Her name is Brigitte Irrgang, and she’s been immortalized with an oratorio that just debuted in her native Germany. Details:  Brigitte Irrgang was only 11 when she was attacked and murdered more than six decades ago. But since her death, a chapel and a monument have been erected in her memory and Pope John Paul II named her a Catholic martyr. The latest honor is a new oratorio to commemorate her short life and its tragic end. “Brigitte. Musikalisches Leuchten” (Brigitte.... Read more

Another great hymn from the Protestant songbook: “How Great Thou Art” is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg (1859–1940) in Mönsterås, Sweden in 1885. It was translated into German and then into Russian and became a hymn. It was translated into English from the Russian by English missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own. The composition was set to a Russian melody. It was popularised by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during the Billy Graham crusades. It... Read more

After preaching a homily at the Vigil Mass last night, I went home and wrote a new homily for this morning.  Last night, I discovered a timely essay by Father Brian Massingale, a Jesuit theologian at Fordham. He wrote about the life of 21-year-old Dylann Roof. Many of you remember the name. Two years ago, Roof went into the basement of a Methodist church in Charleston, South Carolina, where he pulled out a handgun and opened fire. He killed nine... Read more

The first snapshot arrived in my email Saturday night with this message from Rich Herbst: Bishop Gerald Barnes ordained ten new permanent deacons for the Diocese of San Bernardino this morning. They are: Dcn. Bernardo Hernandez – Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Riverside Dcn. Francisco Herrera – St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Yucaipa Dcn. Jose Herrera – Christ the Redeemer, Grand Terrace Dcn. John Lawson – St. Catherine of Alexandria, Temecula Dcn. Antonio Mejico – Holy Name of Jesus, Redlands Dcn.... Read more

From “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” from the U.S. bishops in 1979: Mindful of its duty to be the advocate for whose who hunger and thirst for justice’s sake, the Church cannot remain silent about the racial injustices in society and its own structures. Our concern over racism follows, as well, from our strong commitment to evangelization. Pope John Paul II has defined evangelization as bringing consciences, both individual and social, into conformity with the Gospel. We would betray our... Read more

Below, part of the ordination Mass today, featuring the Litany of Saints. https://www.facebook.com/147325878647167/videos/1506273492752392/ The new deacons are: Flint Barboza from St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont David Bonneaux from St. Mary Church, Orange Randy Cashiola from St. Anne Church, Beaumont Bruce Grimes from Infant Jesus Church, Lumberton Michael Keith Hebert from St. Francis of Assisi Church, Orange Clay Kuykendall from Our Lady of Victory Church, Sour Lake Frank Maida from St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont Steve McGaha from St. Louis Church,... Read more

This is a great reminder—and it actually ties in with some of the thoughts in my homily for tomorrow. It comes from a Lutheran pastor, Dustin Parker, in California: You need to hear these words. They are critical for you to hear, not just with your ears, but with your heart, your mind, and into the depth of your soul.  They make the difference in your life…. “The Lord is with You” If you’ve ever attended a Lutheran liturgical service,... Read more

A few days ago, a friend of mine posted something beautiful on Facebook—a remembrance from a colleague of hers, Vince Rinehart, writing about his mother, who had just died. She had been widowed at a young age and raised six children. But that was just the beginning. He wrote: My mother, Beall L. Comstock, died this afternoon at Medstar Georgetown Hospital of complications from pneumonia and other ailments. She was 96. She died in peace and without pain. Her defining... Read more

From the Des Moines Register:  The FBI raided a Catholic Worker House in Des Moines early Friday in search of evidence linked to efforts to sabotage construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. About 30 law enforcement personnel, led by agents armed with guns who identified themselves as being from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, entered the Catholic Workers’ Berrigan House just north of downtown Des Moines shortly after 6 a.m., said Frank Cordaro, a former Catholic priest who resides at the house. The agents left about... Read more

Details:  Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Indianapolis returned to Evansville on Aug. 5 to ordain seven men to the Diocese of Evansville’s permanent diaconate during a Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral. The new deacons include Dr. Reynaldo Carandang of Vincennes, Thomas Cervone of Evansville, Albert Frabutt of Hymera in Sullivan County, Charles Johnson of Jasper, Robert “Rocky” Mattingly of Evansville, Jay VanHoosier of Newburgh and Paul Vonderwell of Vincennes. More than 20 priests of the diocese concelebrated the Mass, and... Read more