While this story in The Irish Examiner doesn’t make the fatal mistake of confusing deacons with lay people, (or calling them “lay deacons”), it does blur the lines, describing “the potential for lay people to get involved in ministry.” Well, okay. But I’m not sure they understand these men are no longer laity. Snip: Father of two Brian Williams, aged 42, of Lissarda, Co Cork, said the diaconate was a natural progression for him, having been employed in addiction and... Read more

The diaconate is still relatively new in Ireland—and a big deal, as this story makes clear: Six married men, all of them with young children, will be ordained today (Sunday). Their ordination will form part of a special Mass at 2.30pm by Bishop William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne, at St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, Co Cork. The newly-ordained deacons will then administer to the needs of the Cloyne diocese. Theirs is a threefold ministry of service to the Word of... Read more

America Media wanted to know and came up with interesting answers: When asked to rate the quality of their parish liturgy, the majority of respondents told America that it was either high (29 percent) or very high (27 percent). Juanita, of Florida, rated the quality of liturgy at her parish as very high, writing, “We have a priest who makes everyone feel welcome, says Mass with great reverence and gives meaningful homilies.” Readers who judged their parish liturgy to be of high... Read more

The first martyr of the United States was beatified yesterday. I preached about him in a homily several months ago, on Holy Thursday, when I saluted the great gift of the priesthood: Last December, 35 years after Father Stanley Rother’s murder, Pope Francis declared him officially a martyr of the faith—the first martyr born in the United States. In September, he will be beatified. Tonight, I suggest, attention must be paid. Here was a man who washed the feet of... Read more

The Presbyterian preacher and writer M. Craig Barnes once wrote: “God is always present, but not always apparent.” I think part of our job is to change that—to help others see God’s work in the world. St. Paul touches on a similar idea today in his letter to the Philippians, declaring, “Christ will be magnified in my body.” A magnifying glass enlarges what is small, making it clear. Paul wanted to bring that kind of clarity, the clarity of Christ,... Read more

I’m away from my home parish this weekend (duty calls) but here’s the offertory hymn being sung by our choir this weekend: “Seek Ye the Lord” by John Varley Roberts.     Read more

I’m on the road again this morning, flying up to Boston and then driving to Cape Cod and the town of Mashpee, where I’ll be privileged to preach a mission next week at the Parish of Christ the King.  If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello! My topic: “Being the Good News in a World of Bad News.” I’m looking forward to my visit and meeting everyone who has been organizing this event. Please keep us all... Read more

Patheos has an interesting interview by Kate O’Hare with two veteran Disney animators, Tony Bancroft and Mark Henn, who offer insight from their experiences about having faith, and being believers, in a big secular media company (hey, I can relate!). Snip:  Bancroft: Here’s the thing, after I left Disney, I started my own animation company. We tried to produce “Veggie Tales”-kind of younger, faith-based content. We got into a conversation with Focus on the Family about possibly doing a project... Read more

From the BBC:  A failing dam is causing “extremely dangerous” flooding on a Puerto Rico river in the wake of Hurricane Maria, authorities say. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the “imminent failure” of the Guajataca Dam is a “life-threatening situation”. More than 70,000 people live in the nearby towns of Isabela and Quebradillas. At least 13 people have died since Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, knocking out power to the whole island. Operators of the Guajataca Dam said the... Read more

An interesting take by Karl Schmude in the UK’s Catholic Herald:  In film history, the priest has been among the most common and enduring characters, and to a large extent has been played by actors of Catholic background. From the 1930s, Catholics were prominent in Hollywood, whether actors such as Spencer Tracy and James Cagney or directors like John Ford and Leo McCarey. Producers turned to Catholic actors to perform what was judged to be the difficult and delicate role... Read more