Monsignor Francis X. Meehan

Monsignor Francis X. Meehan was a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Before entering Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, he was a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes parochial school and Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School. He was ordained by the Most Reverend Martin J. O'Connor on December 20, 1961, at Saint

Continue reading

CORDUM

On September 29, 1971, His Eminence, John Cardinal Krol officially established the Committee on Research and Development of the Urban Ministry, or CORDUM, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He selected Bishop Martin N. Lohmuller, the Vicar General, as Chairman of the new committee. This Committee was established to study and

Continue reading

Friendly and Adopted Sons

On St. Patrick’s Day in 1771, a group of Irish immigrants met to form a social group, Members included, Stephen Moylan (later secretary to George Washington), Thomas Fitzsimmons (one of only two Catholics to sign the Constitution), and George Meade (banker and trustee of Old. St. Mary’s).[1] The group was

Continue reading

St. Peter Claver

On March 26, 1889, Archbishop Patrick Ryan wrote to Mother Katharine Drexel to inform her that he had secured a priest to minister to the Black Catholics in Philadelphia.[1] There had been a growing need for a dedicated ministry for some time. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Black Catholics

Continue reading