What's the secret of a successful parish?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

New York’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan has the answer. From his blog: “What makes this place tick?” I quizzed the exuberant pastor as he showed me around the parish, renowned for its high rate of Sunday Mass attendance; first-rate school; excellent religious education for kids, teenagers, young adults, and adults; remarkably effective stewardship; and successful initiatives of social justice, pro-life efforts, evangelization, and neighborhood presence. I wanted the “recipe” so I could bottle it and send it around! “Follow me, I’ll... Read more

"Incandescent with rage": priest close to pope calls for mass resignation of Irish bishops

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This should have a lot of people sitting up and taking notice. From the Catholic Herald: A theologian who is a former student of Pope Benedict XVI has called for every Irish bishop appointed before 2003 to resign. Fr Vincent Twomey, emeritus professor of moral theology at Maynooth seminary, said the Irish Church had been “without any leadership effectively for the last 15 years”. He said that all bishops appointed before Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin in 2003 should stand... Read more

Catholic innkeepers sued for refusing to host gay wedding

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened in Vermont, over a reception that was slated to be held at the inn pictured below. Details: A Vermont inn violated state anti-discrimination rules by refusing to host the wedding reception for two New York City women, the couple said in a lawsuit Tuesday. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Vermont chapter on behalf of Kate Baker and Ming Linsley, said the Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville turned away the couple last fall and that at... Read more

Nothing sacred: dozens of Catholic statues vandalized in New Jersey

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Police have now labeled the acts bias crimes. Details: FBI agents are assisting in the investigation of a rash of vandalism cases at Roman Catholic churches in Camden and Burlington Counties. About three dozen religious statues have been damaged at six churches in Cherry Hill, Mount Laurel, and Evesham over the last week. Local authorities have labeled the acts bias crimes, though the intent of the person or persons involved remains unclear. The FBI’s Philadelphia field office confirmed Tuesday that... Read more

When a bishop chooses cremation

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Not that long ago, it was unthinkable for a Catholic to be cremated. But no more. And it’s even become an acceptable practice among some high-ranking clergy. A blogger in London has a rare case in point: As more details concerning Bishop Michael Evans’ funeral arrangements have come to light over the past week or so, it appears that his body, rather controversially, will be cremated not buried. It might be understandable, therefore, that details concerning the cremation are not... Read more

A bishop and his deacons

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From today’s mass at the cathedral in Philadelphia, Archbishop Charles Chaput and two deacons. (And, of course, Cardinal Rigali…) Read more

For all you hermits out there

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

I know The Anchoress is itching for a retreat, and one of my readers just reminded me that he’s a hermit, which got me to thinking that we really need right now something very hermit-y. Ladies and gentlemen: Herman’s Hermits. And some absolutely spectacular lip-synching. Enjoy. Read more

An offer they couldn't refuse

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Las Vegas comes this surprising story of a rare autographed movie script that found its way to a Catholic Charities thrift store. Details: This is how Diane Hutton, who runs one of the largest thrift store operations in town, ended up on the hit cable TV show “Pawn Stars” on Monday night. A while back she was explaining to one of the workers in the warehouse at Catholic Charities how to spot valuable books. The fellow was staring at... Read more

From the e-mail bag: You say "Sha POO," I say "Sha PEW"

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From a reader in Denver: Those of us who personally know and serve the Archbishop here in Denver pronounce his last name “Sha Pew” as does he and as did Cardinal Rigali at this morning’s press conference in Philadelphia. The Archbishop doesn’t correct those who mispronounce it unless you totally butcher it. Please accept this charitable correction in the spirit that it is intended lest you persist in your ignorance. Well. Thank you! The POO has now officially hit the... Read more

Bishop in South Sudan dies while celebrating mass

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened only days after history was made in the land where he had served as a missionary. From ZENIT: Just one week after welcoming the independence of South Sudan where he had been a missionary for three decades, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek died Saturday while celebrating Mass. The 74-year-old Italian Comboni missionary had been working in South Sudan since 1981, enduring the nation’s 1983-2005 civil war. On July 9, he presided over the official opening prayer during the... Read more