Monday in the Park with God: Michigan Town Offers Confessions in a Public Park

Last updated on: June 26, 2019 at 6:58 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This is an inspired idea for evangelization. Details: The sun was peeking through the clouds, the birds were chirping, and confessions were being heard at St. Mary’s Park in Monroe on a warm Monday night in June. Approximately 40 Monroe County residents received the sacrament of reconciliation or enjoyed meaningful conversations over two hours during the Monroe Vicariate’s “Priests in the Park” event, sponsored by the vicariate’s Evangelization and Catechesis Committee. From beginning to end, the four priests involved —... Read more

Your Wednesday Is About To Get a Whole Lot Better

Last updated on: June 26, 2019 at 5:31 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Trust me on this. You want to watch this video from last night’s episode of “America’s Got Talent.” Really. This is 10-year-old Emanne Beasha — who, incredibly, already has a Wikipedia page: She was born in Amman and started to sing opera from the age of six. Her parents discovered her talent as a two-year-old in when she wanted to participate in a small talent show. She confidently went up on stage and sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. Beasha received the King Abdullah II... Read more

Ordination Update: 14 New Deacons for Denver

Last updated on: June 26, 2019 at 10:42 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

I received the following email from my friend Charles Parker in the Archdiocese of Denver: Fourteen men for Denver were ordained by Bishop Jorge Rodríguez. Due to the size, the liturgy took place at a parish church —Light of the World — and not our Cathedral Basilica. He also included the following page from the program, to identify the men: Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more

CNN: Those Two Gay Teachers in Indianapolis Are Married to Each Other

Last updated on: June 25, 2019 at 11:01 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Small world: Two Catholic high schools in Indianapolis were facing the same instruction from an archbishop: Fire a teacher who is in a same-sex marriage, or lose the archdiocese’s recognition as a Catholic institution. One refused last week, and is keeping its gay, married teacher. But officials at the other have announced they are firing theirs. Adding to the tense situation: the two teachers have been married to each other since 2017, multiple sources have told CNN. Their marriage, which... Read more

That Forced Abortion Case? It Gets Worse.

Last updated on: June 25, 2019 at 1:12 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNA: Following a decision by the Court of Appeals in England to overturn an order for a forced abortion on a disabled woman, new details have emerged about the case. Lawyers told the appeal court Monday that doctors had prepared the woman for the enforced abortion by promising her a new doll after the procedure. Fiona Paterson, the barrister representing the National Health Service (NHS) hospital trust that cares for the woman, told the appeal court on Monday that doctors had informed... Read more

Father Grows Best: Behold, Priests With Beards

Last updated on: June 25, 2019 at 9:25 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Why does it appear more priests and seminarians have beards? Glad you asked. Arkansas Catholic investigates: While heading to the Little Red River at Pangburn for a short fishing trip June 10, Fathers Patrick Friend and Jeff Hebert contemplated one of the more perplexing religious questions that has likely been on the minds of those they’ve encountered lately — their beards. And not just the run-of-the-mill scruff, but more like Moses who just came down off of Mount Sinai. The... Read more

BREAKING: Forced Abortion Decision in U.K. Reportedly Overturned

Last updated on: June 24, 2019 at 1:39 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: A controversial UK court decision to force a disabled woman to have an abortion has been overturned on appeal. In a decision reportedly reached June 24, the English Court of Appeal, consisting of Lord Justice McCombe, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Peter Jackson, overturned the previous ruling of the Court of Protection. According to Press Association reports, the judges said they would issue a full explanation of their decision at a later date, but that the circumstances of the case were... Read more

Catholic Identity in Indianapolis: Two Schools, Two Different Decisions — UPDATED

Last updated on: June 24, 2019 at 7:13 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It’s interesting to read today the two statements released by two Catholic schools in Indianapolis — which reached two distinctly different decisions about how to deal with employing a gay teacher who happens to be in a same-sex marriage. Here’s the statement from Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School: Dear Brebeuf Jesuit Community, On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, we write to share news regarding Brebeuf Jesuit’s relationship with the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. We want to inform you,... Read more

Ordination Update: 8 New Deacons for Biloxi

Last updated on: June 23, 2019 at 7:21 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened Saturday: 8 men were ordained as permanent deacons for the Diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi by Bishop Louis Kihneman at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The new deacons are Norm Cantrelle, Sean Fink, Mardo Magana, Tyrone Necaise, Earl Saucier, Bill Stentz, Robert Wescovich, and Johnny Williams. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more

Ordination Update: 9 New Deacons for Washington

Last updated on: June 22, 2019 at 9:15 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

They were ordained Saturday morning by Archbishop Wilton Gregory: Mark Laurent Asselin, Frank Regis Avenilla, Duane Arthur Clark, Wilberto Armenio Garcia, Darryl Armfield Kelley, Mark Kijesky, Matthew Christopher Laidley, Eric Christian Simontis, and John Joseph White, Jr. You can read their biographies here. I was delighted to learn that one of the men, Eric Simontis, serves at St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel, right across the street from my high school, St. Vincent Pallotti. I attended many liturgies in... Read more