Yearly Archives: 2021

Lancaster Catholic Defends Its District 3 Championship

Missing at high school sports during the pandemic is the frenzied crowd that rallies behind its partisan banners in a big game. But at Lancaster Catholic on March 9, the old feeling was there, as there were enough fans from the Columbia Crimson Tide and the Crusaders’ faithful to give the District 3 Class 3A championship the feel that much was at stake.
These two Lancaster County teams are not unfamiliar foes, and the evenly matched teams played a tense and taut game that makes District 3 championship basketball a special experience.

Two District 3 Powerhouses Meet for District 3 Title

Trinity’s game plan in the District 3 girls’ Class 3A championship game against York Catholic was quite evident only seconds into the contest at Trinity High School in Camp Hill on March 10: pound the ball inside to 6’ 4” center Lauren Trumpy, and let her dominate an undersized Fighting Irish. And the strategy worked to perfection.

Swimmers Continue to Strike Gold and Silver

The past several seasons, the Crusaders of Bishop McDevitt have dominated at the Mid-Penn and District 3 Class 2A swimming championships. That dominance continued at this year’s District 3 meet, held at Central York High School, where the boys won the team championship again and the Crusaders’ relay teams won the 200-Freestyle, 200-Medley and 400-Freestyle, respectively. Individually, Patrick Hemingway won gold in the 100-backstroke and a silver in the 50-Freestyle. Lucas Hancock and Will Brobson won silvers in the 100-Freestyle and 100-Breaststroke.

Trinity Students Earn Finalist Status in National Merit Scholarship Program

Two students from Trinity High School in Camp Hill are the Diocesan high school finalists in this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program.
Lucy Cooper-Silvis and Olivia Maddux have earned finalist status in the prestigious program, an annual academic competition for high school students to receive recognition and college scholarships.

Year of St. Joseph Feature: St. Joseph Parish in Hanover

Overlooking the growing community of Hanover, St. Joseph Parish stands as a beacon of faith and a model of its patron saint along the suburban ridge of Grandview Avenue south of town.
Tracing its roots to the first celebration of Mass for a handful of Catholic families in 1806, St. Joseph Parish today is home to more than 7,200 parishioners – a vibrant and active community of Anglo and Hispanic members.

Pope Francis in Erbil: ‘Today I Can See at First Hand That the Church in Iraq is Alive’

Pope Francis on March 7 expressed joy at the vitality of the Church in Iraq despite years of fierce persecution.
Celebrating Mass in the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil on March 7 during his first visit to the country, the pope praised Iraq’s dwindling Christian community for its care for the poor.

Father Dan Powell Receives National Catholic Education Award

Excitement abounded at St. John Neumann School in Lancaster on March 9 as Father Dan Powell, pastor, received the “Lead. Learn. Proclaim. Award” from the National Catholic Education Association. This award recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements related to Catholic Education. Only three pastors are selected annually to receive this national award. The surprise announcement was made following the morning recognition of student achievements.

“I thought I was there to encourage our students to use the gifts God has given to them to the best of their ability. I did that and then all of a sudden the focus shifted. I was speechless. At first I did not completely understand what was happening. Once I understood what was happening, I felt very humbled. I also thought of all the other people who were a big part of making this relocation of our school a reality. I am honored this award can bring to light all the fine work so many have done,” said Father Powell.

Husband and Wife Complete Pilgrimage to Each of Diocese’s 96 Churches

If Ron and Genny Little had their own version of the song “I’ve Been Everywhere,” the locational lyrics in the quicktime verses might look something like this:
I’ve been to Bloomsburg, Doylesburg, Elysburg, Millersburg
Quarryville, Marysville, Bonneauville, Danville
Middletown, Jonestown, Myerstown, Lewistown
Lebanon, Steelton, Benton, Lancaster, Manchester, Ephrata, Columbia and Catawissa…

Bishop Gainer Begins Pastoral Visits to Patron Churches of St. Joseph

Marking the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX proclaiming St. Joseph as the patron and protector of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis honored that December 8, 1870, announcement to the world with his apostolic letter, Patris corde, dedicating this current liturgical year to the venerated foster father of Jesus.

There are nine parishes named for St. Joseph in the Diocese, and Bishop Ronald Gainer will be making a pastoral visit to each throughout the year. The locations that have churches to the patron saint are Berwick, Bonneauville, Dallastown, Danville, Hanover, Lancaster, Mechanicsburg, Milton, and York.