Category: Voices of the Vineyard

In the 1850s, Western Pennsylvania was a vast wilderness that was quickly swelling its numbers through immigration from Europe. Roman Catholics who arrived on our shores received little spiritual shepherding due to a shortage of clergy and vowed religious. Bishop Michael O’Connor had the responsibility…

The designation ‘Catholic’ as it relates to the Church was first used by Saint Ignatius of Antioch around the year 110 A.D. in a letter to the nascent Church in Smyrna. By that time the seeds planted by the Apostles and St. Paul had sprouted…

The University of Mary is a private, Christian, Catholic, Benedictine university that welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds. Infusing Benedictine values throughout the educational experience, Mary offers distinguished, professionally focused academic programs enlivened by the liberal arts, global and civic service, robust internships, and…

The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi is the oldest Franciscan congregation founded in the United States. Since arriving from Bavaria in 1849, the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi have been a loving and powerful force for change. With trust in the Providence of…

Faten’s Story Faten, a Palestinian social worker from Gaza, was 33 weeks pregnant with twins when she traveled to Bethlehem to attend a training course. Upon her arrival to Bethlehem, Faten suddenly found herself in preterm labor. As the only hospital in the region capable…

Founded by Austin Ripley in 1956, Guest House is the original provider of residential addiction treatment for Catholic clergy and religious. In the 1940’s, Austin Ripley saw a tragedy unfolding among the people in recovery. A recovering alcoholic himself, Ripley observed that Catholic priests weren’t succeeding like…

In response to the influx of immigrants from Slovakia to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Rev. Matthew Jankola, a Slovak priest of the Diocese of Scranton, PA founded the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius for the purpose of…

With 32 federations comprising 70,000 young singers worldwide, Pueri Cantores is the international student choral organization of the Roman Catholic Church, whose mission is to evangelize and catechize choristers through the medium of sacred music, aiding them in growing in their faith and rooting them…

World Villages for Children is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit dedicated to financially supporting the efforts of the Sisters of Mary. The Sisters of Mary educate and care for over 20,000 orphaned and impoverished children in seven different countries around the world. Founded by Venerable…

In 1971 the Jesuits on the Lower East Side of Manhattan founded the first Nativity School. Its apostolate was to provide disadvantaged kids a tuition free learning environment where they could excel academically, socially and spiritually. Today there are over 60 schools in 27 states…