Blog Archives

The Lord Will Guard Us

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock” (Jeremiah 31:10)

On This Date…

Pope Pius VII

On April 8, 1808 Pope Pius VII established the Catholic Diocese of Philadelphia. It included all of Pennsylvania, all of Delaware, and the southern half of New Jersey. Eleven dioceses now serve this area, eight of them in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia became an Archdiocese in 1875. There are now five counties in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery. Archbishop Charles Chaput, a Franciscan, became archbishop in 2011. Saint John Neumann and Saint Katharine Drexel are both buried in Philadelphia.

Today at Mass we prayed, “The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock”. That is our prayer for all the members of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

– Father McLaughlin

Give Them Some Food Yourselves

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“Give them some food yourselves” (Mark 6:37)

On This Date…

Saint John Neumann

Saint John Neumann

On January 5, 1860 Bishop John Neumann collapsed on Vine Street in Philadelphia and died at age 48; he had become the 4th bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. He was one of six children, born in the Czech Republic in 1811. Putting aside his desire to be a physicist, an astronomer, and a physician, he entered the seminary, emigrated to the United States at age 25, and was ordained a priest in New York the same month. He first served as a missionary in New York and Pennsylvania, attending to many immigrants (he spoke eight languages). In Philadelphia Bishop Neumann opened 58 Catholic schools, initiated the Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion in parishes, wrote two German catechisms, and totally spent himself in service to farmers, coal miners, and the rural poor. He is buried in Saint Peter’s Church in Philadelphia. Saint John Neumann High School, staffed by the Norbertines from 1934 to 2000, is the alma mater of Mr. Burdziak, Mr. Malseed, Father Zagarella, and myself. Bishop Neumann was canonized a saint in 1977.

In today’s Gospel Jesus told the disciples who saw a vast and needy crowd, “Give them some food yourselves”. Saint John Neumann gave himself completely to the people in Philadelphia.

– Father McLaughlin

A Model Missionary

Posted on by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Today’s Word:

“Jesus went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people” (Matthew 4:23)

On This Date…

70

Saint John Neumann

On January 5, 1860, Bishop John Neumann collapsed on Vine Street in Philadelphia and died at age 48; he had become the 4th bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. He was one of 6 children, born in the Czech Republic in 1811. Putting aside his desires to be a physicist, an astronomer, and a physician, John Neumann entered the seminary, emigrated to the United States at age 24, and was ordained priest in New York in 1836. He first served as a missionary in New York and Pennsylvania, attending to many immigrants (he spoke 8 languages).

In Philadelphia, Bishop Neumann opened 58 Catholic schools, finished the cathedral, initiated the Forty Hours Eucharistic Devotion in parishes, wrote 2 German catechisms, and totally spent himself in service to farmers, coal miners, and the rural poor. Bishop Neumann is buried in Saint Peter’s Church in Philadelphia. Bishop Neumann was canonized a saint in 1977. Saint John Neumann High School, staffed by the Norbertines from 1934 to 2000, is the alma mater of Mr. Burdziak, Mr. Malseed, Father Zagarella, and myself.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus “went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people”. Like Christ, Bishop Neumann taught, preached, and attended the sick – a model missionary.

– Father McLaughlin