Category Archives: News

Recently, I was asked by a wife of a deacon in another Diocese to conduct a retreat for women in her area. When I agreed, I asked if she had a topic for the day. She said, “Saying ‘Yes’: Finding Your Unique Gifts and Purpose in Everyday Life.” Honestly, when…

Amid the suffering, hardship and darkness that befall our lives, the Blessed Mother can be the cause of our joy, said the keynote speaker at the 94th annual convention of the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (HDCCW). Megan Murphy, a dynamic presenter on the New Evangelization, urged women at…

Bicycle safety was on full display at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Mechanicsburg on Sunday, May 19. The second annual Bike Rodeo, sponsored and organized by the Parish’s American Heritage Girls (AHG) troop, was a great way to remind parish and community children of bicycle safety, right in time…

St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Quarryville is celebrating founders, saints and the handing on of the faith this year, the 175th anniversary of its presence in southern Lancaster County. Bishop Ronald Gainer celebrated an anniversary Mass for the flock on Sunday, May 19 in their 20-year old church. “This…

Religious Sisters in the Diocese of Harrisburg marking milestone anniversaries this year were recognized and honored during the annual Sisters’ Jubilee celebration. The celebration was hosted by the Diocesan Secretariat for Clergy and Consecrated Life on April 27 at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg The gathering to recognize the Sisters…

For nearly 60 years, Jim Forjan invested himself into the York Catholic High School community, as teacher, coach, dean of students, principal and volunteer. From his first year as a social studies teacher and boys’ basketball coach in 1959, until his last days there as a cafeteria moderator last fall,…

It was an overcast spring day when a group of nearly 20, including Bishop Ronald Gainer, stood in prayer outside the Planned Parenthood clinic on North Second Street in Harrisburg. These Sidewalk Advocates for Life are part of Undefeated Courage, a 501(c)(3), which works peacefully to engage with women considering…

A new and innovative apartment complex at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, Lancaster County, is continuing a ministry that began there 90 years ago with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. The 54-unit complex opened on the grounds of the retirement community on April 1, adding to its…

Many, many years ago, when I was merely 4 years old, I had an experience of my mother’s protection and love that still fills my eyes with tears today. My mother had a soft, lamb’s wool bath robe that was salmon in color. When I was sick, or frightened, or…

Students, faculty, parents and graduates of St. Rose of Lima School in Thomasville celebrated the school’s 100th anniversary during a Mass and a dinner in York on April 27. The centennial was highlighted by Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald Gainer. The school was founded in September of 1919 by the…

The more than 80 school leadership personnel attending enrollment management workshops at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg this spring are returning to their schools with concrete suggestions for bolstering enrollment, retention and image. And they couldn’t be more excited about putting these examples into action.

A flourish in membership numbers and a dynamic quantity of activities have earned the Father Edward Gerrity Council #10474 of the Knights of Columbus a prestigious accolade from the Supreme Council: the Double Star Council Award. The award is given to councils that exhibit service to the Church and community,…

For Antonio Centenera, an eighth-grader at St. Patrick School in Carlisle, the way to get to Carnegie Hall is more than just practice. A combination of natural skill, support at home and encouragement in school and extracurriculars has led the 14-year-old student to earn a spot performing this June at…

Students from St. Teresa of Calcutta School in the Adams Deanery ran across the fields of the school’s Conewago campus on April 12 for Catholic Kite Day. The outdoor activity was the culmination of a STEM lesson in which students from both campuses – grades K-3 at Conewago and grades…

Some time ago, I came down with a case of the shingles at a place on my body where the sun doesn’t shine. I had always heard that this virus was very painful. In reality, I had no idea how painful it actually would be. On the second day after…

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. How many times have you prayed the words? Innumerable. But with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul, have you truly entered into them? A new app makes that possible. Named “Hallow,” it offers guided meditation sessions…

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” This request from Psalm 119:66 inspires all to continually seek knowledge and information on our faith. This request is exactly what the Diocesan Institute for the Diocese of Harrisburg works to fulfill.

It has been seven months since the release of the Grand Jury Report and Bishop Ronald W. Gainer recently completed his listening session tour of the Diocese. During these sessions, Bishop Gainer has listened to the faithful, survivors and non-Catholics on the impact of the report. Many expressed dismay over…

Abuse. Cover up. Scandal. These and many more words have been staples when speaking about the Catholic Church for the past several months. But there is good news and good work the Church and the Diocese of Harrisburg continue to accomplish. In the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the…

Quick. In the next three minutes, write down the names of as many black Catholic saints as you can. How many did you get? 20? 15? 10? 5? This was the start of Dr. Camille Brown’s talk on African Saints during the Diocese’s recent pilgrimage to the National Shrine in…