The Boston Globe looks at the dwindling number of young people engaged in the Catholic Church, but finds hope in at least one parish in suburban Boston: The pastor credits its growth to the philosophy of living Catholic values. St. Patrick Parish of Lawrence offers services in three languages (English, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and is growing “every year in every metric,” said the Rev. Paul O’Brien. Parishioners crowd vibrant and busy Masses on the weekends, he said, and the church... Read more
Our choir will be offering this as the communion hymn Sunday. Some background: “Ave verum corpus” is a short Eucharistic chant that has also been set to music by various composers. It dates from the 14th century and has been attributed to Pope Innocent VI. During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the sacramental bread during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The poem is a meditation on the Catholic belief in Jesus’s real presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and ties it to the Catholic conception... Read more
Friday afternoon, the political reporter Robert Costa put it succinctly. He sent out a message on Twitter that said, in part: “We’re watching history unfold, in a raw and urgent way.” Anyone paying attention knew what he was talking about—the contentious, dramatic, emotional hearings surrounding the man nominated to be the next justice on the Supreme Court. This was a landmark event. Nielsen reported that 20 percent of the households with a TV watched at least part of hearings —... Read more
From Vatican Media: The following is the full text of a comuniqué released on Saturday by the Holy See’s Press Office regarding an invitation extended by Pope Francis to all the faithful to join in praying the Rosary during the month of October: The Holy Father has decided to invite all the faithful, of all the world, to pray the Holy Rosary every day, during the entire Marian month of October, and thus to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of... Read more
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself this week — and I was heartened to read this thoughtful response to that question by Ed Stetzer, Dean of the School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership at Wheaton College. It applies, I think, to our response on social media and from the pulpit. (And as an aside: this weekend’s scripture affords us an opportunity to preach not only about the “millstone” moment in Mark’s Gospel, but it’s also a chance to talk about... Read more
This item was posted today, on the Archdiocese of Washington website: In late July 2018, our Holy Father Pope Francis requested that Archbishop Theodore McCarrick withdraw from all public ministry and events. To that end, Archbishop McCarrick now resides at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas in the Diocese of Salina, with the permission of the Provincial Superior of the Franciscan Capuchin Community responsible for the Friary, Fr. Christopher Popravak, O.F.M.Cap., and the Bishop of Salina, Most Reverend Gerald Vincke.... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has issued a new letter addressing his allegation that senior prelates have been complicit in covering up alleged sex abuse by ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Headed with Viganò’s episcopal motto, Scio Cui credidi (I know whom I have believed), the letter, dated Sept. 29 – the feast of St. Michael – was released Sept. 27. It was not a coincidence: St. Michael is considered the protector of the church, the leader of all angels who battled... Read more
This is an excellent idea: Pope Francis has stressed the need for ongoing formation for couples, before and after marriage, saying that even the basic teachings of the Church “could not be taken for granted.” The pope spoke in an address to participants in a recent course on marriage and family life held in Rome. Speaking Sept. 27 in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran to an audience of priests, deacons, and lay people, Francis renewed his call for a... Read more
This is something you don’t hear about every day. From Minnesota Lawyer: In a man-bites-dog case with few if any precise corollaries, a Roman Catholic priest designated as “credibly accused” of sexual misconduct by the Diocese of Duluth just last April has successfully sued the man who made the allegations against him. After a three-day trial before 6th Judicial District Court Judge Theresa Neo, an eight-member jury awarded the Rev. William Graham $13,500 to compensate him for the $500 monthly... Read more
Some insight on the times we are living in, and the work some of us do, from Greg Erlandson, editor-in-chief of Catholic News Service: “Are you still working for that evil organization?” sneers one person. “Why aren’t you defending the bishops more strongly?” chides another. Welcome to the world of Catholic journalism. These are the questions we’ve been fielding in recent weeks as our Church is buffeted by a hurricane of allegations and condemnations regarding its handling of sexual abuse... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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