I’ll look forward to getting a full report in the next few days. But for now, here’s a first glimpse at the 19 newly ordained deacons from the Diocese of Richmond (and, of course, their bishop.) Profiles of the men can be found here. Ad multos annos! Read more
Details: A Wisconsin school district has ordered a joint public-private school football team to change its logo – in the middle of the season — after a lone parent said the inclusion of a bishop’s hat and cross was a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Martin Lexmond, superintendent of the Shorewood School District, told Fox News that he made the decision to remove the logos after consulting with the school board. “It just didn’t occur to anybody that there might... Read more
I’ll look forward to getting a full report in the next few days. But for now, here’s a first glimpse at the 19 newly ordained deacons from the Diocese of Richmond (and, of course, their bishop.) Profiles of the men can be found here. Ad multos annos! Read more
And the star of “Leave It to Beaver” is speaking out in support of Catholic education. Details: He grew up with the world watching. In the 50’s and 60’s, Sioux City’s own Jerry Mathers was the kid other kids wanted to be like, and the child many parents felt they had. Jerry Mathers had already filmed movies and worked with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, but it was the popular 1957 sitcom about the everyday American Family, the Cleavers, where... Read more
From the In My Backyard Desk…an observation, from Lawrence Downes in the New York Times: When Pope Benedict XVI canonizes seven Catholic saints in Rome next Sunday, two Americans will be among them, bringing the total of American saints to an even dozen. That may seem surprisingly few after 500 years of Christianity in the New World, but the United States is still a relative newcomer in the Catholic Church, and these things take time. What’s more remarkable, even astounding,... Read more
As expected, the wizards at SNL didn’t disappoint. Herewith, their take on the Biden/Ryan debate. Read more
A reader writes: I’m a recent convert with Asperger’s. I have a REAL problem with the touchy feely parts of the “ordinary” form, and I typically try very hard to go to the Tridentine for just that reason (ok, not just that one, I do love the Latin). On occasion I have no choice but to go to a different Mass. Is it the “rule” that you have to hold hands/give the sign of peace, or is it something that... Read more
If you’re looking for insight into what’s happening at the synod on the New Evangelization, Tucson Bishop Gerald Kicanas is offering terrific daily reports for Catholic News Service’s blog. Here’s part of Saturday’s post: During the morning we heard 26 continuous five-minute interventions. While we might feel overwhelmed and weary with so many interventions, the Holy Father at 85 sat through the same number of comments with close attention, even from time to time taking notes. In the afternoon we... Read more
A preview from the Los Angeles Times: Surfing luminaries and religious figures will converge in Huntington beach on Sunday for an unusual event. At the fifth annual Blessing of the Waves, an interfaith service sponsored by the Diocese of Orange, Tom Morey — the inventor of the Boogie Board — will represent the Baha’i Faith. Singer-songwriter Summer Watson, who has toured California and Hawaii to promote the Toes on the Nose clothing brand, will play a solo acoustic set. And... Read more
[Click here for readings.] This episode in the gospels could go down as one of the great “unsolved mysteries” of the New Testament. We never hear what happened to the rich young man, never find out what he did, never hear the rest of the story. We tend to assume that he was simply too attached to his belongings to give them up, and was never heard from again. But I think that dismisses him too easily. If the gospels... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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