One of those who joined the Church during the Triduum is a former Anglican priest with eight children — and, for now, no job. Details, from CNS: It’s a brave decision for Ian Hellyer to give up his job when he has to provide for eight children and his wife is pregnant with the couple’s ninth child. But Hellyer is losing no sleep over his decision. He believes he is answering God’s call to become a Catholic priest in the... Read more
Here’s a terrific short video about the order, full of wonder and reverence and joy. H/T CMR. Read more
From the Vatican at the Easter Vigil, one of five new Catholics baptized and confirmed by Pope Benedict prepares to bring up the gifts at the offertory. Photo from CNS/Paul Haring Read more
Remember the scandal-plagued former New Jersey governor James McGreevey? The one-time Catholic (and former altar boy) was studying to become an Episcopal priest, but the church now wants him to wait: Former Gov. Jim McGreevey, who abruptly resigned in 2004 after declaring himself “a gay American” and admitting an extramarital affair with a male staffer, has had his pursuit of the Episcopal priesthood put on hold indefinitely. The New York Post reported Monday that the church has deferred his bid... Read more
Over at Catholic Vote, Thomas Peters is touting some interesting statistics about this year’s class of ordinands. The USCCB has been publishing a report on men being ordained as priests for the last 15 years. A little Googling, though, reveals a little more. This year, according to the USCCB, 480 men are to be ordained in the United States. That’s a 10% jump from last year, when it was 440. And it’s an even more sizable jump from 2008, there... Read more
Or, to offer a diaconal bow to Amy Welborn, “What did you hear”? How were the masses? The homilies? The music? A few observations from my parish: 1. All the masses were SRO, which was great, of course. But when did people stop dressing up for Easter? Saw a few nice dresses (and bonnets!) but it could have been any other Sunday. Jeans and sneakers were common. 2. Best homily was from the priest who provoked a lot of laughs... Read more
Maybe. The Vatican is investigating a case in Washington state that could be tied to the Blessed Native American — a New Yorker, in fact, whose image is depicted in the reredos behind the altar in my parish. Details: Doctors at Children’s Hospital worked miracles five years ago to save a young boy’s life. But now the pope wants to know if more than medicine played a role. To look at him today, nobody would guess Jake Finkbonner nearly died.... Read more
After all the flash mobs we’ve seen over the last several months, this may top them all. I have no idea what they’re saying — click on the arrow under the screen for “CC” to get the translation — but what happens below is potent and poignant. Read more
It happened in Texas, and the child has cerebral palsy. Details: A disabled boy was refused his first Holy Communion after a priest decided the child could not understand what it meant, his family have claimed. Eight-year-old Kevin Castro’s family have accused Father Phil Henning, priest at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Floresville, Texas, of ‘discrimination’ after he refused to carry out the ritual. Instead Father Henning offered to give the the boy the sacrament of the anointing of... Read more
A great big thank you to my friend Niranjan Fernando who took these gorgeous shots of the Easter Vigil! It includes a shot of the chanting of the Exultet, and the blessing of the water used for baptism. (Click on pictures to enlarge.) Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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