Today the seminarian who spent his pastoral year at my parish packs his bags and heads for Creighton University, where he’ll spend the summer studying at their Institute for Priestly Formation. It’s been great having young Jeremy Canna (or, as I like to call him, JC ) around the rectory, and in the parish. The people in the pews came to love him, and I think the feeling was mutual. In the fall, he’ll be setting up shop at St.... Read more
Here we go again: The nation’s largest Catholic university will feature a commencement speaker who believes “the rest of life would benefit enormously” from the extinction of mankind, considers Christianity “the most dangerous of devotions,” and boasted about weakening the “dissolutive, oppressive institutions of organized religion.” Population guru E.O. Wilson will address a combined ceremony of DePaul University‘s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and its College of Science and Health on June 10. The date is his 83rd birthday. Although... Read more
Admit it: prayer may not be the first thing that pops into your mind when the mood strikes. But — proving once again that there is a prayer for everything — the wife of a deacon (!) has just the right words for the occasion, thanks to a book called “Prayer Book for Spouses.” Let us pray: PRAYER BEFORE MAKING LOVE Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts. Place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites,... Read more
This is too good to pass up: from the fascinating website Letters of Note comes this heartfelt letter from Ronald Reagan to his son Michael just before his wedding in 1971. How many fathers could write something like this to their sons? DGK +++ Michael Reagan Manhattan Beach, California June 1971 Dear Mike: Enclosed is the item I mentioned (with which goes a torn up IOU). I could stop here but I won’t. You’ve heard all the jokes that... Read more
They were ordained last weekend, and the diocesan newspaper has full details about the men and their backgrounds. What kind of man becomes a deacon? Read the answer here. Congratulations! Ad multos annos! Read more
Things are getting interesting in the Archdiocese of Washington. Details: The already-boiling debate about Georgetown University’s decision to invite Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to speak during graduation hit the highest levels of Catholic Washington on Tuesday, with the region’s archbishop slamming the school’s president for the “shocking” invitation and saying the real issue was being distorted. Since Sebelius was announced earlier this month as one of the speakers for this week’s Georgetown graduation ceremonies, about 27,000 people have... Read more
[Click here for readings] It’s tempting to see the Ascension, the conclusion of Christ’s earthly ministry, as an ending. But to think of it that way is to see it backwards. What we celebrate today is really a beginning. As we heard in Matthew’s gospel, moments before his Ascension, Jesus told his followers very simply: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” He urged them to baptize, to teach, to carry on the work that he has begun. But... Read more
They were ordained last weekend, and the diocesan newspaper has full details about the men and their backgrounds. What kind of man becomes a deacon? Read the answer here. Congratulations! Ad multos annos! Read more
[Click here for readings] It’s tempting to see the Ascension, the conclusion of Christ’s earthly ministry, as an ending. But to think of it that way is to see it backwards. What we celebrate today is really a beginning. As we heard in Matthew’s gospel, moments before his Ascension, Jesus told his followers very simply: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” He urged them to baptize, to teach, to carry on the work that he has begun. But... Read more
With ordination season kicking off, Oregon is about to set a local record next month: Archbishop John G. Vlazny will ordain 10 priests on Saturday, June 9, at St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass of ordination will begin at 11 a.m. This is the largest ordination class of Portland diocesan priests ever, according to officials. Those being ordained are: Deacons Justus Alaeto, Arturo Romero-Bautista, Jeffrey Eirvin, Jose Campos Garcia, James Graham, J. Moises Kumul Mac, Matthew Libra, Joseph... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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