Vatican: ‘We don’t want to preclude anything’ regarding women or married priests at Amazon summit

Last updated on: June 8, 2018 at 11:17 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Crux: At a press conference on the summit of bishops focusing on the Pan-Amazonian people and region set for October 2019, Vatican officials did not close the door to the possibility of opening up official ministries to women and married men. “We don’t want to preclude anything,” said Italian Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops at the conference June 8, though adding that “the Church is currently in its classical position,” concerning women’s and married... Read more

On married deacons: ‘The sacramental marriage needs to be protected at all costs’

Last updated on: June 8, 2018 at 6:45 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

A great piece in Chicago Catholic this week marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the diaconate and describes the formation process in some detail — and one aspect of critical importance, the sacrament of marriage: Men spend the aspirancy year doing more discernment, Deacon Bob Puhala said, making sure they truly do have a vocation to be an ordained deacon. During that time, Puhala said, the men and their pastors are asked to not announce that they are... Read more

Will Pope Francis decide to have women deacons?

Last updated on: June 7, 2018 at 6:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The papal commission has been mulling this question for almost two years. No decision seems imminent — but you never know. Christopher Altieri in The Catholic Herald looks at four scenarios: Everything that follows is pure speculation, but there seem to be four possible paths of response, once Pope Francis receives the results of the study commission: 1. He decides to introduce women to the ordained diaconate alongside men. 2. He decides to restore the ancient “Order of Deaconesses” that... Read more

Archdiocese of Baltimore now allows weddings outside of a church

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 10:04 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Big news: Archbishop William E. Lori promulgated in February a revised policy regarding the place of weddings in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The policy now allows weddings at locations other than a parish church. The priest or deacon celebrating the marriage must apply to the chancery for permission to use another location at least six months in advance. Diane Barr, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said the new policy comes as a result of conversations, especially with young people,... Read more

Archbishop reaffirms: intentionally missing Mass is ‘a grave sin’

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 1:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You would think most Catholics knew this already — but considering the paltry Mass attendance (25% or so in the U.S.), maybe this needs to be driven home. From CNA: In a pastoral letter for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews & Edinburgh stressed the importance of the Sunday Mass obligation for Catholics. “It is true that many people think of Sunday as just part of the weekend, a welcome break from the usual routine,... Read more

The journey of faith, I guess, has its ups and downs

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 1:24 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

And here are two priests from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to prove it. This brief video was produced to promote the upcoming “Catholic Day” at Kennywood Amusement Park near Pittsburgh. Read more

Tony, is that you? Reconstructing the face of St. Anthony of Padua

Last updated on: June 6, 2018 at 7:04 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

With the saint’s feast coming up soon, on June 13, I was surprised and intrigued to stumble on this post about Cicero Moraes, who has made a name for himself reconstructing the faces of saints from relics. His most celebrated work, it turns out, is the reconstruction of the face of St. Anthony. Using computer software, skull fragments and a little imagination, Moraes creates remarkably lifelike and credible images of people who have been dead for centuries. The brief video... Read more

Is this how Jesus died? Archeologists find rare remains of Roman crucifixion

Last updated on: June 5, 2018 at 3:24 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Fascinating: The body of a man buried in northern Italy 2,000 years ago shows signs that he died after being nailed to a wooden cross, the method used for the execution of Jesus described in the Christian Bible. Although crucifixion was a common form of capital punishment for criminals and slaves in ancient Roman times, the new finding is only the second time that direct archaeological evidence of it has been found. A new study of the skeletal remains of... Read more

Take and eat: Check out this video on how to receive communion

Last updated on: June 5, 2018 at 2:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

How many of us who give out communion have had to contend with grabbers, one-handers, or people who stick out their tongue AND stretch out their hands? The USCCB’s website notes: Distribution of the Body and Blood of the Lord 41. Holy Communion under the form of bread is offered to the communicant with the words “The Body of Christ.” The communicant may choose whether to receive the Body of Christ in the hand or on the tongue. When receiving... Read more

Ordination update: 3 new deacons for San Jose

Last updated on: June 5, 2018 at 8:40 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Valley Catholic: As they gathered with members of their families, their parish communities and other faithful from the Diocese of San Jose, three men were ordained to the Diaconate on May 19 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph. Carl A. Bugarin, Philip Andrew McCarty and Richard M. Noack were ordained before approximately 600 people in the Cathedral for the two-hour Mass. “The scriptural foundations of the Diaconate do not raise too high a bar: Only that deacons... Read more