In a ritual and a setting that has become all too familiar, Philadelphia paid its final respects on Monday to another police officer killed in the line of duty.

Sgt. Timothy Simpson, 46, a 20-year member of the force and father of four, was killed Nov. 17 while responding to a robbery when his squad car was rammed by a speeding driver with a history of drug abuse. The suspect faces charges of vehicular homicide.

Simpson was the fifth policeman to be killed in the line of duty in the last 13 months. A member of St. Leo Parish in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, he was also the fifth officer killed in the past year to be buried from the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. [read more]

WYNNEWOOD — Hundreds of priests serving in the Archdiocese recently traveled back in time to their ordination day, where they reflected on the great privilege of serving Christ and renewed their commitment to grow in the likeness of Christ.

More than 400 priests met at the Chapel of St. Martin of Tours at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on Monday, Nov. 24 for the Archdiocese’s annual Day of Sanctification for Priests. [read more]

PHILADELPHIA — Cardinal Justin Rigali will preside at the Archdiocese’s fourth annual “Bless the Baby Jesus Advent Prayer Service” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Families across the Archdiocese are invited to bring their images and statues of the Baby Jesus, including the statue that graces their Nativity crèche, for the Cardinal to bless. [read more]

Some 1,400 people from the Delaware Valley took time to “Stand Up for Life” at the Pro-Life Union of South Eastern Pennsylvania dinner held Nov. 23 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel.

They celebrated the contributions of local pro-life leaders, learned more about the chastity education work of Generation Life and heard how the African-American community can further energize the pro-life movement. [read more]

PHILADELPHIA — When hospice patient John Semanik was granted a special “gift of a day” by his hospice caretakers, his wife Mary suggested Mass at his beloved Holy Ghost Byzantine Church in South Philadelphia.

“His church has been a very central part of his life all of his life,” Mary said. “I just couldn’t think of anything that would be better.”

In conjunction with Father Edward J. Higgins, pastor of Holy Ghost, Crossroads Hospice in Horsham coordinated the arrangements for John to attend the 9 a.m. Mass Sunday, Nov. 16 at the church. [read more]

Some 200 Catholics and Protestants in northwestern Chester County gathered to worship and give thanks Sunday, Nov. 23 in the latest in a series of ecumenical services founded on a shared interest in the Scriptures and works of charity.

The event was hosted by St. Peter Parish in West Brandywine and its pastor, Father Michael J. Fitzpatrick, who welcomed the seven visiting pastors from neighboring Protestant churches. [read more]