As parishes close, mass attendance in Camden plunges

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

While church attendance in beleaguered Boston appears to be improving, the story further south is less encouraging. From the Philadelphia Inquirer: Kim Simmons-Dimpter was the sort of lifelong Catholic who attended Mass every Sunday, volunteered at religious classes, and even tried to persuade her teenage son to get out of bed and go to church. But when Holy Rosary Church in Cherry Hill closed in 2009, and Simmons-Dimpter and her fellow parishioners were directed to another church three miles across... Read more

Class act: a Catholic grammar school embraces a classical education

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It’s happening in suburban Washington, D.C. — and the Washington Post this weekend sat up and took notice. (I took notice when I saw the photograph below: they still have those desks??!!) Details: It’s 1 p.m. and time for Amy Clayton’s fifth grade to show off their memorization skills. Decked out in blue long-sleeved shirts and dark pants for boys and bright yellow blouses and plaid jumpers for girls, the students begin with the words of Patrick Henry’s immortal “Give... Read more

Welcome home: Boston sees some Catholics returning

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The archdiocese launched the ambitious “Catholics Come Home” project on Ash Wednesday, and the Boston Herald takes a look at how it’s doing: The Boston Archdiocese’s largest effort in a generation to reach lapsed Catholics is drawing wandering souls back to the church’s open arms, but the biggest obstacle could be keeping them, priests and parishioners say. The archdiocese, still suffering fallout from the clergy sex abuse crisis and parish closings, is hoping to bring back thousands of the formerly... Read more

A mitre in the marathon: meet the bishop who's also a runner

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

St. Paul famously compared his faith to a race. Well, here’s a disciple who takes that idea to a whole new level. From St. Louis Today: Cross, ring, mitre, staff: symbols of the office that place Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Rice near the head of the Roman Catholic Church in St. Louis. Rice will put them away Sunday morning – of all times – in favor of a T-shirt, baggy shorts and running shoes, the garb he will don for... Read more

A long day's journey into the Easter Vigil

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

What can you do for the Easter Vigil in a place where it doesn’t get dark until 10:30 at night? From The Catholic Anchor, in Alaska: In an ancient Christian custom, the Catholic Church begins the celebration of Easter in the dark of night before – on Holy Saturday. But in a land famous for midnight sun, the lengthening daylight hours of spring can make it more difficult for parishes to start the Easter Vigil in the dark. This year,... Read more

"Sing choirs of angels…"

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My voice is far from angelic, but I’m laboring mightily to — once again — chant the Exultet this Easter. The hardest part, I think, is just learning it. And to that end, I’ve been helped immensely by this recording by Fr. Tim Hepburn, from the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Back in 2008, for my first Easter Vigil, I downloaded that recording to my iPod and listened to it incessantly. I now have Fr. Tim on my brain. But I somehow... Read more

RIP, Sidney Lumet

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The brilliant director (and son-in-law of Lena Horn!) has died. Read more here. And see a sizzling snippet of his work below: the trailer for the prophetic “Network,” written by the incomparable Paddy Chayefsky. Read more

Quote of the day

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

“Virtue does matter. Courage and humility, justice and perseverance, do have power. Good does win. And the sanctity of human life will endure.” — Archbishop Charles Chaput, quoted here. Read more

Homily for April 10, 2011: 5th Sunday of Lent

Last updated on: April 9, 2011 at 12:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Every now and then, you’ll find a film critic who bemoans the state of Hollywood movies by pointing out that there are too many sequels. Last year, a writer noted that in 2010 there were 86 sequels in various stages of development. Just this year, we have “Scream 4″ about to open, along with “Underworld 4,” “Mission Impossible 4,” “Cars 2,” “The Hangover 2,” “Transformers 3,” and the final part of the Harry Potter Series. Ever since the first story... Read more

Homily for April 10, 2011: 5th Sunday of Lent

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:28 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Every now and then, you’ll find a film critic who bemoans the state of Hollywood movies by pointing out that there are too many sequels. Last year, a writer noted that in 2010 there were 86 sequels in various stages of development. Just this year, we have “Scream 4” about to open, along with “Underworld 4,” “Mission Impossible 4,” “Cars 2,” “The Hangover 2,” “Transformers 3,” and the final part of the Harry Potter Series. Ever since the first story... Read more