In my parish, they are few and far between. I do the paperwork for all the babies being registered for baptism. In recent months, we’ve had names like Clarisse, Connor, Olivia, Jaidyn and Landon. We also had Adonnis, Lena, Evita, Achilles and Trey. The names of our parents and grandparents—John, Joseph, Anne and Mary—are scarce. In fact, I can’t remember the last time a Mary popped up at the font. Maybe it’s a New York thing. It’s worth noting—contrary to popular myth—that a... Read more

This is a fascinating subject you don’t hear about much: The way Sr. Rita Cameron sees it, her grandchildren didn’t lose a grandmother when she became a sister. They gained 106 great-aunts. “Everybody loves them,” said Cameron, who is vocations director for the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque, Iowa. Cameron is part of a relatively small but significant segment of women entering religious life having grown children and, occasionally, grandchildren. Notre Dame de Namur Sr.... Read more

There hasn’t been much response yet from bishops, but Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre addressed the issue in a blog post:  My retired auxiliary bishop expressed his support in the local newspaper, a position he has advocated before. If the Pope asks the opinions of the bishops of the world, I will share with him my thoughts on the matter. For the moment I have yet to be convinced that the “evidence” in the early Church about deaconesses indicates any... Read more

On this great feast of Pentecost, check out this stirring rendition of “Veni, Creator Spiritus,” the timeless hymn summoning and celebrating the Holy Spirit, as sung at the opening of the papal conclave in 2013. Do you see the future pope? We sang it at my parish today. As beautiful as it was, it wasn’t like this. Photo: Wikipedia Read more

From CNN:  Vice President Joe Biden and former House Speaker John Boehner shared the stage at Notre Dame University’s commencement ceremony Sunday where they both spoke on the current negative state of politics. Biden and Boehner, who are both Catholics, were each awarded the 2016 Laetare Medal, the oldest and most prestigious honor at the catholic university. Biden joked that while he didn’t like Boehner — the two were often on opposite sides over issues like Obamacare and government spending... Read more

One rector offers his view that the “Francis Effect” is being felt on the seminary level:  Sulpician Fr. Phillip J. Brown, rector of the Theological College, the national diocesan seminary of the Catholic University of America in Washington, said the Francis effect is alive and well, and growing, at least among seminarians. It’s been a sudden development. Last fall, asked by reporters about the impact of Francis on the seminary, which educates and forms 84 men sponsored by dioceses across... Read more

From The Catholic Review:  “My calling,” Scott Rose insists, “is a synthesis of my family.” “The only explanation,” his father counters, “is the Holy Spirit.” To an observer, both appear right. Al Rose was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1989. His son, Scott, will undergo the same rite in Baltimore at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary May 21. While the clergy rolls in the archdiocese include... Read more

The comedian and his wife gave the address yesterday in Washington. And it’s classic Gaffigan. From the transcript:  Jim: Before I met Jeannie I had lived across the street from a Catholic church for 15 years. I didn’t notice it. I never went in it once. Because of Jeannie that same church became the place I was married, the same church my 5 children were baptized in and the church where once a week I’m reminded to keep focused on... Read more

From The Catholic Miscellany of Charleston, SC: He was ordained on July 25, 1957, as a priest of the Episcopal Church. He later converted to Catholicism and served the Diocese of Charleston. He served in parishes in Indiana and the Chicago area, where he earned a master’s in library science from Rosary College. In 1967, while living in Chicago, Father Parker was knighted by King Peter II of Yugoslavia for his charitable work. He was given the Order of St.... Read more