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Catholic Philly •

Ukrainian POW attack shows some are ‘available to the devil’ for cruelty, says pastor

A deadly attack on dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war shows people can make themselves “available to the devil,” said a Ukrainian Catholic pastor in Philadelphia.

At least 53 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 75 injured in a July 29 explosion at the Olenivka prison site, located in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, which is currently controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Among those believed to be killed were defenders of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the siege of which has bec
Catholic Philly •

Assumption ‘shows what the Lord has in store for us,’ say priest, faithful

The Assumption of Mary into heaven, celebrated as a solemnity Aug. 15, shows “what the Lord has in store for us,” said a Northeast Philadelphia priest.

“We look forward to the day when we will be like the Blessed Mother, united with God forever in a new and glorified body,” said Father Robert Lucas, parochial vicar at St. Cecilia Parish in the city’s Fox Chase section.

Though the feast is not a holy day of obligation this year in the U.S., the 8 a.m. Mass celebrated by Father Lucas to mark the
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Catholic nurses draw on faith, fellowship to be ‘hands and feet of Christ’

Catholic nurses are drawing on faith, fellowship and fortitude to navigate an increasingly complex health care environment, said participants at a global conference held earlier this month.

Members of the National Association of Catholic Nurses USA (NACN-USA) gathered Aug. 2-4 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown for a world congress that blended spirituality with specifics on best practices in the field.

Tracing its origins to the early 20th century, NACN-USA promot
Catholic Philly •

Singer-songwriter looks to bring listeners ‘to the Father’s heart’ at AbbeyFest

A beloved faith-filled music festival returns to the Philadelphia area this weekend, and one of its performers said he’s looking to bring listeners to “the Father’s heart.”

Christian singer-songwriter Jordan St. Cyr will take the stage Sept. 17 at the eighth annual AbbeyFest, a day-long gathering that brings music, inspirational speakers, food and plenty of kid-friendly fun to the grounds of Daylesford Abbey in Paoli.

Along with headliner and nine-time Grammy Award nominee Matt Maher, St. Cyr
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Parish prays for Nicaraguan Catholics amid government crackdown

As the Catholic Church comes under increasing attack in Nicaragua, faithful at a Northeast Philadelphia parish are praying for an end to persecution.

Some 25 members of St. Ambrose Parish gathered for an Aug. 24 holy hour in their chapel, reciting the rosary and the litany of the Sacred Heart amid moments of prayerful silence and occasional tears.

Speaking in both Spanish and English, St. Ambrose pastor Father Charles Ravert said participants had come to “kneel before Our Lord in the Eucharist
Catholic Philly •

Ukraine, a witness to true and lasting freedom

Some of the first words I heard regarding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine were those of Metropolitan Archbishop Borys Gudziak, head of Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S.

During a phone interview from Paris, where he was attending meetings when Russian forces launched their Feb. 24 attacks, the archbishop simply said – with stark, biblical clarity – “Ukraine is being crucified.”

I have never forgotten those words. And I never will.

This past week, exactly six months after that call, I sto
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Faithful gather in prayer, solidarity for Pakistan flooding victims

Local faithful are gathering in prayer as floods ravage Pakistan, killing more than 1,100 and endangering some 33 million people.

“We plan to celebrate Mass this Sunday (Sept. 4) for … all the affected people, and for those who have died,” said Father Tariq Isaac, chaplain of the archdiocesan Pakistani Catholic Community and parochial vicar at St. William Parish in Philadelphia.

Unusually heavy rainfall — described as “a monsoon on steroids” by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres
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Polish journalists call for Kremlin propagandists to be tried as ‘war criminals’

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month, Polish journalists have called for Kremlin media personalities to be tried as war criminals.

The board of the Association of Polish Journalists (Stowarzyszenie Dziennikarzy Polskich; SDP) issued an Aug. 24 statement denouncing “liars and raiders who pretend to be journalists” while “favoring the Kremlin regime” by “trying to justify mass murders, rapes and robberies.”

Russian state-owned media outlets such as Rossiya-1 and RT
Catholic Philly •

Ukraine steadfast in ‘fight for Western civilization,’ say local faithful

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month, local Ukrainian faithful remain more committed than ever to “a fight for Western civilization.”

“What’s going on in Ukraine is absolutely in the U.S.’s interest. That result directly affects what happens here,” said Eugene Luciw, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Philadelphia chapter and a member of Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in Lansdale.

Luciw served as master of ceremonies at an Aug.
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Philly parish throws birthday bash for Blessed Mother

Faithful in Northeast Philadelphia threw a birthday bash for a special lady: Mary, the Mother of God.

Some 30 gathered at St. Ambrose Parish to mark the Sept. 8 Feast of the Nativity of Mary, one of the most ancient Marian feasts in the church, and one of only three liturgical observances of birthdays on the Roman calendar, alongside those of Jesus and John the Baptist.

Led by pastor Father Charles Ravert, the outdoor gathering drew young and old alike for a recitation of the rosary in English
Catholic Philly •

Russia shows the real face of evil in its war on Ukraine

After Mass the other week, I spent a few moments chatting with a friend who works as a psychiatric nurse in an inner-city hospital. Her demanding schedule often leaves her little time to change out of her scrubs before coming to church, and the tension of her day lingers on her face well into the first half of the liturgy.

And after our latest conversation, I can certainly see why: during a recent shift, my friend witnessed a particularly violent female patient bite off a fellow nurse’s finger.
Catholic Philly •

Area faithful donate thousands of rosaries to Catholic Social Services

Hundreds of area faithful have flooded an archdiocesan agency with donated rosaries that will be gifted to vulnerable women.

“I asked for 125,” said Amy Stoner, director of community-based and homelessness services for Catholic Social Services (CSS). “I received thousands and thousands. People from all over the Archdiocese of Philadelphia responded.”

Last month, Stoner had requested the rosaries ahead of an annual gathering at Malvern Retreat House for residents of CSS’s Women of Hope and Merc
Catholic Philly •

New crisis pregnancy guide ‘more important than ever,’ says agency director

An archdiocesan office has released a free, comprehensive guide to area pregnancy resources, as part of a mission that’s “more important than ever,” said the project’s manager.

“Peace Be With You: Pregnancy Care-Related Resources,” a 94-page booklet compiled by the Office for Life and Family (OLF), lists an extensive array of supports throughout the five-county Greater Philadelphia area; Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton and York Counties; southern New Jersey; and Delaware.

Assist
Catholic Philly •

Grace plays key role in restoring mental health, says priest

As the nation marks Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, an archdiocesan priest says grace can play a vital role in restoring mental health.

Severe depression, characterized by “that darkness we can’t see behind,” is “not the end,” said Father Marc Capizzi, parochial vicar at St. Andrew Parish in Newtown. “Continue to reach out to ask the Lord to carry you through, to break those chains.”

Like many priests, Father Capizzi has directly counseled families who have lost loved ones to suicide. Seve
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Bishop Robert Maginnis, ‘gentle shepherd, loving priest,’ laid to rest

A beloved bishop is being remembered as a “gentle shepherd” and “loving priest” who inspired others to become missionary disciples of Christ.

Retired Auxiliary Bishop Robert P. Maginnis was laid to rest Sept. 22, following a funeral Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul that drew hundreds of faithful, including clergy, family and friends, many of whom had known bishop simply as “Father Bob” or “Maginn.”

Bishop Maginnis — who retired in 2010 after decades of pastoral service in a
Catholic Philly •

Jewish holidays a chance for Catholics to reflect on shared values, says professor

The Jewish high holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur offer Catholics a chance to reflect on shared themes between Judaism and Christianity, said a Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) professor.

Rosh Hashanah — which began this year on the evening of Sept. 25 and concludes at sunset on Sept. 27 — marks the Jewish New Year (now 5783), commemorating the creation of both the universe and Adam and Eve.

Next week, the Jewish community will observe Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, which in 2022 begi
Catholic Philly •

Pro-life advocates must ‘not grow complacent,’ says bishop

As an annual pro-life observance kicks off, a Philadelphia bishop is urging faithful “not to grow complacent” in advocating for the defense of human life.

Following the June 24 Supreme Court decision that returned abortion regulation from federal to state levels, “we know … there is much work, a lot of effort, a lot of prayer and a lot of advocacy that now has to happen,” said Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre.

The bishop shared his insights during a homily at an opening Mass for Respect Life Mon
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Padre Pio festival shows ‘the church at its best,’ says Bucks County pastor

A Bucks County parish recently honored a beloved Italian saint who showed how profound suffering can lead to divine joy.

St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Holland and the Knights of Columbus Council 15478 hosted the seventh annual Padre Pio Festival Sept. 17 and 18, drawing “record crowds,” said pastor Msgr. John Marine.

The weekend gathering — which celebrated devotion to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, a 20th-century Capuchin priest from southwest Italy known for his holiness and miraculous intercess
Catholic Philly •

Deacons bring ‘heart of Christ the servant’ to faithful

An archdiocesan initiative is inviting men to consider whether they have the heart and the calling to serve as permanent deacons.

On Sept. 22, the Office of Permanent Deacons premiered “Called to Service,” a short documentary on the permanent diaconate in Philadelphia, during an information night for potential candidates. Produced by Emmy Award-winning Joyful Films, the nine-minute video features several permanent deacons sharing their insights on their ministry – a vocation that has become mor
Catholic Philly •

Demand up for food assistance, says archdiocesan agency

As Hunger Action Month wraps up, staff at an archdiocesan hunger relief agency said they’re marking a surge in demand for aid – and worrying global trends on the horizon.

“I’m definitely seeing higher numbers,” said Denise Hopkins, community food program administrator for Nutritional Development Services (NDS), which operates a network of cupboards throughout the five-county archdiocesan area.

One site, located at Mother of Mercy House in the city’s Kensington section, experienced an increase
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Agency walks with women to recovery, joy and hope

An archdiocesan agency is helping women overcome addiction, while finding grace and joy amid their challenges.

On Sept. 21, Catholic Social Services (CSS) sponsored its third annual “Recovery Walk” through downtown Philadelphia, drawing more than 50 clients, staff and friends of Mercy Hospice, Women of Hope and McAuley House, the agency’s longtime ministries for women facing addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges.

The outreaches, all beneficiaries of the annual Catholic Charities
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Delco parish garden wins prize, and hearts

Faithful at a Delaware County parish have been recognized for their efforts to bear fruit – literally.

St. Cornelius Parish’s “Matthew XXV Garden” in Chadds Ford earned second place in Penn State Extension’s 19th annual Fall Festival, which took place Oct. 1 in Smedley Park, Springfield.

Judges from the extension program’s Master Gardener program – part of The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences – said they were “quite impressed” with parishioners’ ability to succe
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Indian Catholics bring ‘beauty, uniqueness’ to the life of the church, says bishop

Indian Catholics in the five-county archdiocesan area recently gathered to celebrate their heritage, which Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop John McIntyre described as “a marriage” between culture and faith.

The bishop was the principal celebrant at a Sept. 17 opening Mass for the 2022 Indian Catholic Heritage Day, which took place at St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church in Northeast Philadelphia following a welcome procession with traditional instruments.

After the liturgy, at which Bis
Catholic News Service •

Ukrainian Catholics denounce so-called 'annexation' of Ukraine regions

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Ukrainian Catholics throughout the Philadelphia area denounced Russia’s claims of “annexing” portions of eastern Ukraine, following staged voting events conducted under armed Russian guard.

The Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the U.S. — led by Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia, who is head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S. — said in a Sept. 30 statement they “wholeheartedly and unconditionally condemn this escalation and codification of br
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