A great profile of one of Albany’s new priests: Mike Melanson preferred Sundays on the water, in the waves of the Sacandaga. His wife, Peggy Montone Melanson, changed that. “In our early years, I didn’t want to come to church, I was a back-of-the-church Catholic, get in, get out,” Melanson said. “But she said, ‘No, no, no. We’re going to get involved in things … we’re going to start teaching religious education.'” Peggy and Mike became more active at Immaculate... Read more
From the diocese’s Facebook page: On Saturday, June 15, Bishop James F. Checchio ordained eight men, three of whom are preparing for eventual service to the priesthood, as deacons during a Mass of the Rite of Ordination at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. Please keep our new deacons in your prayers! The following men, who are preparing for eventual service to the priesthood, were ordained to the transitional diaconate: Deacon Thomas Lanza, Deacon Gilbert Starcher, and Deacon Gustavo... Read more
From ABC News: Notre Dame Cathedral on Saturday held its first mass since a devastating fire tore through the building two months ago on April 15. Only a small group of about 30 people attended the mass, including the church’s clergy, worshipers, media and construction workers. The mass was also transmitted live on a French Catholic TV station, and dozens of other Catholics attended the service from outside the cathedral, watching on their phones. The small group convened in a chapel... Read more
This weekend, we mark “Trinity Sunday,” the celebration of one God in three persons. Theologians have spent centuries writing about this, trying to explain the unexplainable, trying to solve this unsolvable mystery. I’m not going to try that here today. Smarter people than I have tried and failed. And if you try too hard, you can end up making the Trinity far more complex and convoluted. It becomes little more than an abstraction. I’d like to propose another way of... Read more
A thoughtful answer from the head of Courage, via CNA: Fr. Philip Bochanski, the executive director of Courage, told CNA that Catholics should keep in mind that Pride events “were originally meant to draw attention to unjust discrimination and harsh and sometimes even violent treatment against people because of their sexual attractions and their understanding of their sexual identity.” “And so the idea that we ought to call that out and condemn it is simple. That’s something that The... Read more
More details about Saturday’s Mass at Notre Dame, the first since the fire: Saturday’s mass, two months after fire destroyed the roof of the 850-year-old landmark, will be held in a side-chapel and limited to about 20 people “for obvious security reasons”, the diocese said. In attendance will be mainly priests and canons, but not members of the parish. The priests and religious representatives will all have to wear hard hats. Led by the archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit, the... Read more
From CNA: While two Illinois bishops are unified in their strong opposition to the state’s new abortion law, they differ on the question of prohibiting to receive Holy Communion the Catholic state legislators who led the effort for the bill’s passage. “I think that our Catholic people are rightfully scandalized when they see Catholic politicians not only voting for, but actively promoting abortion rights, and they wonder, ‘Well how can you promote abortion rights and call yourself a Catholic in... Read more
He made remarks today to apostolic nuncios from around the world: Apostolic nuncios are called to be men of faith focused on proclaiming the Gospel and shunning the power and corruption that can come from the luxurious trappings of their diplomatic status, Pope Francis said. The pope met June 13 with more than 100 Vatican diplomats, who serve either as nuncios — ambassadors — or as the Holy See’s permanent observers at U.N. and other international agencies. The nuncio represents... Read more
A little something from the Cardinal Archbishop of New York for today, the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Take a look! https://www.facebook.com/TimothyCardinalDolan/videos/2352289888389621/ Read more
From Twitter: Last Saturday, five new permanent deacons were ordained: Deacons Daniel Dailey, Anthony DeCotis, Thomas Elsesser, Thomas Gillis and Jonathan Ignacio. Congratulations! We are praying for you. Check out a full photo album and list of the new assignments. And a grateful diaconal bow to the diocesan Office of Communications for sending all this along! Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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