My blogging neighbor Kathy Schiffer has this poignant story: Graham Turner wanted to be a priest. It was toward that end that he enrolled at the Beda College in Rome, planning to serve in the Diocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, in Scotland. Graham had hoped to be ordained with his class last June; but that was delayed when he was diagnosed with leukemia. During Holy Week, it became apparent that Graham’s disease was progressing and that his prognosis was... Read more
The famous born-again Christian died today: Chuck Colson, a former aide to Richard Nixon, evangelical leader, author and nonprofit founder, died Saturday at the age of 80. He passed away at a hospital in Northern Virginia, three weeks after surgery to ease intercerebral hemorrhage — a large pool of clotted blood in his brain. Colson was Nixon’s special counsel and was part of the Watergate scandal which led to Nixon’s resignation. He was known as the president’s “hatchet man,” and... Read more
[Click here for readings.] For audio of this homily as it was delivered, click the green arrow below. Three years ago, on the 3rd of July 2009, 33-year-old Scott Fedor was vacationing with his wife at Coldwater Lake in Michigan. It was a place they’d visited often, and loved. But the weather had been dry and the lake had receded, had become more shallow. So Scott wasn’t prepared for what happened when he dove off the dock. He struck the... Read more
Something that doesn’t get much attention, but should. From the Washington Post: Soon, probably next week, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy will sign into a law a bill that abolishes the death penalty in his state. When he does, Connecticut will be the fifth state to enact such legislation in as many years — and the third with a governor who was raised Roman Catholic. As a younger man, Malloy supported the death penalty. But after working as a prosecutor in... Read more
My brother deacon Scott Dodge over his blog has just posted a wonderful reflection on diakonia, tied to the Rite of Ordination: In the ordination prayer for deacons their bishop, with hands extended over them prays: In the first days of your Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostles of your Son appointed seven men of good repute to assist in the daily ministry…. Lord, send forth upon him the Holy Spirit, that he may be strengthened... Read more
[Click here for readings.] For audio of this homily as it was delivered, click the green arrow below. [audio:http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/deaconsbench/files/2012/04/0422HOMILY.mp3|titles=0422HOMILY] Three years ago, on the 3rd of July 2009, 33-year-old Scott Fedor was vacationing with his wife at Coldwater Lake in Michigan. It was a place they’d visited often, and loved. But the weather had been dry and the lake had receded, had become more shallow. So Scott wasn’t prepared for what happened when he dove off the dock. He struck... Read more
The Diocese of Brooklyn (yes, that’s my diocese) decided to advertise Catholic schools with a special Sunday supplement in the New York Daily News. To promote it, on Friday they had stickers placed on the front page of the paper. This is how it turned out. Read more
An inspired, downright EPIC ad from France for — of all things — Tic Tacs. Enjoy. Read more
Some people are saying so, pointing to this homily. Details: A prominent advocate of church-state separation filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service on Thursday, accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria of violating federal law by intervening in a political campaign. The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, alleges that a fiery homily delivered by Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky last Sunday effectively urged Catholics to vote against President Barack Obama in the... Read more
This looks sweet and funny: a Japanese film about the life of a guide dog for the blind. Bring lots of Kleenex. Read more
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