It’s late in the season for ordinations, but it’s never too late to welcome new men to Holy Orders. From the Bangor Daily News: Their mission is threefold — service to the Gospel, liturgy and charity. It sounds like a tall order for men who are working full-time jobs and have wives and families. Yet on Saturday, eight men in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland took on the challenge of serving as deacons. They were ordained by Bishop Richard... Read more
Perspective is everything, and words can rock the world, as this lovely short film illustrates. H/T Frank. Read more
Which turns out to be no sign at all. Bracing for Irene, and expected high winds, a movie theater near our apartment removed the letters from its marquee. Not only that: for the first time in memory, the multiplex was completely shut down Saturday night. It was still closed Sunday afternoon. Things here are more or less back to normal. But subways and buses are still not running (and may not be running Monday, which will leave most of us... Read more
It’s late in the season for ordinations, but it’s never too late to welcome new men to Holy Orders. From the Bangor Daily News: Their mission is threefold — service to the Gospel, liturgy and charity. It sounds like a tall order for men who are working full-time jobs and have wives and families. Yet on Saturday, eight men in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland took on the challenge of serving as deacons. They were ordained by BishopRichard Malone... Read more
Let the rioting in the streets begin. Irene was less than we expected, or feared, and that’s very good news. To those who have sent e-mails and tweets, wondering how I’m doing here, I’m pleased to report: just fine. Thank you all for your many prayers! We still have power, flooding in my neighborhood appears to be minimal, and as I type the wind has dwindled from a howl to a whimper. I called the sacristan at my parish to... Read more
His spokesman said so on Friday: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will not reconsider his decision to exclude clergy from the ceremony marking 10 years since the Sept. 11 attacks, a spokesman said Friday. The statement comes despite increased pressure from religious and conservative leaders who say that even though the mayor has not allowed clergy at other services, he should make an exception this time. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said Americans “turned to God... Read more
O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The sea, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season,... Read more
A reader from the U.K. left this comment on another post: Anglican priest to his wife who’d just spent a fortune on a dress – ”Why did you spend so much, I’ve told you that whenever you feel tempted you should say “Get behind me Satan” “I did” said his wife. “What happened then?” said the priest, “He told me it looked lovely from the back.” Read more
This is something altogether different and, I think, rare: a parish (not a cathedral or a diocesan entity) offering web streaming of its Masses. Details: St. Joseph Catholic Church member Dave Fisher explains how the church’s new webcasting feature is helping a friend who has trouble hearing. “I have a friend who is hard of hearing. She goes to Mass, then goes home and watches the webcast, turning it (volume) up until she can hear it,” he said. “These are... Read more
As we get ready for Irene, here’s a favorite song from a favorite show, “The Fantasticks.” This is a clip from the seldom-seen movie version, from 1995. It features Jean Louisa Kelly, who is probably better known as the chipper wife, Kim, on the long-running sitcom “Yes, Dear.” Who knew she could sing? Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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