Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

The Catholic Historical Research Center of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - Documenting the history of Catholicism in the US & the Archdiocese of Philadelphia chrc-phila.org Philadelphia, PA Joined April 2018

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

a week ago

Today in 1885, the church of Saint Thomas Aquinas held its first Mass. The Catholic Standard and Times reported that: "In spite of the great heat it was crowded to the utmost capacity, and some went there who, for want of room, had to remain outside."

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 weeks ago

Check out newest newsletter from the American Catholic Historical Society, where past events are recapped and upcoming events are listed: amchs.org/wp-content/upl…

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 weeks ago

When Fr. Dowd first came to Broomall to start Saint Pius X on this day in 1955, he was met with an unkempt property. The first Mass was said on September 3rd: the saint's feast day. After that first Mass, a temporary worship site was established at the White Manor Country Club.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 weeks ago

On this day in 1960, the groundbreaking for Gregory Hall at the Dominican Retreat House of Our Lady of Prouilie in Elkins Park was held. The building was erected in memory of Rev. Mother Mary Gregory O.P., under whose term as Mother General the property was purchased in 1932.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

4 weeks ago

During the 41st International Eucharist Congress in 1976, the Collegiate Choir of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul recorded an album of select songs, including "Gift of Finest Wheat." To celebrate National Vinyl Day, here is a sample of that recording.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

a month ago

Today is National Bowling Day! Did you know that there is a bowling alley attached to a parish here in the Archdiocese? Msgr. Aloysius F.X. Farrell of Saint Monica's Parish established a recreational center next to the parochial school.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

a month ago

On this day 175 years ago, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Doylestown was founded. A census conducted in 1850 showed a large number of Irish Catholics in the Borough of Doylestown, Seeing this, Father Francis X George came from Haycock and started a new parish.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

This month's blog talks about the early history of the Carmelite Monastery and how it spread the devotion of the Little Flower: chrc-phila.org/carmelite-mona…

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

It was today in 1910, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, that Saint Donato's opened for the Italian population of West Philadelphia. The name is derived from the town where most Italian immigrants in the area came from: San Donato Val di Comino.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

In our Research Room, we have a collection of Episcopal Thrones belonging to Archbishops Ryan and Prendergast, as well as three associated with Cardinal Dougherty.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

A century ago, Saint Madeline Sophie was founded to serve the Catholic faithful in Germantown. With Reverend Michael A. Crane as pastor, the early Masses were said at the Pelham Theater until a school-church was built in 1930. The parish merged with Holy Cross Parish in 2013.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

Today in 2000, Saint Cyprian was formed from the merger of two West Philadelphia parishes: Transfiguration of Our Lord and Saint Carthage.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

2 months ago

70 years ago today, the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa was founded on the outskirts of Doylestown. Father Michael Zembrzuski found a barn and converted it into a Shrine with a nearby monastery for the Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 months ago

In 1873, Catholics livings in Newtown were served by a mission of Saint Mark's Church in Bristol. This mission church was called Saint Andrew, as the cornerstone was laid close to the Saint's feast day. Seven years later in 1880, the mission church became a stand-alone parish.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 months ago

Today in 1915, the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters arrived in Philadelphia at the request of Archbishop Prendergast. Founded in 1896, the nuns live a life focused on perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, offering intercessory prayers for the world at all hours a day.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 months ago

Later this month, the Shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa celebrates its 70th Anniversary. Our blog this month talks about its founding and some of the historical figures that have visited the Shrine over the years: chrc-phila.org/czestochowa/

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 months ago

In 1915, Archbishop Prendergast established a new parish in Malvern: Saint Patrick's. In two years, under the leadership of Rev. John H. Martin, a church was built at Channing Avenue and Roberts Lane. The new church was heralded nationwide for its beauty and design.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

3 months ago

Today in 1970, Cardinal Krol established St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Wayne with Rev. Thomas Lawlor as the first pastor. Mass was held at multiple locations until the Church was completed in 1972, including St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church and Valley Forge Junior High School.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

4 months ago

As early as the 9th century, Europeans began to use communion wafer irons to bake the Eucharistic hosts used in Mass. A batter made of flour and water was poured between the plates and cooked over an open fire. Shown here is a wafer iron that was used by Nuns in the 1800s.

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Catholic Historical Research Center of the AOP @CHRCofAOP

4 months ago

Rev. Andrew J. Gallagher was sent to Paschallville to organize a parish. Along the Darby Creek, a parish was founded on this day in 1865: Saint Catherine's. The parish outgrew its home, so parishioner Clement Erwig donated land for a larger church, renamed to Saint Clement's.