An uplifting vocation story from Kansas: Last year at this time, 22-year-old Annie Stuhlsatz and the older siblings in her family were planning to dye Easter eggs and hide them in baskets of grass and green wheat gathered from the fields around their small farm in the shadow of St. Mary Aleppo Church. On Easter morning, the younger of the 10 Stuhlsatz children would scatter, looking for the colorful eggs before the tight-knit family went to Mass together at St.... Read more
I’m the one in the pulpit. This was taken from the choir loft. Thank you, Regina! Read more
A friend posted the note below on his Facebook page four days ago. With his permission, I reprint it here in its entirety, minus his name. I found it moving, brave and more than a little bit wise. Please keep this young man, and so many like him, in your prayers. Dcn. G. +++ Dear Friends and Family, I am now at the point of completing my third year with the Augustinians. Each year has provided me with an opportunity... Read more
If you haven’t gotten enough “Hosannas” today, here are a couple more. The top clip is from the 1973 movie version of “Jesus Christ, Superstar.” The second clip is from the 2000 stage revival, which was later adapted for video. The two make for an interesting comparison — different “Superstars” for different generations and different audiences. I suspect the director of the 2000 version saw “Rent” more times than is healthy, and it seems clear that the bad guys are... Read more
We’re entering one of the Christian calendar’s holiest times — and one of the busiest. Beginning Thursday, I’ll be involved in nine liturgies over four days. I’m going to turn off comments for the week. Blogging will be lighter, too. I think a little quiet will do us all good. Meantime, if you’re wondering why the statues in the image above are covered, Fr. Z. gives a very good explanation. Read more
That’s the conclusion of Fr. Peter J. Daly, writing in the Brooklyn Tablet: The Catholic Church in the various parts of the Americas has much that we could learn from one another. U.S. parishes could learn about joyful and enthusiastic celebration from Latino countries. The Latino Catholic community could learn about the ministry of permanent deacons from North America. The Catholic Church everywhere needs more clergy. Permanent deacons are part of the answer. The Latin American church could imitate the... Read more
This merits attention not only for the subject matter, but the way in which a pastor has used this opportunity for a teachable moment. (H/T to Matt Abbott at Renew America.) Below is the letter from Fr. Thomas Milota, of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Naperville, IL, asking parishioners to oppose the construction of a fertility clinic a few blocks from the church: Dear Parishioner of SS. Peter and Paul, You have likely heard about the issue of the construction... Read more
[Click here for readings.] When I was a kid, this was always a busy week. There was planning for the big meal next Sunday. Would it be ham or lamb? Some years, I’d have a new suit – usually a couple sizes too big, so I could grow into it. My mother would be cleaning the house for company. There were eggs to dye and chocolate to look forward to. For a lot of us, it can still be a... Read more
Details: A historic Baltimore Catholic school will name its community center in honor of Bill and Camille Cosby, the biggest donors in the school’s 184-year history and fierce champions of education, the school announced Friday. St. Frances Academy, which serves 162 primarily low-income high school students, will host the comedian, his wife and their relatives in a ceremony at the St. Frances Community Center on April 20. In addition to giving $2 million to St. Frances in 2005 to support... Read more
[Click here for readings.] When I was a kid, this was always a busy week. There was planning for the big meal next Sunday. Would it be ham or lamb? Some years, I’d have a new suit – usually a couple sizes too big, so I could grow into it. My mother would be cleaning the house for company. There were eggs to dye and chocolate to look forward to. For a lot of us, it can still be a... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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