A few people have asked me about this, so I finally decided to give it a shot. Below is this Sunday’s homily, recorded as it was delivered at the 11:30 am Mass at my parish in Queens. The yawns, screams, cell phones and crying babies are all real. So is the sound of hurled vegetables hitting the ambo. I don’t know if I’ll do this every week, but it was an interesting experiment. See what you think. Click the arrow... Read more
That’s the gist of this piece by writer Cara McDonough, who raises a question that’s increasingly common these days. I get several calls a year from people who ask if I can do a wedding for them in a catering hall or on a beach. (Usually, it’s after a priest has turned them down; deacons, of course, are always the last resort.) McDonough writes: My sister-in-law is getting married this spring. I’ve tried on my bridesmaid dress, jotted down the... Read more
The announcement was made earlier this week: Pensacola’s oldest Catholic church has been designated one of the nation’s 72 minor basilicas under an order by Pope Benedict XVI. The parish of St. Michael the Archangel, which traces is roots to the 16th century exploration of Northwest Florida, was canonically established in 1781. The current church building, located at the southwest corner of Palafox and Chase streets, was constructed in 1886. “It’s a very nice honor for the area and for... Read more
The traditional blessing of lambs took place today, the Feast of St. Agnes: Read more
Over at Catholic Sensibility, blogger Todd Flowerday is walking through the GIRM and has come to a section about Mass with a Deacon: 171. When he is present at the celebration of the Eucharist, a Deacon should exercise his ministry, wearing sacred vestments. In fact, the Deacon: a) assists the Priest and walks at his side; b) ministers at the altar, both as regards the chalice and the book; c) proclaims the Gospel and may, at the direction of the... Read more
“I cannot imagine a more direct and frontal attack on freedom of conscience than this ruling. This decision must be fought against with all the energies the Catholic Community can muster. For me there is no other fundamental issue as important as this one as we enter into the Presidential and Congressional campaigns. Every candidate must be pressed to declare his/her position on all of the fundamental life issues, especially the role of government to determine what conscience decision must... Read more
[Click here for readings.] I have office hours the first Saturday of every month, to meet with families and schedule baptisms. It’s fairly routine, mostly collecting paperwork and filling out forms. But a few years ago, there was one meeting that I will never forget. It was anything but routine. A young mother arrived at the office, filled out the forms and, after she’d finished, I looked it over and noticed that she’d left a couple spaces blank. “You forgot... Read more
[Click here for readings.] I have office hours the first Saturday of every month, to meet with families and schedule baptisms. It’s fairly routine, mostly collecting paperwork and filling out forms. But a few years ago, there was one meeting that I will never forget. It was anything but routine. A young mother arrived at the office, filled out the forms and, after she’d finished, I looked it over and noticed that she’d left a couple spaces blank. “You forgot... Read more
Details: More than 40 national Catholic leaders and prominent theologians at universities across the country released a strongly worded open letter today urging “our fellow Catholics Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum to stop perpetuating ugly racial stereotypes on the campaign trail.” In the lead up to Saturday’s primary in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich has frequently blasted President Obama as a “food stamp president” and implied that some African Americans are more content to collect welfare benefits than work. Rick Santorum... Read more
This is why God made proofreaders (source): Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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