The Deacon's Bench
Rocco, has always, has everything you need to know. And Fargo’s website has the new archbishop’s official bio. (Also at the site: his coat of arms, designed by the ubiquitous Deacon Paul J. Sullivan of Providence.) Read more
Rocco, has always, has everything you need to know. And Fargo’s website has the new archbishop’s official bio. (Also at the site: his coat of arms, designed by the ubiquitous Deacon Paul J. Sullivan of Providence.) Read more
With the summer season on us, we all need a break — a change of scenery or, at least, a change in atmosphere. I could really use a trip to Walley World right about now. However, since I can’t do that, I’m going to do something else. For the foreseeable future, I’m closing comments. Maybe for good. I’ll revisit this policy later in the summer. Older posts will still allow comments. But going forward, new ones will not. This has... Read more
A priest friend sent this my way, and I have to say: this is truly something. Read more and see more pictures here. Read more
“It’s like breaking in a new pair of shoes. The old shoes are comfortable and broken in, and it takes awhile to break in a new pair, and I think that is where we still are at; the breaking in stage.” — Rev. John Yonkovig, Lake Placid, NY, on the new Roman Missal. Read how one parish has adapted to it. Read more
So, how was your Pentecost? Here’s a window into the world of a deacon — or at least, this particular deacon. Last Sunday, my pastor and I agreed that he would preach the “high” Mass on Pentecost, since at that Mass he was going to be doing the confirmations for about a dozen adults. (My pastor has serious health problems, and I preach for him on many Sundays.) But later in the day, the Czech priest in residence at my... Read more
This great reminder comes from the Archbishop of Dublin, as he prepares to ordain his first batch of permanent deacons. He made his remarks to seminarians. Take a look: The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin warned in Maynooth yesterday against “a narrow preoccupation” with day- to-day seminary life. That was often “an unhealthy sign”, tending “inevitably to be inward-looking, self-serving and individualistic, rather than focusing on the self-giving love of Jesus Christ”, he said. He made his remarks at... Read more
So, how was your Pentecost? Here’s a window into the world of a deacon — or at least, this particular deacon. Last Sunday, my pastor and I agreed that he would preach the “high” Mass on Pentecost, since at that Mass he was going to be doing the confirmations for about a dozen adults. (My pastor has serious health problems, and I preach for him on many Sundays.) But later in the day, the Czech priest in residence at my... Read more
From La Republicca in Italy comes this interview with someone claiming to be one of whistleblowers in the burgeoning “VatiLeaks” scandal: Who are the Vatican whistleblowers? “There isn’t just one brain behind the operation, there are several. There are cardinals, private secretaries, monsignors and the small fry. Men and women, priests and laypeople. The whistleblowers even include cardinals. But the Vatican Secretary of State cannot admit that and has the small fry arrested, like “Paoletto” (as Paolo Gabriele is affectionately known),... Read more
He has a loyal and devoted following in Chicago, where a significant anniversary on his path to sainthood was celebrated this weekend: If a group of local Catholics have a say in the matter, the late Archbishop George (Jurgis) Matulaitis could soon join the saintly ranks of Michael the archangel, Joan of Arc and John the Baptist. All they need is a miracle. About 250 people gathered at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church on Sunday afternoon to... Read more
From the U.K, here’s an obit about a clergyman who clearly had an impact: The Reverend John Lambourne, who has died aged 76, was an old-fashioned country parson of a type now rarely to be found in the Church of England — a man who filled the pews, not with force of intellect, but with a sunny disposition, an unfeigned enjoyment of good company and a sympathy with the rhythms of rural life. As vicar of St Mary’s Salehurst, Sussex,... Read more
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