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Although there will be no public celebrations of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord or the Sacred Paschal Triduum, the faithful from throughout the five-county Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and all people of good will, are invited to take part virtually via a live streamed broadcast. Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday April 5, 2020 – April 12, 2020 MASS SCHEDULE FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD April 5, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and... Read more →

COVID-19 is challenging the faithful to find creative ways to maintain and adapt their religious traditions. Scholar/author Khyati Joshi says this experience may be transformative as new ways of practicing religion become part of everyday life. TEANECK, NJ – Christians and Jews will soon celebrate their most sacred annual holidays with churches and synagogues closed, large gatherings banned, Seder meals and Easter pageants in peril as the nation struggles to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus. Worshippers are examining their doctrines and traditions for creative ways they... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on remarks made by President Trump on the social effects of coronavirus: In his March 29 briefing on coronavirus, President Donald Trump alluded to the social consequences of not taking seriously the threat it poses. He mentioned the "massive" rates of drug use, depression, and suicide that might happen if he took a more relaxed approach to the disease. Trump's critics have played their "fact check game," questioning how accurate his statement is. Even... Read more →

The six-day online retreat program is part of the ongoing pastoral and temporal response of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to the COVID-19 pandemic and offers a means for the faithful to prepare spiritually for the approach of Holy Week. “Our Lenten journey has taken an unexpected turn with the worldwide outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In an effort to impede the spread of the virus and to protect those most vulnerable among us, all of us have changed the way that we live. Life as... Read more →

Pope Francis (courtesy of The Irish Times) PHILADELPHIA, PA (March 26, 2020)--In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Pope Francis invites Catholics around the world to participate remotely in a prayer service that will be streamed live from Saint Peters Square to https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html on Friday, March 27th. Pope Francis will give the extraordinary Urbi et Orbi Blessing with the opportunity for participants to receive a plenary indulgence. The Urbi et Orbi, meaning "to the City and the World," is a blessing usually delivered by the... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor March 24, 2020 Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on atheist critics of Vice President Mike Pence: Organized atheists, unlike most Americans who are non-believers, are more often than not driven by hatred of religion and the faithful. Their impulses are totalitarian: they would ban all religious expression if they could. A classic case is Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). FFRF has gone ballistic because Vice President Mike Pence recently implored Americans to make donations to their church, even if... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA PA (March 24, 2020)--Individuals, families, and children impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and in need of emergency assistance will receive critical support and resources from two agencies of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Social Services (CSS) and Nutritional Development Services (NDS). Family Service Centers, part of the Community-Based Services Division of CSS, will continue to provide emergency food and diaper assistance to those in need and as well as those impacted by coronavirus. Seven such centers are located throughout the five-county metropolitan area... Read more →

Multiple strategies implemented statewide NEPTUNE, N.J. — March 19, 2020 — United Methodist Communities (UMC) has acted to address the novel (new) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Amid this Gloucestercitynews.net files pandemic, the organization continues to work tirelessly and comprehensively to help ensure the health and well-being of residents, clients, and associates. The UMC released the following statement. At this time, we have no cases or known exposures of COVID-19 in our UMC communities. We have formed a COVID-19 Response Team, led by Corporate Director of... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor (March 19, 2020)--Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the latest developments regarding the controversy that has embroiled Rep. Rashida Tlaib (we are thankful to CNSNews for its reporting on this ongoing issue): Rep. Rashida Tlaib is now trying to walk back an obscene assault she made on the sensibilities of religious Americans. Here is how this controversy unfolded. On March 16, I wrote to the ten members of the House Ethics Committee asking them to issue a letter of... Read more →

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 27, 2020)--The Easter outreach is an effort of over 90 Churches including locally First Baptist Church and Epiphany Church, who work together to provide 10,000 families an Easter Dinner to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. 500 meals will be packed locally on good Friday April 10th, with the distribution of the meals being Saturday April 11th. Help from the community is appreciated on both days! For those living Gloucester City to request a meal call 856-295-1491. If you know a family in need,... Read more →

IN CELEBRATION OF MATHEMATICS WITH PIE EATING CONTEST AND OTHER ACTIVITIES Chester Springs, PA --Saint Elizabeth School will hold its 13th Annual Pi Day in celebration of Mathematics, a day ahead of the official 3/14 observance of “Pi Day.” Students in grades Kindergarten-eight will participate in school-wide afternoon activities culminating with an end of day assembly and pie eating contest between teachers and students. Friday, March 13, 2020 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saint Elizabeth Parish School (Gymnasium) 120 Saint Elizabeth Drive Chester Springs, PA... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the politics of abortion gone off the deep end: Most Americans reject the limitless features of Roe v. Wade: they oppose abortion for any reason and at any time during pregnancy. And while they favor keeping abortion legal for some reasons, and in the early stages of pregnancy, there is nothing about abortion that makes them happy. However, there are some persons who like abortion, even to the point of celebrating it. Moreover,... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on another anti-Catholic joke: We know Seth Meyers will never trash Muslims, but he can safely insult Catholics knowing we will not resort to violence. He won't trash Jews because he doesn't have the guts to do so, and he sure won't attack "people of color." The most protected of all classes these days are the LGBTQXYZ people: he would actually quit his job before mocking them. Yesterday, we mentioned that Trevor Noah, David... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA PA--Saint John’s Hospice (SJH), a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS), is hosting its annual Saint John Neumann Boot Drive to benefit men experiencing homelessness. SJH, part of the Housing and Homeless Services Division of CSS, provides crucial, life-sustaining services with dignity, respect and compassion to homeless men in Philadelphia. This annual boot drive enables SJH to purchase basic necessities for men in need. Robert, a former SJH resident said, “These new boots are the greatest gift I have... Read more →

Pastor Joe Marlin Pastor of The Epiphany Church On the anti-virtue of fear. We came home from Rwanda for a few months in 2014 as missionaries for a time to reconnect with family and be ‘invisible’ in our home country, but that was not in the cards for us! If you google ‘Maple Shade Ebola’ you will find 128,000 results. You will also see articles about it from local news stations like Actions News all the way to international news agencies like the BBC, CNN,... Read more →

Over 200 students from Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls in the Tacony section of Philadelphia are coming together to participate in their annual Dance-A-Rama. The evening’s festivities will raise funds for Our Lady of Confidence Day School (OLC), one of four Archdiocesan Schools of Special Education, through Catholic Social Services campaign. Tuesday, March 10, 2020 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Saint Hubert Catholic High School for Girls – Auditorium 7320 Torresdale Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19136 **Please see editor’s note for additional directions** For the 3rd... Read more →

Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Catholic haters who can’t let it go: There are ongoing scandals in virtually every institution in the world, secular as well as religious, so when a prominent American newspaper runs an editorial about an organization where one of its past leaders once funneled money to a controversial affiliate overseas, it makes one wonder why it chose to focus on that institution and not an organization that is currently involved in a scandal in... Read more →

by Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a new survey of Catholics: The recently released survey of Catholic registered voters conducted by Real Clear Politics for EWTN has some fascinating data, but it also raises serious questions about its design. When asked which party the respondent belongs to, 45% said they were Democrats and 34% said they were Republicans. This accounts for the fact that 48% voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, versus 46% for Trump. This is not... Read more →

Faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are invited to celebrate the feast day of Saint Katharine Drexel at her Holy Shrine within the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Tuesday, March 3, 2020 12:05 p.m. (Sung Mass) 7:00 p.m. (Evening of Song and Prayer) Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul 18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19103 The Evening of Song and Prayer will feature the writings of Saint Katharine Drexel mixed with traditional and contemporary Christian worship music. Vocalists from... Read more →

The Camden Diocesan-wide FaithFULL Food Drive will be held on Sunday, March 22, and Catholics throughout South Jersey have already begun collecting food items in their parishes, schools and homes. Through this annual charitable event, Catholic Charities and other local food pantries will be able to fill their shelves once again, especially after donations stagnate during the months following the holidays. The campaign is held for multiple purposes, according to Matthew Davis, director of the Office of Life and Justice Ministries, who is leading the... Read more →

PENNSAUKEN, NJ--Kimberly Van Hook moved excitedly around her new apartment, pointing out each and every detail — the view of the trees from the window, the food items neatly arranged on the shelves in her refrigerator, the smooth counter-tops in the kitchen. Every few moments, she’d pause and say, “I can’t believe I finally have a home,” while looking around wondrously. Kimberly Van Hook is one of eight senior citizen residents who, after experiencing difficulty finding permanent housing, recently found a place to call home... Read more →

VINELAND, NJ--They may be small in size, but the four girls in Girl Scout Troop 51023 proved that their hearts are big. At Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden’s office in Vineland, these young helpers fastidiously filled backpacks with collected donated items to be given to the homeless in Cumberland County as part of the annual Point-in-Time Count. Each year, Catholic Charities staff joins other agencies to participate in the statewide count, which takes place during the last 10 days of January and identifies people who... Read more →

Rev. Howard E. Muhlbaier Cherry Hill - Rev. Howard Edward Muhlbaier, retired Catholic Priest of the Camden Diocese passed away on February 22, 2020 at St. Mary's Villa in Cherry Hill, with devoted friends and caregivers by his side, at age 81. Rev. Muhlbaier was born on June 16, 1938 to Sebastian Muhlbaier and Dorothy Kennedy Muhlbaier. He was raised in Swedesboro, NJ and was a graduate of Gloucester Catholic High School class of 1956. He continued his studies at Saint Charles College, Loyola College... Read more →

February 25, 2020 On Sunday, March 1st. the 5th. annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will begin on Johnson Blvd. at Monmouth Street at 1:00 pm. The parade will proceed west on Monmouth Street to King Street, then south on King Street to Cumberland Street. In order to accommodate the parade, the following road closures/ no parking will be in place from 10:30 am until the Highway Dept. finished sweeping the parade route following the parade. When viewing the attached maps, all streets highlighted in yellow... Read more →

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will be the main celebrant and homilist at the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Wednesday, February 26, 2020. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent for Christians throughout the world. Lent is a 40-day penitential time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving from Ash Wednesday through Holy Thursday in preparation for the Easter celebration. Wednesday, February 26, 2020 12:05 p.m. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter... Read more →

By Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the decision of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to declare bankruptcy: In 2018, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro unethically released a grand jury report on Catholic priests and lay people who were accused of sexually abusing minors decades ago—most were never found guilty and some successfully contested the public release of their name (the Catholic League filed an amicus brief in this victory in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court)—the result of which was... Read more →

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – A $15,000 grant from the Investors Bank’s Foundation is helping Congregation Beth El complete safety and security projects at its Voorhees campus. Representatives from Investors Bank recently presented a check from the Investors Foundation for $15,000 to Congregation Beth El in Voorhees. Pictured from left, Investors Bank Voorhees branch supervisor Sayantani Bhattacharya, Investors Bank assistant vice president and Voorhees branch manager Barry Epps, Congregation Beth El Executive Director Josh Laster, Investors Bank’s senior vice president business lending Christopher P. Warren, Senior Rabbi... Read more →

PHILADELPHIA, PA--For the 45th consecutive year, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will kick-off Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Rice Bowl, the nationwide Lenten program that provides people of all ages with ways to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Friday, February 21, 2020 11:00 a.m. Our Lady of Hope Food Pantry (Rectory Basement) 5200 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19141 Most Reverend John J. McIntyre, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, will preside over this year’s Rice Bowl blessing and kick-off. In addition, Ms. Anne... Read more →

Written by Carl Peters/Diocese of Camden After years of civil war, Abraham Lincoln was under pressure to drop the abolition of slavery as a condition for peace with the confederate forces. He refused, saying, “The world shall know that I will keep my faith to friends and enemies, come what may.” “When Lincoln said this, he fully expected to lose the election in November,” the Civil War historian James M. McPherson noted. But a couple of major military victories helped sweep him to victory. (New... Read more →

Written by Peter G. Sánchez/The Camden Diocese BRIDGETON, NJ--Don Olbrich is nothing if not persistent. Wherever he goes, he carries with him Form 100s, which are membership documents for the Knights of Columbus. Which is not surprising, as he is Grand Knight of his council, Liberty Council 1910 out of Bridgeton’s Parish of the Holy Cross. “I took a Form 100 to my doctor’s office,” he says, but it wasn’t blank. “I had already filled out his name and phone number, all I needed was... Read more →

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week came to a close on Saturday, Feb. 1. Throughout the Diocese of Camden, schools sponsored open houses; special liturgies and prayer services; academic competitions and showcases; meals for seniors, volunteers and other special people; events to celebrate diverse cultures; activities to foster community spirit; and an onslaught of service projects. Catholic schools are known for these activities and more throughout the year, so why the need for a concentrated week? For Sister Sheila Murphy, principal at Cape Trinity Catholic School in... Read more →

February 13, 2020 Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on transgender theory and its consequences: Pope Francis is on the left of the political spectrum on economic and environmental issues, but he remains a conservative on moral issues. His defense of the rights of the unborn is as strong as his two predecessors, and there is nothing heterodox about his comments on marriage, the family, and sexuality: he is a defender of traditional moral values. In his apostolic exhortation responding to the Amazon synod's call... Read more →

February 10, 2020 by Bill Donohue | CNBNews Contributor Democrats and abortion: When I taught in a Catholic elementary school in Spanish Harlem in the 1970s, I quoted to my African American and Puerto Rican students what Rev. Jesse Jackson said about abortion: It was genocide against black people. Senator Ted Kennedy also railed against abortion, as did virtually every Democrat. The pro-abortion party was the Republicans, home to WASP elites like the Rockefellers who saw abortion as a way to resolve "the urban problem."... Read more →

The Bucks County Family Service Center (BCFSC), a ministry of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS), will host a free Valentine’s Day baby shower for expectant mothers and families in the local community. The theme is, “Baby Love.” Expectant mothers and families with children under one year of age are expected to attend. Highlights of the day will include refreshments, raffle prizes, Valentine’s Day themed games, and more. Friday, February 14, 2020 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fatima Catholic Outreach Center 2915... Read more →

by CNBNews Staff GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 10, 2020)—St. Mary's Parish Secretary Dan Spencer will be stepping down from his position on April 9 after serving in that capacity for the past 2.5 years. When asked about a rumor that he was resigning from his mayor position he laughed. "No, I am resigning from my full-time job as a parish secretary. It is just too much juggling that job with the mayor's position. I am going to do some part-time work and focus more time... Read more →