The Synod of Bishops released its final message today. Catholic News Service has a write-up. Below is a snip. Full text can be found here. Our world is full of contradictions and challenges, but it remains God’s creation. The world is wounded by evil, but God loves it still. It is his field in which the sowing of the Word can be renewed so that it would bear fruit once more. There is no room for pessimism in the minds... Read more
Kudos to that great deacon’s wife, Kathy Schiffer, for finding and posting this gem: “I carve prayers in the pumpkins when they’re small,” says Sharon Trabbic, “and as they grow, the prayers grow as well.” Deacon Ken Trabbic and his wife Sharon are the owners/operators of the Trabbic Family Farm, where they produce over 20 acres of pumpkins as well as wheat, field corn, sweet corn, soybeans and hay. The farm has been in the Trabbic family for over 100... Read more
Remember when the most shocking political ad of all time was a little girl picking daisies? This may trump that. And this is supposed to appeal to young, undecided women? Really? Really. Read more
An interesting look at how the men, and the diocese, are adjusting, from The Leaven newspaper: The first cadre of the archdiocese’s permanent deacons has found ministry to be pretty much what they expected — with an occasional curveball. “There have been no big surprises,” said Deacon Jim Lavin, assigned to Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. “I’m not doing anything I didn’t expect to do, but you never know what you’re going to find.” Such was the case when... Read more
Details: Church teaching against abortion “requires absolute adherence” on the part of Catholic voters, who must “stand united” in opposition to the practice regardless of party affiliation, said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia. “(Abortion) really is a big issue today, and I think what it requires of Catholics is a loyalty to the church prior to their political party,” Archbishop Chaput told Catholic News Service Oct. 20 in Rome. “We’re Catholics before we’re Democrats. We’re Catholics before we’re Republicans,” he said.... Read more
An interesting look at how the men, and the diocese, are adjusting, from The Leavennewspaper: The first cadre of the archdiocese’s permanent deacons has found ministry to be pretty much what they expected — with an occasional curveball. “There have been no big surprises,” said Deacon Jim Lavin, assigned to Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park. “I’m not doing anything I didn’t expect to do, but you never know what you’re going to find.” Such was the case when he... Read more
This may be the ultimate boy band: a group of seminarians from Joliet, Illinois performing at a vocations event earlier this year. This is New Evangelization like you probably haven’t seen it before. Enjoy. Read more
Details: Guinness World Records has honored a Jesuit with the record of world’s oldest active teacher. Jesuit Father Geoffrey Schneider, hailing from Sydney, Australia, turns 100 in December. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at him. “When I ask the students to guess my age, they usually say 70,” says Fr. Schneider, who teaches at St. Aloysius’ College in Sydney. Born in 1912, Fr. Schneider became a teacher in 1940 “because I thought teaching was a good thing to... Read more
They’re kvelling. They even have t-shirts (like the one above). Details: Jets quarterback Tim Tebow has had an ardent following since college, but in one particular case, he has quite a “tribe” behind him. Meet the self-named, self-proclaimed chosen ones for the Jets backup quarterback, the “Jews for Tebow.” The group, started last November after Tebow led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Jets, boasts 4,000 members worldwide who all love and support Tebow, an Evangelical Christian. Thousands regularly show up... Read more
I’m thinking: yes. I’m liking this fellow. A lot. Catholic News Service has details of the young cardinal-designate: The youngest of six cardinals announced Oct. 24 is widely lauded for his theological gifts and his humility. Cardinal-designate Luis Tagle, 55, of Manila, Philippines, “really takes care of people … he’s so simple and generous and there’s no class structure when he deals with people; everyone is equal in his eyes,” said Nemie Anciado, a longtime custodian at the cathedral in... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In