LATEST NEWS

As Year of St. Joseph Ends, Bishop Asks Faithful to Join Him in Special Prayer

December 8 is the end of the Year of St. Joseph, which was a special time of devotion to the father of Jesus. To mark the occasion, Bishop Alfred Schlert is asking the faithful to join him in a special prayer to consecrate the Diocese of Allentown to St. Joseph.

Audit Once Again Finds Diocese in Full Compliance with Child Protection Guidelines

For the 19th consecutive year, independent auditors have found the Diocese of Allentown in full compliance with national guidelines designed to protect children from abuse.

As the Year of St. Joseph Draws to Close, We Reflect on the Dignity of Work

With the Year of St. Joseph set to end on December 8th, the Diocese will feature a series of stories from people around the Diocese about the meaning they find in their work. Be sure to watch for these articles on diocesan social media and on the diocesan website.

Synod of Bishops Begins Sunday With Special Mass

The Synod will begin with an opening Mass at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert. The Mass will be livestreamed. Ambassadors will meet right after the Mass to hear more about how the listening process will take place, and about their role in it.

In Private Pilgrimage to the National Shrine, Bishop Remembers the Intentions of All Catholics in the Diocese

Bishop Alfred Schlert visited the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. and remembered the intentions of Catholics throughout the Diocese as he spent time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and as he celebrated Mass privately on one of the Shrine’s side altars.

Diocese Employees Reaffirm Commitment to Church at ‘Commissioning’ Mass

Employees of the Diocese of Allentown reaffirmed their commitment to the ministry and mission of the Catholic Church at a recent “Commissioning Mass” celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert.

Bishop Adds New Position to Serve Growing Number of Hispanic Catholics

Ana Hidalgo, who has more than 30 years of experience in Hispanic ministry in Central America, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the United States, is the new Bishop’s Delegate to the Hispanic Community, a position Bishop Schlert created to lead efforts to make Hispanic Catholics feel welcome in the Diocese of Allentown.

The Pope Wants to Hear from Catholics Around the World, and the Listening Process is About to Begin

Pope Francis has announced a Synod of Bishops and called on each Bishop around the world to listen to members of their flock –  including those who are marginalized or who have fallen away from the Church — and get their feedback on issues important to the Catholic Church today.

Students Return to Classrooms as Diocesan Schools Reopen

The hallways of 36 schools in Schuylkill, Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon and Berks counties were alive with the sounds of students getting settled in, and of teachers getting to know their students and beginning lessons. 

Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania Prioritize Safety as Mass Obligation Resumes

Caring for the health, safety and spiritual wellbeing of parishioners and their communities is a priority of all the bishops of Pennsylvania. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, dioceses have made every effort to implement best practices in public health for every aspect of parish life. Each diocese is continuously re-evaluating coronavirus mitigation efforts, frequently consulting with state and federal healthcare experts and constantly monitoring data.