‘Fatima’ Movie Now in Theaters and On Demand

In modern-day Portugal, author and noted skeptic Professor Nichols (Harvey Keitel) visits a convent in the riverside city of Coimbra, where Sister Lúcia (Sônia Braga), an elderly nun, recounts the story of her role in an historic event that took place in 1917. The conversations between pragmatic academic and the spiritual ascetic illuminate a decades-old mystery and set the stage for an inspiring story that has fascinated millions for more than a century.

St. Joan of Arc in Hershey Unveils Expansive New Campus as Students Return to School

The excitement of a red-carpet welcome, a modern school facility, a spacious campus and – perhaps most importantly – reuniting with friends and teachers outshined the talk of masks and temperature-taking at St. Joan of Arc School in Hershey as students embarked on a new school year Aug. 31.

St. Joan’s moved from its historic yet outgrown quarters on Areba Avenue to an 110,000-square-foot building two miles away on Sand Hill Road, after purchasing the former Lancaster Mennonite Hershey campus in December of 2019.

A Review of St. Faustina Prayer Book for Adoration

Show of hands: how many participate in Eucharistic Adoration? Second show of hands: how many would like to have a book as a guide through your Adoration times? Luckily there’s a book for that: St. Faustina Prayer Book for Adoration by Susan Tassone. This one is a keeper.

Tassone provides a handy little book that gives the reader St. Faustina as a companion for Adoration. She provides some background material as to who St. Faustina was, some of her experiences, and her advice and example of holiness. As you dive deeper into this book, you will see St. Faustina in a new light, brought to life for us today.

Christ-Like Service Must Continue through Priesthood, Bishop Tells New Deacons

Reveling in finally reaching the ordination day of four men to the diaconate on Aug. 22, Bishop Ronald Gainer said such days of celebration and joy are much needed in a time of face masks and social distancing.

“We have all been counting the days, and counting the days, and counting the days,” he said of the previously twice-delayed liturgy for the men: two Diocesan seminarians, a former minister in the Church of Christ and Episcopalian priests, and a native of India in formation for a religious order that serves in the Diocese.

Clergy Assignment Announced

Bishop Ronald Gainer announces the following change to clergy assignments:

Father John M. Kuchinski to Chaplain of York Catholic High School. Father Kuchinski remains pastor of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, York. This change takes effect August 29, 2020.

Parishes’ Creative Vacation Bible School Methods Bring Families in on the Fun

In parishes throughout the Diocese, summertime means Vacation Bible School.

Religious educators, parish staff and volunteers spend months planning out the annual week of activities, which attract children for arts and crafts, songs and snacks as they learn about their faith.

Confirmation students put on plays to act out Scripture passages for the children, and musicians lead the kids in songs and dances that often get them carried away. Lessons are designed to get the kids excited about their faith, and to gleefully express it.

Trinity Launches ‘Faith in our Future’ Campaign for Enhancements to Educational Environment

Trinity High School in Camp Hill is embarking on a triad of significant upgrades to its educational environment, backed by a “Faith in our Future” capital campaign kicking off this summer for the $8.5 million project.

The campaign will support renovations to Trinity’s facilities, to include a new façade that will allow for the installation of an energy-efficient HVAC system; a renovated auditorium with enhanced staging, lighting, sound, seating and flooring to enhance liturgies, assemblies and the performing arts; and the installation of turf for use by more than 200 student-athletes who play at COBO Field. This aspect of the campaign will also provide for new gym bleachers for safety and accessibility.

Readiness Workshop Acclimates Kindergarten Students at St. Patrick School in Carlisle

At St. Patrick School in Carlisle, kindergarten teachers offered their annual Kindergarten Readiness Workshop in person, with special modifications for public health concerns.

Teachers Jessica Melphis and Jolene Cramm have held a class for rising kindergarten students for several years. This year, the preparation took on a lot of added safety features and discussion.

The students and teachers practiced appropriate social distancing (with the help of hula hoops as their personalized work stations) and wore masks. Each child was provided with their own set of materials. In regular kindergarten work, the students practiced identifying letters and letter sounds, as well as identifying numbers and counting.