Religion
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Pope Leo XIV’s Favorite Wawa Order Is a Vatican Secret for Now
Given Pope Leo XIV’s connection to Delaware County through Villanova University, it was only a matter of time before he was asked about his favorite Wawa order, writes Joe Holden for CBS News Philadelphia. It was hoped that one Delaware County native might be able to elicit some answers to key Delaware County questions from…
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After 125 Years of Mass, A Church in Chester Loses Its Catholic Designation
The Philadelphia Archdiocese has declared that St. Hedwig Church in Chester will no longer be used as a Catholic church, writes Cory Sharber for WHYY. Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Perez approved the relegation on Sunday of the 100+-year-old church to “profane but not sordid use,” effective Jan. 1, 2026. That means it will no longer…
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Villanova University VP Father DePrinzio Gets Papal Assignment in Rome
Villanova University’s Father DePrinzio has kept in touch with Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, since they met more than 20 years ago. Now, Villanova’s vice president of Campus Mission and Ministry has received a divine assignment to serve in Rome, writes Christie Illeto for 6abc. “Very humbling – it still hasn’t even quite sunk…
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Pope Leo Now Has a Flyers Jersey, Thanks to a Delaware County Family
A Delaware County family had a moment on March 18 when they were able to hand Pope Leo a custom-made Philadelphia Flyers jersey during their visit to the Vatican, writes Danylo Chebanenko for 6abc. The Flyers are making a play this year for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Video of the jersey handoff has gone viral…
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Historic Media Church Among Recipients of $8.5M Grant Program
Thirty historically Black churches nationwide are set to receive a combined $8.5 million for essential preservation work, including Campbell African Methodist Episcopal Church in Media, writes National Trust for Historic Preservation for savingplaces.org. Founded in 1827 by formerly enslaved people, Campbell AME Church of Media is among Delaware County’s oldest active Black congregations. Its Gothic…
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Bill Atkinson: The Life and Impact of the Catholic Church’s First Quadriplegic Priest
Rev. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A., was inspired to become an Augustinian priest because of Father Bill Atkinson’s own incredible relationship with God. Rev. Hagan, a Drexel Hill native, serves as the Prior Provincial at The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. He spoke about the life and canonization of Father Atkinson back in June…
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Augustinians Elect Drexel Hill Native Joseph Lawrence Farrell as New Prior General
Villanova graduate and Drexel Hill native Augustine Father Joseph Lawrence Farrell is the new prior general of the Order of St. Augustine in Rome. Father Farrell was elected Sept. 9 in Rome during the order’s 188th general chapter, with 73 brothers participating, writes Jina Christian for OSV News, as printed in the Catholic Review. Father…
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Upper Darby’s Father Atkinson: A Strong Candidate for Sainthood
The Communion of Saints is a “Catholic Hall of Fame,” and the late Father Bill Atkinson’s impact on the Catholic Church makes him Babe Ruth, Tom Brady, and Michael Jordan rolled into one, says Father Robert Hagan, prior principal of the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Father Atkinson, an Upper Darby native, is…
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Holy Redeemer Church and School’s Nearly 85-Year Legacy in Philadelphia, and Challenges Ahead
For nearly 85 years, Holy Redeemer Church and School in Callowhill has served as a beacon of light for parishioners, particularly for Philadelphia’s Chinese community, writes Kaiden J. Yu for The Philadelphia Inquirer. In October 1941, Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School was dedicated, becoming the first Catholic church in the Western Hemisphere to…
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Religious Sisters from Ukraine Arrive in Montco to Help Host Annual Summer Camp
The Sisters of St. Basil the Great in Montgomery County welcomed religious sisters from Ukraine to help host their annual summer camp and pray for global peace, reports Matteo Iadonisi for 6abc. The visit is part of a long-standing partnership the Montgomery County order maintains with sisters around the world. “We came from Ukraine for…
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Pope Leo XIV Happily Takes Eagles Hat but Chooses Not to Wear It
Pope Leo XIV, who has spent time in Delaware County as a Villanova University student, was offered a Philadelphia Eagles hat as a gift from a Philadelphia delegation that met him in the Vatican on Wednesday morning, writes Joe Brandt for CBS News Philadelphia. His Holiness was seen smiling and shaking hands with Philadelphia Archbishop…
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Pope Leo XIV Dons Cap for His Alma Mater, Villanova University
Pope Leo XIV celebrated a link back to his Delaware County past when he put on a Villanova University baseball hat that was presented to him as a gift from the National Italian American Foundation, writes Hayden Mitman and the Associated Press for NBC Philadelphia. The Holy Father is a Villanova graduate who immediately put…
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Here’s How Pope Leo XIV Has Changed Villanova University
The fact that Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert “Bob” Prevost, went to Villanova University is definitely being felt on campus, writes Ben Silver for Main Line Today. The first reaction has been one of jubilation and pride of association. Dorms, dining halls, and lecture rooms are sacredly discussed as students reflect that the current pope…
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Pope Leo XIV Turns Down Villanova Commencement Speech Invite
Villanova University President, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, took a chance this week when he sent an email to Pope Leo XIV asking if he’d be free to speak at next year’s commencement exercises. “Very funny,” Pope Leo XIV responded. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that.” Still, Rev. Donohue isn’t…
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This South Philadelphia Reverend First Introduced Pope Leo XIV to Rome Decades Ago
Newly-elected Pope Leo XIV recently held his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, but this was not his first foray around Rome. In fact, it was a South Philadelphia priest who first introduced the new pope to the city decades ago, writes Joe Brandt for CBS News Philadelphia. Rev. Paul Galetto, pastor at St. Paul…
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Enjoying Pizza, Beer and the Company of a Future Pope
In 2001, Father Kevin DiPrinzio, Villanova University’s vice president of campus mission and ministry, was just starting out in a Midwest Augustinian order. It was led by Father Robert Prevost, known these days as Pope Leo XIV, writes Ian Bush and Tim Jimenez for KYW Newsradio. “My classmates and I spent a whole month over…
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Villanova Graduate Robert Francis Prevost Named First American Pope
Robert Francis Prevost, a Villanova University graduate and a Chicago native, was chosen as the first American pope in history to lead the Catholic church as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost graduated from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1977, writes Tom Dougherty for CBS News Philadelphia. “As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we…
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Aston’s Sisters of St. Francis, Around for 170 Years, Is Fading
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia have been around for 170 years. They survived the Civil War, the 1918 flu, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and a dramatic shift in American culture. Now it’s unclear how much longer the 270 sisters can go on, writes Zoe Greenberg for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It doesn’t look…
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