Casa del Carmen of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been awarded a 15,000 dollar grant by PNC Bank for a new Literacy Learning Lab. The lab will primarily serve the children of Casa del Carmen Academy, who are between the ages of three and five years old.

As you know, Pope Francis will join us for the World Meeting of Families later this month, and immigration is an issue close to his heart. So I’m pleased to be here and to share this time with you.

Como ustedes saben, el papa Francisco se unirá a nosotros para el Encuentro Mundial de las Familias a finales de este mes, y la inmigración es un tema cercano a su corazón. Así que, estoy contento de estar aquí y compartir este tiempo con ustedes.

Pope Francis’ recent remarks on absolution for the sin of abortion demonstrate his commitment to all those in need of healing. With a special “Jubilee Year of Mercy” set to begin in December, the timing is very welcome.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the City of Philadelphia today announced the International Mayors Forum, which is a new event being added to the World Meeting of Families Congress. Co-sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and La Salle University, the International Mayors Forum will be held on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 p.m. at La Salle University’s Tom Gola Arena.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the keynote speaker at a panel discussion on issues affecting immigrants and their families. The event will be divided in two sessions: Caring for the Immigrant Families and Keeping Immigrants Families Together. Panelists will discuss Catholic teachings on immigration, the Church’s pastoral work with immigrant families, and its advocacy efforts at a local and national level.

The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 (WMOF), in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, today kicked-off the distribution of the #OpenInPHL kits to local businesses as a part of its recently announced “I’ll Be There” awareness campaign.

Today, the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 (WMOF) and Mercy Vocational High School unveiled the commemorative Mercy Prayer Cross designed and constructed for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 Youth Congress.

What do we hope Pope Francis will take away from his September visit to Philadelphia? I hope he realizes that American Catholics in general, and Philadelphia Catholics in a very special way, love and support him wholeheartedly. I hope he sees that there’s tremendous good in our country, and a lot of it began here in Philadelphia, where our nation was born.

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced that the bus company working with the World Meeting of Families will be able to use roads otherwise closed to traffic during the September international gathering. SEPTA and PATCO have plenty of capacity still and will put you right in the center of activity with about a one-mile walk at the most.