“The Diocese of Allentown will commemorate Pope Francis on Friday by tolling the bells at all its churches.

The diocese announced Wednesday that the bells will be tolled 88 consecutive times, once for each year of the late pontiff’s life, starting at noon Friday.

Additionally, two solemn liturgies will be held that day. Bishop Alfred A.… Read more

mcall.com

Allentown Diocese churches to toll bells to commemorate Pope Francis on Friday

The Allentown Diocese will commemorate Pope Francis on Friday by tolling the bells at all its churches 88 times, once for each year of the late pontiff’s life.

In a gesture of solemn commemoration of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown, has directed the tolling of bells throughout the Diocese of Allentown on Friday, April 25 at noon.

In a memo to priests of the Diocese, Father Keith A. Mathur, Chancellor, said Bishop… Read more

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Diocese of Allentown to Toll Bells in Solemn Commemoration of Pope Francis - AD Today

In a gesture of solemn commemoration of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown, has directed the tolling of bells throughout the Diocese of Allentown on Friday, April 25 … Continue reading

“Berks Catholic High School students who had attended elementary schools like Holy Guardian Angels, St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart, St. Peter’s, LaSalle Academy, all solemnly entered the auditorium Tuesday morning to pray the Rosary for Pope Francis as they returned from the Easter spring break, saddened by the news of his passing Monday morning at… Read more

readingeagle.com

Berks Catholic students recall Pope Francis as they return to school

They grew up with Pope Francis. Berks Catholic High School students who had attended elementary schools like Holy Guardian Angels, St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart, St. Peter’s, LaSalle Academy, all sole…

“Gabriela and Beytullah Colak and their sons, Santiago and Benjamin, spent some quality time last summer in Rome with Pope Francis, who died early Monday.

Gabriela Colak, who is religious education director at Holy Infancy Catholic Church in south Bethlehem, is Argentinian, like the late vicar. Her husband, who is Turkish and a Muslim,… Read more

mcall.com

A Lehigh Valley family got a special invitation to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican. Here’s their story.

The Colaks were in Italy to visit Gabriela’s sister when her husband reached out to the pope’s staff to ask about leaving him a present at the Vatican. The next day, they received an em…

“In an interview before a special Mass in honor of Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown, Schlert spoke of the poignancy of the pope’s last ride through St. Peter’s Square.

“He was right where he wanted to be,” Schlert said. “No one knew it would be the last time we’d see him on this Earth.”

His death on Easter… Read more

mcall.com

For the Lehigh Valley’s Catholics, Pope Francis was a leader like no other

Allentown Bishop Alfred Schlert said Pope Francis “reminded the faithful that the Church is a hospital for the sinner and not just for the saints.”

“The news of the death of Pope Francis was the first thing many people woke up to Monday morning, and for the Catholic community in Reading, the loss felt personal.

At St. Peter’s Church, parishioners came together quietly, some with candles, others in tears, looking for space to reflect, to grieve and to pray.

One of them was Veronica… Read more

wfmz.com

Community in Reading gathers to mourn, pray for Pope Francis

Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope, and for many in Reading's Latino Catholic community, that connection ran deep.