Strawberry Mansion: Catholic Church Incorporates One Of Pope Francis’ Key Themes Into Mass
The Rev. Stephen Thorne began Mass at Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church Sunday, by asking the congregation to move up to the first few pews. Hesitantly, people rose and moved closer to the front. “Thank you for listening to your pastor,” Thorne said as the crowd laughed. About half of the regular churchgoers were missing […]
Pope in Philly: One Faith’s Celebration is Another’s Inconvenience
Hugh Taft-Morales didn’t expect this. “I knew it was going to be big,” he said. “It’s well beyond what I thought it was going to be. Clearly, Philadelphia’s got a lot of Catholic tradition and heritage.” Taft-Morales is not Catholic, nor is he from Philadelphia. The leader of the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia, he […]
Chinatown: Chinese Catholics Create An Immigrant Landing Pad in Philadelphia
Pope Francis ended his inaugural visit to the United States of America, celebrating multiple masses and public events as part of the World Meeting of Families. One of the primary issues the Pontiff focused on during his time in the US was immigration. In his address to the United States Congress, Pope Francis drew on his own […]
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 […]
The Pope In Philly: LGBTQI Coalition Finding a Voice during Papal Visit
Last week, members of the Catholic coalition Equally Blessed came together to introduce members of their pilgrimage to Philadelphia’s World Meeting of Families (WMF). Equally Blessed fights for both recognition and equality for LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex) persons and their families within the Catholic church. The coalition consists of the four organizations […]
World Meeting of Families: The Festivities Begin …
The Pennsylvania Convention Center opened its doors this weekThe Festivities Begin as the World Meeting of Families officially began. Pilgrims from all over the world gathered in the Convention Center to check in, get their T-shirts and other memorabilia in preparation for the Francis Festival this coming weekend. Pilgrims from waited in line at check […]
The Pope In Philly: “My Spiritual Practice Helps me Figure out Where my Place in the Universe is,” says R. Eric Thomas.
R. Eric Thomas is the program director at the William Way LGBT Community Center, which is holding a “Celebration of Inclusive Family” on Sept 26 and 27 during the papal visit. Thomas may be new to the center—he’s been there for two months—but he’s already contributing to the cause. When did the idea of the papal celebration […]
Olde Kensington: 170-Year-Old Church Changing with the Times
Located on the corner of North 5th Street and Girard Avenue, St. Peter the Apostle Parish was created in the mid-19th century to accommodate a changing neighborhood. Today, the parish also serves as the Shrine of St. John Neumann. The mega-structure includes a museum and gift shop. It also includes St. Peter the Apostle School, […]