[Click here for the readings.] Click the green arrow below to hear this homily as it was delivered at the Saturday 5 p.m. vigil Mass. The gospel today places us at a turning point in the scriptures – as Jesus confronts the looming reality of his own death. If you have ever been close to someone facing that reality, it can be harrowing — and heartbreaking. I experienced that with both my parents. Different people face death in different ways, sometimes... Read more
Details: Sacred Heart University (SHU), the second largest Catholic university in the Northeast, has announced that they intend to dedicate a new building on campus to a pro-abortion rights Catholic politician. The new building, named after former WWE CEO and Senatorial candidate Linda McMahon, was made possible by a $5 million gift from McMahon. McMahon ran for Senate in 2010 and is currently running again in Connecticut. Although her 2012 campaign site doesn’t mention abortion at all, her 2010 campaign... Read more
And the host is none other than Jeff Foxworthy: For one hour, Foxworthy will grill contestants on their knowledge of the Bible, GSN — which once stood for Game Show Network — told advertisers Wednesday morning in Manhattan. GSN said the questions will be “designed to acknowledge and celebrate the Bible’s continuing importance in contemporary life and culture.” Can’t wait for the stoning-of-adulteresses question. It appears contestants will be selected on the basis of their backstories, because GSN says contestants are... Read more
A writer for the New York Post asked a few observers — including Your Humble Blogger — whether Tim Tebow was a bad fit for a city like New York: Pundits couldn’t contain themselves over the news that quarterback Tim Tebow is joining the Jets — and I don’t mean sportswriters worried about Mark Sanchez’s confidence. Many just don’t think Tebow’s evangelical religiosity is the right fit for Sin City. The Borowitz Report posted: “BREAKING: Tebow Looking Forward to Meeting... Read more
A beautiful vocation story, courtesy the National Catholic Register: In the past several months, new priest Father Richard Dyer has experienced deeply the highs and lows of the Christian life. In late December, he was ordained a priest six months early for the Diocese of Arlington, Va., by Bishop Paul Loverde to fulfill his dying father’s wish to be present at his ordination. After seeing his son become a priest, Father Dyer’s father, Richard Dyer Sr., passed away the following... Read more
So you could strap it to the back of a Corgi and see what he sees. Read more
From Fr. Raymond de Souza: On Monday night, I was honoured to host the senior Catholic prelate from India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, in Mississauga, Ont. On Tuesday morning, a new archbishop — Christian Lépine — was announced for Montreal. In the 21st century, what will be more important for global Christianity — Mumbai and Mississauga, or Montreal? To even ask the question demonstrates how the tectonic plates of the universal Church are shifting. Christians in India are only 2.3% of... Read more
Several years ago, a newly ordained priest in the Archdiocese of Washington took it upon himself to preach one Sunday on the topic of contraception. He reminded the congregation of the Church’s teaching on the subject, acknowledged that there were probably many in the pews that morning who did not follow it, and suggested that they go to confession. He offered to make himself available after Mass for the sacrament of reconciliation, for anyone who wanted to “get right with... Read more
Vocations shortage? What vocations shortage? Over at Our Sunday Visitor, they’ve got an interesting roundup on families that have more than one child who has entered the priesthood or religious life. Take, for example, the Hopkins crew, with three priests and one nun: At one time, Sister Catherine Marie Hopkins, who grew up near Syracuse, N.Y., wanted to marry and have a large family. When she taught at a Catholic school in Rochester, she liked to think of the students as... Read more
A deacon in St. Louis describes his unusual “ministry of presence” in this video, below. Read more about it here. Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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