Religion
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Bill Atkinson: The Life and Impact of the Catholic Church’s First Quadriplegic Priest
Rev. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A., was inspired to become an Augustinian priest because of Father Bill Atkinson’s own incredible relationship with God. Rev. Hagan, a Drexel Hill native, serves as the Prior Provincial at The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. He spoke about the life and canonization of Father Atkinson back in June…
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Religious Sisters from Ukraine Arrive in Montco to Help Host Annual Summer Camp
The Sisters of St. Basil the Great in Montgomery County welcomed religious sisters from Ukraine to help host their annual summer camp and pray for global peace, reports Matteo Iadonisi for 6abc. The visit is part of a long-standing partnership the Montgomery County order maintains with sisters around the world. “We came from Ukraine for…
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Pope Leo XIV’s Favorite Wawa Order Is a Vatican Secret for Now
Given Pope Leo XIV’s connection to Delaware County through Villanova University, it was only a matter of time before he was asked about his favorite Wawa order, writes Joe Holden for CBS News Philadelphia. It was hoped that one Delaware County native might be able to elicit some answers to key Delaware County questions from…
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Pope Leo XIV Turns Down Villanova Commencement Speech Invite
Villanova University President, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, took a chance this week when he sent an email to Pope Leo XIV asking if he’d be free to speak at next year’s commencement exercises. “Very funny,” Pope Leo XIV responded. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that.” Still, Rev. Donohue isn’t…
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Villanova Graduate Robert Francis Prevost Named First American Pope
Robert Francis Prevost, a Villanova University graduate and a Chicago native, was chosen as the first American pope in history to lead the Catholic church as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1977, writes Tom Dougherty for CBS News Philadelphia. “As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we…
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Fraternitas Rosae Crucis: The Mysterious Spiritual Fraternity Hidden in Quakertown
The Fraternitas Rosae Crucis is among several strange societies and cults with Pennsylvania ties, and can be found in Quakertown and is still active to this day, writes Kalena Thomhave for The Keystone. Rosicrucianism traces its roots to the 1600s Europe. It has since spread far beyond its original borders and shifted into the many…
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Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Downsizing: A 150-Year Legacy Finds New Homes for Art
After 150 years, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is downsizing, reports Joe Holden for CBS Philadelphia. The Catholic seminary is moving from its sprawling 73-acre campus in Lower Merion to a much smaller space in Ambler. There are a lot of moving parts in a transition this big. Some things, however, will not be moving along…
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Meet the First Woman Pastor in Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church’s 237-Year History
The historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia has made history, naming a woman as its new pastor for the first time in its 237-year history, writes Nate File for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The church has appointed Rev. Carolyn Cavaness to serve as the church’s 53rd pastor. “Rev. Cavaness brings a wealth of experience, a…
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‘Free Exercise’ Documentary on Religious Liberty Makes Philadelphia Premiere on Tuesday
During the summer of 1844, rising anti-Catholic sentiment in Philadelphia boiled into the streets of Kensington and Southwark, leaving 14 dead and dozens injured. It was hardly an isolated incident. From the mid-19th century and well into the 20th century, Catholics were the target of nativist factions that sought to keep them from practicing…
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Quaker Publisher to Speak on His Visit to World Quaker Plenary in South Africa
Quaker publisher Gabriel Ehri will present Reflections on the 2024 World Quaker Plenary in South Africa at the Newtown Quaker Meetinghouse on Sept. 22, writes Norval Reece for the Patch. After the presentation, a worship in the manner of Friends will be held. The public is invited to all events. Ehri traveled to Johannesburg in…
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‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ Was Written in Philadelphia
The well-known Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” was divinely inspired at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square right here in Philadelphia, writes Jennifer Lin for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The carol was created by two friends, a rector and his organist, in 1868, built on procrastination and an angelic visit. Church…
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Langhorne’s Poor Clares Monastery Produces Thousands of Communion Wafers for Local Parishes
It’s no question that nuns at the Poor Clares Monastery in Langhorne take communion very seriously. The convent can make up to 10,000 alter breads at a time, writes Alexandra Greeley for the National Catholic Register. The sisters use machines to mix flour and water. Then they bake, dampen, cut the wafers and package…
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Largest Modern-Era Hindu Temple Outside of India Opens Near Bucks County
The largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era opened this week near Bucks County, in Robbinsville, New Jersey, according to a staff report from WHYY. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham was built using four varieties of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria. It was hand-carved by artisans in India and then shipped more…
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Holland Church Celebrates the Life and Work of a Renowned Catholic Saint
St. Bede the Venerable, a church in Holland, recently saw a major celebration that remembered the legacy of a famous saint. Last week, Archbishop Nelson Perez, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, visited the church to oversee the 8th Annual Padre Pio Festival. The festival saw members of the church’s congregation come together the remember the saint,…
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Southampton Church Wraps Up Centennial Celebrations with Mass, Gala
Our Lady of Good Counsel, located at 611 Knowles Avenue in Southampton, wrapped up its year-long centennial celebration on Sept. 10 with a special mass followed by a gala, according to a staff report from the Catholic Philly. Our Lady of Good Counsel Centennial Mass Celebration took place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church…
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Meditation Center Heading to Bucks County to Offer a ‘Taste of Zen’, Other Wellness Practices
A meditation center will be making their way to Bucks County at the end of the summer to immerse residents in several wellness practices. The Soshimsa Zen Center, a Buddhist temple headquartered at 398 Lincoln Boulevard in Middlesex, New Jersey, will be hosting their “Taste of Zen Retreat” in New Hope from Sept. 22 –…
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Inaugural Corpus Christi Procession Recently Held by Three Parishes in Bucks County
Three neighboring Bucks County parishes hosted an inaugural Corpus Christi procession on June 10, writes Catholic Philly in a photo feature. Around 500 people from St. Bede the Venerable in Holland, St. Vincent dePaul in Richboro, and Nativity of Our Lord in Warminster parishes watched the event that was held at Northampton Municipal Park. During…
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Furlong Synagogue Find ‘Outpouring of Support’ From Community in Order to Keep Property
A synagogue in Bucks County recently found a large amount of support from their community, allowing them to stay in the area. Jarrad Saffren wrote about the local synagogue for the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. Temple Judea, located at 38 Rogers Road in Furlong, saw its future in the area in jeopardy due to high property…
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