After a year of increases in murders and attacks on Philadelphia police officers, the 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Service seems all the more crucial.

The prayer service will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church located at 63rd and Callowhill Streets in West Philadelphia. Cardinal Justin Rigali will preside and offer a reflection on the Gospel message witnessed in the life of Dr. King. [read more]

PHILADELPHIA — Consider this an SOS.

This past November, Philadelphia’s Archdiocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul experienced a 40 percent drop in donations from the previous November, according to Carey Gibbons Roberts, executive director of the city’s oldest lay organization dedicated exclusively to serving people in need. [read more]

A look back at any year of happenings in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia reveals remarkable events, but 2008 was exceptional.

Heading the list of highlights was the Bicentennial of the Church in Philadelphia. Two hundred years have passed since the founding of the Diocese, and the Archdiocese hosted a number of bicentennial events which culminated with a Mass at Villanova University. Approximately 5,000 of the faithful of the Archdiocese were present at the Mass for which Cardinal Rigali was the main celebrant and homilist. He was joined by numerous priests, bishops, archbishops and cardinals — many with roots in the Philadelphia Archdiocese — from around the country. There was even a birthday cake at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, and the ringing of bells at all the churches in the Archdiocese on the actual anniversary date, April 8. [read more]

PHILADELPHIA — It crosses everyone’s mind now and again. Wouldn’t it be fun to be a kid again, at least just for a little bit?

A group of early childhood educators from the Office for Catholic Education and the parochial schools got to do just that on Dec. 11. They visited Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum in its brand new home in Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall. They got to ride the old Woodside Park Carousel, visited Alice’s Wonderland, had a story read to them, played bus driver and of course learned all about the museum’s programs for children pre-K through grade two. [read more]

Shannon Griesser was Santa Claus on New Year’s Eve. In the North Pole tradition, she was distributing toys to needy children. Rather than coming down the chimney and sneaking cookies and milk, the 17-year-old hand delivered wrapped toys to dozens of youngsters. The smiling faces were of North Philadelphia and Fishtown children — courtesy of the 41st Annual Operation Santa Claus, an initiative of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Youth and Young Adults. [readmore]