The Deacon's Bench
A quirky, brilliant, minimalist music video, courtesy the Japanese pop group World Order. Read about the multi-talented guy behind it right here. And enjoy. Read more
A quirky, brilliant, minimalist music video, courtesy the Japanese pop group World Order. Read about the multi-talented guy behind it right here. And enjoy. Read more
…it rings for thee. And we can all hear it. A priest describes an all-too-common occurrence in today’s parish, in the latest edition of Commonweal: It was a Mass celebrating a major anniversary of the parish and I was right in the middle of the homily. It was also one of those exquisite moments when the message and the congregation connected to such a degree that you could hear a pin drop. I drew another breath to begin the conclusion,... Read more
A quirky, brilliant, minimalist music video, courtesy the Japanese pop group World Order. Read about the multi-talented guy behind it right here. And enjoy. Read more
Are too many of your work meetings like this? A friend sent me the prayer below. I like it Prayer to St. Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your Joy.Angel Guide of Tobias, lay... Read more
The scene yesterday in Dublin: In Dublin’s pro-cathedral, St. Mary’s, Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the archdiocese’s Apostolic Visitor, Cardinal Séan O’Malley of Boston, lie prostrate (above) before the altar at the start of yesterday’s Liturgy of Repentance for victims of sex abuse. Read more. Read more
This arrived late Sunday, from a parishioner who took issue with my homily that morning: I really feel you were misguided in you presentation of today’s sermon at the 11:30 AM Mass. Loving people and reaching out with love to those that have hurt us, (individually) is one thing. And has to be done on a selective basis. Reaching out and loving a people or a terrorist leader like Osama is wrong. He is a madman that wants and continues... Read more
With so much grim Church news crackling over the wires, here’s something to lift the heart. From South Coast Today in Massachusetts: A little church in a small town, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was facing tough times. The congregation was dwindling, and Mass attendance was at an all-time low. The empty confessional was collecting dust, and donations were dismal. But then the unthinkable happened. Today, St. Francis Xavier is one of the most vibrant parishes in the diocese with... Read more
It reportedly happened last weekend, in California. Details: Some parishioners at St. Norbert’s Church in Orange describe themselves as “shocked and appalled” after a priest there allowed a Presbyterian minister to concelebrate a Mass and receive Holy Communion on Sunday, Feb. 13. Sources from the parish told California Catholic Daily that Fr. Agustin Escobar (shown in the picture) introduced Pastor Steve Whitney of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Sacramento at St. Norbert’s 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. The sources said Rev. Whitney... Read more
This arrived late Sunday, from a parishioner who took issue with my homily that morning: I really feel you were misguided in you presentation of today’s sermon at the 11:30 AM Mass. Loving people and reaching out with love to those that have hurt us, (individually) is one thing. And has to be done on a selective basis. Reaching out and loving a people or a terrorist leader like Osama is wrong. He is a madman that wants and continues... Read more
Those are the words of a suspended Philadelphia priest, Fr. Joseph DiGregorio, accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl. Over the weekend, he took to the airwaves to defend himself: One of the three priests suspended by the Archdiocese Of Philadelphia this week after their names popped in last week’s grand jury report on child sex abuse is speaking out. Father Joseph DiGregorio spoke out on a local radio station on Friday and even took calls from listeners as he... Read more
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