I was alerted the other day to some interesting renovation work getting underway at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s relatively new, as cathedrals go — built in 1963 — and fairly modern. You can read all about the work taking place at the diocesan website. But take a look at the images below for a better idea of what they have in mind — before and after. +++ Read more
Some inspiring stories of diakonia can be found in this piece by Sean Gallagher, about the ordination last weekend in Indianapolis: The enduring power of relationships between friends, wives and husbands and parents and children were deeply woven into the June 23 ordination of 16 men as permanent deacons and two men as transitional deacons at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. (Related story: Transitional deacons see witness in permanent deacons) A new deacon was vested with the dalmatic—a deacon’s outer vestment—that had belonged... Read more
From the diocesan newspaper: Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski reflected on the rich tradition of the diaconate in the Church in his homily to inspire the 11 newly-ordained deacons who will exercise their ministry at parishes in the diocese. At the Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate at Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi June 9, Bishop Bootkoski noted the sacred ceremony was being held on the feast day of St. Ephrem of Syria, a deacon and doctor... Read more
From a friend’s FB page: Read more
If you think the magisterium is sitting for a class picture above, think again. Deacon Bill Ditewig returns to the blogosphere — yay! — with a new look for his blog, along with a fresh look at one of the most misunderstood terms in all Catholicism: If a quick survey of certain web sites is any indication, many people seem to think that magisterium is a “who”: the Pope, for example, or the Pope and the world’s bishops, or the Pope and... Read more
The group’s statement, from their website: The Catholic Health Association is taking time to carefully read and evaluate the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and may have additional comments once our review is complete. We are pleased that, based on an initial read of the ruling, the ACA has been found constitutional and will remain in effect. CHA has long supported health reform that expands access and coverage to everyone. We signed onto amicus briefs encouraging... Read more
“Our unity must be in God or we will fall as other nations that have abandoned God have fallen and will fall. There are too many divisions and classes among us in America now; too many hates, too few deep loves; too much tolerance based on expediency and not enough tolerance grounded in charity; too much tolerance of evil, not enough intolerance for righteousness. There can be differences in our national life without animosity, varying lights of conscience without bitterness,... Read more
From the diocesan newspaper: Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski reflected on the rich tradition of the diaconate in the Church in his homily to inspire the 11 newly-ordained deacons who will exercise their ministry at parishes in the diocese. At the Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate at Mass at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi June 9, Bishop Bootkoski noted the sacred ceremony was being held on the feast day of St. Ephrem of Syria, a deacon and doctor... Read more
Some inspiring stories of diakonia can be found in this piece by Sean Gallagher, about the ordination last weekend in Indianapolis: The enduring power of relationships between friends, wives and husbands and parents and children were deeply woven into the June 23 ordination of 16 men as permanent deacons and two men as transitional deacons at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. (Related story: Transitional deacons see witness in permanent deacons) A new deacon was vested with the dalmatic—a deacon’s outer vestment—that had belonged... Read more
The bishops released a statement a short time ago: Today the United States Supreme Court issued a decision upholding as a tax the provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires individuals to purchase a health plan—the so-called “individual mandate.” For nearly a century, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been and continue to be consistent advocates for comprehensive health care reform to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all, especially the poorest and the most... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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