Where a Roman Catholic deacon ponders the world
I imagine this news will stir up some debate around the diocese: The Rev. John Lankeit, rector of the cathedral, said he made the decision in hopes of promoting the priesthood for males and other religious vocations, such as becoming a nun, for females. Made up primarily of fifth- through eighth-graders the altar-server corps in [...]
Given the dwindling vocations, this shouldn’t be a shock. But it’s sad news nonetheless: When Sister Mary Jean Ryan entered the convent as a young nurse in 1960, virtually every department of every Catholic hospital was run by a nun, from pediatrics to dietary to billing. After her retirement on July 31 as the chief [...]
The pope spoke to seminarians in Spain today — and his words carry a message, I think, for deacon candidates, too: Dear friends, you are preparing yourselves to become apostles with Christ and like Christ, and to accompany your fellow men and women along their journey as companions and servants. How should you behave during [...]
A few months back, I posted an item about one Anglican clergyman’s leap of faith, and questions surrounding how he would support his family once he became a Catholic priest. This morning, National Catholic Register has more about him, and others like him: When Father Ian Hellyer, a Catholic priest in England, figures his personal [...]
He is that rarity in the Catholic Church: a deaf priest, embarking on an extraordinary ministry that seeks to preach The Word to those who cannot hear. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Father Christopher Klusman stands at the back of St. Roman Catholic Church on Milwaukee’s south side and greets worshippers after the Saturday night [...]
That comes straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were — from a former Anglican in the UK who is now a Catholic priest. From the BBC: A married Roman Catholic priest from Burnley has said he believes the church is correct to prefer single celibate clergy in their parishes. Father Paul Blackburn is the [...]
I tend to spotlight older men entering the priesthood around here, but thanks to The Anchoress, I can turn the spotlight this morning on an older woman — and grandmother — who has found a late vocation as a sister. Take a look: When Sister Shirley Shafranek makes her final profession of vows as a [...]
It’s no secret that people entering religious life these days are increasingly attracted to wearing the kinds of clothes that were abandoned in the ’60s and ’70s — habits and veils for women, cassocks and birettas for men. U.S. Catholic looks at how one order is addressing this old-fashioned new fashion: Around the time Karen [...]
I had the good fortune of meeting him a few years back, when he was merely in his mid-90′s. What an inspiration: Father Luke Kot sits in the midst of the barn-turned-museum at Holy Spirit Monastery and reminisces. Stairs in the corner once led to the second-floor “cells,” as bedrooms for monks are called. Here [...]
From Oregon comes this intriguing piece about yet another married Episcopalian minister who has become a Catholic priest: Two things set Father Bryce McProud apart from most newly ordained Roman Catholic priests: He once tried out for the Metropolitan Opera and placed highly enough to consider it a career option. And he’s married. The opera [...]
Join the Discussions of the Year of Faith
Click here throughout the Year of Faith, as the Catholic Channel at Patheos.com invites Catholics of every age and stripe to share what they are gleaning and carrying away from this gift of timely focus.
Follow Patheos on
Copyright 2008-2013, Patheos. All rights reserved. Terms of Service | Patheos Privacy Policy | Site developed by Avalon Consulting, LLC
Follow Patheos
Catholic: