Church

With St. John's coach Steve Lavin watching from behind the Vaux bench, Rysheed Jordan opted to be more of a facilitator than a scorer. "He was playing off us more than anything," Cougars senior swingman Lester Mattox said. "That's nothing new. He does that all the time. " With the 6-foot-4 senior phenom looking for Mattox and others, Vaux fought past Church Farm, 68-64, Friday night in a PIAA Class A boys' quarterfinal at La Salle High. Jordan, who also is considering Temple and UCLA, settled for nine points.

With St. John's coach Steve Lavin watching from behind the Vaux bench, Rysheed Jordan opted to be more of a facilitator than a scorer. "He was playing off us more than anything," Cougars senior swingman Lester Mattox said. "That's nothing new. He does that all the time. " With the 6-foot-4 senior phenom looking for Mattox and others, Vaux fought past Church Farm, 68-64, Friday night in a PIAA Class A boys' quarterfinal at La Salle High. Jordan, who also is considering Temple and UCLA, settled for nine points.

The elevation of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics was notable for many reasons, perhaps most significantly the Argentine's becoming the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years. Equally noteworthy was his becoming the first Jesuit pope, as well as the first Pope Francis, a name that pays tribute to a man who to this day epitomizes priestly humility - St. Francis of Assisi, the medieval Italian friar who assiduously shunned worldly possessions to keep his vow of poverty.

Maria Travaglio wept with joy when news came that a Latino had been chosen as pope. "It's about time," said the Philadelphia Archdiocese Catholic Social Services worker, who born and raised in Argentina. "I can't believe it. Wow. " Travaglio was crying tears of happiness in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, where she and others gathered to watch the announcement. Across the Philadelphia region, Catholics rejoiced and non-Catholics took notice, the world seeming to stop for a moment for the selection of a new pope: Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Bergoglio.

AMAJORITY OF American Roman Catholics consider the church out of touch with their views, and they want the new pope to usher in policies that reflect more modern attitudes, according to a new Washington Post -ABC News poll. The poll suggests most Catholics in the United States hope the next pope will move the church in a new direction that someday could include married priests and female priests. Yet even as six in 10 Catholics characterize the church as not in line with their attitudes and lifestyles, 86 percent said it remains relevant, according to the poll, conducted last week.

ROSETTA BRANDON came from Halifax, Va., where she was raised in a church-going atmosphere with family and friends who imbued in her the ideals of hard work and service to others. "Halifax was known for its church people," said longtime friend Robin Cunningham-Gladden. "They believed in working hard, save your money, do the right thing, be a lady. All those old-fashioned virtues. " Rosetta brought those virtues with her to Philadelphia when she arrived in 1958, took jobs in the computer industry and worked with children as a teacher's aide.

While it's hard to tell, Larry Cermak says he has added about 20 pounds to his 6-foot-10 frame since arriving at the School at Church Farm. "I weigh about 195 pounds now," the rail-thin senior center said. "I've been on a weight-gain program. With me, it doesn't happen easily. It's a very slow process. " Cermak, a native of the Czech Republic, left Prague 21/2 years ago for Church Farm, a boarding school in Exton, Chester County. "The transition wasn't as hard as I thought it would be," he said.

Church Farm coach Marc Turner spent considerable time talking to his players after Friday night's PIAA Class A first-round playoff against District 3's New Hope Academy. His Griffins advanced at Colonial Elementary School with a 58-44 victory, but they did so despite a ghastly 28 turnovers. "We were just careless with the basketball," Turner said. "I had to remind them that we can't take any opponent for granted. We're not good enough to show up and roll over other teams. " New Hope, of York, was slightly worse in the turnover category.