and innovative ways, has resigned to tend to ongoing health issues.  I’m sure you join me in assuring her of our prayers.  Jeanne Mulvanerty, a longtime parishioner whose four children attended our school and […]

PHILADELPHIA MARCH FOR LIFE

PHILLY’S BIGGEST BABY SHOWER

 Speaking of the important roles that fathers and mothers play in their children’s lives, the first is to welcome them into the world.  Tragically, so many people today do not recognize the infant in the womb as a unique child who has the same right to life as everyone else does.  We Catholics do, however, and we lead the effort in protecting and promoting all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  We also support countless pro-life […]

Throughout the year, you are invited to support a wide variety of Catholic organizations and activities through our second collections.  The Catholic Charities Appeal, which is the most important collection each year, allows the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to serve thousands of people in the Archdiocese.  In fact, programs funded by the Catholic Charities Appeal assists one in five people in our Archdiocese.  Every year, you are very generous in response to this appeal.  To provide guidance, the Archdiocese sets goals for each parish.  Last year, our parish goal was $152,390 […]

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

This weekend, as we are privileged to host those leading the Seton Route Eucharistic Pilgrimage through our archdiocese as we continue the three-year National Eucharistic Revival, we are blessed to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  I hope you are planning to attend one of the following events:

Evening Event with Young Adults at the Shrine of St. John Neumann (at 7:00pm on Saturday);

Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul (at 11:00am on Sunday) followed […]

SUPPORTING OUR FELLOW CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND

We’re all certainly aware of the horrific ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas in Gaza that started last October as some members of the Hamas attacked Israel and took over 250 Israelis hostage.  It is a tragedy that continues to worsen with hundreds of thousands of people now on the brink of starvation.  In the middle of this living nightmare live a very small number of Christians who comprise less than 1% of the total population of Gaza and the […]