The story that broke last week keeps widening. The latest: The teenager who was not confirmed at the Catholic church here after he publicly supported same-sex marriage was not the only student who was denied the religious sacrament for backing gay marriage, the church’s priest said in a letter made public Friday. In the letter, addressed to the parish of Assumption Church at 307 Front St. N., the Rev. Gary LaMoine says “a couple of candidates chose not to enter... Read more
What you see here is the view from the sanctuary in my parish this afternoon, moments before we began the procession for the Mass marking our 100th anniversary. To put it simply: I’ve never experienced a liturgy quite like this. It was, in every sense, grand: from the entrance procession that included members of various parish groups and committees; to the army of altar servers (there must have been at least 20, probably more); to the (unprecedented in recent memory)... Read more
The following e-mail arrived today, from Rich Herbst, Episcopal Master of Ceremonies in the Diocese of San Bernardino, California: Four men were ordained permanent deacons for the Diocese of San Bernardino on Saturday, November 17th at Sacred Heart Church in Rancho Cucamonga. Pictured are Deacon Octavio Echeverria, whose wife María is a Vice-chancellor for the diocese, Deacon Raymond Moon, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio J. del Riego, Deacon Gary Quinn, and Deacon David Hockwalt. Wonderful news! Congratulations and... Read more
The following e-mail arrived today, from Rich Herbst, Episcopal Master of Ceremonies in the Diocese of San Bernardino, California: Four men were ordained permanent deacons for the Diocese of San Bernardino on Saturday, November 17th at Sacred Heart Church in Rancho Cucamonga. Pictured are Deacon Octavio Echeverria, whose wife María is a Vice-chancellor for the diocese, Deacon Raymond Moon, Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, Auxiliary Bishop Rutilio J. del Riego, Deacon Gary Quinn, and Deacon David Hockwalt. Wonderful news! Congratulations and... Read more
I suspect a lot of people don’t know about this period of his life. Author Stephen Mansfield has the details: We have heard the soaring phrases often. They are fixed in the American book of verse. Now, they sound again in Steven Spielberg’s magnificent film, “Lincoln.” They come to us as tones of faith from Abraham Lincoln’s presidential speeches: “a firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this favored land,” “the Almighty has his own purposes,” “that this... Read more
[This Sunday, my parish is celebrating the closing of its centennial. Bishop DiMarzio will be on hand, along with several priests who have close associations with the parish, for a massive concelebrated Mass at 12:30. Also in the mix: a horde of altar servers, plus drums, timpani and a full choir. According to the program, the music includes “Gloria a Te,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “The March of the Nobles.” Meantime, here’s... Read more
The media firestorm has so far not included anything more than cursory comments from the parish priest. Until now. From LifeSite News: The parents of a 17-year-old boy in Minnesota are claiming that their parish priest denied their son the sacrament of Confirmation because he posted a photo in support of gay ‘marriage’ on his Facebook page – a claim that the priest, Fr. Gary LaMoine, has denied. The story broke earlier this week on the Fargo Forum, and has... Read more
It may be the iconic image of Hurricane Sandy — some have compared it to the “cross at Ground Zero” — and today’s New York Times has the story behind it: At the corner of Oceanside Avenue and Gotham Walk, the house inherited by the elderly McNultys’ niece Regina after the couple died, is a place of tragedy. It is also, astonishingly, a place of faith. For the one part of the home to survive intact was a statue of... Read more
[This Sunday, my parish is celebrating the closing of its centennial. Bishop DiMarzio will be on hand, along with several priests who have close associations with the parish, for a massive concelebrated Mass at 12:30. Also in the mix: a horde of altar servers, plus drums, timpani and a full choir. According to the program, the music includes “Gloria a Te,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” “Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “The March of the Nobles.” Meantime, here’s... Read more
Details: There was no mention of churches torched or Christians killed, but the prayer neatly written on a tiny piece of paper and placed atop an icon of St. George in the chapel of a desert monastery left no doubt about the growing fear and despair of Egypt’s Coptic Christians. “Oh Lord, for the sake of all the saints of the church, raise high the banner of the cross and vanquish our enemies, the enemies of the church,” it read.... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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