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Called and Sent by Jesus

2023-02-28T20:33:27-05:00

We are now in Eastertime, also known as the Easter season which focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Eastertide ends on the fiftieth day after Easter, on the day of Pentecost, celebrated this year on June 5th, 2022. On this day we recall when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire. The Gospel readings have been focusing on Jesus's last words with his disciples. In the Gospel reading of John 20;19-31, for the Second Sunday of Easter, after first wishing his followers peace, Jesus said "As the Father has [...]

Called and Sent by Jesus2023-02-28T20:33:27-05:00

Father John Novielli: God Writes Straight With Crooked Lines

2023-02-21T21:59:56-05:00

God writes straight with crooked lines. The plan God has for us is perfect, even though we can seldom see what He is asking of us.  Father John Novielli’s path to the Norbertine Order at Daylesford Abbey took unexpected turns and he encountered some obstacles toward fulfilling his vocation to the Catholic priesthood.  But looking back over his life, it is clear how God was with him along the journey. Born to Italian immigrants, Father John was raised in South Philadelphia with his three brothers. Father grew up during an amazing moment in time for both the Catholic church and [...]

Father John Novielli: God Writes Straight With Crooked Lines2023-02-21T21:59:56-05:00

Father Joseph Serano: A Vocation to Community

2021-05-17T11:28:18-04:00

Growing up in a tight-knit Italian family in South Philadelphia, Father Joseph Serano had always been aware of the importance of family and community. This was a key factor in leading him to the Norbertine Order to fulfill his vocation to the priesthood, living the Rule of St. Augustine: “We seek to be of one mind and one heart on the way to God.” In 7th grade, Father Joseph’s family moved from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish to St. Monica Parish. It was at this time that Father Serano began to discover his calling to the Catholic priesthood. Like many men at [...]

Father Joseph Serano: A Vocation to Community2021-05-17T11:28:18-04:00

Daylesford Abbey’s Connection to the White House

2021-01-21T11:39:58-05:00

On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as 46th President of the United States. His running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris is not only the first woman, but first biracial woman to hold the position. President Biden is also the second Catholic to hold office, the first being John F. Kennedy.  Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born November 20, 1942 in Scranton, PA. At the age of 10, his family moved to Claymont, DE, living there a few years before settling in Wilmington, DE. He attended Archmere Academy in Claymont for high school, a private, Catholic college-preparatory high school founded [...]

Daylesford Abbey’s Connection to the White House2021-01-21T11:39:58-05:00

Feast of Saint Augustine

2020-08-28T09:46:04-04:00

August 28- The Feast of Saint Augustine Today we celebrate the solemnity of Out Holy Father St Augustine of Hippo (354 - 430), Bishop and Doctor.- Whose rule we follow. He was born in Thagaste in Africa of a Berber family. He was brought up a Christian but left the Church and embraced the Manichaean heresy, later seeing how nonsensical it was and becoming a Neoplatonist instead. He led a wild and dissolute youth. He took a concubine by whom he had a son, Adeodatus. He had a brilliant legal and academic career. At length, through the prayers of his mother, [...]

Feast of Saint Augustine2020-08-28T09:46:04-04:00

Father John Zagarella visits St. Norbert School

2020-02-20T09:50:54-05:00

Father John Zagarella traveled to Bangalore, India this past November to visit St. Norbert School, a Norbertine-run school. Father John was warmly welcomed by Father Alois, Father Jijo, Father Mariadas and Father Manoj from the school and parish during his time spent at St. Norbert. While he spent the majority of his two week trip at the school, these Norbertine priests took him to many Norbertine establishments in Southern India.  Father John noted the student’s exhibited politeness and class, greeting him each morning as they lined up before school for their morning prayer and the pledge to their country. Any student [...]

Father John Zagarella visits St. Norbert School2020-02-20T09:50:54-05:00

Fighting Fires While Serving Their Vocations God

2020-02-20T09:45:05-05:00

Rev. Dave Driesch not only serves God, but his Paoli community as a firefighter! Rev. Driesh is the Prior at Daylesford Abbey, and he has been a firefighter for over 30 years. Recently, he has taken Rev. Tim McGill, under his wing. Rev. McGill is a Southern Baptist minister and pastor of Paoli Community Church.  Over the years, Rev. Driesch learned  to gauge when he can and cannot leave one position for the other.  “If I heard the siren go off during Mass, and I heard one engine leave, and then a second engine leave, I’d speed things up a bit, [...]

Fighting Fires While Serving Their Vocations God2020-02-20T09:45:05-05:00

Vocation Match

2020-02-19T11:26:15-05:00

If you have felt the pull towards religious life, but aren’t sure where you’d fit in, Vision Vocation Network is here to help you. God has a plan for all of us, and gives us signs as to what that plan entails. When you hear his call to religious life, answer it.  Vision Vocation Network provides the resources needed to learn what vocation God is calling you to.  One tool in particular is Vocation Match. This quiz helps you decide what religious order is right for you, and what role within that order answer your call to God. The quiz takes into [...]

Vocation Match2020-02-19T11:26:15-05:00

Frater Jeff- A Rock and Roll Journey To God

2019-11-27T16:15:06-05:00

Picture yourself in the mid-90s, working for Madonna’s record label, Maverick Records. Someone asks where you see yourself in 20 years, what would your answer be? For Jeff Himes, he would tell you he’d have answered his call from God and on his way to becoming a Catholic priest. Jeff Himes grew up in Chester County, in the Downingtown and West Chester area. He graduated from Downingtown High School, and after high school spent the next phase of his life working in the music industry. Upon his high school graduation, Jeff played in a heavy metal band (in the ilk of [...]

Frater Jeff- A Rock and Roll Journey To God2019-11-27T16:15:06-05:00

Growing Religious Orders

2019-09-25T15:16:24-04:00

Growing religious orders are not a thing of the past. It would appear in recent years, the number of men and women entering religious life has decreased in recent years. In fact, a decline in vocations began to decrease between 1963 and 1966. However, for some religious orders, that is not the case. In particular, more traditional religious orders are growing despite an increasingly secular world. Many of the religious orders that continue to grow have various traits in common. For example, the Legionaries of Christ is among the list of growing religious orders. The Legionaries of Christ live communally and [...]

Growing Religious Orders2019-09-25T15:16:24-04:00

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