Archives for June 2021

Take a tour of our St. Joseph Chapel with Monsignor!

This week, the House Committee on Appropriations will mark-up the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) and State, Foreign Operations (SFOPs) appropriations bills which currently exclude longstanding bipartisan policies that prevent taxpayer dollars from being spent on elective abortions. Three decades-old provisions which were eliminated from these appropriations bills prevent taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions in the District of Columbia, through foreign assistance, and for federal employee health plans that cover abortions.

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities and Bishop David J. Malloy, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement expressing deep concerns, saying:

“The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations should not eliminate the long-standing, bipartisan provisions that prevent taxpayer funding of abortions… I call on the Appropriations Committee and all members of Congress to protect taxpayers from having to pay for the evil of abortion, and to instead use our tax dollars for the common good and welfare of all.”

The full statement can be read here.

Over the next few weeks, the House Appropriations Committee will be voting on several other appropriations bills, including the Labor/Health and Human Services bill that is expected to eliminate the Hyde Amendment. Without the Hyde Amendment and Hyde-related policies, billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion in the United States and throughout the world.

Congress needs to hear from you: tell Congress to keep the Hyde Amendment and Hyde-related policies in the appropriations bills, and to oppose any bill that expands taxpayer funding of abortion.

To learn more, click here and here.

Last week, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez along with the Catholic bishops of the United States met for their Spring General Assembly (June 16-18) in a virtual format.

During the meeting, the full body of bishops voted to task the Committee on Doctrine to draft a formal statement on the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church.

On June 21, 2021, Most Reverend José H. Gomez, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop of Los Angeles, issued a statement in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ vote.

Click here to find a copy of Archbishop Gomez’s statement as well as an accompanying Q and A document with further information as presented by the USCCB.

We are happy to share the following message from Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

I am glad to bring you this breaking news – a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the case Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that restores the right of Catholic Social Services to provide foster care and adoption services that align with its religious doctrine and convictions.

In 2018, city officials banned this charity from placing children for foster care and adoption services because of its refusal to place children with same-sex couples.

Our Independence Law Center filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief to the Supreme Court in this case on behalf of 15 Pennsylvania State Senators, detailing the history of religious liberty in Pennsylvania and America, and how the actions of Philadelphia violated those principles. Click here to read the full message.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez will celebrate an outdoor Mass of remembrance across the street from where the church originally stood. All are welcome to join together to remember the church and its importance in the life of the community on Saturday, June 19^th.

Audrey Wilson provides the weekly message!

Today, Archbishop Pérez marks his 60^th birthday.

In recognition of this occasion, the Office for Communications has produced a brief video featuring individuals representing various facets of our local Church. It can be viewed here.

The Saint Frances Cabrini Parish Community joins with all the faithful across the Archdiocese in sending prayerful best wishes to Archbishop Pérez.

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez recently shared special video messages for students and school families as well as teachers and administrators to mark the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

These videos were shared across the Archbishop’s social media platforms beginning on Thursday, June 10, 2021 with his message to all students and concluded with his message to teachers and administrators on Monday, June 14, 2021.

Archbishop Pérez’s first video is dedicated to all of the wonderful students across the region and can be viewed here.  In this message, he also recognizes all graduates in the Class of 2021.

In his second message, the Archbishop thanks our school families for their sacrifices to provide the gift of a Catholic education. This video message can be viewed here.

In his third message, the Archbishop expresses gratitude to the dedicated teachers and administrators throughout the region who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide for their students in these challenging times. It can be viewed here.

Jean Madden, Director of Religious Education, gives the weekly message.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the internet connection for the livestreaming of our Sunday, June 6, 11:00 AM Mass was dropped immediately prior to the Communion and Concluding Rites. The complete Mass is now available in our Video Library or you can click here to access it.