Jack Horrigan’s Final Gift Strengthens a Legacy He Began 13 Years Ago

His generous bequest doubles the endowment he established for the John Paul II Center for Special Learning; demonstrates lasting power of planned giving When John “Jack” Horrigan established an endowment for the John Paul II Center for Special Learning in December 2013, he was doing something that came naturally to him: looking toward the future. Jack was a savvy and successful businessman, a man of deep Catholic faith and a…

He Has Not Forgotten You

This month I’ve been reflecting on the presence of God. In the Mass readings, we’ve heard some beautiful stories that invite us to reflect on this more deeply — Christ asleep in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and Christ walking on the water. Both give us an example we can follow in our own lives. Sometimes we might feel like God is there, but asleep. He’s not answering…

Catholic Foundation Announces 10 Free Workshops Across Four Counties

REGISTER for Fall Estate Planning Workshops Plan Today. Protect Tomorrow. Leave a Legacy Forever. You have spent a lifetime caring for the people you love, supporting your parish, practicing your faith and giving generously to causes that matter. Have You Created a Plan to Protect All of It? This fall, the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania is making it easier to take that important next step by offering 10 free…

Just as He Did in Life, He Did in Death

A beloved priest’s final gift ensures that the Catholic ministries and people he loved will continue to flourish for generations. Some final acts speak louder than a lifetime of words. Four and a half months before he died, Monsignor Edward Domin made one final pastoral decision. Knowing that his earthly ministry was drawing to a close after battling advanced cancer, he contacted the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania with a…

Faith Doesn’t Take a Vacation

Whether we like it or not, all of us are creatures of habit. We have our schedules, our routines — and I find myself continually surprised at how much summer throws them off. Kids are out of school, activities multiply, vacations happen, family visits. Life gets looser. And it’s easy, in that looseness, to think the spiritual life gets put on pause too. That our faith, like everything else, takes…

Planning Ahead Is One of the Greatest Gifts You Can Leave Your Family

Life has a way of keeping us focused on the next appointment, the next vacation, the next family gathering, or the next milestone. Yet one of the most loving things we can do for our family, and for the Catholic causes that have shaped our lives, is to prepare for a day we hope is still far away. That is the heart of National Make-A-Will Month each August. Creating or…

A Loving Father

Everybody grew up with a different father. Even siblings raised in the same house can carry different versions of the same man. Maybe your father yelled a lot, and now you brace yourself when someone raises their voice. Maybe he was mentally checked out, and now you find yourself checking out too. Maybe you never respected him, and now you don’t much care what anyone thinks. Maybe he was completely…

Futureproofing Catholic Schools Starts Now

A few weeks ago, families of Immaculate Conception Academy in Douglassville received heartbreaking news. After years of faithful service, the school will close its doors at the end of this school year. No one ever wants to see a Catholic school close. Behind every closure are students, parents, alumni, teachers, and parishioners whose lives have been shaped by Catholic education. There are cherished memories, lifelong friendships, and faith journeys that…

Three New Endowed Funds Strengthen Notre Dame’s Future

Since 1957, when Notre Dame High School (also known as Notre Dame Green Pond) opened its doors in Bethlehem Township, the co-educational high school’s mission has centered on enriching students’ academic and athletic development as well as their spiritual and cultural growth. Now three new endowed funds will help ensure the Catholic school, part of the Diocese of Allentown’s school system, can continue that mission for generations to come. Futureproofing Notre Dame High…

God Bless Our Newly Ordained Priests

Bishop Alfred A. Schlert of the Diocese of Allentown recently ordained six new priests at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown. It was the largest ordination class in recent years. All of them have started their first parish assignments. The following assignments were made to these priests: Reverend Dominic C. Civitella, Newly Ordained to Parochial Vicar, Saint Thomas More Parish, Allentown. Reverend Tyler D. Davis, Newly Ordained to Parochial Vicar,…