Author: Paul Wirth

At his funeral Mass, Bishop Cullen was remembered as an uncle and brother, as a pastor and diocesan shepherd, and as a man who, because of his love of the Holy Trinity, was spiritually unafraid.

The Most Rev. Edward P. Cullen, Third Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, died May 9, 2023, in Lehigh Valley Hospital Center-Cedar Crest, Allentown, Pa. He was 90.

After more than three years of pandemic, the U.S. government has declared the end of public health emergencies as of May 11, 2023.

Everyone is invited to attend the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, to pray with Bishop Alfred Schlert, who will administer the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a rite that will be witnessed by friends, families, fellow seminarians, as well as many consecrated religious, deacons, and priests.

“I think the moral of this story is that anyone – regardless of their background, or education, or age, or position in life – can consider a vocation to the Priesthood,” said Father Mark Searles, Director of Vocations.

Bishop Ronald Gainer, a former priest of the Diocese of Allentown, completed his retirement planning Tuesday when Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Bishop of Harrisburg.

The 87 priests who joined Bishop Alfred Schlert at the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena Wednesday have a total of 2,571 years on the job – a combined 25 centuries of Priestly service to people of the Diocese.

As we approach Easter, the AD Times spoke with Bishop Alfred Schlert about the significance of Holy Week and about how Catholics can make the most of this significant time in our liturgical year.