Germantown: Church Welcomes First Generation Haitian-American Youth Ministries Director
The First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) has sat on the corner of East High Street and Germantown Avenue since 1796. In September, the congregation welcomed 33-year-old Jeanna Murat (pictured above). Murat is first generation Haitian-American who has dedicated her life to empowering youth and pushing them to explore their faith. “My role whenever […]
Immigration: St. Maron’s Church Brings Together Middle Eastern Immigrants For Prayer And Community
On Sunday mornings at St. Maron’s Church, congregants listen as Father Vince Farhat leads the liturgy, and afterward congregants come to the church hall for coffee and pastries. St. Maron’s has existed in South Philadelphia as a spiritual haven for Middle Eastern immigrants since the latter half of the 19th century and is currently made up […]
Immigration: Carol Agia And Marco Circelli Discuss History Of Italian Immigration In Philadelphia
Like many Italian-Americans in Philadelphia, Carol Agia’s grandparents came to Philadelphia around the turn of the 20th century. One of her grandfathers immigrated in 1896 at the age of seven, while the other arrived in 1915 when he was 12 years old. “Often the father and the oldest son came over, saved a little bit […]
Chinatown: Supporting the Community Through Faith
Since its founding, Chinatown has been ever-changing–from the demographics of the area to its boundaries. Central to this community’s perseverance has been the local churches including the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and School and the Chinese Christian Church and Center. In the 1890s Chinatown was a very small section of what we think of today. […]
Mayfair: Q&A with a Business Leader Fighting a Changing Neighborhood
Angela Vanni is a Philadelphia native and an owner of Giggles Gifts, a retail gift shop which specializes in candies, cards, seasonal decorations and other possible presents. Located at 7400 Frankford Ave., it was founded by the Veneziale family in 1983 and opened during an era when these types of businesses were a common sight in Mayfair. Now, the times have changed, […]
Port Richmond: Senior Citizens Showcase Their Inner Artists And More
Friday afternoons at St. Anne’s Senior Community Center are never a bore. The weekly Clay Creations class, taught by Anne Koszalka, highlights many seniors’ weeks and gives them something to look forward to on Fridays. “About eight years ago, a fellow ceramic artist, who has been teaching at senior centers for years, needed a few […]
Olney: Francis Festival Makes Its Way To Cardinal Dougherty High School
In celebration of Pope Francis’ arrival in Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families, approximately 3,000 Vietnamese Roman Catholics gathered at Cardinal Dougherty High School to celebrate. “That’s not a church,” objected one child as his mother led him through the flag-festooned gates. The scene at the school doors defied his observation. Dozens of priests […]
Point Breeze: Church Welcomes Pilgrims from Alabama to the Neighborhood for Papal Visit
A church in Point Breeze set out to host more of a homecoming than a formal visit for a group of pilgrims traveling from Alabama to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia. The Aquinas Center, part of the St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 17th and Morris streets in Point Breeze, hosted a group of 56 pilgrims during Pope […]
Germantown: Cunningham Piano Donated an Organ for The Papal Events
The Cunningham Piano Company donated a digital organ for the Papal services that concluded yesterday with Pope Francis leading a mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. “I’m a musician, and, of course, I’m a business owner, so this works with all of my passions together,” said Cunningham co-owner Rich Galassini (pictured above). The Cunningham team […]
Education: ‘Catholic Identity Pledge’ Meets Diversity at Local Catholic Schools
Archdiocese Catholic school students found a new document slipped into their application and entrance packets: The Memorandum of Understanding. The decree, released earlier this month from the office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia requires all parents and students enrolled, or seeking enrollment, in Catholic schools to pledge their support of one “Catholic identity” as dictated […]