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~ Pope
Benedict XVI
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PHILADELPHIA PA (Dec. 22, 2019)–Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Midnight Mass on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2019.
The Holy Day of Christmas is a most special occasion for Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as we celebrate the Birth of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. All are welcome to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord at the mother church of the Archdiocese, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
– Christmas Eve Masses will be celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica at 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Music for the 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Masses will be provided by the Cathedral Schola and Instruments. The 7:30 p.m. Mass will be a bilingual celebration in English and Spanish.
– Beginning at 11:00 p.m. – Cathedral Basilica Choir and Instruments will provide the Choral Prelude to the Midnight Mass with sacred music and carols.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
-12:00 a.m. – Solemn Midnight Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., with music provided by the Cathedral Basilica Choir and Instruments. The Midnight Mass will be streamed live on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s and Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/ArchPhila
and
http://www.facebook.com/archbishopchaput
beginning at 12:00 a.m. (EDT).
-10:00 a.m. – Solemn Mass with music provided by the Cathedral Basilica Choir and Instruments.
Additional Christmas Day Masses will be celebrated in the Cathedral Basilica at 8:00 a.m. with music provided by a cantor and an organist and 12:00 Noon Solemn Mass with the Cathedral Schola and Instruments.
THERE WILL BE NO EVENING MASS.
In his Christmas message of 1944 – the fifth year of a Second World War that spanned the globe with its suffering – Pope Pius XII offered these words:
The Church has the mission to announce to the world . . . the highest and most needed message that there can be: the dignity of man, the call to be sons of God. It is the powerful cry which, from the manger in Bethlehem to the furthest confines of the
earth, resounds in the ears of men at a time when that dignity is tragically low.
The holy story of Christmas proclaims this inviolable dignity of man with a vigor and authority that cannot be gainsaid. – an authority and vigor that infinitely transcend that which all possible declarations of the rights of man could achieve.
Christmas, the great feast of the Son of God who appeared in human flesh, the feast in which heaven stoops down to earth with ineffable grace and benevolence, is also the day on which Christianity and mankind, before the crib, contemplating “the goodness and kindness of God our Savior,” become more deeply conscious of the intimate unity that God has established between them.
The birth of the Savior of the world, of the Restorer of human dignity in all its fullness, is the moment characterized by the alliance of all men of good will. There to the poor world, torn by discord, divided by selfishness, poisoned by hate, love will be restored, and it will be allowed to march forward in cordial harmony, toward the common goal, to find at last the cure for its wounds in the peace of Christ.
Today, a lifetime of 75 years later, the world is infinitely different and implacably the same. Different in its marvels of medicine, technology, and science. Different in its deliverance of many millions of people from illness, illiteracy, and poverty. But the same in the millions more who are homeless, or persecuted, or refugees, or locked in poverty, or killed casually on an industrial scale by abortion. Times and circumstances change. Human nature doesn’t. The world still needs –
urgently
needs – “the birth of the Savior” and “the cure for its wounds in the peace of Christ.”
This will be my last Christmas as the serving Archbishop of Philadelphia. Ministry in this archdiocese is one of the great gifts and joys of my life. My memories of Philadelphia’s priests, deacons, people, and religious are and always will be a treasure to me. I thank you for welcoming me among you — I arrived as a stranger, and you made Philadelphia my home — and I hope that all of us will remember throughout this season to thank God for our baptism, for the Church, and for each other.
May God bless all of us and our families on this wonderful Christmas feast of life. And may he grant us a happy and holy new year.
The Bucks County Family Service Center (BCFSC), a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS), will host a children’s Christmas brunch celebration for approximately 40 families in the local community. This year’s theme is “Llama, Llama, Jingle
Bells!” based on the children’s Christmas book of the same name.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
10:30 a.m. (Arrival of Santa)
Fatima Catholic Outreach Center
2915 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
Participants will enjoy a morning filled with food, refreshments, a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and more. Dedicated staff from CSS, along with community members and student volunteers from Conwell-Egan Catholic High School in Fairless Hills (Bucks County) will also be in attendance. In addition, nearly 100 children will receive a gift thanks to numerous donors, local parish sponsors, and the local United States Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.
The Bucks County Family Service Center is the first point of contact for individuals, families, and parishes when they seek assistance from Catholic Social Services. It is one of seven such centers located throughout the five-county metropolitan area comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
December 18, 2019
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the
conviction of another Church-suing top cop
:
Thomas Spota, who served as the District Attorney of Suffolk County for many years, was convicted yesterday of covering up for a police chief who brutally beat a handcuffed man for stealing sex toys and pornography from his car. If this were all there were to this story, it wouldn\’t be worth mentioning. But there\’s more.
In the early 2000s, following revelations of clergy sexual abuse by the Boston Globe, Spota impaneled a Long Island grand jury to probe the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He knew full well he could not prosecute anyone because of the statute of limitations, but that didn\’t matter. He never cross examined witnesses and refused to allow officials from the diocese to testify. Worse, he leaked a copy of the grand jury report to Newsday before the diocese had a chance to respond.
Spota is the third top cop with a vendetta against the Catholic Church to wind up behind bars.
In 2017, Seth Williams, the Philadelphia District Attorney, was sentenced to five years in prison on multiple counts of bribery, extortion, and fraud. He even robbed money set aside to pay for his own mother\’s nursing home care, using it to fund his lavish lifestyle.
Williams tried desperately to railroad accused priests, relying on the testimony of Danny Gallagher, a.k.a. \”Billy Doe,\” an alleged victim. He was described by journalist Ralph Cipriano as \”a former drug addict, heroin dealer, habitual liar, third-rate conman and thief [who] made up the whole story.\” As a result, four innocent men were sent to jail.
The third loser top cop to be sent to the slammer was Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. She started the state-wide grand jury probe of the Catholic Church that was ultimately picked up by her discredited successor, Josh Shapiro. She was sentenced in 2016 for leaking sealed, confidential grand jury documents to the media and for lying under oath.
The Catholic League clashed with Spota, Williams, and Kane on many occasions. While they were not imprisoned for their misdeeds against the Catholic Church, their flawed character—which we observed many times—ultimately caught up with them in a criminal way.
Interestingly, even though the three of them are Catholic, they all harbored an animus against Catholicism. It would be good for them to reflect on their predicament this Christmas season. Redemption may be at hand.
PHILADELPHIA PA–Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS) will host the 64th annual
Archbishop’s Benefit for Children
Christmas Party
benefitting nearly 500
children and youth in grades Pre-K through five. This year’s theme is “Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus!”
The
Archbishop’s Benefit for Children Christmas Party
will kick off with a live Nativity scene on the front steps of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center (APC) featuring students from Saint Raymond of Peñafort School (Philadelphia). Highlights include live animals, a performance by the Divina Uncion Choir, and a Las Posadas presentation commemorating the journey that Joseph and Mary made in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the Savior.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Following the live Nativity scene, the celebration will officially kick off at the Philadelphia 201 hotel located directly across from the APC.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
will greet the children and join in on the festivities. Reverend Christopher M. Walsh, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Peñafort Parish (Philadelphia), will serve as the emcee for the event.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Philadelphia 201 Hotel
17th Street between Race and Vine Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Children and youth will enjoy an afternoon filled with performances, sing-a-longs, snacks, and more. In addition, children will be treated to a surprise visit from Santa who will distribute gifts to all in attendance. Student volunteers from Archdiocesan High Schools throughout the five-county region will serve as Santa’s elves.
The event will be streamed live from
Archbishop Chaput’s Facebook page
as well as the
Catholic Social Services Facebook page
.
The Archbishop’s Benefit for Children (ABC)
is a year-round fundraising effort that provides necessary support to help ensure the vitality of CSS’ youth programs for children and families of all faiths throughout the five-county metropolitan area comprising the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. These programs provide help and create hope for thousands of children each year, including children with disabilities, at-risk children, and dependent or court-adjudicated youth. All children in need are served regardless of background and faith.
###
Editor’s Note:
For more information or to make a donation in support of the Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children, please visit
.
CAMDEN CITY, NJ (Dec. 13, 2019)–The Rutgers–Camden Gospel Choir began in spring 2019 under the guidance of founding director Dionne Fields, a Rutgers–Camden graduate and part-time lecturer of music. Members include students and community members from throughout the region, as well as musicians in the choir\’s accompanying band. Learn more about the Department of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts:
http://go.rutgers.edu/7vjw4e6o
GLASSBORO, NJ (Dec. 12, 2019)–The Rev. Thomas J. McIntyre, age 77, of Glassboro, NJ, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Dec. 6, 2019.
Rev. Thomas J. McIntyre
Born in Camden, NJ to the late James P. and Catherine (Goldthorp) McIntyre, he is the beloved brother of Jeanette Reilly of Glassboro and the late Rev. Msgr. James P. McIntyre. Devoted uncle of Janice (Tony) Lanteigne, Richard (Jodi) Winters, Christopher (Tara) Reilly, Kevin Reilly, Maureen (Mike) Collazo, Donna (Brendan) Shaw. Uncle to 14 great-nieces and nephews.
Raised in Westville, Msgr. McIntyre graduated from Gloucester Catholic HS, Mount St. Mary\’s College in Emmitsburg, MD and Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Ordained at St. Peter\’s Basilica, in Rome, Italy on December 17, 1966, he later received his Master\’s Degree in Secondary Education Administration from Villanova University. Msgr. was a faithful leader in the Camden Diocese for many years having served as Vocation Coordinator at St. Joseph HS in Hammonton beginning in 1970 and later Administrative Assistant at Sacred Heart HS, Vineland in 1975.
In 1976 he became Principal of Gloucester Catholic HS and in 1982 was named Superintendent of Schools after briefly serving as Assoc. Superintendent earlier that year. In 1991 he became Vicar for Pastoral Services for the Diocese and in 1999 was made Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Schools. He also served on the Continuing Education & Spiritual Formation of Priests, Priests Council, Priest Personnel Board, Inter-parochial Board, College of Consulters and Presbyteral Council.
Msgr. McIntyre also served as Executive Editor of the Catholic Star Herald in the 1980\’s and was well known for his \”Teachable Moments\” column where his many inspirational writings will forever be cherished. He touched the lives of many during his pastoral ministry where he served as Pastor of St. Jude Parish in Blackwood 1992-2000, St. Peter Celestine, Cherry Hill 2000-2004 and Our Lady Star of the Sea, Cape May from 2004 to 2010 at which time he retired after suffering a head injury after a fall on the ice. He continued to demonstrate immense courage after his accident and devoted himself to the prayerful support of others while in the care of his sister in her home. Msgr. McIntyre was an amazing and humble man. His love for Christ, his family, his parishioners, and friends was always evident in his words and actions. He was an avid Eagles and Phillies Fan. Visitation Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 from 9-10:45 am, Incarnation RC Church, 240 Main St., Mantua. Mass of Christian Burial, 11 am, Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D., Bishop of Camden, principal Celebrant.
Burial beside his beloved parents and brother in New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be offered to the Msgr. Thomas J. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship Fund for Gloucester Catholic HS, c/o Jeanette Reilly, 14 Ealey Ct., Glassboro, NJ 08028. (Spilker Funeral Home, Cape May) Info and condolences:
spilkerfuneralhome.com
(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 11, 2019)–While church attendance seems to be declining, and a mental health crisis is rising, many people may not realize the many benefits of attending church.
Almost 20% of Americans
report having no religious affiliation in 2018. This is more than double the 8% who had no preference just a decade earlier.
Attending church has several benefits that may have you reconsidering your connection with a higher power. Read on to find out what they are.
1. Mental Health Benefits of Attending Church
This world is a stressful and often confusing place. Depression, anxiety, and stress are challenges facing many as they struggle through life. It often leaves people wondering their place in the universe and what the purpose of their life is.
Studies show that
religion and spirituality can benefit
mental and physical health, and relieve depression, anxiety, and stress by providing an answer to many of those questions about life.
2. Physical Health Benefits
When you\’re less stressed and more content in life (which is often associated with spiritual connections), your physical health also improves.
You can actually lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, and even reduce your risk of dementia.
Religious affiliation also has some guidelines and spiritual rules that lead to healthier life choices; for example, some religions forbid addictive substances. Some promote no or little meat intake, alcohol, or drugs. These can all lead to a healthier life overall.
Not only does church reduce stress, but it may also
help you live longer
. That\’s right—a study of middle-aged adults showed that there was a link between attending church and mortality that goes above and beyond just reducing stress.
3. Social Connections
Another benefit of church attendance can be the social connections you make with other parishioners. The individuals you meet may become your friends and offer emotional support in your life.
Feeling connected to a community or individuals with similar beliefs and interests is a critical part of actualization and joy in life. The activities, community, and sense of belonging in a church can provide that much-needed
sense of belonging
.
4. Guidance and Direction
No matter who you are or what your life is like, there are roadblocks, challenges, and tragedies to deal with at some point. Religion and spirituality can help give an individual guidance and direction, as well as comfort.
Many spiritual individuals have thought about and determined their priorities in life because their religion gives them a place to start and a litmus test for choices.
Someone without religion or spirituality may make very different decisions without a moral place to start setting their personal boundaries. While there are millions of good people making good choices without religion, having one can make it easier to make kinder and less selfish choices in your life.
There is no quandary because your religion sets what is right and wrong in your life. While you still have the ultimate choice, you have a personal standard to begin making that choice from.
5. Develop Talents
Attending church can often create opportunities to grow and develop talents a person otherwise would never use.
Many of the top celebrity singers developed their voices and talents while
singing in church
from the time they were young. Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, and many more have attributed their talent and love for music to their church attendance.
Some churches have their congregation participate with service projects, leadership opportunities, speaking engagements, and musical performances.
6. A Sense of Purpose
Spirituality often gives individuals
a sense of purpose
in their lives. This can be from the belief of a higher power and from service or good deeds they perform as a result of their religious belief that Christlike service and fellowship are the true purposes of life.
Learn more
about how church attendance can help provide a sense of purpose.
7. Resilience
Spirituality and religion can help a person become more resilient when facing the most painful life experiences. A belief in the afterlife can make the death of a loved one more bearable.
Faith can often help individuals get through a health or financial crisis with more optimism and hope. There\’s a tendency to look for and find a lesson in the challenges of life, which can help reduce distress in times of crisis or tragedy.
8. Confidence and a Sense of Worth
Spirituality not only gives you a sense of purpose, but it can also give you a sense of empowerment and greater self-confidence. The belief that you come from a higher power and were created with a purpose can lead you to set higher goals.
For many, the belief that they\’re a child of God gives them the courage or faith to try things they\’d never believe were possible otherwise.
Priorities and goals may be easier to determine and more centered on fulfilling one\’s potential rather than obtaining worldly power or possessions. The difference in priorities and focus can bring a sense of peace and contentment in life that allows growth in personal areas, rather than always seeking approval from people.
9. A More Compassionate and Optimistic View
Those who have a strong spiritual base will often be more compassionate and optimistic in their view of life and the world. Someone who\’s truly trying to live a more Christlike life will have increased empathy and compassion for their fellow man and see the world with a more optimistic and loving view.
They\’ll often be the first to offer a helping hand and tend to be more willing to serve and help because of a sense of duty to another and to their maker.
Attending Church Can Make Every Day Better
Attending church doesn\’t just have benefits on Sundays. It can have positive effects and benefits in every aspect of your life if you make a commitment and find a community with spiritual beliefs you feel connected to.
Don\’t forget to bookmark our website for easy access to the latest news, tips, and articles.
A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard. An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away all night. We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus\’ lap from time to time. This is too sweet not to share. No one mentioned that the dog breed is a \”shepherd!\” (
Catholic Study Fellowship)
submitted by former Gloucester City resident Nancy F.