Controversy has been swirling around a Boston parish that was planning to host a mass tied to Gay Pride Month. This weekend, the pastor spoke out — and alluded to the controversy — during his homily: Sunday Mass at St. Cecilia’s Church in the Back Bay brought the first standing ovation any parishioner could remember. During the first Mass since the Archdiocese of Boston canceled one planned for next weekend in support of St. Cecilia’s gay and lesbian churchgoers, the Rev.... Read more
A reader alerted me to this item in Catholic New York, featuring biographies of the men scheduled to be ordained last weekend. How’d it go? Anybody got any pictures? Ad multos annos, gentlemen! Read more
Oklahoma? Ok! The beautiful shot below is from last weekend’s ordination. What a marvelous way to mark Pentecost! The diocese has a great Facebook page with a gallery of pictures, too. Check ‘em out. Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos! Read more
The gathering of the American Catholic Council in Detroit this weekend earned a sharp rebuke from the Archdiocese Sunday, and threats of an investigation. Details, from the Detroit Free Press (H/T to Diane at Te Deum): The top Catholic leader in Michigan slammed a big liberal Mass today in Detroit, saying it had significant abuses and he ordered a review of a Ferndale priest who led the services before 1,500 Catholics, a church spokesman said. Defying Archbishop of Detroit Allen... Read more
When was the last time this happened? Details: Bishop Kevin Rhoades ordained Deacons Matthew Coonan and Terrence “Tink” Coonan, Jr. into Catholic priesthood in a ceremony Saturday morning. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne was packed for the ordination. The brothers both hold bachelor’s degrees in sacred theology and master of divinity degrees. “I knew the cathedral would be full. These are two popular guys and also so many people in our Diocese are excited about today,”... Read more
The staff of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has posted on her Facebook page the first images of her since that horrific shooting in January. They include the picture below. AP Photo/southwestphotobank.com, P.K. Weis Details: The photos were taken on May 17 by photojournalist P.K. Weis of SouthwestPhotoBank.com, a longtime photographer for the now-defunct Tucson Citizen who has known Giffords for more than a decade. Weis snapped the pictures at the Houston rehabilitation center where Giffords is being treated, the day before... Read more
Haven’t heard this in years, but stumbled on this version by the great Christian group “Jars of Clay.” This hymn used to be a staple at mass when I was in high school — and not so very long ago, it was sung at Pentecost and for confirmations, too. Its musical merits are debatable, but its message isn’t. I think we need to remind ourselves that “They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…” So, here’s a... Read more
“A couple of years ago, I spent a bunch of time in Tibet and I came home. And I went to go get my mail. My mailbox is at the end of my street, so I parked my car and started pulling my chair out. And this little girl rode by, probably like 6 years old, on her little pink bike, streamers coming off her handlebars, and she said, ‘What happened to your legs?’ I said: ‘I was a ski... Read more
A reader sent me the picture below: dalmatics and stoles awaiting their deacons before today’s ordination in Pittsburgh. The local paper did a nice write-up about the diaconate recently, noting: “The full vision and mission of the diaconate as a ministry of service can be manifested in a variety of ways,” said Deacon Stephen Byers, director of the diocesan Office for the Diaconate. Bishop David Zubik will ordain 44 men to the diaconate June 11 at St. Paul Cathedral. They... Read more
This Sunday, we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the great birthday of the Church, Pentecost. It may be one of the most neglected of the church’s feast days. We don’t hang lights, as we do at Christmas, and we don’t wear fancy hats or eat lots of candy, as we do at Easter. There are no big Pentecost sales at Macy’s. But maybe there should be. I don’t think we give this feast the credit or attention... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In