Vatican appoints Brooklyn’s Bishop DiMarzio to lead apostolic visitation of Buffalo

Last updated on: October 3, 2019 at 6:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the In My Backyard Desk: The Vatican announced on Oct. 3 that it has appointed the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn to lead an apostolic visitation for the troubled Diocese of Buffalo “in the near future.” The results of this fact-finding mission will be reported to the Holy See’s Congregation of Bishops. The Vatican communique described the visitation as a non-judicial and non-administrative process that will not be subject to a recent papal decree that updated procedures on bishop accountability.... Read more

A pastor explains why his parish won’t be blessing pets Friday

Last updated on: October 4, 2019 at 8:07 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This comes from the public Facebook page of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Mobile, Alabama. Father Stephen Vrazel posted the following message: People have been asking me if we will be blessing pets at St. Vincent’s on the feast day of St. Francis—this Friday, October 4. We will not. Let me explain why. I do not feel it is in keeping with the mission of our parish or our school to host an event for which families will bend... Read more

‘Are permanent deacons necessary?’

Last updated on: October 3, 2019 at 10:53 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Father Z. got that question (from a deacon!) and last week he answered it: My default position is to be favorable toward permanent deacons. That said, I have encountered over the years super competent permanent deacons, edifying and praiseworthy, and also cringe worthy incompetents. More of the later, alas, than the former. Not that a lot of priests are great shakes. The problem is terribly uneven formation. I don’t question in the least the good motives or piety of the... Read more

Pope Francis sings the praises of Gregorian chant

Last updated on: October 2, 2019 at 6:55 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

“Promote the presence of the schola cantorum in every parish community.” This didn’t get much attention, but it should. Pope Francis offered some words of encouragement and praise for ancient chant, in a talk last weekend to the Scholae Cantorum of the Italian Saint Cecilia Association. From the text of his remark, via Chant Cafe: Take care together for artistic and liturgical preparation, and promote the presence of the schola cantorum in every parish community. In fact, the choir guides the assembly, and with its... Read more

Patricia Heaton talks with Colbert about making faith the center of your life

Last updated on: October 1, 2019 at 10:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You don’t hear people talking about these sorts of things often on television — certainly not on late night talk shows. But Heaton and Colbert Went There on his show last week. Take a look. Read more

‘Breaking’ news: breakdancing priests!

Last updated on: October 1, 2019 at 9:20 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

You’ve got to see this to believe it: The story, from Knoxville: Spreading their message in a unique way, three priests connected with students at Knoxville Catholic High School during an all-school assembly on Sept. 24. It was Spirit Week, so students and faculty were pumped up and ready for the energetic morning program, “When Culture and Faith Embrace.” The priests all hail from California; Fathers Joseph Aytona and Jewel Aytona are brothers, and after Father Ricardo Pineda joined the Catholic Church,... Read more

Dear Catholic social media, I think you need this right now

Last updated on: September 30, 2019 at 10:58 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

I think we all do, actually. Let’s remember the incredible Jessye Norman tonight by savoring this performance with the equally incredible Kathleen Battle. For all that is wrong with our world, and all that is weighing it down — and everyone reading this has his or her own list — we can take blessed hope from the message in this familiar hymn. If you’ve heard it a thousand times, you’ve probably never heard it like this. A familiar prayer tells us,... Read more

‘I’m a deacon and a…’: Check out this new brochure from Cleveland

Last updated on: September 30, 2019 at 1:09 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Clever and engaging. Click to enlarge. Nicely done. Cleveland rocks! We need more great materials like this to help catechize and evangelize — and promote the vocation. Read more

Pope issues motu proprio establishing ‘Sunday of the Word of God’ during Ordinary Time

Last updated on: September 30, 2019 at 9:31 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Fittingly, he issued this document on the Feast of St. Jerome. Details: [The letter] establishes that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God.” The timing of the document is significant: 30 September is the Feast of Saint Jerome, the man who translated most of the Bible into Latin, and who famously said: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”. This year also marks 1600 years since... Read more

This may be a first: a bishop pens a pastoral letter about…baseball?

Last updated on: September 29, 2019 at 1:38 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Rockville Centre’s Bishop John Barres recently issued the letter to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Mets winning the World Series, using the mantra of that moment to send a message to his flock: “Ya gotta believe”: Why would a Catholic bishop write a Pastoral Letter on the 1969 New York Mets? The world of sports is a critical part of the human experience. Look at the struggle and hard work of the athletes and the passion of the... Read more