2017-10-10T15:29:28-04:00

Television viewers in the U.K. are about to find out:  A convent in Norfolk is taking centre stage in a reality television series about “party girls” swapping sex, parties and alcohol for religious life. The four-part series, to be aired on Channel 5 on Thursdays, features five girls who were told they would go on a “spiritual journey” but were horrified to discover they had been sent to a convent. Sister Frances Ridler, of the Daughters of Divine Charity in... Read more

2017-10-10T11:28:21-04:00

The regional bishop for the Northern Region of the Archdiocese of Boston, Mark O’Connell, chatted with the Eagle Tribune recently about vocations—and even managed to mention in passing deacons: [Bishopl] O’Connell noted the archdiocese has three seminaries: St. John in Brighton, his alma mater; Pope St. John XXIII in Weston, attended by men over 30, the delayed vocations; and Redemptoris Mater in Brookline, where members of the Neocatechumenal Way prepare for the priesthood. “They’re all at capacity,” he said. He... Read more

2017-10-10T10:20:57-04:00

From today’s Office of Readings, some wise words via a letter to the Trallians by St. Ignatius of Antioch: Deacons, too, who are ministers of the mysteries of Jesus should in all things be pleasing to all men. For they are not mere servants with food and drink, but emissaries of God’s Church; hence they should guard themselves against anything deserving reproach as they would against fire. Similarly, all should respect the deacons as Jesus Christ, just as all should... Read more

2017-10-09T13:02:11-04:00

From Aleteia’s Portuguese edition: It happened on Sunday at Mass in the parish of Ginasio Moderno in Colombian Colombia (8 October). The faithful who participated in the Eucharist faced the vocalist of the U2 band, who had previously performed in Bogotá on the Joshua Tree tour in 2017. Despite the tense schedule, the singer found time for the Eucharist. According to the parish’s faithful, Bono appeared at a Mass in the company of several of his crew. He took a seat at the back of... Read more

2017-10-09T11:32:43-04:00

It’s Gregory Brown, the brother of Dan “The Da Vinci Code” Brown. But chances are, you won’t be hearing it at your local parish any time soon. The “sacred text” is by Charles Darwin. From The New York Times:  The composer Gregory Brown describes himself as an introverted academic who prefers playing piano or walking his dog to standing in a spotlight. But you’ve probably heard of his older brother: Dan Brown, the author of blockbuster page-turners including, of course, “The Da Vinci... Read more

2017-10-09T09:39:29-04:00

From the Vatican, here are part of his remarks to those who attended the International Convention on the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutions Sacerdotalis, organised by the Congregation for the Clergy: Priestly formation depends firstly on the action of God in our life, and not on our activity. It is a work that requires the courage of letting ourselves be formed by the Lord, to transform our heart and our life. This calls to mind the biblical image of clay in the hands of... Read more

2017-10-08T06:40:58-04:00

This popped up on my Facebook feed Saturday: Orlando’s Bishop John Noonan and Deacon Joe Gassman, Director of the Permanent Diaconate in the diocese, talk about the vocation of the permanent deacon with Glenda Meekins, of Florida Catholic. It’s great to see the vocation getting this kind of attention. Kudos, Orlando! You can listen at the link below. https://www.orlandodiocese.org/the-permanent-diaconate/   Read more

2017-10-08T00:53:23-04:00

Performed here by the inimitable Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It’s our recessional this week. The words:  Rejoice, the Lord is king! Your Lord and king adore; Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love; When He had purged our stains He took His seat above; Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!... Read more

2017-10-08T00:39:21-04:00

Behold, the first picture of the diocese’s new deacons, ordained Saturday by Bishop Terry LaValley. (Thanks to that great deacon’s wife, Mary Lou Dupre’ Killian, for the heads up!) A full video of the ordination is below. And you can read more about the men here.  I had the good fortune of spending a couple days with the deacons of Ogdensburg for their convocation last spring, and can tell you: they’re a great group. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos... Read more

2017-10-07T21:32:56-04:00

But here’s the headline: Polish Catholics Gather at Border for Vast Rosary Prayer Event.  Details:   Polish Catholics clutching rosary beads gathered at locations along the country’s 2,000-mile border on Saturday for a mass demonstration during which they prayed for salvation for Poland and the world. Many participants described it as demonstration against what they see as the secularization of the country and the spread of Islam’s influence in Europe. The event, “Rosary at the Borders,” was sponsored in part... Read more

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