Young adults within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia are using Zoom to journey through Advent together.

Those still looking to send the perfect Christmas card to their loved ones can look no further. Spread Christmas joy to friends and family near and far, and help your local community at the same time.

On December 8, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. 

This week, the Catholic Church in the United States spends time promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.   Every person has a vocation; a calling in life to be the person God has intended you to be. Our callings are as unique as our fingerprints. Discovering your vocation, a process called discernment, takes careful consideration, quiet contemplation, prayer and dedication.  It also takes courage to say “yes” to God’s call.

Welcome back, Saint Laurence students and families! We know this school year is unlike any school year we experienced in the past, but no obstacle is too hard for us to overcome together! We want this year to feel as normal as possible, while also ensuring the safety and healthy wellbeing of each student and school staff member. 

Here are a few reminders to keep in mind as we return to the classroom each day:

• Daily temperature checks: Please take your child’s temperature each morning and keep them home if they have an elevated temperature (100.4 and over).


• Hand washing and sanitizing: We ask each student to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer as often as possible upon entering the building.


• Social distancing and mask wearing: We will practice social distancing by keeping apart 6 feet, and ask students wear their mask on the bus or when they get up and leave their classrooms. Please send your child with a bag to keep their mask in when not wearing. 


• Cohorts: Students will be placed in “cohorts.” These are small groups they will spend their entire day with, from class to lunch to other activities. 

We ask that if your child shows any possible symptoms, to please keep them home for 14 days and turn to virtual learning for that time frame. If you don’t feel comfortable sending your child back just yet, again, you may choose the virtual option. However, we expect everyone dressed in uniform and ready to go at the same time each day whether they are in the building or at home.

Families at 23 suburban elementary Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have received unexpected tuition assistance thanks to a grant awarded by the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education. As schools begin to reopen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we know these families are beyond grateful to know their children continue to receive the best quality education.

As we approach the new school year, it’s clear this year will be quite different from years past. As neighboring public school districts make virtual starts, schools within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia face losing transportation to and from nonpublic schools, and need your help to ensure students attending Catholic schools who rely on busing have adequate transportation. School districts are required to provide transportation to public school students and nonpublic school students, pandemic or not. 

As you may be well aware, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be open in a few weeks for full-time, in-person learning. While elementary schools will be open, parents also have the option to continue distance education virtually. Those staying home and learning virtually, however, must be dressed in their uniform and ready to go at the same time as their classmates are at school. 

As you may be well aware, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be open in a few weeks for full-time, in-person learning. While elementary schools will be open, parents also have the option to continue distance education virtually. Those staying home and learning virtually, however, must be dressed in their uniform and ready to go at the same time as their classmates are at school. 

The Office For Catholic Education has worked tirelessly this summer designing and implementing this plan to safely reopen schools, and prepare for any situation that could arise...

Catholic Schools have been particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families who choose Catholic education face (like so many of us) financial hardships due to layoffs and reduced work hours. In turn, Catholic schools face reduced enrollment. However, in the last few months Catholic schools proved their ability to continue to make good on their promise of educating each student. As our current reality under COVID-19 continues, there lies a strong need to save Catholic schools from the havoc COVID-19 created....

The School District of Philadelphia released the results of a survey that was open for responses from June 15, 2020 through June 22, 2020 on Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. William Hite stated more than 36,000 people responded.
Among the 15,000 parents/guardians who responded, 47 percent said they would send their children back to school under the current circumstances. When asked if safety measures were put in place, this number rose to 62 percent.