Just like in the beginning! There’s an article about the men right here. And from the bishop’s homily: You are to be good servants of the Word, and enthusiastic agents of the New Evangelization. Never offer your own word, your own views, in place of the Word of Christ as it comes to us through the teaching of the Church. Allow the Word you proclaim to shape your inmost thoughts, and to shine forth in your every word and deed.... Read more
Ah, a little more sunshine for the Sunshine State! Details: Bishop Felipe J. Estèvez ordained 15 men to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of St. Augustine on Saturday, June 18 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jacksonville. About 1,100 friends, family and priests nearly filled the church to celebrate the ordination. Joining Bishop Estèvez as principal concelebrants were Bishop Emeritus Victor Galeone, Bishop Emeritus John Snyder and Fathers Michael Morgan, Guy Noonan, Frederick Parke and Caesar Russo. Concelebrants included... Read more
Now seems an especially apt moment to recall this prayer below. I first discovered it this spring, in St. John the Evangelist Church, on the ground floor of the building where I work in Manhattan. They had several yellow cards on a table, with this prayer printed on it. I took one home, folded in my wallet, and more or less forgot about it. I think it’s no accident that tonight, I discovered it again. I think we need it... Read more
It will happen next month, according to the Boston Globe: “See you all on July 10!’’ said Rainbow Ministry president John Kelly, throwing his hands into the air at an alternative service held outside the church last night. An audience of nearly 250 people, from children in baseball uniforms to elderly couples in their Sunday best, applauded. The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia’s Church will host the Mass at 11 a.m. on that date. Earlier this month, the church had... Read more
He responds to last weekend’s developments — and to his critics — right here. Well. If we had any doubts, it now seems clear from hearing his latest performance that the Corapi saga has nose-dived into something so pitiful and painful, all we can do is avert our eyes. It’s not a scandal anymore. It’s a tragedy masquerading as burlesque, a sideshow growing stranger and freakier and noisier with every passing day. Enough. I think it’s time for the circus... Read more
Over at JFK Airport, a hangar is holding something besides planes: steel and salvaged objects from the World Trade Center. Some of the steel is being turned into crosses, as shown above, for memorial shrines around the country, as we approach the 10-year anniversary this September. Details, from MSNBC: It’s pretty amazing to see what was saved from the World Trade Center site. The World Trade Center steel program, a program operated by the Port Authority of New York and... Read more
I can’t remember the last time a local bishop has written this extensively on the diaconate. It’s a rare event. But Bishop Alexander K. Sample. of the Diocese of Marquette, has just released a 19-page document on the diaconate that reflects on the vocation — and clarifies some of the deacon’s responsibilities. Details: Calling the restoration of the diaconate as a permanent ministry a “source of tremendous grace and blessings for the Church,” Bishop Sample said there have been, nonetheless,... Read more
He offers new insight into the case, from a story that just moved at the National Catholic Register: Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest-servant of SOLT and Father Corapi’s religious superior in the U.S., confirmed June 19 that the order’s investigation faced complications created by a civil suit filed by Father Corapi against the former employee who had accused him of sexual misconduct. “When she left the company, she signed a contract that she would not reveal anything that happened to... Read more
And they’re arguing that the real issue is the separation of church and state. Details: Opponents say they have not exhausted their options for fighting a proposal to build a Catholic hospital on the grounds of Montgomery College in Germantown, despite approval of the plan last week by the state Board of Public Works. The three-member board voted Wednesday to allow Montgomery College to lease land to Holy Cross Hospital for a new 93-bed, $202-million hospital. Holy Cross, which already... Read more
I wasn’t planning to re-open this can of worms, but here goes. I couldn’t help but be shocked by what I discovered late today over at John Corapi’s new website. At the top is the text of his now-infamous farewell to the priesthood — wherein he states, bluntly, “I am not going to be involved in public ministry as a priest,” and concludes by publicly removing the title “Father” from his name. But the very next entry at the site... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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