The Deacon's Bench
I think this picture, posted by a friend on his FB page, says it all. Read more
I think this picture, posted by a friend on his FB page, says it all. Read more
Those who saw this last night couldn’t help but be awed — and slightly terrified — at what was unfolding. But in interviews after, a cheerful Nik Wallenda gave full credit to God and prayer for this astounding feat. It’s something he’s spoken about candidly in the past: Wallenda told reporters it took “a lot of praying, that’s for sure. But, you know, it’s all about the concentration, the focus, and the training.” QMI Agency reported earlier on the details of Wallenda’s... Read more
It’s exceedingly rare for a deacon to hold elected office, but a paper in California looks at one who does: Over the last 10 years, the number of deacons in the Los Angeles archdiocese has more than doubled, increasing from about 160 in the early 2000s to 347 this year, including 14 deacons ordained last weekend. And there’s only one deacon in the county – and possibly the state – involved in politics, Downey Councilman Mario Guerra, who celebrated his... Read more
[Click here for the readings] This year, as we celebrate our parish centennial, we’ve been marking key dates – the day of the groundbreaking, the day of the first census and so on. We’ve been big on anniversaries, commemorating our beginnings. Well, here’s another anniversary, coming up later this summer. It goes back further than a hundred years. It isn’t directly tied to this parish – but it does have a connection to every one of us here this morning. ... Read more
Played, I swear, on a ukelele — “the underdog of all instruments.” Forget Tiny Tim tiptoeing through the tulips. Listen instead to the musical stylings of Jake Shimabukuro, performing at a TED lecture two years ago. Read more
This is a big deal: Sharpening an election-year confrontation over religious freedom and government health insurance rules, the nation’s Catholic hospitals on Friday rejected President Barack Obama’s compromise for providing birth control coverage to their women employees. The Catholic Health Association was a key ally in Obama’s health care overhaul, defying opposition from church bishops to help the president win approval in Congress. But the group said Friday it does not believe church-affiliated employers should have to provide birth control... Read more
The story, from The Tidings: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read; teach what you believe; practice what you teach,” Archbishop José Gomez told 15 deacons ordained June 9 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, as he handed to each of them the Book of the Gospels during the rite of ordination. The newly ordained deacons include Robert Ashe (Blessed Kateri Church, Santa Clarita), Ron Baker (Holy Family, Glendale), Joseph... Read more
I griped about this trend last year, but it seems to be spreading: On any given Sunday, one can walk into St. Francis of Assisi Church in Colorado Springs and hear the congregation singing. But a closer look reveals that many of those people are not using hymnals. Instead, they’re following lyrics and music projected onto two screens hung high on the church walls. Since the projection system was installed, the response from parishioners has been overwhelmingly positive, said Marianne... Read more
You can thank me later. Readings are here. Read more
Benedictine Father Jeremy Driscoll recently discussed changes in the liturgy that followed Vatican II. CNS has the video below. Check it out. Read more
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