Amid the ashes of their church, St. Leo members find their parish
Members of the former St. Leo Parish in Philadelphia s Tacony section line up to place flowers before a statue of the Blessed Mother during a June 19 Mass of remembrance celebrated by Archbishop Nelson Pérez before the ruins of the landmark church, which was gutted in a May 9 arson. (Sarah Webb)
By Gina Christian • Posted June 23, 2021
More than 600 gathered last weekend to mourn the loss of a beloved Northeast Philadelphia church – and to rediscover what it means to be a parish, even without a house of worship.
On Saturday, Archbishop Nelson Pérez celebrated an outdoor Mass of remembrance for the former St. Leo the Great Church in the city’s Tacony section. Built in 1884, the landmark structure was destroyed in a May 9 fire that also gutted the St. Leo rectory, home to permanent Deacon Pascual Mota and his family since 2016.
Parish rallies to remember former Northeast Phila church
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After devastating fire, new deacon can t wait to serve those who helped his family – Catholic Philly
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New deacons a ‘blessing’ in their witness, service, says archbishop
Newly ordained permanent Deacons Diep T. Nguyen and James J. White IV process with fellow deacons after a June 12 ordination Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, at which celebrant Archbishop Nelson Pérez described permanent deacons as ministers of the church among the family, the workplace and the neighborhood. (Sarah Webb)
By Gina Christian • Posted June 14, 2021
Nine men were ordained to the permanent diaconate Saturday, June 12 on what Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez called “a great day of blessing for the church in Philadelphia.”
With COVID restrictions lifted in the city, hundreds filled the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul for the June 12 liturgy, at which Archbishop Pérez presided, assisted by his four auxiliary bishops along with dozens of archdiocesan priests and permanent deacons.