Here’s an interesting angle to this story I hadn’t heard before. Details:  Muslims who were awake because they were beginning their Ramadan fast “saved people’s lives” when a deadly blaze broke out at a west London tower block, HuffPost UK has been told. At least 50 people have been taken to five hospitals for treatment as hundreds of residents in the 27-storey, 120 flat, Grenfell Tower in north Kensington have been evacuated from their flats in the building that caught fire... Read more

This photo popped up on social media Saturday afternoon, the first glimpse of the new deacons ordained at St. Patrick’s, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The roll call: [img attachment=”208317″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Ad multos annos, brothers, and welcome! Read more

This Sunday, we mark the feast of Corpus Christi, or as it is known in English, “The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.” It celebrates the central meaning and reality of the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament. It’s worth asking ourselves: How will we observe it this year? How will we receive the Eucharist? Will we do anything different? Most of us will do as we always do: wait for the usher to stop by the pew, then at the... Read more

Details:  A mosque in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital, has been renamed “Mary, Mother of Jesus.” Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces, ordered that the mosque be renamed to “consolidate bonds of humanity between followers of different religions.” Some context, from my colleague at CNEWA, the Rev. Elias D. Mallon: Our Lady plays an important role in Islam. She is the virgin mother of Jesus,... Read more

Check out the video above from Rome Reports.  Key quote: “Pope Benedict sees in Pope Francis a man of his time, a true witness to the Lord, one who succeeds in building up the faith of people with courage, even at times with methods which can be considered less than traditional. Nevertheless, this is his style – and everyone has his own – this is the style of Pope Francis, which is much appreciated by Pope Benedict.” He adds: “He... Read more

Archbishop José H. Gomez ordained 19 new deacons June 10 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Check out profiles of the deacons and their wives here.  Welcome and congratulations! Ad multos annos!  Photo: Victor Aleman/Angelus Read more

Details:  The Papal Almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, has been responsible for the installation of showers, a barbershop and a laundromat near the Vatican, as well as other initiatives on behalf of the poor, including a new dormitory. What fewer people know, however, is that behind the scenes the Polish archbishop has also given up his Vatican apartment for refugee families fleeing war torn areas, and has for several months been sleeping in his office. Born in Lodz on November 25,... Read more

From WWL-TV:  Congressman Steve Scalise’s hometown of Metairie is sending prayers his way. Wednesday evening, the community held a prayer service at the Congressman’s church, St. Catherine of Siena. Regardless of political views, a community stood side-by-side supporting Scalise, one of four people shot during an ambush style attack. When the news reached Metaire, residents were devastated. “I just got teary eyed, I really did,” Ashley Zsido said. “I’m very very disappointed that it’s come to this violence,” Vinson Serio added. Some... Read more

This tidbit popped up earlier today: The group of cardinals advising Pope Francis on reforming the Vatican bureaucracy has considered specific ways to decentralize authority in the Catholic church, proposing in particular that more responsibility for permanent deacons could move from Rome to local bishops’ conferences. The nine member Council of Cardinals spoke in their June 12-14 meeting about “transferring some faculties from the Roman Curia to local bishops or bishops’ conferences,” Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a short briefing... Read more

A great vocation story, from the National Catholic Register:  Grant Aasen had dreams of making it big in college and pro football. As a sophomore at Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, he was a running back with a bright future. However, that’s when the lights went out. Aasen was running the ball in practice when an older, bigger and stronger player, who is now with the Houston Texans, leveled him with a jarring tackle. He incurred a serious... Read more