That was what they used to call her, that barely five-foot tall bundle of life and laughter, the warm and winsome wonder whom I knew better as just “Aunt Agnes.” She was the wife of my dad’s oldest brother, Joe Kandra; that’s the two of them, above, a decade or so ago, shortly before he died. Over the weekend, Aggie finally went home, to join him. She was 92. The obituaries put it plainly: Born in Taylor, Pa., Agnes was... Read more
While the Philadelphia Church reels from the latest grand jury report, a local columnist struggles to put the damning news in context: At a time when the traditional family is under assault, marriage is threatened with redefinition, and we have reached the grim milestone of 50 million abortions since 1973, our bishops have shredded their moral credibility and left us, the people in the pews and the good priests and nuns who minister to us, feeling shamed, humiliated, angry and... Read more
A reader writes: I was directed to your blog, The Deacon’s Bench, by a link on The Anchoress’ blog. As I began reading the homily posted for World Marriage Day, I was shocked to recognize it… because my own pastor had preached this homily almost verbatim during Mass on Sunday (and on Saturday evening also according to my husband). He even attributed your wife’s quote about praying together and separately to his mother. It bothers me IMMENSELY that your words... Read more
Paging Dr. Doolittle… Read more
Let there be light! It will be the first church in North America to use this particular kind of solar energy. Details: A different kind of trinity is emerging at Saskatoon’s newest cathedral, where the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is combining art, technology and faith in a stunning and environmentally-friendly project. The Holy Family Catholic Church, a $28.5-million cathedral under construction in Saskatoon’s northeast, has solar cells embedded in the large stained glass windows that will be installed this... Read more
What an amazing story. Meet Deacon Frank Bice, from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, a former seminarian who suffered a debilitating football injury in college but has turned it into an opportunity to minister to people around the world, via the web. Newsday profiles him (subscription required), and notes: “I’m really incredibly lucky,” said Bice, 51. “I really had a pretty good attitude” after the accident. “I really didn’t want to waste time hoping that this didn’t happen or wishing... Read more
Paging Dr. Doolittle… Read more
Smile and say “Jesus!” A grateful diaconal bow to Deacon Steve Swope of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, who sent along the picture below: Atlanta’s 16 new deacons, ordained on February 5. The Georgia Bulletin offered a preview of the rite (but as yet hasn’t posted online a followup.) Congratulations and welcome, brothers! Ad multos annos! Read more
What an amazing story. Meet Deacon Frank Bice, from the Diocese of Rockville Centre, a former seminarian who suffered a debilitating football injury in college but has turned it into an opportunity to minister to people around the world, via the web. Newsday profiles him (subscription required), and notes: “I’m really incredibly lucky,” said Bice, 51. “I really had a pretty good attitude” after the accident. “I really didn’t want to waste time hoping that this didn’t happen or wishing... Read more
Turns out, there’s a growing wave of them in Florida — which surprises quite a few non-Catholics: Most of the 300 or so in the room ignored the folding chairs and stood, swaying side to side, hands lifted in praise. They sang the lyrics projected onto a wall above them, “Holy Spirit, come with your fire.” Others prayed aloud their own petitions, many of them in tongues. A few cried, a few danced and one woman proclaimed a prophetic message,... Read more
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