Category: Philly Catholics

Archbishop Chaput Stays the Course While the Faithful Flounder!

Post author By Pat Smiley
Post date July 10, 2014
1 Comment on Archbishop Chaput Stays the Course While the Faithful Flounder!

As Archbishop Chaput continues to close churches and refuses to meet with the faithful, area Catholics struggle to understand. As a member of St. Joachim Parish (and we do have an open Appeal in the Vatican), we learned last year that “the decision has been made and we are not considering any changes”. From Philly.com, “Archbishop Nixes Appeals by Five Closed Parishes”.

Personally, I would respectfully ask the Archbishop to rethink this policy. Evidence is mounting and even more credible that the Area Pastoral Planning Process is severely flawed. Every parish we have spoken to, has had the same experience that we, at St. Joachim, have had. All parishioners were not consulted and recommendations of the PPA’s have been overturned at the highest level without any explanation at all to the reasoning or the logic. This process needs to be reviewed and redone. The history of our neighborhood parishes is deep and rich. Our needs today require that we unite and become “One body, One church” whether we are from Marcus Hook or Montgomeryville, South Philly or Swarthmore. Only then, can we be heard.

We call on the Archbishop, as our Shepherd here in Philadelphia, and urge him as stated by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) referring to 1 Peter 5:1-4 to be that “example” for us:

“So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the suffering of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint, but by willingness as God would have it, not for shameful profit, but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”

The mighty wind of the Spirit is stirring throughout this Archdiocese to ask for an honest and earnest discussion about the future of the Catholic Church in Philaelphia and its surrounding suburbs. This Spirit is inclusive and urges that all the voices of the faithful be heard. Can you hear it, Archbishop Chaput? Do you feel it? Perhaps it’s time for a new direction, a new course?

photo credit: Jaimito Cartero via photopin cc

Tags Archbishop Chaput, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Church, Catholics, church, closed churches, faith, Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative, Philly churches, PPA, Vatican Appeal

Archbishop Chaput Archdiocese of Philadelphia Area Parish Pastoral Planning Process Closed Churches Philly Catholics PPA Redo the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative Vatican

Join Us! Meet Us! We Remember!

Post author By Pat Smiley
Post date June 24, 2014
2 Comments on Join Us! Meet Us! We Remember!

Please share this information to any and all who might be interested. Thank you! God bless you!

Tags Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Church, Catholics, church, closed churches, faith, laity, Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative, Philly Catholics, Philly churches, PPA, Vatican Appeal

Appeal Process Archbishop Chaput Archdiocese of Philadelphia Area Parish Pastoral Planning Process Closed Churches Philly Catholics PPA Vatican

We Are One Body; We Are One Church

Post author By Pat Smiley
Post date June 17, 2014
1 Comment on We Are One Body; We Are One Church

Sunday, June 15, 2014, David Harris and I just wanted to reach out to others whose parishes suffered St. Joachim’s fate last year. The Holy Spirit literally directed us to Notre Dame De Lourdes in Swarthmore. We were blessed meeting the parishioners who were trying to understand this decision and also grateful to know that other people care about what’s happening to them. Do You Care?

Read the full story here – “Notre Dame ready to carry the cross for parish”.

Tags Archbishop Chaput, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Catholic Church, closed churches, faith, Featured, laity, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative, Philly Catholics, Philly churches, PPA, Vatican Appeal

Philly Catholics

Thanks to All Who Attended Our First Organizing Meeting!

Post author By Pat Smiley
Post date April 5, 2014

This afternoon, Saturday, April 5th, we held the first organizing meeting of Philly Catholics! Those who attended shared their faith and their deep belief in being called to authentic witness in the city for our Archdiocese.

As we met and shared introductions and why we were here, it became clear that while we mourned the loss of our Church, God had a much bigger plan for us. We believe that we are standing up not only for ourselves but even more importantly for those who can’t stand for themsevles. We have many elderly parishioners whose only outing might have been to weekly Mass. Now, because of distance or an inability to travel, they cannot go to Mass. We have many parishioners who simply don’t go to Mass anymore because of the pain of losing “family”. We have people who come to us looking for a Church and sadly, we tell them it was closed.

We believe that it is not only our right but our responsibility to work to reverse the Parish Area Pastoral Planning Initiative because the process was flawed and lacked true, total involvement of the laity. To this day, no one will meet with us to hear our story of a flawed and unfair process. Not even to just listen!

While we miss our Church, it is not about the building. It is not about being unwilling to move on! It is about standing our ground to say that these are our parishes and our Churches and we should have a say in the matter! It is feeling and knowing that our ancestors struggled to build, pay for and maintain these Churches and we want to honor that legacy of faith! Not to mention the wonderful religious sisters and priests who never thought of themselves as they worked reflecting the love of God to each parishioner!

To those who believe that recent decisions of Archbishop Chaput and the hierarchy do not reflect an openness and involvement of the Philadelphia laity to reach mutually agreed upon resolutions to our problems, we say, “Be strong, do not fear. Here is your God, He comes with vindication; With divine recompense He comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall see and the ears of the deaf be opened.” (Isaiah 35:5) Join us to bring that day ever closer!

Our next meeting is Saturday, May 3rd, 2 PM at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 4442 Frankford Avenue, 19124. See you there and bring a friend! All are most welcome!

photo credit: PMillera4 via photopin cc

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Philly Catholics

Use Your Voice Saturday, April 5th! Make A Difference In the Church We Love!

Post author By Pat Smiley
Post date April 2, 2014

We are one Church and one body of Christ! We care about our faith and we try to live it each and every day! This is Lent and we know so well the sacrifices that Jesus made for us – using His voice to tell us there was a different way of living and loving.

We are believers and we know that are many different ways to solve the challenges we are facing in the Church. But our voices are not heard. The hierarchy is not listening. We want real discourse and the respect that is worthy of those who are the support of the Church.

If you believe this, too, you will join us this Saturday, April 5th, 2 PM, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (yes, that’s where we meet since both Churches were closed in Frankford), 4442 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124. For more information, please email patsmiley@keepthefaithinfrankford.org or call Pat at 215.520.5616

We need your voice!

Use this map to find your directions. For those traveling by SEPTA, use the 3 or 5 bus that passes right in front of the Church. St. Mark’s is between the Margaret-Orthodox and Church St. stops of the Market Frankford El or Blue Line.

photo credit: JosephGilbert.org via photopin cc

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