The Deacon's Bench
From a friend’s Facebook page: one little girl rode to her First Communion in this. Read more
From a friend’s Facebook page: one little girl rode to her First Communion in this. Read more
One is marking five years, the other 60. Can you tell which is which? Congratulations to Brooklyn’s retired Bishop Thomas Daily on 60 years of priesthood. Ad multos annos! Read more
[Click here for readings.] For audio of this homily from the 10 am Mass, click the green arrow below [audio:http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/deaconsbench/files/2012/05/HOMILY052012.mp3|titles=HOMILY052012] Do you notice something unusual in the gospel we just heard? One word recurs again and again and again: “world.” Jesus utters it no less than nine times, in one brief passage. I think this is for good reason: this is all about what it means to be a disciple and also to be in the world. But one phrase... Read more
Below are some shots from this morning’s pro-life prayer march through Forest Hills, which began at my parish and ended about a half a mile away at the Women’s Health Pavilion abortion clinic. We host these marches twice a year in conjunction with Msgr. Philip O’Reilly and the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. As is the custom, the event began with Mass at 7:30, followed by the march, during which we sang and prayed the rosary. There was a moment... Read more
They were ordained last weekend by Bishop Robert Cunningham: Robert Burke, Dare Dutter, Paul Lehmann, David Losito and Mark Shiner. While the diocesan paper doesn’t yet have coverage posted online, there’s a post on the men at their ministry’s blog. Congratulations! Ad multos annos! Read more
They were ordained last weekend by Bishop Robert Cunningham: Robert Burke, Dare Dutter, Paul Lehmann, David Losito and Mark Shiner. While the diocesan paper doesn’t yet have coverage posted online, there’s a poston the men at their ministry’s blog. Congratulations! Ad multos annos! Read more
[Click here for readings.] For audio of this homily from the 10 am Mass, click the green arrow below Do you notice something unusual in the gospel we just heard? One word recurs again and again and again: “world.” Jesus utters it no less than nine times, in one brief passage. I think this is for good reason: this is all about what it means to be a disciple and also to be in the world. But one phrase stood... Read more
Some may remember the story from earlier this year, about the boy in England who was not being allowed to receive his First Communion. That’s about to change: A seven-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome who was refused an opportunity to receive his first Holy Communion is to take the sacrament. The Diocese of Leeds previously said Denum Ellarby, of Gomersal, West Yorks, was unprepared for the experience. The refusal was revoked after Denum took part in weekly one-to-one Communion classes... Read more
Prayer of the Ordained Heavenly Father, You who ordered the universe Have also ordained the universe. You have ordained that the stars follow their course, That the seasons follow Your plan That the oceans and tides obey Your rhythms. And now you have ordained us in Your service, as Deacons. Make of us instruments of Your holy will — Rinse away the useless clay, and leave behind new creations, polished at Your wheel, shaped by Your fingers, dried in the... Read more
As I said on a Facebook page devoted to him, “If you look up mensch in any dictionary, you’ll see a picture of Michael.” A great colleague, journalist, producer and, yes, mensch has died far too young, at 64, from a brain tumor. It was my good fortune to have the office next to his at “60 Minutes II,” and he was a frequent visitor — wandering in, often in his stocking feet, trying to find a place to kill... Read more
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