With an open heart and gratitude I, along with my brother bishops in the United States, welcome Laudato Si’. In this beautiful and extensive treatment on care for our common home, the Holy Father calls all people to consider our deep and intertwined relationships with God, our brothers and sisters, and the gifts that our Creator has provided for our stewardship.

Faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are encouraged to take part in the fourth annual Fortnight for Freedom being observed nationally June 21 to July 4, 2015, and sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Incarnation of Our Lord Church, Our Mother of Sorrows, and Holy Saviour Church will no longer serve as worship sites of Saint Helena Parish, Sacred Heart Parish and Saint John Fisher Parish, respectively, and will close as Roman Catholic Churches

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Association of Catholic Teachers announce that a tentative agreement has been reached for a new Labor Management Agreement for secondary school lay teachers serving in the 17 Archdiocesan high schools.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. and Honorary Co-Chair, Mayor Michael A. Nutter, will travel with a leadership delegation to Rome for final preparatory meetings in advance of the September 22-27, 2015 event.

Father’s Chuck Challenge (FCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to building homes and developing villages for families in need, will dedicate its 1,000th home on June 16, 2015 in Nicaragua. New houses built in Nicaragua and Haiti through FCC are given to the poor at no cost.

Two priests and three seminarians, part of Biking4Vocations, who are riding 1,400 miles from Florida to New York on a 29-day journey to raise awareness for priest vocations, will be greeted by priests, seminarians and well-wishers as they roll into Philadelphia and Saint Charles Seminary.

The Franklin Institute, the most-visited museum in Pennsylvania, has announced plans to host the exclusive East Coast destination of Vatican Splendors, beginning September 19.

World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 today announced the opening of its Official Registration Site (wmof.goground.com) for all commercial charter buses and privately-owned buses coming to the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia and the historic visit by Pope Francis.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will ordain twenty-one men to the Permanent Diaconate for service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They have completed six years of formation at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. The Rite of Ordination will take place during Mass following the Gospel.