My Aleteia colleague Tony Rossi noted this surprising moment in Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with Sean Spicer: Kimmel was questioning him about President Trump’s painting the press with a broad brush as “fake news.” Spicer responded that the majority of reporters are good people trying to tell a truthful story. But then he defended the president to a degree, stating that reporters often are more concerned with being first than being right and that they don’t admit their mistakes when they... Read more

I’m headed there later today to speak at the annual deacon convocation. Looking forward to meeting some new friends, seeing some old ones, and returning to Terpland. Everybody, sing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLaM1d383eg Read more

Quite a story behind this one, in an email I received today from Deacon Martin Serraes: The ordination of permanent deacons scheduled for September 9 was going to be cancelled due to Hurricane Irma. Bishop Barbarito remembered his own ordination to the priesthood, on a day when a blizzard was predicted to hit Brooklyn.  His bishop let him know that no snow storm would stop the ordination. That experience led Bishop Barbarito to contact  the deacon candidates and give them... Read more

A musical interlude, for this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This comes from DuBois’ “Seven Last Words,” an oratorio our choir performs every Good Friday at my parish. This was a particular favorite of my late pastor, Msgr. Joseph Funaro, and he asked if we could have it sung at my Mass of Thanksgiving after my ordination. It was the communion hymn. This was also sung at his funeral in 2013. “We adore you, O Christ, and... Read more

Here, from Story Corps, is the story behind how Father Michael Duffy came to deliver the homily at Father Mychal Judge’s funeral. You can read the full homily here. It’s a superlative example of a funeral homily, by the way, and should be studied by anyone who has to deliver something like this. But listen to the account below. (Please be patient. It may take a moment to load.) https://www.facebook.com/StoryCorps/videos/vb.6024998621/10155708048558622/?type=2&theater     Read more

A big h/t to Father Richard Heilman, who posted this stunning image (from RehmannPhotography.com) on his Facebook page with the explanation:  BREATHTAKING!! Here’s a better tradition than the Hokey-Pokey. “Put your right foot out, so I can wash it for you!” Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Shannon. Personally, I’ve never seen this done before: the groom kneeling before his bride at the reception to wash her feet.  (Unclear if the bride also did that for the groom. I’d like... Read more

We can’t know for certain, but there’s some pretty fascinating detective work here:  In a medieval town in the south of France, a crypt tucked beneath a basilica houses one of the world’s most famous sets of human remains, a skull and bones rumored to belong to Jesus’ companion Mary Magdalene. Now, a scientist and an artist have used the remains to reconstruct what this woman would have looked like when alive. The facial reconstruction is based on computer modeling... Read more

These powerful images from the Salesian News Agency show the Salesian Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil meeting Pope Francis today, following the General Audience. Before offering him a blessing, the Holy Father bent to kiss the priest’s hand. [img attachment=”234085″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /]   [img attachment=”234086″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Meantime, my colleague John Burger has this news: No ransom was paid to secure the release of Salesian Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, an Indian government official said Tuesday. Father Uzhunnalil, a missionary priest, met with... Read more

The restored diaconate is a recent phenomenon in Ireland, but its numbers are growing:  It was a historic day for the Diocese of Cork and Ross on Sunday as two new deacons are to be ordained at the North Cathedral. Rev David Lane, who works as the manager of HSE addiction services in Cork and Kerry, and Rev Frank McKevitt, an accountant working in the city centre were ordained permanent deacons at the Cathedral. The role was restored in Ireland... Read more

The title says it all. She became a sensation on social media yesterday and now she tells her story. Check out the video interview. Details: Across the state of Florida, and up into Georgia and South Carolina, images of first responders have become a welcome sight amid the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. But among the usual uniforms — those of police, firefighters and paramedics — a nun’s habit stands out. And when said nun is wielding a chainsaw, well, that... Read more