Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will lead thousands of faithful from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Friday, January 25, 2013. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States.

The March for Life activities will begin with an Opening Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Boston and Chairman-elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join in the national observance of Catholic Schools Week January 27, 2013 - February 2, 2013. Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration of the values-centered, faith-filled education that students receive in Catholic elementary, secondary and special education schools. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2013 is "Catholic Schools Raise the Standards."

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

God renews the world with our actions, not our intentions. What separates real discipleship from surface piety is whether we actually do what we say we believe.

Our vocation as Christians is not simply to pass along good morals to our children, or convey a sense of God's hand in the world. These things are vital, of course, but they don't exhaust our purpose for being here. Our mission is to bring the world to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ to the world. Each of us is a missionary, and our primary task is the conversion of our own hearts and the hearts of others so that someday the whole world will acknowledge Jesus Christ as humanity's only savior and Lord.

That's a big job. We can't do it by just talking about it, any more than Christ could redeem us by writing an essay on sin. The Gospels have power because they tell the story of what God did; what his only Son did; and what Christ's followers did. The Passion accounts of Christ's suffering and death move us so deeply because they show in bitter detail how unashamedly God loves us.

This is the hot spark at the heart of every sincere attempt to tell the story of our redemption. God spared not even his own Son in saving us. No wonder the cross draws the eye of great artists again and again down through the centuries. The blood of the cross reminds us that - on at least one day in history - love had no limits. And since then, everything has been different.

How does this relate to Catholic schools? We tend to forget that for much of its history, the United States has not welcomed Catholics or their faith. Anti-Catholic prejudice and violence were common. Catholic schools in the 19th and early 20th centuries had the task of ensuring the survival of the Church by protecting Catholic children from the heavily Protestant formation found in American public education. Times have changed, and today believing Christians, whatever their background, usually try to seek common ground rather than reasons to disagree. This is a great blessing. But the "countercultural" work of Catholic schools - forming young lives in virtue, truth and a vivid Catholic identity - remains crucial. In a national environment that often seems morally confused, and increasingly indifferent to religion in general and Christianity in particular, Catholic schools offer a path not just to knowledge but to moral wholeness.

By anchoring themselves in the love of God, Catholic schools, at their best, create in the student a hunger for achievement and academic excellence. They form young people in the kind of moral purpose that leads to leadership and social responsibility in adult life. The results don't lie. It's no accident that a vast number of business and civic leaders in the Philadelphia region were educated, at least in part, by Catholic schools. In their effect, our schools are a treasure not just for the Catholic Church, but for the whole public community. That's why our archdiocesan schools are worth fighting to keep alive and to grow, despite all the financial pressures we now face. And that's why Catholics need to be politically engaged on matters like school choice and financially generous in their support of Catholic education.

This year, January 27 through February 2 is Catholic Schools Week. Here in Philadelphia, a lot has happened in the last 12 months: the release of a Blue Ribbon Commission report on Catholic education; parish school reprieves and consolidations; a new chance at life for four high schools scheduled to close; a new Faith in the Future Foundation to underwrite the strategic health of our Catholic schools; and new initiatives to sustain "mission schools" in poor areas. As we rightly honor our school teachers, administrators and wonderful donors, we need to remember two things: First, the excellence of our schools makes them worth all of our sacrifices; and second, the purpose of our schools is much more than mere professional success.

God built the Church we've inherited through the love of generations of believers. Their witness made our faith possible. It's now our turn to shape the future by the zeal we bring to our own daily witness. It's our turn to act. It's our turn to live our Catholic faith with all the courage and strength Christ brought to loving the Church he founded.

Catholic schools play an irreplaceable role in making that kind of vigorous Christian witness a reality. More than any other reason, that's why they're important.

The Church depends on God who will always renew and protect her. But she also depends on you and me - teachers, pastors, parents and so many others - to carry Christ's mission into the world. Words are cheap. Actions matter. It's time to live our Catholic faith as the apostles did - and through it, to reshape the world.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia marks the beginning of its 38th consecutive year participating in Catholic Relief Services' Rice Bowl, a nationwide effort to fight poverty and hunger. Administered by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Rice Bowl encourages participants to live in solidarity with the poor through prayer, fasting and alms giving. Bishop John J. McIntyre will preside at this year's Rice Bowl kick-off event, at which he will bless the rice bowls.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has approved the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee to merge an additional parish in West Philadelphia.

These mergers are the result of ongoing restructuring that will ultimately strengthen parish communities throughout the Archdiocese positioning them for future growth and sustainability. It is hoped that the result will be revitalized parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are better equipped to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of future generations.

The recommendations and resulting mergers are an outcome of the Archdiocesan-wide Parish Pastoral Planning Area initiative, which began in 2011. Parishioners at all affected parishes learned of the final decisions through letters mailed to all registered parishioners as well as announcements made at all Masses this weekend.

The mergers announced today were based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability, a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes, and a review of facilities.

In each instance, parishioners will attend daily and Sunday Mass at the church of the newly formed parish. The churches of the former parishes will remain open and be maintained as worship sites. At the discretion of the pastor, these sites will be utilized for weddings, funerals and feast days, as well as traditional and ethnic devotions for the duration of at least one year during the transition. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at a worship site at the discretion of the pastor and the newly formed pastoral council.

All parish property, assets and debts of the former parishes will be assumed by the newly created parishes, which will also be responsible for the care of all sacramental records. The pastors from the merging parishes will form a transitional team made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with building the new parish community.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, made up of lay persons, priests and Archdiocesan personnel, is examining all parishes within the Archdiocese to gauge their viability and assess whether they possess the resources to accomplish their role in the mission of the Church and remain sustainable and vibrant faith communities. Parishes within each pastoral planning area will continue to carefully and thoughtfully examine their viability in order to make future recommendations. Additional parish announcements are expected this spring and in the spring of 2014.

Parish Area Pastoral Planning is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations to the Archbishop for growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas. Additionally, in the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee shared all final proposals with the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their review before final approval by the Archbishop.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).

- Augustine

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that prudence is the auriga virtutum, the "charioteer of virtues." It's "right reason in action," the guide to correctly applying all other virtues. Rash action, no matter how well intended, violates prudence and usually does more harm than good. God gave us brains. He expects us to use them to judiciously pursue the highest moral good for others and for ourselves.

At the same time, the Catechism warns that prudence should never be used as an alibi for "timidity or fear, duplicity or dissimulation." Real prudence has a spine called fortitude, the virtue we more commonly know as courage. And courage, in the words of C.S. Lewis, "is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality."

Here's why both these virtues are vital in the weeks ahead. On Friday, February 1, the Obama administration issued for public comment a set of revised regulations governing the HHS "contraceptive mandate." At first glance, the new rules have struck some people as a modest improvement. They appear to expand, in a limited way, the kind of religiously-affiliated entities that can claim exemption from providing insurance coverage for contraceptive and abortion-related services under the new Affordable Care Act.

White House apologists and supporters have welcomed the proposal. The New York Times called it "a good compromise." Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and NARAL Prochoice America have praised it. And at least one Washington Post columnist implausibly called it a victory for America's Catholic bishops.

The trouble is, the new rules are very complex. And they may actually make things worse. In the words of Notre Dame Law Professor Gerard Bradley:

"Gauging the net effect of the new administration proposal [is] hazardous. But one can say with confidence the following: (1) religious hospitals are, as before, not exempt 'religious employers'; (2) religious charities are very likely not exempt either, unless they are run out of a church or are very tightly integrated with a church. So, a parish or even a diocese's Saint Vincent De Paul operations would probably be an exempt 'religious employer,' whereas Catholic Charities would not be; (3) the new proposal may (or may not) make it more likely that parish grade schools are exempt 'religious employers.' But Catholic high schools are a different matter. Some might qualify as 'religious employers.' Most probably will not.

"It is certain that Catholic colleges and universities do not qualify as exempt 'religious employers.' The new proposal includes, however, a revised 'accommodation' for at least some of these institutions, as well as some hospitals and charities. The proposal refines the administration's earlier efforts to somehow insulate the colleges and universities from immoral complicity in contraception, mainly by shifting -- at least nominally - the cost and administration of the immoral services to either the health insurance issuer (think Blue Cross) or to the plan administrator (for self-insured entities, such as Notre Dame). This proposal adds some additional layering to the earlier attempts to insulate the schools, but nothing of decisive moral significance is included."

The White House has made no concessions to the religious conscience claims of private businesses, and the whole spirit of the "compromise" is minimalist.

As a result, the latest White House "compromise" already has a wave of critics, including respected national religious liberty law firms like the Becket Fund and the Alliance Defending Freedom. And many are far harsher than Professor Bradley in their analysis.

The scholar Yuval Levin has stressed that the new HHS mandate proposal, "like the versions that have preceded it, betrays a complete lack of understanding of both religious liberty and religious conscience." In reality, despite the appearance of compromise, "the government has forced a needless and completely avoidable confrontation and has knowingly put many religious believers in an impossible situation."

One of the issues America's bishops now face is how best to respond to an HHS mandate that remains unnecessary, coercive and gravely flawed. In the weeks ahead the bishops of our country, myself included, will need both prudence and courage - the kind of courage that gives prudence spine and results in right action, whatever the cost. Please pray that God guides our discussions.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

CELEBRANT: ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT, O.F.M. CAP.

Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m., Saint Katherine of Siena, Philadelphia
Thursday, March 14 at 4 p.m., Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Hilltown
Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m., Saint Teresa of Avila, Norristown
Thursday, April 11 at 4 p.m., Presentation B.V.M., Wynnewood
Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., Saint Christopher, Philadelphia
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Charles Borromeo, Bensalem
Sunday, April 21 at 11 a.m., Saint Francis Cabrini, Fairless Hills
Sunday, April 28 at 12 p.m., Saint Laurence (Highland Park), Upper Darby
Monday, April 29 at 4 p.m., Saint Eugene, Primos
Friday, May 24 at 6 p.m., Saint Hugh of Cluny, Philadelphia

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND DANIEL E. THOMAS
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Sunday, February 17 at 11 a.m., All Saints, Philadelphia
Tuesday, February 19 at 4 p.m., Saint Bernadette, Drexel Hill
Sunday, February 24 at 12:15 p.m., Saint Laurentius, Philadelphia
Tuesday, February 26 at 4 p.m., Nativity of Our Lord, Warminster
Saturday, March 2 at 5 p.m., Saint Paul, Philadelphia
Saturday, March 16 at 9:30 a.m., & 1:30 p.m., Saint Katharine of Siena, Wayne
Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m., Saint Joseph, Aston
Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m., Saint Norbert, Paoli
Thursday, April 4 at 4 p.m., Holy Saviour, Linwood
Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m., & 2 p.m., Saint Elizabeth, Uwchlan
Tuesday, April 9 at 4 p.m., Saint Luke the Evangelist, Glenside
Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m., Saint Philip Neri, Pennsburg
Saturday, April 13 at 5 p.m., Saint Peter the Apostle, Philadelphia
Sunday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m., Saint Monica, Philadelphia
Monday, April 15 at 5 p.m., Saint John Cantius, Philadelphia
Tuesday, April 16 at 5 p.m., Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother, Avondale
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Philip Neri, Lafayette Hill
Tuesday, April 23 at 5 p.m., Saint John Fisher, Boothwyn
Thursday, April 25 at 4 p.m., Saint Matthew, Philadelphia
Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m., & 2 p.m., Saint Maximilian Kolbe, West Chester
Sunday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m., Saint Leo, Philadelphia
Thursday, May 2 at 5 p.m., Saint Peter, West Brandywine
Saturday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m., Saint Edmond, Philadelphia
Sunday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m., Saint John the Baptist, Ottsville
Saturday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m., & 1:30 p.m., Saint Cornelius, Chadds Ford
Tuesday, May 21 at 6 p.m., Hispanic Community of Delaware County at Saint Alice Church, Upper Darby
Thursday, May 23 at 4 p.m., Queen of the Universe, Levittown

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND TIMOTHY C. SENIOR
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Friday, March 1 at 4 p.m., Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, North Wales
Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m., Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, North Wales
Thursday, April 4 at 4:30 p.m., Saint Thomas More, Pottstown
Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m., Saints Simon and Jude, West Chester
Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m., Saint Bridget, Philadelphia
Thursday, April 11 at 4 p.m., Saint Thomas the Apostle, Glen Mills
Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., Saint Pius X, Broomall
Saturday, April 13 at 5 p.m., Our Lady of Ransom, Philadelphia
Sunday, April 14 at 11 a.m., Holy Family, Philadelphia (Manayunk)
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Helena, Blue Bell
Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m., Saint Monica, Berwyn
Sunday, April 21 at 10 a.m., Saint Ann, Bristol
Thursday, April 25 at 5 p.m., Saint Isidore, Quakertown
Wednesday, May 1 at 4 p.m., Saint Alphonsus, Maple Glen
Sunday, May 5 at 4 p.m., Epiphany of Our Lord, Philadelphia
Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m., Saint Timothy, Philadelphia

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND JOHN J. MCINTYRE
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Thursday, February 21 at 5 p.m., Saint Cecilia, Philadelphia
Monday, February 25 at 4 p.m., Saint Mary and Saint Gertrude at Saint Gertrude Church
Thursday, February 28 at 4 p.m., Nativity B.V.M., Media
Saturday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m., Saint Joachim, Philadelphia
Monday, March 4 at 4 p.m., Saint Jerome, Philadelphia
Thursday, March 7 at 4 p.m., Stella Maris, Philadelphia
Monday, March 11 at 6 p.m., Saint Joseph, Spring City
Thursday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Rosary, Coatesville
Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m., & 2 p.m., Saint Bede the Venerable, Holland
Monday, March 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Joseph, Collingdale
Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m., Holy Name of Jesus, Philadelphia
Friday, March 22 at 4 p.m., Saint Andrew, Newtown
Saturday, March 23 at 9:30 a.m., & 1:30 p.m., Saint Andrew, Newtown
Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m., Saints Simon and Jude, West Chester
Thursday April 11 at 4 p.m., Immaculate Conception B.V.M., Levittown
Sunday, April 14 at 10 a.m., Saint Malachy, Philadelphia
Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m., Saints Peter and Paul, West Chester
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Andrew the Apostle, Drexel Hill
Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m., & 1:30 p.m., Saints Philip and James, Exton
Sunday, April 21 at 10 a.m., Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Philadelphia
Monday, April 22 at 4 p.m., Saint Basil the Great, Kimberton
Thursday, April 25 at 4 p.m., Saint Mark, Bristol
Monday, April 29 at 4 p.m., Visitation B.V.M. (Trooper), Norristown
Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m., Saint John the Evangelist, Morrisville
Monday, May 6 at 4 p.m., Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Jamison
Tuesday, May 7 at 4 p.m., Saint Patrick, Kennett Square

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. FITZGERALD
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Sunday, February 10 at 10:15 a.m., Saint Francis de Sales, Philadelphia
Saturday, February 23 at 10 a.m., Visitation B.V.M., Philadelphia
Saturday, March 2 at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., Saint Eleanor, Collegeville
Monday, March 4 at 4 p.m., Saint Robert Bellarmine, Warrington
Thursday, March 7 at 4 p.m., Saint Joseph the Worker, Fallsington
Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Doylestown
Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m., Maternity B.V.M., Philadelphia
Thursday, March 14 at 4 p.m., Saint Joseph, Warrington
Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m., Saint Stanislaus, Lansdale
Monday, March 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Albert the Great, Huntingdon Valley
Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m., Saint Alice, Upper Darby
Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m., Saint Martin of Tours, Philadelphia
Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Yardley
Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m., Our Lady of the Assumption, Strafford
Monday, April 8 at 4 p.m., Sacred Heart (Manoa), Havertown
Thursday, April 11 at 4 p.m., Saint Francis of Assisi, Springfield
Saturday, April 13 at 10:30 a.m., Holy Cross, Springfield
Sunday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m., Saint Ambrose, Philadelphia
Monday, April 15 at 4 p.m., Saint Lawrence, Reigelsville
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Our Lady of Fatima, Bensalem
Saturday, April 20 at 5 p.m., Saint James, Elkins Park
Sunday, April 21 at 11 a.m., Our Mother of Consolation, Philadelphia
Thursday, April 25 at 4 p.m., Assumption B.V.M., Feasterville

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND LOUIS A. DE SIMONE
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Sunday, March 10 at 12 p.m., Saints Cosmas and Damian, Conshohocken
Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m., Epiphany of Our Lord, Plymouth Meeting
Sunday, April 7 at 12 Noon Our Lady of Lourdes, Philadelphia
Wednesday, April 10 at 4 p.m., Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, Philadelphia
Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m., Our Lady of Consolation, Philadelphia
Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m., Saint Thomas of Villanova, Rosemont
Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m., Saint Charles Borromeo, Drexel Hill
Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m., Saint John Baptist Vianney, Gladwyne

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND ROBERT P. MAGINNIS
(Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m., Saint John Neumann, Bryn Mawr
Sunday, May 5 at 12 p.m., Saint Francis of Assisi, Norristown
Tuesday, May 7 at 4 p.m., Saint Agnes, Sellersville

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND JOSEPH F. MARTINO
(Retired Bishop of Scranton)

Thursday, March 7 at 4 p.m., Saint Cyril of Alexandria, East Lansdowne
Tuesday, March 12 at 4 p.m., Saint Titus (East Norriton), Norristown
Saturday, March 16 at 10 a.m., & 2 p.m., Saint Joseph, Downingtown
Tuesday, March 19 at 4 p.m., Holy Saviour, Norristown
Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m., Saint Matthew, Conshohocken
Saturday, March 23 at 10 a.m., Our Lady of Guadalupe, Buckingham
Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m., Our Lady of Good Counsel, Southampton
Saturday, April 6 at 5:30 p.m., Saint Agatha-Saint James, Philadelphia
Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m., Our Lady Help of Christians, Abington
Tuesday, April 9 at 4 p.m., Resurrection of Our Lord, Philadelphia
Wednesday, April 10 at 4 p.m., Saint David, Willow Grove
Thursday, April 11 at 4 p.m., Saint Gabriel, Norwood
Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., & 2 p.m., Saint Patrick, Malvern
Thursday, April 18 at 4 p.m., Saint Genevieve, Flourtown
Sunday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m., Saint Paul [East Norriton], Norristown
Tuesday, April 23 at 4 p.m., Saint Mary, Schwenksville
Sunday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m., Our Lady of Hope, Philadelphia
Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m., Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Limerick
Sunday, May 5 at 11 a.m., Saint Philip Neri, Philadelphia
Tuesday, May 14 at 4 p.m., Saint John Chrysostom, Wallingford
Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m., Our Mother of Good Counsel, Bryn Mawr
Saturday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m., Saint Veronica, Philadelphia
Sunday, May 19 at 10:15 a.m., Saint Joseph, Coatesville
Tuesday, May 21 at 4 p.m., Mother of Divine Providence, King of Prussia
Wednesday, May 22 at 4 p.m., Sacred Heart of Jesus, Philadelphia
Thursday, May 23 at 4 p.m., Saint Maria Goretti, Hatfield
Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. & 3:30 p.m., Saint Rocco, Avondale

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND NELSON J. PEREZ
(Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre)

Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saint Agnes, West Chester

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

"From his work as a young theologian at Vatican II to his ministry as universal pastor of the Church, Joseph Ratzinger has served God and the global Christian community with intelligence, eloquence and extraordinary self-sacrifice.

As Pope Benedict XVI, he has led God's people through complicated times with uncommon grace, and his stepping down now, at 85, from the burdens of his office is another sign of his placing the needs of the Church above his own. Catholics worldwide owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. He will remain in our hearts and always be in our prayers."

+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

More than 70 years ago the great French Catholic writer Georges Bernanos published a little essay called "Sermon of an Agnostic on the Feast of St. Théresè." Bernanos deeply loved the Church, but he could also be brutally candid when it came to himself and his fellow believers. Above all, he had a piercing sense of irony about the comfortable, the self-satisfied and the lukewarm who postured themselves as Catholic - whether they were laypeople or clergy.

In his essay he imagined "what any decent agnostic of average intelligence might say, if by some impossible chance the [pastor] were to let him stand awhile in the pulpit [on] the day consecrated to St. Théresè of Lisieux."

"Dear brothers," says the agnostic from the pulpit, "many unbelievers are not as hardened as you imagine. … [But when] we seek [Christ] now, in this world, it is you we find, and only you. … It is you Christians who participate in divinity, as your liturgy proclaims; it is you 'divine men' who ever since [Christ's] ascension have been his representatives on earth. … You are the salt of the earth. [So if] the world loses its flavor, who is it I should blame? … The New Testament is eternally young. It is you who are so old. … Because you do not live your faith, your faith has ceased to be a living thing."

Bernanos had little use for the learned, the proud or the superficially religious. He believed instead in the little flowers - the Thérèses of Lisieux - that sustain the Church and convert the world by the purity, simplicity, innocence and zeal of their faith. That kind of innocent faith is a gift. It's a gift each of us can ask for, and each of us will receive, if we just have the courage to choose it and then act on it. The only people who ever really change the world are saints. Each of us can be one of them. But we need to want sainthood, and then we need to follow the path that comes with it.

Bernanos once wrote that the optimism of the modern world, including its "politics of hope," is like whistling past a graveyard. It's a cheap substitute for real hope and "a sly form of selfishness, a method of isolating [ourselves] from the unhappiness of others" by thinking happy or seemingly progressive thoughts. Real hope "must be won. [We] can only attain hope through truth, at the cost of great effort and long patience. … Hope is a virtue, virtus, strength; an heroic determination of the soul. [And] the highest form of hope is despair overcome."

We can only attain hope through truth. And what that means is this: From the moment Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life," the most important public statement anyone can make is "Jesus Christ is Lord."

This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 13. It marks the beginning of Lent. For Catholics, this is a time to be honest; to take an unblinking look at the truth of our lives. Every year God offers us this great season of humility as a chance to remember who we are as believers, reflect soberly on our actions and refocus ourselves on the source of our hope, the only real hope of a bloody and despairing world: Jesus Christ. We do this through prayer, silence, the sacrament of penance, seeking out and reconciling with those whom we've hurt, forgiving those who've hurt us, generosity to the poor, and fasting, not just from food, but from all those many things that distract us from the God who made and loves us.

If we call ourselves Christians, then let's live like we mean it - beginning today, with this Lenten season; so that people who look upon us will see the presence of Jesus Christ instead.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announces the launch of the 2013 Catholic Charities Appeal. The theme of this year's Appeal "Charity Transforming Reality," calls to mind the impact, change and difference people can make in the lives of others through their generosity. Archbishop Charles Chaput is encouraging the faithful within the Archdiocese to support the Appeal by setting a $10 million fundraising goal.

The Appeal is the single largest fundraising initiative in the Archdiocese directly supporting Catholic Social Services, which provides help and creates hope for nearly 3,500 people every day-over 200,000 people each year.

"The Catholic Charities Appeal is critical to the good works of the Church in Philadelphia. It allows us to help transform the lives of thousands of men, women, children and families by tirelessly reaching out to those with spiritual, emotional, physical or material needs during a time when they often don't know where to turn," said Archbishop Chaput. "As Christians, it is our job to put these people first in our hearts and in our generosity. We can make a lasting and profound impact on our region and its people by transforming the lives of many through this Appeal. Today, we begin this process by taking a step forward to make this ambitious fundraising goal a reality."

Despite the current national financial climate, last year's Catholic Charities Appeal saw a dramatic growth in the number of donors with a nearly 67 percent increase in gifts received. Of the more than 56,000 donations, nearly 50 percent of the gifts came from donors who either returned after having been away for a year or more, or who had not previously donated.

The Appeal is the major source of private funds supporting Catholic Social Services programs in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including senior centers, educational and afterschool programs for at-risk children and youth, residential support for persons with disabilities, and homeless shelters and community food cupboards.

"The valuable partnership between the city of Philadelphia and Catholic Charities Appeal allows hundreds of thousands to be cared for every year and it provides hope for the most vulnerable among us," said Thomas Scheaffer, Director of Policy & Evaluation in the Deputy Mayor's Office for Health & Opportunity and the City's OST System of Systems Project Lead. "I commend the unwavering efforts of Catholic Charities Appeal to promote community participation and involvement in an effort to better the lives of so many children, homeless, abused, hungry and the aged men and women in our city who need our help."

Founded in 1958 by John Cardinal O'Hara, the Catholic Charities Appeal funds more than 80 programs throughout the five counties of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The services that the Archdiocese provides reflect a belief in the sanctity of human life, the dignity of the individual, and the central role of the family in life and society.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Philadelphia Visitors Channel will present Monsignor Author Rodgers, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, a People's Telly and a Bronze Telly Award.

They are being awarded for the video titled Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, which offers a tour of the Cathedral while highlighting its spiritual richness and historic significance.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Catholic commitment to the dignity of the immigrant comes from exactly the same roots as our commitment to the dignity of the unborn child. Any Catholic who truly understands his or her faith knows that the right to life precedes and creates the foundation for every other human right. There's no getting around the priority of that fundamental right to life. But being "prolife" also means that we need to make laws and social policies that will care for those people already born that no one else will defend.

Around the United States today, we employ a permanent underclass of human beings who build our roads, pick our fruit, clean our hotel rooms, and landscape our lawns. Most of these men and women, like millions of immigrants before them, abide by our laws and simply want a better life for their families. Many have children who are American citizens, or who have been in America so long that they don't know any other homeland. But they live in a legal limbo. They're important to our economy, but they have inadequate legal protections, and in recent years many families have been separated by arrests and deportations.

We need to remember that how we treat the weak, the infirm, the elderly, the unborn child and the foreigner reflects on our own humanity. We become what we do, for good or for evil. The Catholic Church respects the law, including immigration law. We respect those men and women who have the difficult job of enforcing it. We do not encourage or help anyone to break the law. We believe Americans have a right to solvent public institutions, secure borders and orderly regulation of immigration.

At the same time, we can't ignore people in need, and we shouldn't be silent about laws that don't work - or that, in their "working," create impossible contradictions and suffering. Despite all of the heated public argument over the past decade, Americans still find themselves stuck with an immigration system that adequately serves no one. We urgently need the kind of immigration reform that will address our economic and security needs, but will also regularize the status of the many decent undocumented immigrants who help our society to grow. Congress and the president, despite their serious differences, do have an opportunity in the coming months to act justly to solve this problem. Legislation could begin moving in congress as early as this spring.

The bishops of the United States have suggested at least five key elements needed for any serious reform: (1) a path to citizenship for the undocumented; (2) the preservation and enhancement of family unity, based on the union of a husband and wife and their children; (3) the creation of legal channels for unskilled laborers to enter and work legally in this country; (4) due process rights for immigrants; and (5) constructive attention to the root causes of migration, such as economic hardship, political repression or religious persecution in the sending countries.

As many as 11 million undocumented persons now live and work in our nation. We can't refuse to see them. Catholics of good will can legitimately disagree on the best way to bring about immigration justice. In an age of terrorism and organized drug violence, public safety is a pressing and understandable concern. There are also pitfalls and unhelpful agendas in some elements of the immigration debate that need careful discussion. But again, we can't simply continue to posture and delay in dealing with an issue that impacts so many lives.

We become what we do, for good or for evil. If we act and speak like bigots, that's what we become. If we act with justice, intelligence, common sense and mercy, then we become something quite different. We become the people and the nation God intended us to be. Our country's chronic immigration crisis is a test of our humanity. Whether we pass that test is entirely up to us. That's why the Catholic community needs to engage the issue of immigration reform as prudently and unselfishly as possible - not tomorrow or next week, but now. The future of our country depends on it.

The U.S. bishops' "Justice for Immigrants" campaign can be accessed at www.justiceforimmigrants.org

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving this Sunday for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

In a statement issued from Vatican City today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been officially confirmed as the host city for the Eighth World Meeting of Families to take place September 22-27, 2015. Selected as the host city by The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, in coordination with the Pontifical Council for the Family, this marks the first time the United States will welcome this event, which was last hosted by Milan, Italy in June 2012.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. offered remarks expressing gratitude and excitement as Philadelphia begins to plan for the World Meeting of Families. "The World Meeting of Families is a gift not just to Catholics in Philadelphia, but to every person of good will in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the surrounding region and our nation. I am very pleased that our Archdiocese has been selected to host this important event. A gathering like the World Meeting of Families demands a great deal of planning, but it is an opportunity filled with grace. This event has the power to transform, in deeply positive ways, not just the spirit of Catholic life in our area, but our entire community. Our Archdiocese looks forward to welcoming visitors from around the world with a generous heart."

Since its inception by Blessed John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe. Each World Meeting of Families has a theme, which aims to emphasize the good news of the family and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. The theme for the 2015 World Meeting of Families will be forthcoming following the election of a new Pontiff.

The Archdiocese also announced today that Governor Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania and Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia have graciously accepted Archbishop Chaput's invitation to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2015 World Meeting of Families.

Governor Corbett expressed his enthusiasm for the event saying, "I am deeply pleased to join with Mayor Nutter as Honorary Co-Chair of the World Meeting of Families. Philadelphia is the birthplace of religious freedom and our churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are places of both personal faith and civic freedom. But it is our families that grow up in these institutions that are the foundation of that freedom. This special event is not only an opportunity to welcome families from around the world but an opportunity to celebrate our distinctive religious heritage as a state and a nation."

Echoing the Governor's sentiments, Mayor Nutter said, "We are delighted and honored that Philadelphia has been selected to host the World Meeting of Families by The Holy Father. Family is the cornerstone of society and strengthening it serves all of our people in Philadelphia - Catholic and non-Catholic alike. I look forward to working with Archbishop Chaput, Governor Corbett and the citizens of Philadelphia to deliver a truly memorable event for the tens of thousands of families we will welcome to our city in September 2015."

The World Meeting of Families draws a global audience. In Milan for the Seventh World Meeting, 153 nations were represented, 350,000 attended the Feast of Testimonies and more than one million participated in the Mass celebrated by the Holy Father. Beginning in 1994, during The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015).

For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015, please visit www.archphila.org or www.WorldMeeting2015.org.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Good Morning.

We received some news a few weeks ago that we can share with you today. As announced by the Vatican early this morning, Philadelphia has been confirmed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, as the host city for the Eighth World Meeting of Families. The official dates set for this gathering are September 22 - September 27, 2015. This marks the first time an American city has hosted the World Meeting of Families and we're deeply grateful that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been selected for this honor.

Before I saying anything else, I want to thank the Holy Father for choosing Philadelphia and for setting these dates before he concludes his ministry as pastor of the universal Church. The Holy Father recognizes that gatherings of this magnitude demand a great deal of planning and work so he set the date before his leaving. They draw many thousands of people - in this case, many thousands of families with children of all ages. But these events also become moments of grace. They have the power to transform, in deeply positive ways, not just the spirit of Catholic life in our region, but the whole public community. We're excited to officially begin this journey.

The World Meeting of Families is meant to be a gift not just to Catholics in Philadelphia, but to every person of good will in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas. Everyone with a generous heart is welcome to be a part of it, and I'll be working closely with my brother bishops in the months ahead to encourage families across the United States and Canada and around the world to come to Philadelphia in September 2015.

I'll also be working closely with two public leaders who represent our City and our Commonwealth with distinction. It's my pleasure to announce that Governor Tom Corbett and Mayor Michael Nutter have kindly accepted my invitation to serve as the Honorary Co-Chairs of the 2015 World Meeting of Families. Philadelphia's Catholic community is very, very grateful for their support. I look forward to traveling with both the Governor and the Mayor to Rome in the next several months, after the election of the new Pope, for briefing sessions with the Pontifical Council for The Family. I'm also very pleased that Mayor Nutter could be with us today despite his very busy schedule.

I've been asked why the Holy Father picked Philadelphia. Some of you may have asked that question. The answer is simple. His Holiness didn't tell me, so I don't know. But it's helpful to remember that Philadelphia is uniquely rich in America's history. It's where the United States began as a nation, and the political ideals conceived in Philadelphia have served human rights, human freedom and human dignity for more than two centuries. Pope Benedict has spoken about all these issues, especially religious liberty, many times throughout his pontificate. And he's always seen the strength of the family as a guarantee of human maturity and freedom. The more we encourage and support the integrity of families, the healthier society becomes.

Philadelphia is also an American Catholic icon, with two great American saints - Mother Katharine Drexel and Bishop John Neumann -- a great Church legacy of Catholic education, and many decades of service to immigrants, minorities, the hungry and the poor. That service continues right now, today, in all our Catholic social ministries. We're very proud of the Catholic Church in Philadelphia.

The Church in Philadelphia is also a community in need of healing and renewal. We have a very serious duty to help persons who have been hurt in the past to heal, and to better protect children and young people moving forward.

Beyond this important duty, the Church still has the obligation to preach Jesus Christ. She still has the duty to help people find God and to live their faith with joy and conviction.

I think faithful Catholics in Philadelphia and everywhere else know that. And they long for a chance to show their love of God and his Church to the world, to deepen God's presence in their own families, and to share Jesus Christ with a world that urgently needs him. That's why - with the help of God, and if we're faithful to the tasks this great effort requires - the World Meeting of Families in 2015 will achieve everything it needs to accomplish, and everything God intends.

I'm happy to answer questions in a bit, but now I'd now like to introduce the Mayor of our wonderful City of Philadelphia and an Honorary Co-Chair of the 2015 World Meeting of Families, Michael Nutter.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate the Closing Mass at the 5th Annual Men's Spirituality Conference hosted by Men Up Philly. Catholic men from across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will come together for a day of prayer and fellowship at the Fifth Annual Men's Spirituality Conference.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Mass this Sunday for the election of a new Pope.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Today, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the creation of an Executive Board of Elementary Education. This entity is formed in response to recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission and was created to better assist local pastors, parishes, elementary and regional schools with strategic planning, marketing, enrollment and governance to help sustain, grow, and strengthen their schools. In addition to the Executive Board, Advisory Councils for elementary education will be created in each of the surrounding five counties.

Together the Executive Board of Elementary Education and the County Advisory Councils will work closely and leverage the support of the Faith in the Future Foundation, Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools (BLOCS) and the Independent Mission Schools.

Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, who oversees Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and will serve as the chair of the Executive Board, said, "The Executive Board of Elementary Education and the five County Advisory Councils will work very closely with the Office of Catholic Education and the principals of the elementary schools." Fitzgerald said. "The collective mission of the Executive Board and the Advisory Councils will be to understand and plan for the demographic shifts, enrollment trends, and financial pressures that all schools face today so that working more strategically across the counties we can provide accessible, affordable, high quality Catholic education for all of those who desire it."

The Executive Board has been working since October 2012 to confirm potential members and assist in the formation of the five County Advisory Councils. The County Advisory Council members will be appointed by the regional bishop in each of the five counties. Each council will be made up of principals, pastors, parents and representatives from the community.

The current members of the Executive Board of Elementary Education are: Monsignor Joseph Marino, Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Chester County; Monsignor Daniel Kutys, Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Sister Carroll Isselmann, I.H.M., Director of Strategic Initiatives at Immaculata University; Victoria Kim Flaville, Senior Vice President for Programs and Chief Operating Office for the Connelly Foundation; Paul Mullholland, Retired Treasurer at Sunoco, Inc.; Gerald J. Parsons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Communications Test Design, Inc. (CTDI); Brian Zwaan, Co-founder, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Lending Officer and Director of Penn Liberty Bank; Alfred Christopher Dezzi, Vice President, Treasurer and Director, The Dezzi Group, LTD; Monsignor Michael J. Matz, Pastor, St. Genevieve Parish, Montgomery County; and Jacqueline Coccia, Superintendent of Elementary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Exactly 18 months ago this week, the Philadelphia Catholic family became my family, and the city became my home. I said at the time that the challenges we face as a Church wouldn't be easy, and they haven't been. Many of our pastoral, legal and financial problems still remain. So do our very serious obligations to victims of past abuse. But it's also true that a great deal of good has been accomplished in a short time. We need to thank God for that, and we need to take pride in the fidelity of our clergy and our people under very trying circumstances.

Especially in these days of Lent, we also need to realize that no real reform happens comfortably. It always brings some measure of pain because honestly examining our behavior hurts. Reform means just what the word suggests. It means "re-forming" Catholic life by becoming something more than baptized pagans. It means pulling apart dead habits of sin, complacency, compromise, lazy worship and cynicism - at both the personal and institutional levels - and then rebuilding our discipleship with purity and zeal. It means changing who we are into the men and women God created us to be.

As a Church, we've been here before. History never really repeats itself, but habits of human thought and behavior repeat themselves all the time. So we can learn quite a lot from the past that has meaning for our needs today.

One of history's leading Catholic reformers was Charles Borromeo. Born of a wealthy family in a time of intense religious conflict and Church corruption, Borromeo turned away from privilege to a life of personal humility and zeal for restoring the integrity of Catholic life. He organized the final session of the great reforming Council of Trent. He compiled Trent's famous catechism. As a bishop, he carried on his person a small portrait of St. John Fisher, the English bishop and friend of St. Thomas More martyred by Henry VIII. As cardinal archbishop of Milan, he became a revered patron of higher learning and the arts. Above all, Borromeo saw that the key to renewing Catholic life was a well-educated, holy priesthood. That's where he put his passion, setting the groundwork for modern priestly formation.

It's no accident that Philadelphia's own great seminary bears the name of St. Charles Borromeo. And that brings us to the point of my column this week.

In naming Bishop Timothy Senior rector of our seminary last year, I gave him two main tasks: to continue and build on the good work of his predecessor, Father Shaun Mahoney; and to lead a thorough review of seminary operations and programs. If we want to renew Catholic life in our region - and we urgently need to - then we need a new generation of well formed, intelligent, zealous priests to lead us into the future as many of our good priests today retire. That's a big job. It will take time. But the work of Bishop Senior and his colleagues is already bearing fruit in three very practical ways.

First, the seminary's board of trustees recently approved the appointment of a Task Force to review and consider the future of the college division program. Its recommendations are due later this spring. Any changes to the college program will be announced in September 2013 and take effect in Academic Year 2014-15. Chaired by Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, president of Neumann University, the Task Force will not include current seminary staff. All members will, however, have the needed expertise in higher education, seminary formation or marketing communications.

Second, the board also approved development of a new Spirituality Year. "Spirituality Years" have had great success in spurring vocations for the Church in Paris, Denver and elsewhere by offering men an intense time of reflection on the Church, the priesthood and their personal relationship with Jesus Christ outside the formal seminary curriculum. The program's placement in our current formation process is still being discussed. But it will be required for all new Philadelphia seminarians and available to all other sending dioceses, beginning in Academic Year 2014-15.

Third and finally, the board also approved plans to anchor all seminary operations in the current theology buildings. No new construction will take place, but renovation of current buildings will span the next five years. St. Charles will retain about 30 acres of the upper campus. The current college building and remaining land will be leased or sold for development to ensure the seminary's long-term sustainability. Renovation efforts will reflect any changes implemented for the college division and also the creation of the new Spirituality Year program.

These are major changes - and they're not the last ones we need to make in the way we live as a believing community. We need to reform not just our structures and programs, but our hearts, our minds and our lives. But these changes do embody the kind of new thinking we need to restore the health and confidence of the Church in Philadelphia. They're a beginning. And the future will grow from these seeds.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Today, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. announced a plan focused on the future viability and sustainability of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. It will bring a renewed sense of energy to the Seminary, its program of priestly formation, its program of permanent diaconate formation and educational opportunities it offers for the general public through the Graduate School of Theology.

As part of the plan, the Seminary will consolidate facilities, seek to lease or sell underutilized buildings and property, and implement new spiritual and academic programming for seminarians and lay students. While the Seminary may look different in the future, the Archbishop has affirmed his commitment to the vital importance of maintaining a Seminary for the Archdiocese and keeping it at its current location in Lower Merion Township.

"Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is the heart of our Church in Philadelphia, and we remain dedicated to not only maintaining its presence in our community, but strengthening it for many generations to come. Our commitment to providing the best possible program of priestly formation for the benefit of our seminarians and the people they will one day serve is unwavering," said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. "The plan being announced today will ensure the future viability and sustainability of our Seminary now and in the future."

The plan calls for the Seminary, which currently occupies more than 75 acres of land and 19 buildings, to consolidate its entire operation. The College Division program, which is currently on the lower portion of the campus, will move into vacant space within the Theology Division buildings on the upper side of the campus over the next three to five years as necessary renovations are completed.

As a result of this consolidation, the Seminary will retain 30 acres of land as well as sufficient space for classrooms, dormitories and offices. It will be positioned for future growth to support up to 200 seminarians, all candidates discerning vocations to the permanent diaconate and hundreds of full and part-time students enrolled in the Graduate School of Theology, which offers graduate degrees and catechetical certificate programs for clergy and the laity.

A committee of the Seminary's Board of Trustees led a critical review of the buildings and land currently comprising the College Division, which have been underutilized for some time. There are no specific plans for the College Division buildings at this time. The Board of Trustees will work closely with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Lower Merion Township and the community to develop a comprehensive strategy to re-purpose that portion of the campus with the goal of sustaining and supporting the Seminary well into the future.

Before renovations to the Theology Division buildings commence, a task force has been appointed to review the programs offered within the College Division. Its members will provide recommendations by the end of June. The Seminary seeks to implement changes and enhancements to the programs in that area for the 2014-2015 academic year.

"Our Seminary has served as a leading institution in the formation of Catholic men for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and dioceses across the country for over 180 years," said Bishop Timothy Senior, Rector of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. "While the Seminary evolves and takes on a slightly different look in the coming years, our four pillars of human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral growth will remain strong. We will be better poised than ever to prepare men to become servant leaders who proclaim the Gospel."

As an additional part of the plan, the Seminary's Board of Trustees has also approved the development of a Spirituality Year Program to commence in academic year 2014-2015. This new program will be situated in the Theology Division building. It will allow seminarians to dedicate a full year to discernment of their priestly vocation and to be fully engaged during that time in the spiritual and human dimensions of the formation process.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the celebrant and homilist at the annual Cultural Heritage Mass. This Mass celebrates the rich history and diversity among the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

I first met our new Holy Father at Rome's 1997 Synod for America, and still have a gift from him, a portrait of Mary, the mother of Jesus, on my desk.

Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Bergoglio, is a man from the new heartland of the global Church; a priest of extraordinary intellectual and cultural strengths; a man deeply engaged in the issues of contemporary life and able to speak to the modern heart; open to the new realities the Church faces; and rooted in a deep love of Jesus Christ. He is a wonderful choice; a pastor God sends not just to the Church but to every person of good will who honestly yearns for justice, peace and human dignity in our time. May God grant him courage and joy, and sustain him with his divine presence.

And may Catholics in Philadelphia and around the world lift him up with our prayers.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) recently concluded a review of its existing policy limiting full contact sports to boys only.

That policy reflected the Catholic thought that gender differences are important and play a large role in the development of mature Christian male and female identity. It was also written in an effort to serve the distinct needs and abilities of male and female athletes and to ensure safety.

At the request of Archbishop Charles Chaput, an Archdiocesan panel of coaches, parents, pastors and experts in sports medicine and pediatrics evaluated the current CYO policy and offered their recommendation. By a wide majority, members voted to continue the policy as written. The Archbishop is grateful for their time and prudent counsel. To obtain input from the broadest possible spectrum, the Archdiocese also reviewed feedback from various other sources, both critical and supportive of the policy. Lastly, all possible factors were considered including the expectations of coaches, parents, and pastors, common current practice, legal circumstances and the CYO policies of dioceses around the country.

At the direction of the Archbishop, the Archdiocese will allow for co-ed participation in CYO football, effective in the 2013 season. This approval is provisional. The decision will be reviewed and revised in the coming several seasons, as judged appropriate by the Archdiocese. Alternate options had merit and may be revisited in the future to ensure that any CYO sports program fosters an enjoyable and safe atmosphere providing for proper human formation, sportsmanship and Christian maturity.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving this Sunday for our new Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Francis is the name of several extraordinary saints. Francis Xavier, cofounder of the Jesuits, is one of history's greatest missionaries. Francis Borgia, a member of one of the most famous (and infamous) families of the Renaissance, turned away from wealth and privilege, joined the Society of Jesus and rose to become its superior general. And Francis De Sales, the great mystical writer, ascetic and bishop, founded a religious order of women with St. Jane De Chantal. He also worked closely with the Capuchin Franciscans to preach a renewed Catholic faith in his diocese in the wake of the Reformation.

But the Francis most people remember when they hear the name, including many non-Christians and non-believers, is the Poverello, "the poor one" - St. Francis of Assisi. This is the saint whose name our new Holy Father, Pope Francis, has chosen. So it's good to know a little bit about him.

St. Francis once said that "the saints lived lives of heroic virtue, [but] we are satisfied to talk about them." Francis himself wasn't satisfied with pious words. He wanted to act on the things he believed. He called his brothers to live the Gospel with simplicity and honesty. And that's why he used the words sine glossa - "without gloss" -- in his Testament. He saw that the Gospel wasn't complicated, but it was demanding and difficult. The scholars and Church lawyers of his day in the 13th century had written commentaries called glosses. And these glosses were very good at either explaining away the hard parts of the Gospel, or diminishing our need to follow Christ's demands. Francis wanted none of that. He was a radical in the truest sense. He wanted to experience discipleship at its root.

Francis lived in a time as troubled as our own. It was an age of Christians killing Christians, Muslims and Christians killing each other, wars between cities and states, and corruption both within and outside the Church. Views of society and the Church were changing. The feudal system was falling apart. For much of his life, Francis was lost in the confusion. But in his experience of faith and prayer, he came to some basic insights that gave him a very powerful inner freedom. And this enabled him to live the Gospel with simplicity and clarity in such a way that he not only was converted himself, but also became the leader of a movement of conversion in the Church and society at large.

Today the Church seems to be in similar disarray. We have all sorts of factions fighting each other, among priests, among bishops, and certainly among our laypeople. We're humiliated and shaken by the criminal sexual behavior of some of our clergy. And this has led, even for some who are deeply loyal to the Church, to a lack of confidence in our bishops, in the Church and her future, and even sometimes to a lack of confidence in Jesus Christ. We wonder if the Gospel is really true or if the Church is just another fraud.

Francis felt many of the same sentiments, and he faced many of the same questions. And yet a very clear part of his spirituality was his love for the Church, his obedience to her pastors, his unwillingness to be critical of the Church. Instead of tearing her down because of the sins of her leaders, Francis chose to love the Church and serve her -- and because of that love and by his simple living of the Gospel without compromise, he became the means God used for the renewal of a whole age of faith.

When God spoke to Francis from the cross of San Damiano - "Repair my house, which is falling into ruin" -- Francis heard it literally. He thought he was supposed to repair the chapel of San Damiano near Assisi. But of course the real call was to repair the larger Church with an interior revolution, by the personal witness of a pure and basic living of the Gospel.

The Franciscan tradition tells us that often in his life, Francis would meet with his community, and this man who was one of history's greatest saints would say to them, "Brothers, up to now we have done nothing. Let us begin." And I think that even though we've accomplished many wonderful things in the Church in Philadelphia and throughout the United States, if we want to be what God calls us to be in the years that lie ahead, we need to be like St. Francis.

Francis wasn't the only Church reformer of his day. Plenty of other men and women saw the problems in the Church and tried to do something about it. Francis wasn't even the smartest or the most talented - but he was almost certainly the most faithful, the most honest, the most humble, the most single-minded in his mission, and the most zealous in his love for Jesus Christ. And I'd argue that these marks of authentic Church renewal haven't really changed at all in 800 years.

Throughout my life, I've often turned to the Prayer of St. Francis before the Crucifix. It goes like this:

Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, so that I may carry out your holy and true command.

It's always easier to talk about reform when the target of the reform is "out there," rather than in here. The Church does need reform. She always needs reform, which means she needs scholars and committed laypeople to help guide her, and pastors who know how to lead with humility, courage and love. But what she needs more than anything else is holiness - holy priests and holy people who love Jesus Christ and love His Church more than they love their own ideas.

Today, just like 800 years ago, the structures of the Church are so much easier to tinker with than a stubborn heart, or an empty hole where our faith should be. Reforming the Church, renewing the Church, begins with our own repentance, our own humility and willingness to serve -- and that's the really hard work, which is why sometimes so little of it seems to get done. But as our new Holy Father understands so well, it can be done. Francis showed us how. Now it's up to us to do something about it.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Today, administrators from Archbishop Ryan High School, located in Northeast Philadelphia, were joined by officials from the Office of Catholic Education and Holy Family University to sign an agreement that enters both schools into a collaborative educational partnership. The agreement consists of three components, including admissions and scholarship, a university and dual credit agreement, and continuing education. The partnership reinforces the commitment of both schools to offer advanced educational opportunities for the personal and intellectual growth of their students and faculty.

"We are incredibly excited to be partnering with Holy Family University," said Doctor Carol Cary, Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "This arrangement, which further supports and enhances the mission, core values and beliefs shared by both academic institutions, will allow our students and faculty to further their education at a highly competitive local university. Archbishop Ryan students will immediately benefit from this partnership through the in-classroom experiences held at the high school with Holy Family University students and teachers. We look forward to working with Holy Family University and enhancing the educational future for our students."

Students from Archbishop Ryan High School who graduate with a 2.5 GPA or higher are eligible for admission to Holy Family University with application fees waived. Archbishop Ryan Students are also able to take dual-credit classes at Holy Family University and earn university credits that satisfy their high school graduation requirements. Teachers, administrators, staff and employees of Archbishop Ryan High School are also able to enroll in Holy Family University undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as degree programs, with waived admission fees and the opportunities for grants.

"Holy Family University takes its commitment to support area Catholic high schools very seriously," stated University President Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD. "We've always had a very good relationship with Archbishop Ryan High School, and this partnership will serve to further expand educational opportunities to their students, faulty, and staff."

Mr. Arthur Goon, MS, Chief Enrollment Officer at Holy Family University said, "We are fortunate to have Archbishop Ryan High School as a partner in this endeavor. We hope this agreement will serve as a model for developing similar partnerships with other area Catholic high schools."

Archbishop Ryan High School was founded in 1966 and was made coeducational in 1988. It is committed to empowering students to become contributing members of our Church and society. In partnership with family and community, the faculty strives to teach as Jesus did by providing spiritual, social, and service opportunities for growth. Through a comprehensive academic curriculum, the faculty challenges students to become well-rounded, life-long learners.

Holy Family University is a premier Catholic university of the liberal arts and professions with a main campus in Northeast Philadelphia and locations in Bensalem and Newtown, Pennsylvania. It has been recognized for providing outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs and professional career development in a faith-inspired, values-centered community. Founded in 1954 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Holy Family University offers purpose-driven, engaged students the knowledge, values, and skills to help them find their place and purpose in today's workplace and world.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the celebrant and homilist at the annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities. The liturgy is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Department of Pastoral care for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate, which recognizes the needs and gifts of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and facilitates their participation in the life of the Church and its faith community.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

A friend once described the spiritual life in this way: Each of us is a child with an instinct for beauty, and God, who is the Beauty behind all beauty, is the hidden presence we naturally seek to touch. We spend our lives reaching for that beauty. But creation is so very great, and we're so very small, that we can accomplish very little -- until God stoops down to provide us with a stool to stand on, so that we can stretch out and touch his face.

The legs of that stool are faith, hope and love; and these three great "theological virtues" are what I pray God will fill each of us with in the days of Holy Week and throughout the Easter season.

Faith gives meaning. Human beings were made for a purpose; only faith provides it; and without it the soul will die. Faith is not simply doctrines, though these are essential. Faith is not sentiment, or knowledge, or law, though all these play a vital role in our life of faith. Faith is the certitude that God exists and loves us, because he has revealed himself in the one way which doesn't leave much room for disagreement: his palpable presence in our lives.

Of course the irony, as C.S. Lewis once wrote, is that the hardest thing to believe is something we've just preached or defended to another. Before ascending to his Father, Jesus told his disciples to preach and teach the good news. That command includes us. But giving the truth away to another person can leave an empty place in our own hearts. The only way to refill that space is to turn back to God and beg him again for his presence. This is one important reason why we pray.

Hope gives joy. Every Christian sooner than later discovers that his own skills are too poor, and his sins too stubborn, to be the kind of disciple the world needs -- unless the Easter miracle is true and the resurrected Jesus, once dead but now alive again, is real and present in our lives. Hope sinks its roots in faith and flowers in joy. At the end of the day, there are no unhappy saints. Easter is the great feast of hope, and in the centuries since the empty tomb, we're all living in the morning of the Resurrection every day. We're part of an endless triumph of life; a message which sets itself, in this world, against a culture of death. The task of every believer is therefore to be a witness to the Resurrection and an agent of hope.

Finally, love gives life. Christ's love on the Good Friday cross gave life to the world on Easter. All love is fruitful. Every person's life animated by love is fertile and creates new life according to his or her unique vocation; some in the flesh, some in the spirit, but new life nonetheless. The better we love, the more we become the hands of God, sculpting the new beauty of a redeemed creation. Love draws us into God himself. And from our hearts, love calls out two other virtues which spring from it: humility, which allows us to forget ourselves and cherish the dignity of others; and courage, which enables us to live and speak the truth not as a weapon, but as a gift. It isn't enough to speak the truth. We need, as Paul wrote, to speak the truth in love.

This year during Holy Week, let's remember that the spiritual life of every Christian should be fired by the words Jesus shared with his apostles on the night he was betrayed: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12). Christ's suffering and death on Good Friday bore fruit in our salvation. When we seek to love with Christ's intensity -- as the apostles did; as every disciple is called to do -- the light of Christ's resurrection will enter our families and begin to transform every life we touch.

Such love changed the world once. It can do so again. May God grant all of us a blessed Holy Week and Easter season -- and the faith and hope, the love, humility and courage, to live Easter every day of the year.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

"The vocation of being a 'protector,' however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone."

-- Pope Francis, inaugural Mass homily

In two short weeks, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, now bishop of Rome and pastor of the universal Church, has won millions of hearts with his humility. But much like Blessed John XXIII, a great deal of substance seems to burn behind his simplicity, his easy manner and his dramatic public gestures. In these early days of the Easter season, we'd do well to read and pray over his March 19 inaugural Mass homily.

Francis' homily, delivered on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, focuses movingly on Joseph's role as protector of Jesus, Mary and the Church. But the real power of his words comes from the cumulative effect of his sincerity and the unadorned clarity of his message. Nothing in his homily rings false. It's a simple, compelling expression of the Church's vocation to be a witness of Christ's love in the world, spoken by a man who convincingly embodies the message. A central task of the Church, for Francis, is to serve and protect the weak, and to lead others - including the world outside the Church -- to do the same by her example. In his words:

"The vocation of being a 'protector,' however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us. It means respecting each of God's creatures and respecting the environment in which we live. It means protecting people, showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about. It means caring for one another in our families . . . It means building sincere friendships in which we protect one another in trust, respect, and goodness. In the end, everything has been entrusted to our protection, and all of us are responsible for it."

Thus, one of the basic marks of a true shepherd must be to love and protect the people entrusted to him, Care for other people's dignity is the duty of every person in authority: every public official, every teacher and every parent. But bishops, pastors and all Christians have the added obligation to see the human person through the lens of eternity, with God's eyes and God's love. Each human person is precious and unrepeatable; intended by God from before time; made for eternal joy; and fashioned in the image and likeness of the Creator.

In many ways over many years, the Church in Philadelphia has protected the weak and served human dignity with exceptional skill - feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, comforting the sick and elderly, helping the immigrant. That service continues today, even in the face of our financial challenges, along with a great legacy of educating our young people in a system of outstanding schools. No similar organization comes close to matching the service provided to the general public by the Catholic community in our region.

Yet it's also true that our witness has been bitterly undermined by cases of sexual abuse of children in the past. These sins, these failures to protect innocent young people, have no excuse; they've resulted in terribly wounded lives -- survivors to whom we owe continuing help for their healing. I can and do apologize for this hurt on my own behalf and on behalf of the Church, with all my heart. But the obligation remains to prevent this kind of damage in the future.

No system is perfect. People determined to do evil sometimes find ways to circumvent the best safeguards. But over the past two years the Church in Philadelphia has done everything in her power to develop policies and procedures to protect the innocence of our young people, and to train our faithful in recognizing and reporting the signs of sexual abuse.

We've expanded and upgraded our Archdiocesan Review Board. We've rewritten our standards of ministerial behavior and sexual misconduct policies with the counsel of district attorneys. We've trained more than 30,000 adults in recognizing and reporting sexual abuse. In FY 2012 alone, we provided age-appropriate personal safety instructions, including internet safety guidance, to more than 100,000 children. Additionally, we trained 7,000 adults regarding their role as Mandated Reporters under Pennsylvania law. None of this redeems the past. But it does help ensure a better and safer future.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month. It's a painful but also a graced moment. We need to pause and remember the survivors of abuse in our actions and in our prayers - no matter where, or at the hands of whom and what institution, the abuse occurred. As the words of Pope Francis remind us, it's vital to the vocation of the Church to protect the people in her care and to lead others to do the same by her witness. In the coming years, we need to keep that fact close to our hearts, and live accordingly.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Parishioners from Saint John Vianney Church in Gladwyne, Montgomery County, will present a $3,000 a year scholarship to a current eighth grade student from Saint Martin de Porres School to attend any Archdiocesan High School for all four years. This presentation is part of the Saint John Vianney Scholars Program.

Contact
Meredith Wilson
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has found Monsignor Richard T. Powers, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, not suitable for ministry following a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor that occurred approximately 40 years ago outside the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Today's announcement regarding Monsignor Powers is not directly connected to the cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report.

Background Information
In March of 2012 an internal document was discovered in response to a subpoena following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report and turned over to the courts as soon as it was found. That document included a list of priests, among whom were those who had allegations of sexual abuse against them. All of those priests were either deceased, laicized, or living a life of prayer and penance with the exception of Monsignor Powers.

Subsequent to turning the list over to the courts last year, the Archdiocese placed Monsignor Powers on leave, and began its customary investigation. During that time Monsignor Powers was not permitted to exercise his public ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, wear clerical garb, or present himself publicly as a priest.

An announcement concerning this situation was made last year at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish in Philadelphia, where Monsignor Powers had been residing. The Archdiocese was not permitted to make a broader public announcement due to the court imposed gag order in the trial taking place at the time. An announcement regarding the final decision in Monsignor Powers' case was made at the parish this weekend. Crisis counselors were made available.

Following Archbishop Chaput's determination of unsuitability for ministry, Monsignor Powers will have no public ministry in the Archdiocese. He does have the right to appeal the decision to the Holy See. If he does not appeal, or if his appeal is unsuccessful, he could be laicized (removed from the clerical state) or live a life of prayer and penance.

Biographical Information
Monsignor Powers is 77 years old. He was ordained in 1963. He served at the following parishes and schools: Our Lady of Mercy, Philadelphia (1963-1964); Saint Patrick, Norristown (1964-1967); Catholic Foreign Mission Service in Venezuela (1967-1976); Saint Veronica, Philadelphia (1976-1980); Saint Michael, Chester (1980-1982); Saint Veronica, Philadelphia, (1982-1991); Incarnation of Our Lord, Philadelphia (1991-1996); Saint Michael the Archangel, Levittown (1996-2006); Epiphany of Our Lord, Philadelphia (2006-2010). Monsignor Powers retired in 2010 and maintained residence at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Philadelphia. He was placed on administrative leave in March of 2011. His administrative leave was not directly connected to the cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report.

To Make a Report
If you would like to report a violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries, contact the Archdiocesan Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.

If you would like to report an allegation of sexual abuse, contact your local law enforcement agency and/or the Office for Investigations at 1-800-930-9010.

We recognize that this public notice may be painful to victims of sexual violence. If you need support or assistance, victim services are available to you through the Victim Assistance Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 1-888-800-8780 or [email protected].

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., has made final decisions in two more cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report. Priests on administrative leave are not permitted to exercise their public ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, wear clerical garb, or present themselves publicly as priests.

Archbishop Chaput has decided that Father Joseph J. Gallagher and Father Mark S. Gaspar are unsuitable for ministry due to substantiated violations of The Standards of Ministerial Behaviors and Boundaries. They will have no public ministry in the Archdiocese. They do have the right to appeal the decision to the Holy See.
Announcements were made at the parishes where both priests last served when they were placed on administrative leave in March of 2011. Follow up announcements were made at those parishes this weekend regarding the final decisions in their cases. Crisis counselors were made available.

Father Gallagher's and Father Gaspar's cases followed the same procedure as all other cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report. Prior to an investigation conducted by the Multi-Disciplinary Team, the case was submitted to the appropriate local district attorney's office. After being released by the district attorney, an investigation was conducted by the MDT. The results of the investigations were provided to the Archdiocesan Review Board (ARB), now known as the Professional Responsibility Review Board (PRRB) , which provided a recommendation to the Archbishop, who made the final decision. This rigorous investigative process involved more than 20 experts in child abuse.

Archbishop Chaput said, "As I've done in the past, I relied closely on the Professional Responsibility Review Board and the Multi-Disciplinary Team during this process. The counsel provided by these experts, who have devoted their careers to combatting sexual abuse, is key to this work. I'm grateful for their efforts. After reviewing all the facts, as well as recommendations from competent external authorities, I made the decisions I feel are right and just."

On May 4, 2012; July 6, 2012 and October 15, 2012 Archbishop Chaput announced resolutions in 15 of the cases of priests on administrative leave. Of the 15, eight priests were found suitable for ministry and seven priests were found unsuitable for ministry. In one additional case, the priest died before a full investigation could be conducted so it was not possible to reach a conclusion. All of those cases followed the same process of review and subsequent release by the district attorney, investigation by the MDT, review by the Archdiocesan Review Board and a final decision by the Archbishop. More information regarding those announcements is available at http://archphila.org/HHHIC/hhhic.htm.

With the decision announced today, the Archdiocese will continue the initiative entitled Honesty, Healing and Hope in Christ: Confronting Sexual Violence in Our Archdiocese, which was introduced in May 2012. Once a case is resolved the initiative begins at the parish level and consists of four phases over six months. Its purpose is to address the wide variety of reactions, thoughts and feelings that will be experienced as a result of this announcement and in the days and weeks moving forward. It identifies three primary stakeholders: the victims of the allegation or violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behaviors and Boundaries, the parishioners, who include school and Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) families, and the priests on administrative leave. Through the implementation of this initiative, the Archdiocese continues a journey of honesty, healing and hope toward the restoration of trust.

The remaining 7 administrative leave cases are not being announced today for a variety of reasons. The Archdiocese referred all of its cases to the local district attorney. Four cases have not yet been released by law enforcement so the internal Archdiocesan investigation cannot begin yet. Three cases were released by law enforcement over the past several months. Those cases are either currently under investigation, awaiting examination by the Professional Responsibility Review Board or a final decision by Archbishop Chaput. In one additional case a priest on administrative leave was arrested.

Due to the ongoing process there is no indication as to when the resolutions of the remaining cases will be made, however the Archdiocese intends to announce them as soon as possible.

As part of its efforts to bring this process to a conclusion, the MDT located, gathered and reviewed more than 400,000 pages of relevant documents, identified, located and interviewed 244 witnesses, across the United States and in several foreign countries, and conducted countless site visits to parishes and schools where incidents were alleged to have occurred. Many cases involved a search for additional evidence including yearbooks, parish records, photographs and public documents. Some cases dated as far back in time as 40 years, which posed significant investigative challenges.

To Make a Report
If you would like to report a violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries, contact the Archdiocesan Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.

If you would like to report an allegation of sexual abuse, contact your local law enforcement agency and/or the Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.

We recognize that this public notice may be painful to victims of sexual violence. If you need support or assistance, victim services are available to you through the Victim Assistance Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 1-888-800-8780 or [email protected].

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Bishop John J. McIntyre will be the celebrant at the First Annual Mass for Hope and Healing at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Father Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Vicar for Cultural Ministries, will be the homilist during this Mass being celebrated for those who have lost children through abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, illness or violence.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Social Media Coordinator/Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Violence and grief in the Boston area have rightly dominated our news media for the past week. The latest terrorist bloodshed is not at all senseless. It's the work of calculated malice. Innocent people, including children, have paid the price for other people's hatred. Our most important task right now is to pray for the victims and their families. God exists, and God can heal even the worst suffering, despite every human attempt to ignore him and every terrible sin that seems to "disprove" his presence. And yet it's fair to ask: How can a good God allow this kind of evil to happen?

The answer is both simple and hard. There's nothing soft-focus or saccharine about real Christianity. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for the brave; not the complacent, and not cowards. The world and its beauty give glory to God; but we live in it with divided hearts, and so the world is also a field of conflict. God's son died on a cross and rose from the dead to deliver us from our sins. He didn't take away our freedom to choose evil. Until this world ends, some people will do vile and inhuman things to others.

The irony of human dignity is that it requires our freedom. It depends on our free will. We own our actions. And free persons can freely choose to do wicked things. Spend an hour browsing through Scripture: It's the story of a struggle between good and evil that cuts bloodily through every generation in history. And the story is made bearable, and given meaning, only by the fidelity of God - the constancy of his justice, his mercy, his solace, his love.

Within hours of the Boston bombings, public officials were telling the nation that terrorists would not be allowed to destroy "our way of life." It's the duty of leaders - an important duty - to reassure and strengthen their people in times of tragedy. Our country has a vast reservoir of goodness built up by generations of good people. America's best ideals are well worth fighting for. But we also need to remember that our way of life is as mortal as every other great power; and sooner or later, America will be a footnote in history. Only God is forever.

In the coming weeks, in the wake of the Boston tragedy, we'd do well to ponder what "our way of life" is beginning to mean. No one deserved to die in Boston. Terrorism isn't washed clean by claims of psychological instability or U.S. policy sins abroad. And no one should be eager to see in the carnage of innocent spectators God's judgment on a morally confused culture here at home.

And yet, something is wrong with our way of life, and millions of people can feel it; something selfish, cynical, empty and mean. Something that acts like a magnet to the worst impulses of the human heart. We're no longer the nation of our founders, or even of our parents. Some of their greatness has been lost.

The character of our way of life depends on the character of my way life, multiplied by the tens of millions. We shouldn't waste time being shocked or baffled by the evil in the world. It has familiar roots. It begins in the little crevices of each human heart - especially our own.

In the days ahead we need to pray for the dead and wounded in Boston, and their families. And then, with the help of God, we need to begin to change ourselves. That kind of conversion might seem like a small thing, an easy thing - until we try it. Then we understand why history turns on the witness of individual lives.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary recently hosted a sold out concert performance by the Three Irish Tenors. The fundraising event was created to further support the ongoing mission of the Seminary in forming priests for the future. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. and Bishop Timothy Senior, Rector of the Seminary, were joined by more than 450 guests at the event, which raised approximately $250,000 for the Seminary.

These funds will enhance the many resources needed to sustain the program of priestly formation and assist the Seminary with general operating expenses, including educational technology advancements, funding for academic programs, seminarian health insurance and building maintenance.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Social Media Coordinator/Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Catholic School Students for Catholic Charities will host a collection celebration with
Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald. With help from the Archbishop Carroll Cheerleaders, Band, Step Team and the school Choir, more than 150 students from schools throughout the Archdiocese will celebrate their hard work raising funds to benefit the schools of special education in the Archdiocese.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Some stories, no matter how unsettling, just can't be ignored - even when some people are determined to look away.

The murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell will soon go to jury. And like every other criminally accused person under the law, Gosnell is innocent until proven guilty. Whatever the verdict though, there's no ambiguity about the kind of business he ran at his West Philadelphia "Women's Medical Center" - an abortion clinic that critics have likened to a meatpacking plant or a butcher shop, with unborn children delivered into a toilet, and jars of fetal body parts stored around the facility.

Dr. Gosnell was originally charged with one count of infanticide and five counts of "abuse of corpse" for killing fetuses born alive by plunging scissors into their necks. Without explanation, the judge in the case accepted a motion to acquit Gosnell of these charges earlier this week. Gosnell still faces four counts of first-degree and one count of third-degree murder. Eight of his coworkers have already pleaded guilty in the case, including three to third-degree murder.

Or so said The New York Times in a report dated April 23. The date is important. Gosnell's trial began March 18, more than a month ago. The Times coverage, while modest, is significant. Why? The answer is simple. The Inquirer - Philadelphia's hometown paper - has done a good job following the trial. But most prestige national media have seemed remarkably eager to ignore the story until shamed into covering it.

Gosnell is much more than a "local" story. The continuing debate over legalized abortion is a hot button national issue that drew half a million prolife demonstrators to Washington in January. The battle over abortion restrictions continues in every state. Forty years after the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade decision, resistance to permissive abortion remains high. And the vivid details of the Gosnell clinic tragedy have the kind of salacious appeal that few national media would normally avoid - if the issue were anything else. But abortion is too often, and in too many news rooms, exactly the kind of topic that brings on a sudden case of snow blindness.

The real story in the Gosnell trial is bigger than the ugly allegations against Gosnell himself; it includes the failure - the allergic disinterest - of some of our most important national media. A headline in The Atlantic magazine, April 12, states the obvious: "Why Dr. Kermit Gosnell's Trial Should Be a Front-Page Story: The dead babies. The exploited women. The racism. The numerous governmental failures. It is thoroughly newsworthy."

The Atlantic story by Conor Friedersdorf is worth reading:

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/04/why-dr-kermit-gosnells-trial-should-be-a-front-page-story/274944/

But don't stop there. Read this by Kirsten Powers, columnist for The Daily Beast, in USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/04/10/philadelphia-abortion-clinic-horror-column/2072577/

And see these excellent analyses by journalists Terry Mattingly, Mollie Hemingway and George Conger:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/getreligion/?s=gosnell

The irony is that much of the media's lethargy in covering the Gosnell case really doesn't surprise. It's part of the fabric of a culture that simply will not see what it doesn't want to see about the realities of abortion. And it leads to the kind of implausible claim made recently by one local commentator that "no sense of guilt is warranted" by the media because "there is no causal connection between coverage of [the Gosnell] case and bias." It's hard to imagine a more untenable alibi.

The brutality in abortion is intimate, personal and permanent. It violates women, and it kills a developing human life every time - whether the venue is a "Women's Medical Center" style meat factory or a soothing suburban clinic. What makes the Gosnell story unique is that it should distress anyone with its details, pro-choice or prolife, regardless of religion or politics.

But of course, people need to know about an evil before they can do anything about it.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Wedding Anniversary Mass for couples who have been married for 1, 25, 50 years or more. The Wedding Anniversary Mass recalls the significance of the Sacrament of Marriage and a tribute to the family, which is the cornerstone of society.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Over 500 music students from schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will perform during this year's Monsignor Louis A. D'Addezio Concert of Excellence in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the sudden death of Bishop Joseph McFadden of the Diocese of Harrisburg. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be with him over the last few days at the Annual Spring Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bishops and spend time in conversation with him.

Bishop McFadden was a native Philadelphian and this diocese was always close to his heart. He served the Church in Philadelphia as a faithful priest and auxiliary bishop. His love for the priesthood was evident in everything that he did. He worked diligently to promote vocations to the priesthood and advance the mission of Catholic education. Although he served as the Bishop of Harrisburg for only a short time, he effectively embraced the call of our former Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to use new forms of media to proclaim the message of the Gospel. His service in our state capital was instrumental in fostering the teachings of the Church in the public square.

As all of us here Philadelphia mourn his loss. I extend the prayerful sympathy and condolences of the entire Church of Philadelphia to his family and many friends as well as the priests, religious and all the lay faithful of the diocese of Harrisburg. May God grant him the gift of eternal life, and give peace and consolation to all those who loved, admired, and respected him. In this Easter Season may we all find hope in the Resurrection of the Lord.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Prominent Catholic speaker and writer, Professor Helen Alvare of the George Mason University School of Law, will be the presenter at the 2nd installment of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Year of Faith Lecture Series. Women's Freedom and Religious Freedom: Collaboration or Clash? is the topic of Professor Alvare's presentation.

This series features noted speakers discussing some of the most compelling topics related to the engagement of Catholic faith and identity in the modern world.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Six Archdiocesan high school students were among those recognized by Mayor Michael A. Nutter at a press conference during the 75th Annual Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta. The students took grand prize, first prize and honorable mentions in the 11th Annual Poster Art Contest held in conjunction with the Regatta.

Students' artwork depicted familiar and iconic scenes of rowers on the Schuylkill River during the annual Spring rowing competition. Kathy Nguyen of Archbishop Ryan High School was the Grand Prize Winner of the Poster Art Contest. In addition, five other students from Archbishop Ryan and Archbishop Wood High Schools were also selected as first prize and honorable mention winners.

The press conference in recognition of the opening of this year's Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta and introducing the winners of the poster contest was held in the Corporate Competition Tent in Fairmont Park during the Dad Vail Regatta festivities on Friday, May 10, 2013.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The trial of Kermit Gosnell is over. His convictions will surprise very few. But nothing can bring back the innocent children he killed, or make up for the vulnerable women he exploited. We should keep the repugnance of his clinic conditions sharp in our memories, and we should remember the media's inadequacy in covering his case, because Kermit Gosnell is not an exception. Others just like him run abortion mills throughout our country.

We need to stop cloaking the ugliness of abortion with misnomers like "proper medical coverage" or "choice." It's violence of the most intimate sort, and it needs to end.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will ordain three men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. All have completed their program of priestly formation and course of studies at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Montgomery County. The Rite of Ordination will take place during Mass following the Gospel..

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Rev. Mr. Sean Loomis, son of Mr. Frank and Mrs. Janice Dea Loomis, will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. on

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Rev. Mr. John Patrick Stokely, son of Deacon Patrick and Mrs. Joan Stokely, will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. on

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Rev. Mr. Thomas Viviano, son of Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Alicemary Viviano, will be ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. on

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will once again launch a Summer Meal Program so that children in the five-county area do not go hungry. This effort fills a gap during the summer months when meals are not provided in a school setting. As a sponsor of the Seamless Summer Option Food Service Program for Children, NDS partners with hundreds of dedicated community organizations and leaders to provide a service that contributes to the health and well-being of thousands of area children.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Saint Joseph's University Academy of Food Marketing has established a scholarship in memory of Patrick Temple-West, Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's founding director. Patrick Temple-West died at the age of 67 in August 2009.

The first scholarship will be presented to a student at a reception on

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Anything without heart, anything without love -- and I mean politics, music, law, art, even religion -- anything without love, no matter how brilliant, is finally inadequate and weak. At the end of the day, the human soul yearns to be loved, and to love in return. And it won't settle for anything less.

God loves us so deeply that he sent his only son to live, suffer, die and rise again for our salvation. That's the message of Easter. The message of Pentecost - the "birthday of the Church" that we celebrate this Sunday - builds on Easter. In sending his Holy Spirit to the Apostles in the upper room, God invites each of us to join him in a passion for evangelizing the world. We are Christ's witnesses. Our mission is to respond to the fire of God's love. But desire alone won't remake the world. So how do we accomplish the work God sets before us?

First, we need to wake up, shake off the cocoon of the world's narcotic noise, and recover our clarity about right and wrong. We do this by praying, and we need to pray every day. Praying, no matter how unfocused we might be at first, clears the head and the heart. It also clears the ears, so we can hear God's quiet voice. Setting aside some silent time with God each day plants the first seed of sanity. It sends down deep roots, and the soul grows a little stronger every day. If we listen well enough and long enough, God will tell us what he wants uniquely from each of us.

Second, we need to seek out confession regularly and stay close to the Eucharist. We can't lose hope when we know we're forgiven. We can't starve to death when we're being fed with the Bread of Life. And the stronger we get in the Lord, the more we have to give to others. The sacraments are literally rivers of grace. They bring us new life. They have real power.

Third, we need to share Jesus Christ consciously with someone every day. We need to make a deliberate point of it. And we don't have to hit people over the head with the Bible to do it. Life naturally presents us with opportunities to talk about our faith with friends or colleagues. Nothing is more attractive than a sincere, personal witness to the truth. And remember that what we give away in faith, we get back a hundredfold.

Fourth, we need to show a little courage. In the same Scripture passage where Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, he also tells us that he'll be with us always, even to the end of the age. If that's so -- and of course, it is so - then what can we really worry about? What better friend can we have in the struggle for soul of the world, than the God who created it and us?

Fifth and finally, we need to be faithful to those who love us, and to those whom God calls us to love. So often we overlook the simple fabric of daily life and the persons who inhabit it. But that's where real love begins. That's where all discipleship starts. It's why Augustine wrote that "to be faithful in little things is a big thing."

God made each of us to make a difference. Whether we seem to succeed or fail is not the point. We may never see how God uses us to achieve his will. But it's enough that we try -- and then profound things can happen.

Readers my age may remember that Dag Hammarskjold was secretary general of the United Nations many years ago, during the Congo crisis in the early 1960s. He was also a Christian serious about his faith. Hammarskjold died when his plane crashed on a peace mission in Africa in September 1961. After his death, his diary was found and published under the title, Markings. This is a prayer he wrote in his diary shortly before his death:

[Oh God,]
Have mercy
Upon us.
Have mercy
Upon our efforts,
That we
Before Thee
In love and in faith
Righteousness and humility,
May follow Thee,
With self-denial, steadfastness and courage,
And meet Thee
In the silence.

Give us
A pure heart
That we may see Thee,
A humble heart
That we may hear Thee,
A heart of love
That we may serve Thee,
A heart of faith
That we may live Thee,

Thou
Whom I do not know
But Whose I am.
Thou
Whom I do not comprehend
But Who hast dedicated me
To my fate.
Thou --

We live in an era wounded by sadness and cynicism, but also ennobled by men and women of grace; people not so very different from you and me. This year, on this Pentecost, we get to choose which path to follow, because while God's Holy Spirit calls each of us by name to his service, we have the freedom to say yes or no.

If we really want to preach the Gospel, renew the Church and give glory to God in the years ahead, the only means that will work is to speak the truth in love through the witness of our lives. And it's always been so.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace -- now and always.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Today, administrators from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, located in Philadelphia, were joined by officials from the Office of Catholic Education and Holy Family University to sign an agreement that enters both schools into a collaborative educational partnership. The agreement consists of three components, including admissions and scholarship, a university and dual credit agreement, and continuing education. The partnership reinforces the commitment of both schools to offer advanced educational opportunities for the personal and intellectual growth of their students and faculty.

"We are very happy to be able to announce a partnership between Holy Family University and Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls," said Doctor Carol Cary, Superintendent of Secondary Schools for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. "As with the previously announced partnership with Archbishop Ryan High School, this arrangement with Holy Family University will offer new opportunities and avenues for the young women of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls to pursue. The faculty of Little Flower will also be able to reap the benefits of the partnership with a highly competitive local university. We are thrilled to expand our connection with Holy Family University and continue to look for opportunities to enhance the educational landscape for our students."

Students from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls who graduate with a 2.5 GPA or higher are eligible for admission to Holy Family University with application fees waived. Little Flower students are also able to take dual-credit classes at Holy Family and earn both university credits and high school credit. Teachers, administrators, staff and employees of Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls are also able to enroll in Holy Family University undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as degree programs, with waived admission fees and opportunities for grants.

"Holy Family University continues to be committed to supporting and nurturing our local Catholic High Schools," stated University President Sister Francesca Onley, CSFN, PhD. "Through our latest partnership with Little Flower High School we look forward to offering students, faculty and staff new opportunities for educational growth through our promotion of values-based education."

Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls was founded in 1939. Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus and guided by St. Therese's spirituality of simple, loving service, Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls is committed to its mission of educating young women in a welcoming and diverse community by empowering them to recognize their God given potential, to deepen their faith, and to grow in awareness of their moral responsibilities to the global community through a comprehensive program which promotes academic excellence, integrity and generous service.

Holy Family University is a premier Catholic university of the liberal arts and professions with a main campus in Northeast Philadelphia and locations in Bensalem and Newtown, Pennsylvania. It has been recognized for providing outstanding undergraduate and graduate academic programs and professional career development in a faith-inspired, values-centered community. Founded in 1954 by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Holy Family University offers purpose-driven, engaged students the knowledge, values, and skills to help them find their place and purpose in today's workplace and world.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the principal celebrant for the Mass being offered for the soul of Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, Bishop of Harrisburg and former Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia. The homilist will be Reverend Monsignor Daniel J. Kutys, Moderator of the Curia.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., will preach during a Liturgy of the Word before the Academic Honors Convocation at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to honor Archdiocesan and private Catholic high school seniors for their academic excellence.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. is encouraging the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to observe Friday, May 24, 2013 as a day of prayer and penance, in response to the trial and conviction of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.

Archbishop Chaput is asking that the faithful participate in this day, with others or alone, by: attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion, meditating on the Word of God, spending time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, reciting the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, making the Way of the Cross, or fasting and abstaining from eating meat.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, in conjunction with the Faith in the Future Foundation, will announce a partnership with Three W International to bring nearly 180 international students into three Archdiocesan High Schools over the next several years at a press conference taking place at Conwell Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills, Bucks County. The announcement will include Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Philadelphia that oversees Catholic education, and representatives of the Faith in the Future Foundation, as well as the administrations from the three high schools that will be participating-Conwell Egan Catholic in Fairless Hills, Archbishop Ryan in Northeast Philadelphia, and Neumann Goretti in South Philadelphia.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Faith in the Future, an independent foundation that oversees the Office of Catholic Education, today announced the appointment of Christopher Mominey as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Mr. Mominey is a highly-respected Catholic school administrator and passionate advocate of the Church, whose appointment marks an important milestone for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese and the implementation of the Foundation's strategic vision to strengthen and grow Catholic schools across the region.

For the past 17 years, Mr. Mominey has served the Diocese of Syracuse in several roles. He began his career as Director of Campus Ministry at Christian Brothers Academy before becoming principal at Rome Catholic School. He then went on to be the Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and finally Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Syracuse. Mr. Mominey was responsible for leading a team of education professionals in the central office and across seven counties of upstate New York with oversight of technology integration, curriculum implementation, professional development, school finances, and personnel.

"It is a privilege to be appointed to serve the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in this new role as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education," said Mominey. "Growth, leadership, and innovation are the key requirements of this assignment. Although the challenges here are real my career has prepared me well to make even stronger the great schools of this Archdiocese. Our guiding academic, strategic and operational principle in the years to come will always be simple: Do what is best for our students."

Mr. Mominey, the author of two books, is a member of the National Catholic Education Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Chief Administrators of Catholic Education. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in theology from Saint Bonaventure University and a Master's Degree in religious studies from John Carroll University as well as school district and school administrator certifications.

Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, who is responsible for Catholic Education across the entire Archdiocese, says, "Mr. Mominey has demonstrated his commitment to instructional innovation, academic excellence and Catholic values that are central to our schools-and the strongest possible future for Catholic education. We believe we have selected a candidate who best exemplifies the skill-set needed to lead the students of the Archdiocese in the 21st century."

Mr. Mominey's full-time appointment is effective July 1, and he will be relocating to Philadelphia from upstate New York. He and his wife, Stephanie, have two sons, Victor (9) and Michael (7) and two daughters, Hannah (11) and Sarah (7). During the month of June he and senior leadership from Faith in the Future will begin intensive meetings with the Office of Catholic Education as well as school administrators, teachers, pastors, and other key stakeholders.

"I believe with all of my heart that Catholic schools, parish catechetical programs, youth ministry, and Newman ministries, remain the most effective means of passing on the teachings and traditions of the Church," said Mominey. "For Catholics and non-Catholics alike our Catholic schools in particular provide the very richest setting for children to get a quality education. With this belief as my foundation, I am confident that all together, with a strong Office for Catholic Education, we will lead the Archdiocese of Philadelphia into a new and exciting era in the years to come."

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has approved the recommendation of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee to merge parishes in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia.

This merger is the result of ongoing restructuring that will ultimately strengthen parish communities throughout the Archdiocese positioning them for future growth and sustainability. It is hoped that the result will be revitalized parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are better equipped to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of future generations.

The recommendations and resulting merger are an outcome of the Archdiocesan-wide Parish Pastoral Planning Area initiative, which began in 2011. Parishioners at all affected parishes learned of the final decision through letters mailed to all registered parishioners as well as announcements made at all Masses this weekend.

The merger announced today was based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability, a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes, and a review of facilities.

In each instance, parishioners will attend daily and Sunday Mass at the church of the newly formed parish. The church of the former parish will remain open and be maintained as a worship site. At the discretion of the pastor, this will be utilized for weddings, funerals and feast days, as well as traditional and ethnic devotions for the time being. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at a worship site at the discretion of the pastor and the newly formed pastoral council.

All parish property, assets and debts of the former parish will be assumed by the newly created parish, which will also be responsible for the care of all sacramental records. The pastors from the merging parishes will form a transitional team made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with building the new parish community. The Archdiocese will provide ongoing guidance and support during the transition process.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, made up of lay persons, priests and Archdiocesan personnel, is examining all parishes within the Archdiocese to gauge their viability and assess whether they possess the resources to accomplish their role in the mission of the Church and remain sustainable and vibrant faith communities. Parishes within each pastoral planning area will continue to carefully and thoughtfully examine their viability in order to make future recommendations. Additional parish announcements are expected later this month and in the spring of 2014.

Parish Area Pastoral Planning is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations to the Archbishop for growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas. Additionally, in the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee shared all final proposals with the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their review before final approval by the Archbishop.

Editor’s Note: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is comprised of 44 Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs). It is expected that the remainder of the first 22 PPAs will complete the work of planning and implementation over the next 15 months. An additional two years will be required for the remainder of the PPAs. For more information on the Parish Area Pastoral Planning, please visit http://archphila.org/conversion/conversion_index.php.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

"IRS officials have, of course, confessed that they inappropriately targeted conservative groups -- especially those with 'tea party' or 'patriot' in their names -- for extra scrutiny when they sought non-profit status. Allegations of abuse or harassment have since broadened to include groups conducting grassroots projects to 'make America a better place to live,' to promote classes about the U.S. Constitution or to raise support for Israel.

"However, it now appears the IRS also challenged some individuals and religious groups that, while defending key elements of their faith traditions, have criticized projects dear to the current White House, such as health-care reform, abortion rights and same-sex marriage."
Terry Mattingly, director, Washington Journalism Center; weekly column, May 22

Let's begin this week with a simple statement of fact. America's Catholic bishops started pressing for adequate health-care coverage for all of our nation's people decades before the current administration took office. In the Christian tradition, basic medical care is a matter of social justice and human dignity. Even now, even with the financial and structural flaws that critics believe undermine the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the bishops continue to share the goal of real health-care reform and affordable medical care for all Americans.

But health care has now morphed into a religious liberty issue provoked entirely - and needlessly -- by the current White House. Despite a few small concessions under pressure, the administration refuses to withdraw or reasonably modify a Health and Human Services (HHS) contraceptive mandate that violates the moral and religious convictions of many individuals, private employers and religiously affiliated and inspired organizations.

Coupled with the White House's refusal to uphold the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, and its astonishing disregard for the unique nature of religious freedom displayed by its arguments in a 9-0 defeat in the 2012 Hosanna-Tabor Supreme Court decision, the HHS mandate can only be understood as a form of coercion. Access to inexpensive contraception is a problem nowhere in the United States. The mandate is thus an ideological statement; the imposition of a preferential option for infertility. And if millions of Americans disagree with it on principle - too bad.

The fraud at the heart of our nation's "reproductive rights" vocabulary runs very deep and very high. In his April 26 remarks to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the president never once used the word "abortion," despite the ongoing Kermit Gosnell trial in Philadelphia and despite Planned Parenthood's massive role in the abortion industry.

Likewise, as Anthony Esolen recently noted so well, NARAL Pro-Choice America's public statement on the conviction of abortionist Gosnell was a masterpiece of corrupt and misleading language. Gosnell was found guilty of murdering three infants, but no such mention was made anywhere in the NARAL Pro-Choice America statement.

None of this is finally surprising. Christians concerned for the rights of unborn children, as well as for their mothers, have dealt with bias in the media and dishonesty from the nation's abortion syndicate for 40 years. But there's a special lesson in our current situation. Anyone who thinks that our country's neuralgic sexuality issues can somehow be worked out respectfully in the public square in the years ahead, without a parallel and vigorous defense of religious freedom, had better think again.

As Mollie Hemingway, Stephen Krason and Wayne Laugesen have all pointed out, the current IRS scandal - involving IRS targeting of "conservative" organizations - also has a religious dimension. Selective IRS pressure on religious individuals and organizations has drawn very little media attention. Nor should we expect any, any time soon, for reasons Hemingway outlines for the Intercollegiate Review. But the latest IRS ugliness is a hint of the treatment disfavored religious groups may face in the future, if we sleep through the national discussion of religious liberty now.

The day when Americans could take the Founders' understanding of religious freedom as a given is over. We need to wake up.

American Catholics are called to observe a second annual "Fortnight for Freedom" this June 21-July 4. For more information, see the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has placed Reverend James J. Collins on administrative leave following an allegation that he sexually abused a minor over forty years ago. No other allegation of this nature has been received against him. While on administrative leave he is not permitted to exercise his public ministry pending the outcome of the investigation. His leave is not connected to the cases of priests placed on administrative leave following the February 2011 Grand Jury Report.

Consistent with the Archdiocesan Policy for the Protection of Children and Young People promulgated in October of 2012, the allegation was received and immediately reported to law enforcement. The information was also reviewed by the Office of Investigations, the Office for Child and Youth Protection and the Office of the Vicar for Clergy. Those offices provided a joint recommendation to the Archbishop, who decided to place Father Collins on administrative leave pending any possible action by law enforcement and a full internal investigation. In keeping with standing Archdiocesan policy, that internal investigation will not proceed until after the allegation is reviewed by the district attorney's office.

An announcement regarding Father Collins was made this weekend at Saint Martha Parish in Philadelphia, where he had been residing, and crisis counselors were made available. Although he was in residence there, he had no formal duties at the parish, did not assist at Masses or make visits to the school. The Archdiocese also communicated information about this allegation to Holy Family University where Father Collins had been a faculty member since 1976. He retired from that position earlier this year.

Biographical Information
Father Collins is 74 years old. He was ordained in 1964. He served at the following parishes, schools and offices: Saint John the Evangelist, Philadelphia (1964); Roman Catholic High School for Boys (1964-1965); Saint Paul, Philadelphia (1964-1965); Office of the Metropolitan Tribunal (1964-1965); Our Lady of Pompeii, Philadelphia (1965); Student Priest at the Pontifical North American College, Rome (1965-1968); Saint Stephen, Philadelphia (1966); Cardinal Dougherty High School, Philadelphia (1968-1969); Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia (1968-1975); Roman Catholic High School for Boys, Philadelphia (1969-1976); Saint Paul, Philadelphia (1975-1976); Saint Christopher, Philadelphia (1976); Holy Family University (1976-2013); placed on administrative leave (2013).

To Make a Report
To report an allegation of sexual abuse, contact your local law enforcement agency and the Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.

To report a violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries, contact the Archdiocesan Office for Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.

We recognize that this public notice may be painful to victims of sexual violence. If you need support or assistance, victim services and referrals are available to you through the Victim Assistance Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia at 1-888-800-8780 or [email protected].

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Bishop Shanahan High School and Widener University's School of Engineering have created a first-of- its-kind partnership that will allow high school students to take selected college entry-level engineering courses at Bishop Shanahan, beginning this September.

Dr. James T. Harris, Widener University President, and Dr. Fred A. Akl, Widener University Dean of Engineering School, will be joined by Dr. Carol A. Cary, Archdiocesan Superintendent of Secondary Schools, as well as Sr. Regina Plunkett, Bishop Shanahan's President and Sr. Maureen McDermott, Bishop Shanahan's Principal, for a formal signing ceremony on the Widener campus.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will ordain fifteen men to the Permanent Diaconate for service in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Rite of Ordination will take place during Mass following the Gospel.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has announced that Dr. Richard McCarron, former Secretary of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has been named a Knight Commander in the Order of Saint Gregory the Great. He also announced that Donna Farrell, former Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, has received the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ("Cross for the Church and Pontiff").

The honors were bestowed by Pope Benedicxt XVI in the closing days of his Pontificate and will be presented by Archbishop Chaput this Sunday.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will participate in the ministry of Spiritual Motherhood and Adoration Cenacles, a program begun by the apostolate Pray For My Priest. It seeks to organize faithful Roman Catholic women to put the spiritual care of all priests in the Archdiocese at the forefront of their prayer life and good works.

Its goal is to match each priest anonymously with a "Spiritual Mother", a woman of prayer, who will raise her "priest son" up to God unceasingly in prayer and sacrifice so that he may best fulfill his vocation to serve God and His people.

Additionally, Adoration Cenacles for Priests will invite the faithful to come together in prayer for one hour in front of the Holy Eucharist specifically for the sanctification and fortification of priests.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today that Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has reviewed recommendations of the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee and made decisions to merge parishes in Philadelphia and Delaware County.

These mergers are the result of ongoing restructuring that will ultimately strengthen parish communities throughout the Archdiocese positioning them for future growth and sustainability. It is hoped that the result will be revitalized parishes throughout the Archdiocese that are better equipped to meet the spiritual and pastoral needs of future generations.

The recommendations and resulting mergers are an outcome of the Archdiocesan-wide Parish Pastoral Planning Area initiative, which began in 2011. Parishioners at all affected parishes learned of the final decisions through letters mailed to all registered parishioners as well as announcements made at all Masses this weekend.

The mergers announced today were based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability, a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes and a review of facilities.

In each instance of a merger, parishioners will attend daily and Sunday Mass at the church of the newly formed parish. The church of the former parish will remain open and be maintained as a worship site. At the discretion of the pastor, this site will be utilized for weddings, funerals and feast days, as well as traditional and ethnic devotions for the time being. Sunday Mass may also be celebrated at a worship site at the discretion of the pastor and the newly formed pastoral council.

Additionally, all parish property, assets and debts of the former parish will be assumed by the newly created parish, which will also be responsible for the care of all sacramental records. The pastors from the merging parishes will form a transitional team made up of lay leaders from each of the merging parishes to assist in moving forward with building the new parish community. The Archdiocese will provide ongoing guidance and support during the transition process.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, made up of lay persons, priests and Archdiocesan personnel, is examining all parishes within the Archdiocese to gauge their viability and assess whether they possess the resources to accomplish their role in the mission of the Church while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities. Parishes within each pastoral planning area will continue to carefully and thoughtfully examine their viability in order to make future recommendations. Additional parishes are expected to begin the process of study in the Fall of 2013.

Parish Area Pastoral Planning is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations to the Archbishop for growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas. Additionally, in the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee shares all final proposals with the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their review before final approval by the Archbishop.

When the mergers detailed below become effective there will be 236 parishes in the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The pastors assigned to all of the newly formed parishes resulting from this round of mergers were announced this week with the regular priest personnel assignments. A complete list of those assignments can be found at www.CatholicPhilly.com.

*It is important to note that the effective date listed for these mergers is set for Canonical (Church law) purposes. The actual work of the transition to a new parish community is an ongoing one that will take varying lengths of time dependent upon the unique circumstances of each merger and needs of each parish. The Archdiocese will provide ongoing guidance and support to all parishes throughout the transitional process.*

*The statistics presented below do not represent the whole of parish life. They were only one part of the larger picture when developing recommendations for parish mergers. They do, however, provide a snapshot of a parish's sacramental activity and a gauge to project stability, growth or decline.*

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has requested that all parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia take up a one-time, special collection during the month of June to support continued relief efforts in the wake of the tornadoes that devastated Oklahoma last month.

This special collection is part of a national initiative called for by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to benefit the victims of natural disaster throughout the nation.

All contributed funds will support Catholic Charities' relief efforts for tornado victims and other victims of natural disasters.

The collection will take place on the weekend of either June 8th and 9th or June 15th and 16th at the discretion of individual pastors. It is hoped that, as people take the opportunity to express gratitude for the blessings present in their lives, they will be as generous as possible to those who are still lacking basic necessities and common comforts.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocesan Choir of Philadelphia and the Archdiocesan Girls' Choir of Philadelphia will present the final installment of the Cathedral Basilica 2012-2013 Concerts Series under the theme, From the Choir Lofts of Paris.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

"Beauty is the battlefield where God and Satan contend for the hearts of men."
-- Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

"Late have I loved thee, Beauty so old and so new; late have I loved thee. Lo, you were within, but I was outside, seeking there for you, and upon the shapely things you have made I rushed headlong -- I, misshapen. You were with me, but I was not with you. They held me back far from you, those things which would have no being, were they not in you."
-- Augustine, The Confessions

A friend once told me the story of how she first met God. She doesn't remember her age; it must have been about 4 or 5. Her family lived in the countryside on the rim of one of our big eastern cities. And one June evening, cloudless, moonless, with just the hint of a humid breeze, her father took her out into the back yard in the dark and told her to look up at the sky. From one horizon to the other, all across the black carpet of the night, were the stars -- thousands of them, tens of thousands, in clusters and rivers of light. And in the quiet, her father said, "God made the world beautiful because he loves us."

That was more than 50 years ago. My friend grew up and learned all about entropy and supernovae and colliding galaxies and quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity. But still, when she closes her eyes, she can see that carpet of stars and hear her father's voice. God made the world beautiful because he loves us.

Creation is more than an accident of dead matter. It's a romance. It has purpose. It sings of the Living God. It bears his signature.

The story of my friend offers several lessons we might consider this week as summer begins and life starts to briefly slow down.

First, the most powerful kind of witness doesn't come from a classroom or pulpit. It doesn't need an academic degree or special techniques. Instead, it grows naturally out of the lives of ordinary people - parents and spouses and friends; people confident in the love that God bears for them and eager to share it with others; people who know the world not as a collection of confused facts but as a symphony of truth and meaning.

Second, nature is sacramental. It points to things outside itself. God speaks and creation sings in silence. We can't hear either if we're cocooned in a web of manufactured distraction, anxiety and noise. We can't see the heavens if our faces are buried in technologies that turn us inward on ourselves. Yet that's exactly what modern American life seems to promote: a restless and relentless material appetite for "more," that gradually feeds selfishness and separates each of us from everyone else.

Third and finally, every experience of real beauty leads us closer to three key virtues: humility, because the grandeur of creation invites awe and lifts us outside ourselves; love, because the human heart was made for glory and joy, and only the Author of life can satisfy its longings; and hope, because no sadness, no despair, can ultimately survive the evidence of divine meaning that beauty provides.

If the world we see taking shape around us today in the name of a false freedom often seems filled with cynicism, ugliness, little blasphemies and sadness, we need to ask why. And then we need to turn our hearts again to the God of beauty - Augustine's "Beauty so old and so new" -- who created us, who sings his longing for us in the grandeur of the world he made, and who renews our souls.

God lives in the summer rain, the stars in the night sky, the wind in the leaves of the trees. He speaks to us through a creation alive with his love. We need to be silent, and watch and listen. And then we need to join in nature's symphony of praise.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Pennsylvanians can be pleased that House Bill 818 has passed the full state senate and is headed to Governor Corbett for signature. The legislation wisely prohibits taxpayer funded insurance plans created by the federal healthcare exchange from covering elective abortions. Abortion is violence of the most intimate sort. It has nothing to do with sound medical care, and people shouldn't be forced to fund it.

I'm grateful to the legislators who had the courage to take a stand for the dignity of human life and to all who encouraged them to do so.

Much work remains to be done. The effort to protect and promote a culture of life will be ongoing. May God deepen our commitment to advancing the dignity of women and their children -- born and unborn.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) has been selected as a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) for the Department of Human Services (DHS) under their new model Improving Outcomes for Children. Catholic Social Services is one of three community based organizations most recently selected by DHS to manage the cases of the city's most at-risk youth. CSS will serve children and families in the 2nd, 7th and 8th police districts. When DHS completes the selection process, there will be ten CUAs serving the entire city.

With more than 200 years of meeting basic human needs within the Philadelphia area, CSS has a proven track record of providing services to transform the lives of children and families in need. As a Community Umbrella Agency, CSS will have sole responsibility managing all DHS cases in the Far Northeast sections of Philadelphia. Wordsworth and First Home Care were also selected as Community Umbrella Agencies, managing cases in the Logan/Olney area and in the Lower Northeast respectively, bringing the total of Community Umbrella Agencies to five.

"Catholic Social Services sees working under the Improving Outcomes for Children model as an opportunity to keep children safely in their homes and communities and out of congregate care," said CSS Director of Youth Services, Joe Lavoritano. "Key to the success of this initiative will be our ability to involve the entire community in addressing safety and well-being needs, and our ability to address the impact of trauma and the promotion of non-violence as a public health issue in our work with the children and families we serve."

CSS will have case managers, supervisors and administrative support staff in place in the Northeast beginning October 1st, 2013.

CSS is the largest subcontractor with DHS. 165,000 clients are annually served throughout the full spectrum of CSS programs. Motivated by its mission to serve the most vulnerable and at-risk members of our society, CSS offers a variety of community-based and residential programs and services to assist and support men, women and children living in Philadelphia and its four surrounding counties. Each day, services touch the lives of immigrants, the homeless, women in crisis, dependent or delinquent youth, senior citizens, and the developmentally disabled. Catholic Social Services provides help and creates hope for people from every walk of life.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Office of Catholic Education (OCE) and the Faith in the Future Foundation are proud to announce that 3,616 young men and women who graduated from the 17 high schools of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia this June have earned a grand total of $276,806,921 in scholarships. This scholarship total, which includes both academic and athletic scholarships, is one of the largest in Archdiocesan history. 93% of the Class of 2013 will pursue a post-secondary education. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia also had a high school graduation rate of 99% this year.

Among the scholarship winners are two Gates Millennium Scholars, Sharnita Midgett of Archbishop Ryan High School and Sadiyah Malcom of West Philadelphia Catholic High School. The Gates Millennium Scholars Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.) scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. Ms. Midgett and Ms. Malcom were chosen from among 50,000 applicants nationally.

"We couldn't be prouder of the Class of 2013. Through hard work and dedication, these students have earned an impressive amount of scholarship money towards their post-secondary education," said Dr. Carol Cary, Superintendent for Secondary Schools. "The Class of 2013's success further highlights the value of a Catholic Education. Students from our secondary schools are some of the most gifted and talented students in the area. All graduates remain in our prayers as they continue their educational journeys."

"We believe so strongly in these students and the quality Catholic Education they've earned," said Samuel Casey Carter, Chief Executive Officer of Faith in the Future. "The staggering amount of scholarship money this class has achieved is a testament to the strength of this school system and the importance of continuing its growth." "The tools their education has given them will carry the Class of 2013 far into the future. We wish them much success and happiness in their pursuits."

Faith in the Future, is the independent foundation that now oversees the Office of Catholic Education and operates the 17 high schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Over half (53%) of the members of the Archdiocesan Class of 2013 were offered at least one college scholarship. 6,172 total scholarships were awarded to members of the Archdiocesan Class of 2013. Since 2000, Archdiocesan graduates have received more than $2.3 billion in scholarships.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has designated Sunday June 30th as Sunday for Justice for Immigrants in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. This call comes in light of recent deliberations in the United States Senate regarding Senate Bill 744.

This proposed legislation would tighten border security while creating a clear path to citizenship within a reasonable timeframe and cost for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally. The bill would also remove some obstacles that currently obstruct family unification.

Archbishop Chaput will celebrate a Mass for the intention of Justice for Immigrants. All are welcome to attend.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is sponsoring its annual
Blessing of the Summer to kick off its Summer Meals Program. Monsignor Daniel Sullivan, President of the NDS Board, will preside over the blessing at Mercy Neighborhood Ministries in North Philadelphia.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the launching of its new Youth and Young Adult Ministry website: www.PhillyCatholicYYAM.org.

It features information and events for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which includes college students. It is an endeavor of the Office for Catechetical Formation, under the direction of Father John Ames. His office is responsible for organizing and promoting ministry to youth and young adults throughout the five-county Archdiocese.

Father Ames sees the new website as an opportunity to evangelize youth and young adults in the Archdiocese. "Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have encouraged the use of modern technology in the service of spreading the Gospel," said Father Ames. "With the help of the Holy Spirit, this website, combined with our efforts in social media, will ignite a renewed enthusiasm to reach out to young people in parishes throughout the Archdiocese."

Youth and Young Adult Ministry seeks to empower parishes to foster the mission of evangelizing and catechizing youth and young adults and increase the professional development of youth ministers and volunteers.

Through its digital communications efforts Youth and Young Adult Ministry will strengthen its catechetical component and youth ministry leaders will be offered support and resources to assist them in their work with young people. The Office for Catechetical Formation is collaborating with priests, youth ministry leaders, parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese to accomplish these goals.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Since opening its doors on September 7th 1963 Saint John's Hospice has served the needs of homeless and hungry men in the city of Philadelphia. Providing food, shelter, clothing and counseling, Saint John's Hospice prides itself in being a community grounded in faith and service, where homeless persons can find dignity, respect, nourishment and opportunities for new beginnings.

To celebrate 50 years of service to Philadelphia's male homeless population, an Anniversary Gala will be held to raise funds in support of its mission.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Saint Gabriel's Hall (SGH) of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has been presented a Silver Award by the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC), which is sponsored by the USDA. The Silver Award included a $1000 prize. As part of the challenge, Saint Gabriel's Hall worked to support and improve the health of its students by offering healthy items on its school lunch menu, and emphasizing nutrition education and physical activity.

HUSSC is a voluntary national certification initiative for schools participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Saint Gabriel's Hall met HealthierUS School's criteria by demonstrating its commitment to a healthy school environment, as well as implementing a school wellness policy. Schools receiving a HUSSC award commit to meeting this standard throughout their four-year certification period.

Saint Gabriel's Hall School lunch program is provided through Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Saint Gabriel's Hall (SGH) is a residential program for delinquent male youths located in Audubon, PA. It offers a year-round academic program as well as career and technical education in Culinary Arts, Microsoft Office, Building and Landscape Maintenance, and Youth BuildConstruction.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Speacialist
215-587-3747

"[T]oday there are millions of women and children around the world enslaved without a voice in situations of forced labor and sexual exploitation from which they cannot free themselves. This horrific phenomenon is the third largest crime in the world, behind only the illicit sale of drugs and arms."

-- James Nicholson, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, 2004

"Prostitution is not a new phenomenon. What is new is the existence of a global and complex trade that exploits situations of poverty and vulnerability that many women find themselves in, and exports [these women] into the sex industry.

"In Italy, there are an estimated 50,000-70,000 women and girls from East Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe who are prostituted on streets, in nightclubs and in private brothels. Some 30 percent to 40 percent are minors. They typically have no documents, because traffickers seize their passports and papers in order to control them. Upon arrival, traffickers and pimps often tell women they must work off a huge debt, which they had not heard about before leaving home.

"To pay back this debt bond set at 40,000-70,000 Euros [$54,000-$94,000], Nigerian women must undergo at least 4,000 sexual encounters. On top of this, they are charged for food, lodging and even the space on the sidewalk where they stand."

-- Consolata Missionary Sister Eugenia Bonetti, anti-trafficking activist, 2007

James Nicholson is probably best known as a successful businessman, attorney and former U.S. secretary for veterans' affairs. But he also served with distinction as our country's envoy to the Holy See. One of the issues he championed during his tenure, working closely with the Vatican, was the global fight against human trafficking - the lifeblood of modern forced labor and sexual exploitation.

Officially, worldwide slavery ended more than a century ago. Unofficially, it's a growth industry. Hundreds of thousands of women and children - some estimates place the number as high as 1.2 million - are trafficked every year. Many come from poor countries and end up as prostitutes in the developed world. Others are forced to work for little or no money in hotels, sweat shops, massage parlors and in agriculture. Some are simply abducted. Some are homeless runaways. For many others, well-organized criminal recruiting rings promise young people in the developing world an opportunity for marriage, good jobs or a better life in Europe and United States. Then they break down their victims' dignity with rape, blackmail and beatings, and use them as objects for labor and sex until their health collapses.

In many countries, traffickers bribe the police to look the other way. But even in places where the authorities vigorously attack human trafficking, laws are often inadequate, and victims are often too frightened or ashamed to step forward.

All of this sounds barbaric, and of course it is; a word like "barbaric" frankly understates the bitter suffering involved. The Holy See, religious communities and many other people of good will - Consolata Sister Eugenia Bonetti has given global and heroic witness on this issue -- have worked to publicize the plague of human trafficking for years and to mobilize government action against it. The reason is obvious. If every human being is made in the image of God and loved infinitely by his or her Creator, then human trafficking is a kind of blasphemy, a sacrilege; a crime against God himself. The same reverence for human life that drives Christians to speak out for the poor, the disabled, the immigrant and the unborn child should lead us to work against human trafficking and to help its victims.

What we need to realize as we end this column this week is that human trafficking isn't something that only happens "out there" in some faraway foreign country. Many thousands of women and children are victims of trafficking right here in the United States every year. That includes Philadelphia, our home; our own backyard. And I hope that in the year ahead, more and more of our people in the Catholic community will become aware of human trafficking and get involved to end this kind of contempt for human dignity.

A good place to start is by contacting Mr. Hugh Organ, associate executive director of Covenant House Pennsylvania, at 215.951.5411, x2118. Covenant House is a member of the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition, and Hugh is a dedicated and well-informed source on the local dimensions of the human trafficking issue. Or contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center directly at 1.888.3737.888.

God created men and women to be his sons and daughters, not property; not trash; not chattel. The way to end this ruinous evil is through good people fighting it now.

Hugh Organ can also be reached by surface mail at: Covenant House Pennsylvania, 31 East Armat Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144; or by email at [email protected].

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

"Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of us Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs?"

-- Benjamin Franklin, 1751

"Immigration is about more than immigration. It is about renewing the soul of America."

-- +Jose H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, 2013

Last week, in a June 18 editorial, the Wall Street Journal reminded Americans that "the evidence overwhelmingly shows that today's immigrants are acculturating and moving up the economic ladder like previous generations," and that "despite fears and much bad data [among the general public], immigrants continue to be the American asset they have always been." Hispanic and Asian immigrants make up about 70 percent of foreign-born adults in the United States. And studies show - no surprise -- that "second generation Hispanics and Asians place more importance than does the general public on hard work and career success."

For Hispanics and Asians, as with earlier waves of immigrants, education is highly valued, with "English [the] dominant language of the second generation, and by the fourth generation, fewer than a quarter can still speak the immigrant tongue."

The Journal speaks from economic common sense. But sane voices have been rare in America's immigration debates. We're a nation of immigrants constantly worried that the next gang of newcomers will ruin the country. More than 260 years ago, Benjamin Franklin fretted that newly arrived hordes of German-speaking aliens would steal the identity of Pennsylvania. We know how that turned out.

So it goes today. Both political parties share the blame. Republicans, especially in the House, channel the country's fears of being overrun by foreign freeloaders and criminals. The current (Democratic) administration, for all its pro-Latino rhetoric, has kicked out roughly 1.5 million people over the past four years, more than the previous Bush administration. The current White House had no qualms about declining to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, yet it relentlessly deported more than 400,000 "illegals" in 2012 alone - a record number.

The human cost of this immigration gridlock is massive. As Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez writes in his extraordinary new book, Immigration and the Next America:

"More than 5 million children [in the United States] are growing up in homes with one or more 'illegal' parents, and about 80 percent of these kids are American citizens, born in this country . . . We say we are worried about the long-term social costs of illegal immigration. If we are, then we should be looking for every way possible to integrate the undocumented into our economy so that they do not become a permanent underclass of dependent people. Our policy today, unfortunately, is only helping that underclass grow in numbers. The underclass grows every time we break apart a family by deporting a working father and leaving women and children behind in poverty. We [risk] creating, through our inaction, the very conditions that we claim to be afraid of - a generation of people who can't assimilate, and who don't have the education and skills to contribute to our economy."

The word "extraordinary" doesn't fully capture the value of Gomez's brief book. The Wall Street Journal sees immigration as mainly an economic matter. But Archbishop Gomez goes deeper into the issue, tying together culture, faith, social research, history, a hemispheric perspective and his personal experience as an immigrant. Born in Monterrey, Mexico, and a naturalized U.S. citizen, the archbishop has roots in both cultures, with family on both sides of the border. But the special love he bears for his adopted country emerges from every page. He has no use for the politics of ethnic bitterness or entitlement. He wastes no time on naïve sloganeering. Instead, he repeatedly makes clear his respect for those who are wary of immigration reform out of concern for public safety, financial stability and the integrity of our nation's laws. He shares some of the same concerns.

At the same time, he makes a powerful case - the best case I've seen so far - for the urgency of deep reform now. Real reform must include a reasonable path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented workers now living in the United States; an end to the deportations that destroy families; and - eventually - a serious effort to remedy the hemispheric inequities that drive foreign workers into our country out of desperation. For Gomez, what's at stake is the soul of our nation in the years ahead:

"If immigration reform is to succeed - if the American dream is to be renewed - we need to reject the [cynicism of America's cultural elites] and the careless disregard for American identity. We need to restore the ideal of citizenship based on integration and Americanization. Immigrants should be welcomed within a civic framework built on a common American story and universal values. We should be promoting broad expectations for citizens - including the understanding that individual rights presume common duties; and that freedom doesn't mean doing whatever we want, but instead means doing what is true and beautiful and good."

For Archbishop Gomez, "a civic framework built on a common American story" demands that we honor our Anglo-Protestant roots as a nation. But it also demands that we recover -- at long last -- the other, missing half of our story: the Hispano-Catholic legacy that predates the Thirteen Colonies by many decades. America's real "first Thanksgiving" took place in Spanish Catholic Florida, not Puritan Massachusetts. "Two hundred years before any of the founding fathers were born," the archbishop reminds us, "this land's people were being baptized in the name of Christ. The people of this land were called Christians before they were called Americans. And they were first called this name in the Spanish tongue."

On June 30, we celebrate Justice for Immigrants Sunday across the archdiocese. It's a key moment in the life of our Church. I urge every one of our parishes in the coming months to read and discuss Archbishop Gomez's words. Rich in content, vividly written and profoundly hopeful in spirit, Immigration and the Next America is a priceless gift in a small package; the kind of book we need to carry around in our hearts as we deal with the changing landscape of our nation. Read it. Pray over it. Then share it with others. It's that important.

"Immigration and the Next America: Renewing the Soul of Our Nation," by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, will be published in English (July 5) and Spanish (July 19) by Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, IN. Available now for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

In striking down Sec. 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in United States v. Windsor, the Court leaves intact - at least for now -- state constitutional definitions of marriage as an institution restricted to one man and one woman. As Justice Samuel Alito points out in his dissent, no federal "right" to same-sex marriage exists. The Constitution simply does not establish one.

As Catholics we believe marriage needs to be strengthened, not redefined. It is a great gift to men, women, children and society. Affirming the true definition of marriage denies no one his or her basic rights. On the contrary protecting marriage affirms the equal dignity of women and men and safeguards the basic rights of children.

Same-sex unions, whatever legal form they take, cannot create new life. They cannot duplicate the love of a man and woman. But they do copy marriage and family, and in the process, they compete with and diminish the uniquely important status of both. The legal battle about marriage will continue. And the Church's commitment to promote the authentic meaning of marriage and family will be vigorously pursued.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) is proud to announce that 142 young men have graduated from Saint Gabriel's System (SGS) with a diploma and career technical education certificate. This year's class marks the highest number of graduates since CSS Youth Services began tracking graduates in 1985.

This year's record number of graduates, up from only 57 in 2007, can be attributed to the tracking and recording of students released from Saint Gabriel's Hall residential program and to the investments made in a night school, giving students more options to further their education. SGH's own tracking data showed that the young men with diplomas and certifications were more likely to continue their education elsewhere, gain employment and avoid immediate incarceration.

"Our research has shown us that youths in possession of a diploma and a career technical education (CTE) certificate were much less likely to be rearrested," said Joe Lavoritano, Executive Director of St. Gabriel's System. "We used this data and placed an emphasis on obtaining that diploma and certification. Since we made this a priority, the results have been outstanding."

Partnering with Pennsylvania Academic and Career Technical Training Alliance (PACTT), Saint Gabriel's Hall has developed a quality academic curriculum aligned with state standards and fully integrated with career technical training. The combination of academics and vocational training has helped students become more employable.

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

The wife of a friend once quipped that there's not much sizzle or romance in balancing a check book - but try feeding the kids if you can't. I've never forgotten her words. No sensible adult goes very long without paying close attention to the finances of his or her own family. And for good reason: Without the necessary resources, no family survives. If a family has financial problems, it needs to know why. That requires accurate information, no matter how complex and sobering, so the problems can be fixed.

So it is with the Church. As I've said many times over the past 22 months, the resources of the Church don't belong to the bishops or the clergy or some remote institution. They belong to her people. The Church is a steward. She holds her resources in trust for her people, to carry out their apostolic work as a community in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That means she has an obligation to use her resources well. She also has a duty to make an accurate yearly accounting to her people of how she manages those resources, whether the news is happy or not.

One of the many urgencies facing the Church when I arrived here in September 2011 was the need to understand and start fixing our financial problems. We've made progress. Over the past year, we've benefitted from strong, new financial leadership from our CFO, Timothy O'Shaughnessy; our controller, Peter Yecco; and a reinvigorated Archdiocesan Finance Council with talent from across the Catholic business community.

Despite every difficulty we have faced, our people have increased their giving to the annual Catholic Charities Appeal as well as the annual Seminary Appeal. And along with monies raised from the sale of the archbishop's residence and a home on the New Jersey shore - beautiful properties, but unsuited to the needs of the Church today - we've taken big steps toward raising new resources and eventually eliminating our annual budget deficit.

This good news, however, will need to wait until later when we'll publish the results of Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 - i.e., the year beginning July 1, 2012, and ending this weekend, on June 30, 2013.

In other words, the fiscal report we plan to publish next week will reflect almost none of the progress I just described. Why? Because it will show our financial results from July 1, 2011 - two months before I arrived in Philadelphia - through June 30, 2012, barely two months after our new financial team began their work.

I've asked our staff to make the report on FY 2012 as thorough and clear as possible. The audited financial statements for every major archdiocesan entity will appear on our website for public review. I've also directed that in the future, as we continue to improve our operations, our annual financial reports will appear for our people's scrutiny far more promptly and with proper standards of transparency.

I've reviewed the FY 2012 audited financial statements for our central operations run through the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center; or more technically, the "Office for Financial Services." While the results are serious - and that's an understatement - they have the virtue of being honest and accurate. The statements also include several major adjustments to reporting made in previous years. Most of the financial pain we now face as a local Church is inherited and due to chronic patterns of behavior. It has nothing to do with fraud or the abuse crisis. Instead it flows out of well-intentioned but poor management decisions made over a period of nearly two decades at every level of archdiocesan and parish leadership - a crippling habit of trying to hang on to the past and keep unsustainable ministries, schools and parishes afloat, despite great changes in our demographic and financial realities.

We have too many good people in the Archdiocese to let these problems continue to hobble our discipleship in the years ahead. We owe too much to the believers who came before us to fail in renewing the health of our Church. And we owe even more to the young people who will follow us. They need to encounter Jesus Christ through our witness. That's why our financial problems matter so seriously. And that's why, with honesty and hard work and the grace of God, we'll resolve them.

We will post the audited financial statements for the Office for Financial Services on www.CatholicPhilly.com on Wednesday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. Please note that these statements only relate to operations and ministries stemming from Archdiocesan headquarters. They do not include financials for the Office of Catholic Education, Catholic Healthcare Services, Catholic Social Services, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Catholic Charities Appeal or the Heritage of Faith-Vision of Hope Capital Campaign. Audited reports for those entities will be posted in the coming weeks.

Also note that none of these reports will include financial statements for parishes -- and for good reason: All parishes are autonomous entities. The Archdiocese has no authority over their assets.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

CatholicPhilly.com was presented with two awards at the third annual Catholic Media Convention, held by the Catholic Press Association, on June 21st in Denver Colorado.

The Archdiocese's official digital news outlet won third place for "Best General Publisher Website" and honorable mention for "Best Electronic Newsletter." As the digital successor to The Catholic Standard and Times, CatholicPhilly.com was applauded for its "clean navigation," inviting readers to continue browsing the site for news and information daily. Their newsletter, in existence since 2012, is now sent to over 2,000 subscribers, linking to local, national and world news stories, features about Catholics around the globe and Archbishop Chaput's weekly column.

"The recognition CatholicPhilly.com receives through these awards reflects the desire of Catholics in Southeastern Pennsylvania for Catholic news and information they can depend on, as well as the efforts of our talented staff to produce it," said Matthew Gambino, Director and General Manager of CatholicPhilly.com. "We bring this quality content, as well as the advertisers who support it, to the Catholic community every day, as we proclaim the Good News of Christ and the good works of the Catholic Church in this region."

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3727

In his great biography of Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson noted that Franklin donated money to "the building funds of each and every sect in Philadelphia." For Franklin and his founding brothers, religion promoted the civic virtue essential to sustaining the republican model of government. Franklin was a deist throughout his life. But he understood, nonetheless, that religious belief had concrete, powerful and very positive implications for shaping public life.

There are many Benjamin Franklins today, who, whether believers or not, welcome the contributions of religious faith to the public square. Many others, however, including some who hold public office, view religion as a problem and a threat to democratic values. They see its moral norms not as benefiting the public but as limiting individual rights. Yet, without the vigorous religious freedom that was supported by Franklin and enshrined by Madison and others - as opposed to the far more restricted "freedom of worship" preferred by some of today's public officials -- the United States faces the prospect of undermining the very civic virtues that were meant to sustain it.

In this Year of Faith, we Catholics are called to carve out some time for daily silence; to examine our priorities in a fresh way; and to educate ourselves in the vital elements of our faith. Unfortunately, over the last two generations, Catholic catechesis has too often tended to be both boring and uninformative. As a Church, we've too often done a poor job of transmitting the joy and the urgency of the Gospel's message of liberation from sin. Our appetite to evangelize, to preach the message of the reign of God through the example of our daily lives, has not fared much better. But that can change; and for the sake of the generations who will follow us, it - and we -- need to change. Pope Benedict and now Pope Francis have asked Catholics to make a conscious, sustained effort to return to the basics of Christian discipleship.

Some of the practical steps Catholics can take to enrich their experience of the Year of Faith are obvious: studying what the Church teaches through Scripture, the Catechism and the documents of Vatican II; taking part in the sacraments with renewed zeal; cultivating a deeper prayer and family life; and performing works of charity and service. These things are no different from what Catholics are asked to do every year. But the Year of Faith is a chance to reenergize our discipleship with mindfulness and intention.

We should also consider two more practical suggestions, especially for young Catholics: Nurture good friendships, and cultivate hope. Good Christian friendships are the most powerful way of building, sharing and reinforcing our faith, and promoting communion with others. We need to remind ourselves every day that Jesus Christ has already won the final victory through his death and resurrection. We should never lose hope for ourselves or the world around us.

Fidelity to the Gospel may sometimes seem like an overwhelming and thankless task. Popular culture is often cold to religious practice. Government increasingly seems hostile to the good work done by religious organizations. But boldly and faithfully living our Baptism is the single greatest contribution we can make to the Church and our nation. The obstacles to vigorous religious faith and practice are far greater today than they were in the time of Franklin. But the consequences of religious indifference - both for the Church and for our country - are extraordinarily damaging.

The moral renewal of our nation begins with the moral renewal we allow God to work in each of our own hearts. That's something to pray for this week as we honor the birthday of the United States, and every day of our lives in the months and years ahead.

May God bless all of us, and the nation we call home, this Independence Day.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

I received with joy the news from the Vatican that both Blessed Pope John Paul II and Blessed Pope John XXIII will be canonized saints. The pontificates of these two men shaped Catholicism as we know and practice it today. In convening the Second Vatican Council, John XXIII ushered in an era of reform that touched every facet of the universal Church. Throughout his long reign, John Paul II exhibited compassion and love for members of the Church around the world and worked diligently to advance social justice issues on behalf of those neglected by society.

I invite all of the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to join me in raising their voices and hearts in prayerful thanksgiving for the lives and saintly examples of John XXIII and John Paul II.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Canonization of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

In a few months we'll close out the Year of Faith that began under Pope Benedict and was highlighted so beautifully in Pope Francis' first encyclical, Lumen Fidei. In the past year - in fact, in every year now, according to the Holy See - more than 100,000 Christians are killed worldwide for reasons related to their faith. That's the real cost of discipleship. That's a measure of heroic character.

I've spoken many times about the importance of religious freedom and the need for all of us to actively witness our Christian faith not only in our private lives but also in the public square. The sacrifice of Christians in other countries, who write their Gospel witness in their own blood, places an obligation on all of us to live our faith with courage and zeal, endurance and hope, and to begin every new day by grounding our hearts and our actions in the wisdom of the Church.

Nothing is more compelling than a good man, or a good woman, in an evil time. Wisdom is the pursuit of the true, the right and the lasting. In the record of Scripture and the witness of the Church, all these things find their source in God, and nowhere else but God.

Genesis tells the story of the Tower of Babel (11:1-9), and it carries a useful lesson. The pride of men in seeking "to make a name for [themselves]" and to build a tower to heaven leads God to confuse man's language and scatter humanity. But I think God intervened against Babel not to punish man but to save humanity from itself. In the Bible passage, God says, "If now, while they are one people all speaking the same language, they have started to do this, nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume."

In an age of genetics, neuroscience and nanotechnology; an age of political arrogance; an age that refuses to admit the purpose of human sexuality, or even that man himself has an inherent identity, free will or nature, those words from Scripture should make each of us pause.

In his great work, The City of God, St. Augustine created a portrait of the world divided into two cities -- the City of God with its eyes set on heaven, and the City of Man rooted in pride and sin. Life consists in choosing one or the other. It's a choice we can't avoid. And each of us faces that choice right here, today, now. The wisdom which the Church offers the world is for the humble, not the proud, and it's the only wisdom that counts: the path to salvation.

But this salvation is not a philosophy or an ideology, an idea or ideals. No one can "love" an idea, and yet the heart of real wisdom is the ability and willingness to love. Augustine says that all of the wisdom in the Old Testament literally takes on flesh in the New Testament. The reason is simple. Jesus Christ is the Word of God -- the Wisdom of God - God as love incarnate. Jesus himself says, "I am the bread of life." He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

No one can love an idea. But we can love and be loved by Jesus Christ. We can meet and be met by God's Son. The true, the right and the lasting meet in a Man. Our task is to follow him, no matter what the cost, and to lead others to do the same.

This week's column is excerpted from "Wisdom. Christian Witness and the Year of Faith," remarks by Archbishop Chaput delivered at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C, on July 8.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Knights of Peter Claver and its Ladies Auxiliary will host the 98th Annual National Convention the Catholic Fraternal Order July 19-24, 2013 in Philadelphia.

Bishop Timothy C. Senior will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass. All are welcome to attend.

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

Two elementary school students from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will represent the City of Philadelphia as National Ambassadors in Washington, D.C. after recently winning the "Do the Write Thing, Stop the Violence" Essay Contest. The Honorable Paul P. Panepinto, is the Pennsylvania State Chair for the "Do the Write Thing, Stop the Violence Challenge." The essay winners are Sabratini Simeon, 8th grade student at St. Cecilia Parish Elementary School in Philadelphia and Vincent Harvey, 7th grade student from Our Lady of Hope Regional Catholic School, also in Philadelphia.

The students will travel to Washington, D.C. for "National Recognition Week" activities being held during the week of July 20th. An awards dinner was held locally for the students in Philadelphia on Monday, June 3, 2013 to honor their work.

Sabratini and Vincent's essays were chosen from entries submitted by Catholic, charter and public school students throughout the city. They were asked to compose an essay on the topic of violence and its impact on society. Sabratini wrote her essay on "youth violence" and bullying. Vincent chose to write about those who work to combat violence in their local communities. On the Archdiocesan level the essay contest was used as a cross curricular activity involving Religion, English Language Arts and Social Studies.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Two Catholic Social Services Out of School Time (OST) Programs for middle school students were recently awarded a $10,000 grant to support their Cyber Cadets Summer Workshop, an anti-bullying, community-building campaign developed and led by the very youth who will participate in the program. Fifty students enrolled in OST Summer Camp Programs at St. Martin de Porres in North Philadelphia and DePaul School in Germantown will work to find common ground, with the goal of bringing youth from very different neighborhoods together for a united purpose - to promote cyber safety.

The grant was awarded through Project: Connect Summer Youth Programming Competition, a national effort recognizing non-profit organizations for innovative programming that maximizes learning by making "the online experience" for young people one that is more civic, safe, and empowering. This project is funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

"The competition this year is designed to engage young people in solving a real-world challenge - making the Internet a safer and more powerful place to advance learning," said Connie Yowell, Director of Education at the MacArthur Foundation. "The ability to meet that challenge will help determine whether education will be more relevant to both young people and the economy where they will be eventually looking for work."

Over eight weeks this summer, participating students will work collaboratively online using Google Docs, Skype, and KidBlog.org to create and share an anti-cyber bullying message with peers in hopes of promoting change within their communities. Students will learn how to make a Public Service Announcement video, develop print campaign materials, design web content, and maintain social media components that send an anti-bullying message. Joint social activities throughout the summer include a "Meet and Greet" Barbecue, fieldtrip to iPlay America, Scavenger Hunts, and Youth Dance, all focused on putting anti-bullying efforts into practice.

OST Programs Education Coordinator Kate McDowell comments, "It is vitally important today for staff leading our youth to be aware that digital media is the pulse fueling the interests of our children. It is our responsibility as educators and mentors to help kids develop proper etiquette for communicating and collaborating online. We are pleased to receive the funding to help our staff to do just that."

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

A delegation of youth and young adults from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will depart on a pilgrimage to Brazil that focuses on World Youth Day (WYD) with Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro from July 23-28, 2013. This will be Pope Francis' first appearance at World Youth Day as the Holy Father.

Young people from parishes throughout the Philadelphia area will attend WYD, 20 of whom will also visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil. This Basilica is the fourth most popular Marian shrine in the world. More than 9,500 young people from the United States are expected to attend WYD. Local participation is being coordinated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Office for Catechetical Formation.

Photo Opportunity: Pilgrims departing for World Youth Day

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Nutritional Development Services (NDS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host representatives from the White House, the USDA and the University of Pennsylvania at one of their Summer Meals Program sites.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Advisory Council for Elementary Education in Chester County has been working for the last 4 months to provide strategic planning, institutional advancement, professional development and advancing opportunities for Catholic Education at the local county level. The Chester County council, which was originally formed four years ago and re-launched in late February 2013, is the model for four other County Advisory Councils (Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia) being established in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Advisory Council in Chester County was re-launched in response to recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission and was created to better assist the 15 local elementary and regional schools with strategic planning, marketing, enrollment and governance to help sustain, grow, and strengthen their schools.

The 20 member Chester County council includes principals, pastors, parents, two Catholic University representatives and several local business leaders. Council members are selected based upon recommendations made to Bishop John J. McIntyre, who is responsible for overseeing the Chester County region.

The Chester County Advisory Council makes recommendations to the Archdiocesan Executive Board of Elementary Education regarding Chester County Catholic Schools.

In addition, the council is also responsible for the creation and maintenance of The Foundation for Catholic Education in Chester County, a county educational foundation, which includes the establishment and maintenance of a tuition assistance program and gathering financial support from local businesses through the Educational Improvement Tax Credits and other education related State and Federal Funding. The Foundation for Catholic Education in Chester County also sponsors a Hall of Fame Gala held each October. The Foundation selects Hall of Fame inductees who have made significant contributions to Catholic Education in Chester County through their time, talent and dedication.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) in their Partners in Excellence Regional Conference in Philadelphia on July 29th and 30th gathering over 300 members of the Catholic Charities family for workshops on mission, connection, and professional development.

The Partners in Excellence series seeks to connect all levels of the Catholic Charities family: CCUSA leadership, board members, heads of local Catholic Charities agencies, and volunteers. Specifically, it will provide an opportunity for reflection upon both the spiritual and practical role of Catholic Charities in the fight against poverty.

"As the largest program of its kind to date, the convening of the Partners in Excellence in Philadelphia allows the Catholic Charities family to come together to combine national advocacy with local outreach" said Fr. Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA. "We are called to be one church, united in faith, with a dedication to social justice not only on a local, community-wide level but also on a national one as well."

In addition to presentations from CCUSA leadership, the program will include numerous workshops and breakout sessions. Presenters include members of the CCUSA team as well as Catholic Social Services, Nutritional Development Services, and Catholic Health Care Services and will allow for a more thorough and in-depth analysis of pressing issues facing Catholic Charities, including advocacy, immigration reform, youth mentoring, disaster awareness, senior services, and housing for veterans.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) and the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center (PVMSEC) will share a one million dollar grant awarded through the US Department of Veterans Affairs' Supportive Services for Veterans Families program to help target homeless and at-risk veterans and their families.

Over the next year, CSS and PVMSEC intend to use the $1,007,000 grant to create a coordinated system in Chester County to prevent homelessness or rapidly re-house veteran families in transition from homelessness. The partnership will combine expertise and leverage resources and relationships to provide access to permanent supportive housing settings for homeless veterans as well as assistance with temporary financial assistance, related case management and support services. Approximately 150 participating veteran households in Chester County will be served through this new program.

"We are very excited about this collaborative partnership with the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Educational Center, a well-respected leader and champion in our region providing comprehensive services and support to veterans," said Amy Stoner, Director of CSS Community Based Services. "We will now be able to fill a great need in Chester County to provide services that will offer veterans and their families housing stability and resources to achieve self-sufficiency. CSS is very pleased to resume a strong presence in Coatesville, and our partnerships with other provider agencies. It is an honor to be able to serve those who have dedicated their lives to serve our country so well and sacrificed so much on our behalf."

Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, VA awarded nearly $300 million in grants to private nonprofit organizations that provide services to very low-income veteran families living in - or transitioning to - permanent housing. This is the third year SSVF grants have helped veterans and their families find or remain in their homes. Last year, VA provided about $100 million to assist approximately 50,000 veterans and family members.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Women from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will join the group Women Speak for Themselves (WSFT) to demonstrate against the HHS Contraception and Abortion Mandate in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., on August 1, 2013 from 11:30 p.m. to 12:20 p.m.

They will depart from Saint Matthias Church in Bala Cynwyd.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Americans have a right to secure borders, especially in an era of anti-American violence. We have a right to reasonably regulate our immigration policies. We have a right to exclude criminals from our country and to protect the financial health of our public institutions and services. We have a right to verify foreign visitors and guest workers, and to expect their compliance with the law.

But most undocumented immigrants in the United States - the vast majority -- never commit a violent act, have no desire to undermine the common good and contribute productively to American prosperity. Thousands of farmers and businessmen rely on their services. The life many of us enjoy depends, in part, on the labor of "illegals." Taking advantage of their work, and then blaming them for being here, is a uniquely unworthy form of doublethink.

For Catholics - who belong to a Church that supports the fundamental right of every person to migrate to seek a better life for his or her family, and who themselves were disdained as "outsiders" for much of American history - anti-immigrant resentment is especially wrong.

The United States has a right to press for the kind of legal and economic reforms in Latin America and elsewhere that would help stabilize the flow of workers back and forth across our borders. Hypocrisy in the immigration debate is not a monopoly of the north side of the Rio Grande.

But we're not licensed to mistreat anyone in our midst, whether they have papers or not. People derive their human dignity and their rights from the God who created us all - whether others find their presence convenient or not. We need to remember that in the months ahead.

The U.S. Catholic bishops, along with millions of fellow American Catholics, seek reasonable legislation that will offer undocumented persons a path to citizenship and promote family unity. Specifically, the bishops hope for the following elements in any immigration reform bill:

First, a path to citizenship for undocumented workers that's fair, accessible and achievable in a reasonable timeframe. Second, reform of the family-based immigration system to reunite husbands, wives and children in a more rapid manner. Third, a program that would allow low-skilled migrant workers to enter the United States legally as needed labor. Fourth, due process protections for immigrants. And fifth, policies which at least begin to address the root causes of migration, such as economic inequities and persecution.

Congress adjourned for summer recess on August 2. It won't reconvene until September 9. The Senate passed a major immigration reform bill (S. 744) on June 27, by a vote of 68-32. The House of Representatives will likely take up the issue in September or October. Unfortunately, some House members have committed themselves to blocking almost any serious new reform legislation. That would be more than a political error. It would be a bitter human tragedy.

Immigration is an issue where committed Catholics can legitimately disagree. But real reform of our immigration laws is long overdue. We need to act now. And the five key legislative elements sought by America's bishops make good economic, political and human sense.

During these weeks of summer recess, I ask Catholics across our archdiocese to consider and pray about the immigration issue. And I hope many of us will contact our federal representatives to press them to vote for the kind of deep immigration reform we so urgently need.

Contact information for Pennsylvania congresspersons can be found through the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference at https://www.votervoice.net/PACC/Address.

The national "Justice for Immigrants" campaign seeks to inform the general public, and especially Catholics, about the ways immigrants benefit the nation; to advocate changes in immigration law and policies; and to organize networks to assist immigrants with legal problems. The campaign's website can be found at: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/index.shtml

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Office of Catholic Education (OCE) and the Faith in the Future Foundation are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Francis E. Fox as the 5th President of Archbishop John Carroll High School in Delaware County. Mr. Fox is a proud graduate of Archbishop Carroll, Class of 1977. He has served on Archbishop Carroll's advisory board since 1997 and was the chairman of that body from 2000-2011.

Mr. Fox said, "It is with great humility and excitement that I accept the position of President of Archbishop John Carroll High School. My decision to serve was certainly based on my love for the school and previous years of involvement on the Board. In an equally important way, it was also influenced by, the recent appointment of Chris Mominey as Chief Operating Officer at the Office of Catholic Education and the creation of the Faith in the Future Foundation. Carroll has felt their support and empowerment over the past several months, and I believe now is the perfect time to offer my expertise and professional skills to the Archdiocese and Archbishop Carroll on a full-time basis."

Mr. Fox brings over 30 years of leadership experience to Archbishop Carroll. In 1995, he founded Fox Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc., a full service development, brokerage and property management company. He also served as consultant to the City of Hercules, California during the disposition of a city owned $200 Million redevelopment portfolio, which included retail, multi-family, residential and industrial properties. Most recently, Mr. Fox was associated with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, a global real estate service firm, as Senior Managing Director of its Philadelphia regional industrial team.

Christopher Mominey, the new Chief Operating Officer and Secretary for Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said of the appointment, "21st century Catholic schools need strong executive leadership coupled with committed board members who can articulate a strategic vision. In Frank Fox we have found both qualities. As a long-time board member, business leader and as a member of the Class of 1977, Frank brings a wealth of knowledge, passion and dedication to the Carroll community. The role of the President in a Catholic high school is critical to the success of fund development, alumni engagement, and community relations. Without a doubt, Frank will be an example to all of our stakeholders at Carroll, and beyond, that we are serious about the growth and sustainability of Catholic education here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia."

Mr. Fox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. He is a parishioner of Saint Denis Parish in Havertown, Delaware County.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

The College and Theology Division seminarians of Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary will return to campus to mark the start of the academic year on Tuesday, August 20th beginning with registration and moving-in to the dorms. This fall, over 40 new men will be entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary for 2013-2014 for the first time from approximately 9 Dioceses and Religious Orders, including approximately 8 men from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Contextual Background

This July, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia published audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The financial statements disclosed a $39.2 million operating deficit for that period as well as several very significant and ongoing balance sheet issues that measure in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Since his arrival in Philadelphia nearly two years ago, Archbishop Chaput has repeatedly expressed his commitment to financial transparency and prudent stewardship of the resources of the Archdiocese. Beginning last summer, a series of steps were taken to begin to remedy Archdiocesan fiscal challenges. The Archbishop's residence along with a property in Ventnor, New Jersey, were both sold to provide necessary immediate cash flow. Many other actions followed including a reduction of 25% of the workforce at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in order to stem the operating deficit. Additionally, an evaluation of various Archdiocesan real estate assets and operating entities was undertaken. This evaluation focused on assets that could potentially be used to remedy the balance sheet issues. None of those measures were taken lightly, but all were essential to maintaining the presence of the Catholic Church in the Philadelphia region and the good works accomplished through its various ministries.

Background Regarding Today's Announcement

Among the operating entities evaluated were Catholic Health Care Services and the Office of Catholic Cemeteries, which have both been well managed for many years. As a result, Archbishop Chaput has decided to market the six nursing homes and one assisted living facility operated by Catholic Health Care Services for potential sale. He has also decided to pursue a possible outsourced management and leasing agreement for the 11 active Archdiocesan cemeteries and two sites designated for future cemetery development.

In making this announcement, Archbishop Chaput said, "Our difficult financial situation must be addressed and the actions that we need to take may be painful ones. I understand this fact fully, but it is of critical importance that we rebuild our financial foundation so that we can continue our collective good works.

None of the decisions I have made about our finances thus far were made lightly. They have all come after much careful discernment and prayer as well as significant discussion and consultation. In the end, any final decisions about our nursing homes and cemeteries will be mine. They'll be made with full and due consideration to the mission of our local Church and all those who would be affected."

Background Regarding the Potential Sale of Catholic Health Care Services

Founded in 1913, Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is the seventh largest faith-based provider of skilled nursing and assisted living care in the country with a total occupancy of just over 1,400 beds. In addition to the services noted above, it also provides adult day care, rehabilitation therapy, memory support, affordable housing, community support outreach and end-of-life care programs. The system currently has approximately 1,100 full-time and 950 part-time employees.

A condition to any possible sale would be the retention of all current nursing home residents regardless of their payor status. Every effort will be made to ensure continued employment for all those currently working within the system. Employees were provided with information regarding the marketing of Catholic Health Care Services at meetings today. Written follow up communication will also be sent to them. A letter has also been sent to the families of all of our current residents.

The following is a list of the facilities being marketed for potential sale: Immaculate Mary Home, Philadelphia; Villa Saint Martha, Downingtown (Chester County); Saint Francis Country House, Darby (Delaware County); Saint John Neumann Home, Philadelphia; Saint Martha Manor, Downingtown (Chester County); Saint Mary Manor, Lansdale (Montgomery County); and Saint Monica Manor, Philadelphia.

Background Regarding the Pursuit of an Outsourced Management Agreement for Catholic Cemeteries

Founded in 1849, the Catholic Cemeteries Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia operates 11 cemeteries located in Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. It also owns two land parcels that have been designated for future use. One is in Bucks County. The other is in Chester County. Last year, it conducted nearly 6,900 committals. It is staffed by approximately 160 full-time and approximately 30 seasonal employees in its central office at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center and at individual cemeteries.

It is important to note that the cemeteries will not be sold. Any potential arrangement would result in the Archdiocese retaining ownership while outsourcing management and operations, which would still be conducted in a manner consistent with Catholic values and the core mission of the cemeteries. Parish cemeteries would not be affected as they are operated at the local level. Every effort will also be made to ensure continued employment for those currently working within the system. Employees were provided with information regarding the pursuit of a possible outsourced management agreement at meetings today. Written follow up communication will also be distributed to them. All priests of the Archdiocese as well as funeral directors with whom the Catholic cemeteries work are also being informed.

The following is a list of cemeteries that would be affected by a potential outsourced management agreement: All Souls Cemetery, Coatesville (Chester County); Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken (Montgomery County); Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia; New Cathedral Cemetery, Philadelphia; Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon (Delaware County); Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia; Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery, Linwood (Delaware County); Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem (Bucks County); Saint John Neumann Cemetery, Chalfont (Bucks County); Saint Michael Cemetery, Chester (Delaware County); and Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield (Delaware County). Additionally, All Saints Cemetery, Newtown (Bucks County) and Holy Savior Cemetery, Penn Township (Bucks County) are not currently active cemeteries, but sites designated for future use. They would also be affected.

When final decisions are made regarding both Catholic Health Care Services and the Catholic Cemeteries Office, appropriate announcements will be made to employees, other stakeholders and the general public.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The independent, nonprofit Office Depot Foundation is donating 400 sackpacks to two Archdiocesan elementary schools as part of their National Backpack Program. This year students from Saint Francis of Assisi School in Norristown and Visitation B.V.M. School in Philadelphia will be receiving the sackpacks containing essential schools supplies at the Back-to-School Celebration.

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

The 2013-2014 school year begins on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 for students who attend the 123 elementary schools, 17 high schools and four schools of special education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

This academic year begins on the heels of several key announcements including the hiring of Mr. Christopher Mominey as Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the official designation of 14 Independent Mission Schools and the formation of an Executive Board of Elementary Education.

Contact
Bonnie Olinger
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

CELEBRANT: ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT, O.F.M. CAP.

Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 6:00 PM, Saint Bernard, Philadelphia
Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 6:00PM, Our Lady of Charity, Brookhaven
Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint William, Philadelphia
Friday, December 13, 2013 at 6:30 PM, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Croydon

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND DANIEL E. THOMAS
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Monday, October 21, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Helena, Philadelphia
Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Christ the King, Philadelphia
Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Corpus Christi, Lansdale
Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Saint Cyprian, Philadelphia
Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 12:00 Noon, Saint Martha, Philadelphia
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Denis, Havertown
Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Annunciation B.V.M., Havertown
Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Saint Martin of Tours, New Hope



CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND TIMOTHY C. SENIOR
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Gabriel, Norwood
Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Mary Magdalen, Media
Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Dorothy, Drexel Hill
Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 11:30 AM, Our Lady of Peace, Milmont Park
Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Jude, Chalfont
Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 5:00 PM, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Swarthmore
Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Saint Patrick, Malvern

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND JOHN J. MCINTYRE
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Monday, October 21, 2013 at 4:30 PM, Saint Margaret, Narberth
Monday, November 4, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint George, Philadelphia
Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Joseph, Ambler
Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Saint Catherine of Siena, Horsham
Monday, November 18, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Anthony of Padua, Ambler
Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Alphonsus, Maple Glen
Monday, November 25, 2013 at 4:00 AM, Saint Aloysius, Pottstown

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND MICHAEL J. FITZGERALD
(Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Sunday, October 6, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Saint Anne, Philadelphia
Monday, October 14, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Presentation B.V.M., Cheltenham
Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM, Saint Anastasis, Newtown Square
Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Joseph, Cheltenham
Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Kevin, Springfield
Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 9:00 AM and 12:00 Noon, Saint Ann, Phoenixville
Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Holy Martyrs, Oreland
Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Madeline, Ridley Park
Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 12:00 Noon, Saint Isaac Jogues, Wayne

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND ROBERT P. MAGINNIS
(Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia)

Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Anslem, Philadelphia
Sunday, November 10, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Sacred Heart, Swedesburg
Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Assumption B.V.M., West Grove
Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Morton
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Philadelphia
Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Ephrem, Bensalem

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND JOSEPH F. MARTINO
(Retired Bishop of Scranton)

Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 2:00 PM, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Philadelphia
Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Francis de Sales, Lenni
Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:00 AM, Our Lady of Grace, Penndel
Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 10:30 AM, Mother of Divine Grace, Philadelphia
Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Our Lady of Calvary, Philadelphia
Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 3:00 PM, Saint Vincent de Paul, Richboro
Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Saint Martin de Porres, Philadelphia
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 5:00 PM, Holy Innocents, Philadelphia

CELEBRANT: MOST REVEREND HERBERT A. BEVARD
(Bishop of Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands)

Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Sacred Heart, Oxford
Monday, October 28, 2013 at 4:30 PM, Saint John Bosco, Hatboro
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Old Saint Joseph, Philadelphia
Monday, November 4, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Holy Trinity, Morrisville
Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 4:30 PM, Our Lady of Fatima, Secane
Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 4:00 PM, Saint Dominic, Philadelphia
Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 5:00 PM, Queen of Peace, Ardsley
Friday, November 8, 2013 at 3:00 PM, Saint Michael the Archangel, Levittown

Contact
Annie Korp
Communications Assistant
215-587-3747

For the first time ever the Catholic Charities Appeal (CCA) will partner with the Philadelphia Phillies for "Catholic Charities Night". A portion of the proceeds from tickets purchased through a dedicated link will go directly to the appeal.

Orders must be placed by September 13th. To purchase tickets to this game and support the Catholic Charities Appeal please visit www.phillies.com/catholiccharitiesnight.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

On September 4, tens of thousands of students across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia return to class for a new academic year in our 123 parish schools, 17 secondary schools and four schools for persons with special needs.  Philadelphia rightly claims one of the finest Catholic educational systems in North America.  Catholics across the archdiocese can take pride in its extraordinary achievements, which include, most recently, our 15 schools honored by the U.S. Department of Education for their “blue ribbon” excellence.

It’s a good moment to consider some history.

Catholic schools began in this country in the early 19th century, and Philadelphia played a leading role in their founding.  Catholics started them as an alternative to the public schools of the day, which taught a curriculum often critical of Catholic belief.  In many ways times have changed, but the mission of Catholic schools – quite properly – has remained.  The main purpose of Catholic schools is religious; in other words, to form students in Catholic faith, Catholic morality and Catholic social values. 

We place great importance on the academic excellence of our schools.  The reason is simple.  A strong, well-rounded academic education helps to create mature citizens who build up the wider community.  We also take great pride in our schools that exist as a service outreach in largely non-Catholic communities, welcoming students of every faith and no faith.  These schools too are a vital part of our mission.  In all of her social, spiritual and educational ministry, the Church seeks to benefit all persons of good will.  We’re grateful for our role in serving Philadelphia’s families; and we’re grateful to help cultivate the next generation of Philadelphia leaders – Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

Nonetheless, our schools exist primarily to develop the whole human person with an education shaped by Catholic faith, virtue and moral formation.  The goal of the Church, and by extension, the goal of all Catholic education, is to make disciples.

God renews the world with our actions, not our intentions. What separates real discipleship from surface piety is whether we actually do what we say we believe.

Our vocation as Christians is not simply to pass along good morals to our children, or to convey a sense of God’s hand in the world. These things are vital, of course; but they don’t exhaust our purpose for being here. Our mission is to bring the world to Jesus Christ, and to bring Jesus Christ to the world. Each of us is called to be a missionary at baptism, and our primary task is the conversion of our own hearts and the hearts of others, so that someday the whole world will acknowledge Jesus Christ as humanity’s savior and Lord.

That’s a big job. We can’t do it by just talking about it, any more than Christ could redeem us by writing an essay on sin. The Gospels have power because they tell the story of what God did; what his only Son did; and what Christ’s followers did. The Passion accounts of Christ’s suffering and death move us so deeply because they show in vivid detail how unashamedly God loves us.

This is the hot spark at the heart of every sincere attempt to tell the story of our redemption. God spared not even his own Son in saving us. It’s no wonder the cross draws the eye of great artists again and again down through the centuries. The cross reminds us that -- at least on one day in history -- love had no limits. And since then, everything has been different.  God built the Church we’ve inherited through the love of generations of believers. Their generosity and witness made our faith possible. It’s now our turn to shape the future by the zeal we bring to our own daily witness, especially with young people. It’s our turn to act. It’s our turn to live our Catholic faith with all the courage and strength Christ brought to loving the Church he founded.

The Church depends on God who will always protect her. But she also depends on you and me -- teachers, principals, pastors, deacons, catechists, parents and devoted single Catholics -- to carry Christ’s mission into the world.

On September 4, when the doors of our schools open, let’s remember to pray for the young people we’re privileged to educate.  And let’s also recall the reason our schools exist.  Each of these students is eternally precious and infinitely loved by God.  What they learn in our classrooms, they need to see lived with joy in our lives.  Words are important.  Actions are more important.  We need to live our Catholic faith as the apostles did; and through the young people that our witness forms, God will reshape the world.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Office for Consecrated Life of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is pleased to announce this year's Annual Religious Jubilarian Mass honoring religious priests, sisters, and brothers celebrating milestone anniversaries of 25 years or more.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. will be the main celebrant.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. has invited all people of goodwill to respond to Pope Francis' request to gather and pray for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

The Most Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration and communal prayers for peace will be offered every hour.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Two years ago this week (September 8), I began my service here in Philadelphia as archbishop. Two years from now, this same week, we'll be in the final stages of preparing for the eighth World Meeting of Families (September 22-27). It's a good moment to pause and reflect.

The future is always shaped in part by the past, because we become what we do. Our choices and decisions, our mistakes, virtues, sins and achievements - all these things become the record of "character encountering circumstance" that we call history. All of us are influenced by events in the past. None of us is determined by them. The future depends on our willingness to learn the right lessons from our history and apply them honestly to the new realities we face, here and now. So it is with individuals. And so it is with the Church.

Philadelphia Catholics have lived through a decade of tough news: the suffering of abuse victims and their families; two grand jury reports; priests removed from ministry; parish mergers; school closings; declining Mass attendance; well-intentioned but poor financial management; outright embezzlement - all of it compounded by complacency, inertia and too little transparency and accountability at almost every level of Church life.

I've said these things before, many times. They're painful to say and difficult to hear. But they're worth remembering this September because we're on a different course now, a better one; and we've come a long way in a short time. I get plenty of angry emails and letters every week - it goes with the job - but I've also been deeply moved by the number of people, both clergy and lay, from Pennsylvania and all over the country, who've offered extraordinary words of encouragement and support.

I think I know why. Philadelphia is not just another diocese. The Church here has roots that go to the heart of the American Catholic experience and to the core of our nation's best ideals. And if God can use poor instruments like you and me to rekindle the fire of the Gospel in the churches of Philadelphia, then he can work that miracle anywhere. I want my life as a Christian to be part of that story; and again and again over the past two years, I've met good people in parishes across the archdiocese who want exactly the same.

The history that shapes Philadelphia Catholics is more than just the wounds of the last 10 or 20 years, as serious as they are. It's a history built from 205 years of growing and extending the faith; two centuries of serving the sick and the poor, educating young people, welcoming the stranger, and humanizing the wider Pennsylvania community with a witness of Christian love and justice. We need to keep these truths about our Church vividly in our memory. They belong to us as our inheritance. Generations of Philadelphia Catholics proved their faith by their suffering, generosity and hard work. We need to recover that same kind of vigorous faith in our own lives - a zeal to renew the Church in the present, and to shape the future with the message of Jesus Christ.

A lot remains to be done. As our financial reports made clear earlier this summer, the material needs of the Church are real and severe. Ministry is the work of Gospel. That's always our priority. It always will remain so. Ministry, however, runs on resources. When the Church in Philadelphia pursues the sale of properties, or the leasing of our cemeteries, or the marketing of a vitally important ministry like our health care system, we do it reluctantly. We also remain keenly aware of the obligations we have to our employees, to the wider Catholic and non-Catholic community, and especially to the people we serve.

But we can't renew the life of our local Church with good intentions and plans ungrounded in fact. We need prudence and clear thinking. The future depends on what we do right now, and right now we need to be willing to continue the hard work of personal conversion and institutional reform that we've already begun. There's no other path to a vigorous and fruitful Catholic presence in Philadelphia in the decades ahead.

The past two years have seen difficult times. More challenges will surely come. But the people of this extraordinary Church - priests, deacons, religious and lay persons across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - have been, and are, and will always be, the greatest gift from God in my life as a pastor. Please pray for me, as I pray every day for you.

Contact
Kenneth A. Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Green Light Pantry at Casa del Carmen, a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is now one of two food pantries in the city solely providing nutritious foods to clients, as well as free nutrition workshops, health screenings and other services.

Christina Weiss Lurie, President of the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Partnership, and Jose Garces, award-winning Iron Chef and co-founder of the Garces Foundation, will take part in the grand opening event of the new food pantry.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

Prominent Catholic speaker and writer, Brad S. Gregory, Professor and Director of the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Notre Dame, will be the presenter at the 3rd installment of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Year of Faith Lecture Series. Science vs. Religion: The Compatibility of Catholicism and the Natural Sciences is the title of Professor Gregory's presentation.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747

Immaculate Mary Home, a Catholic Health Care Services skilled nursing and rehabilitation center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be hosting a Centenarian Luncheon for five of their residents.

Contact
Stephanie Brophy
Associate Director of Communications
215-587-3747

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced today the continuation of the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative among 46 parishes in Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. This process is designed to allow groups of parishes known as Pastoral Planning Areas (PPAs) within the same geographic area to undertake a program of self-study. It is led by the pastors in conjunction with parish leadership, parishioners, and the Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee.

The need for this process was outlined in a pastoral letter from the Fall of 2010 which called on all parishes in the Archdiocese to determine if they possess the resources necessary to accomplish their roles in the mission of Christ while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities. It is hoped that the end result will be the strongest possible parishes that are poised for stability, growth, and service to God's people now and far into the future throughout the Archdiocese.

The work of Parish Area Pastoral Planning is conducted in multiple stages. It involves a review of information related to demographic, financial and spiritual activity followed by consultation with parish leadership, parishioners and the Archdiocese. Finally, recommendations are made for the future. There are three possible outcomes from the work: parish mergers, no change in structure with a plan for future sustainability, or a recommendation for future study.

Every outcome is based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, demographic shifts in Catholic populations, concentrated density of parishes in a limited geographic area, history of declining Mass attendance and sacramental activity, increasing economic challenges that threaten sustainability, a decrease in the availability of clergy to staff parishes and a review of facilities.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee, made up of lay persons, priests and Archdiocesan personnel, is examining all parishes within the Archdiocese to gauge their viability and assess whether they possess the resources to accomplish their role in the mission of the Church while remaining sustainable and vibrant faith communities.

Parish Area Pastoral Planning is designed to be as collaborative and consultative as possible. Its goal is to provide pastors, after consulting their parish leadership, with the opportunity to dialogue with members of the Strategic Planning Committee in providing joint recommendations to the Archbishop for growth and sustainability within their respective geographic areas. Additionally, in the majority of cases, the regional bishop and the dean meet with the pastors as well as their pastoral and finance councils to hear their concerns and receive their recommendations.

The Archdiocesan Strategic Planning Committee shares all final proposals with the Council of Priests and the College of Consultors for their review before final approval by the Archbishop.

Contact
Kenneth Gavin
Director of Communications
215-587-3747