Wow. From National Catholic Register: If anybody thinks Catholicism is boring or outdated, they ought to visit the King home in Lake Mary, Florida, where authentic Catholicity, joy, and children are found in abundance. Christy King, mother of 18, says, “While our large number is what initially draws people’s attention, what actually defines us is our Catholic faith.” Troy, a pediatric dentist, and Christy chatted with the Register to share some thoughts about raising faithful kids and life at home... Read more

From the In My Backyard Desk: Some heartening news out of our diocesan Chrism Mass! And in the report above, one of those interviewed is the man I’m mentoring in the diaconate program, Thomas Jorge, who will be ordained next month. Kudos and prayers! Read more

The answer:  President Donald Trump celebrated Easter with his family this weekend in Palm Beach, attending church and Mar-a-Lago’s annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday before heading back to Washington. The president, first lady Melania Trump, their son Barron, Trump’s daughter Tiffany and the first lady’s parents went to the 11 a.m. Easter service at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, a historic church that sits a short drive from Mar-a-Lago. The president and first lady were married there in 2005,... Read more

Our parish’s resident shutterbug, Rosalind Chan, took some memorable and beautiful pictures throughout the week. You can view a full gallery here. Below, some highlights of the week that was at our little church in Queens. Palm Sunday [img attachment=”161588″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Bishop Sanchez blesses the palms at the rectory entrance. [img attachment=”161589″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Procession down the block and into the church. [img attachment=”161592″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Entering the church. Holy Thursday [img attachment=”161594″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” /] Fr.... Read more

Details:  Yoga is designed to help bring peace and wellness to body and mind. But at Benedictine College — a small and strongly Catholic liberal arts school in Atchison, Kan. — yoga classes per se will soon be yo-gone, out of apparent concern that use of the word “yoga” suggests advocacy for Hindu mysticism. College spokesman Stephen Johnson said that starting this fall, both recreational classes and for-credit exercise classes that once taught yoga will likely still be taught the... Read more

One of my favorite hymns of the Easter season. I chose it for my Mass of Thanksgiving 10 years ago and, just two days ago, we sang part of this as the processional for the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It will make an appearance again as the Communion hymn this weekend. This rendition, by the celebrated Notre Dame Folk Choir, is definitive. To all who are singing, celebrating, anointing, proclaiming, baptizing and exulting tonight: God’s blessings to... Read more

The text, from Friday evening:  O Christ, abandoned and betrayed even by your own, and sold for next to nothing. O Christ, judged by sinners, handed over by the leaders. O Christ, tortured in the flesh, crowned with thorns and clothed in purple. O Christ, slapped and beaten, and nailed in excruciating pain to the Cross. O Christ, pierced by the lance that opened your heart. O Christ, dead and buried, you who are the God of life and existence.... Read more

A friend sent me this image, one I’d never seen before, of St. Francis of Assisi wearing a deacon stole. (Full image below) As we enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery this Good Friday and turn our gaze toward the one who was pierced for our sins, deacons in a special way recall this diaconal saint who also bore the wounds of Christ. From a letter of St. Francis to his order: Almighty, eternal, just, and merciful God, grant... Read more

Without question, it is the most infamous public execution of all time. No death has been more depicted in art, in drama, in literature and, as we’ve just heard, in music. On top of this, the one being put to death is the most quoted, cited, studied, revered person in human history—a solitary figure who literally changed the world. Jesus the Christ—Son of God and Son of Man. The Messiah. Yet these, his last words, may strike us as shocking—shocking,... Read more

From Reuters:  With Islamic State expelled, Iraqi Christians are trickling back to the ransacked town of Qaraqosh, beset by anxiety for their security and yet hopeful they can live in friendship with Muslims of all persuasions. The town, about 20 km (12 miles) from the battlefront with Islamic State in the northern city of Mosul, shows why Christians have mixed feelings about the future of their ancient community. In the desecrated churches of Qaraqosh, Christians are busy removing graffiti daubed... Read more