From Crux: Pope Francis on Wednesday will celebrate a Mass in honor of Father Jacques Hamel in the Vatican. The French priest was murdered by two Islamic terrorists in late July as he himself was saying Mass for a small community. The celebration will be broadcast live at 7 a.m. Rome time (11 p.m. ET) through the Vatican’s Television Center, the Vatican’s spokesman Greg Burke said. On July 26, two men armed with knives broke into a church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, and... Read more

As more details trickle forth about the new book-length interview with Pope Emeritus Benedict, this passage caught my eye: [Journalist Peter] Seewald asks Benedict about a motto that appeared on the invitation to the first Mass celebrated by him after his priestly ordination: “We don’t rule over your faith, we serve your joy.” Benedict’s response reads like it might have come from his successor, Pope Francis. “As part of a contemporary understanding of the priesthood, not only were we conscious... Read more

So this is a thing now, via Matthew Pinto:  A New York-based friend who is studying for her Ph.D. recently shared with me a LinkedIn notice she received. Upon logging into her profile, she saw that she had been invited to an “egg-freezing party.” As you might guess, the invitation had nothing to do with the kind of eggs you buy from the grocery store. Rather, it was an invitation to learn more about what has been dubbed by some... Read more

Here’s part of an e-mail that arrived this morning: My son was Baptized at the Church in 2015. We had initially chose the Godparents but there was a change in Godfather last minute. My brother (initial Godfather) did not attend the Baptism and ignored my request to show that day. Also ignored me for almost one year. My best friend stood in place that day, assuring us my son would have a Godfather present. Luckily I have good friends who... Read more

Here’s a happy group!  (Thanks for the snapshot, Deacon Martin Serraes.) The new deacons are: Rodney Brimlow, David Licata, Michael Miller and Kenneth Vianale, ordained September 10, 2016 at the Cathedral of St Ignatius Loyola. Congratulations and welcome, brothers!  Ad multos annos!  Photo: courtesy Florida Catholic Read more

Delivered by Father Michael Duffy on September 15, 2001. The conclusion: The firemen took his body and because they respected and loved him so much, they didn’t want to leave it in the street. So, they quickly carried it into a church and not just left it in the vestibule, they went up the center aisle. They put the body in front of the altar. They covered it with a sheet. And on the sheet, they placed his stole and his fire... Read more

Details:  The Democratic vice-presidential nominee, Tim Kaine, is predicting the Roman Catholic church may eventually change its opposition to same-sex marriage. Kaine, a Roman Catholic senator from Virginia, told Human Rights Campaign’s national dinner on Saturday that he had changed his mind on the issue and his church may follow suit one day. “I think it’s going to change because my church also teaches me about a creator who, in the first chapter of Genesis, surveyed the entire world, including... Read more

They dedicated a gorgeous new church in the Diocese of Madison last month (with an assist from brand new Deacon Jim Hoegemeier!) and the Catholic Herald has the scoop: A dream more than 15 years in the making has finally become a reality. A standing-room only crowd attended Mass in the new St. Cecilia Church in Wisconsin Dells for its Solemn Mass of Dedication on August 28. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison presided at the Mass. The building began in May... Read more

The cardinal archbishop of Washington has some strong words about priests who dabble in politics. From the cardinal’s column this week in the Catholic Standard:  There are times when bishops and pastors have a duty to share our Catholic teaching, to point out the moral and human dimensions of public issues and call for the protection of the weak and the pursuit of the common good. But these obligations cannot substitute for the leadership of lay men and women. Pastors... Read more