“Earth-shaking”: Catholic high school in Maine to drop its religious affiliation

Last updated on: October 15, 2015 at 12:04 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Bangor Daily News: Catherine McAuley High School in Portland, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1969 as an all-girl Catholic secondary education institution, announced plans to sever ties with its religious sponsors starting next fiscal year, July 1, 2016. At that point, McAuley will continue on as an independent, non-sectarian school. “To best realize their vision and mission, institutions must evolve with the times,” said McAuley board chairwoman Heidi Osborn and Sister Jacqueline Marie Kieslich,... Read more

Boom: Louisiana seminary reports record enrollment, 83% increase from five years ago

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 11:06 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Francis Effect? Maybe. From the web page of St. Joseph Seminary in Covington: Saint Joseph Seminary College, located near Covington, La., welcomed a record 137 students this year for the Fall 2015 semester, an 83 percent increase from just five years ago, when 75 seminarians enrolled. Saint Joseph Seminary College is a community of faith and learning in the liberal arts rooted in the Benedictine tradition that promotes the development of the whole person. The formation program fosters the... Read more

A “practicum year” for deacon candidates?

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 11:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Someone posted this item on Facebook earlier today: The 16 members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s permanent deacon formation class have entered their Candidate Practicum period, for which they have been temporarily assigned to serve in parishes other than their own. The temporary assignments, which began this month, will last for about eight months. The men, who are all Spanish-speaking, began the formation class two years ago and are scheduled to be ordained in 2017. “This past year... Read more

Must-see video: a groom’s priceless gift to his mother on his wedding day

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 11:04 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

When I was growing up, I always heard, “If you want to know how a man will treat his wife, watch how he treats his mother.” Based on that, the bride in this video is blessed. Truly. Break out the Kleenex and watch as this groom dances with his mother—suffering from ALS—at his wedding. Read more about it here. Read more

Pope asks forgiveness for “recent scandals both in Rome and in the Vatican”

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 11:01 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

And John Thavis is wondering just what he’s talking about: The problem in interpreting his remarks was that there are several scandals to choose from. The gay official of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation who recently came out with his partner, saying the climate at his workplace was homophobic? Accusations of sexual impropriety made by a group of Catholics against priests and an official of the Carmelite religious order in Rome? The resignation of Rome’s leftist mayor, Ignazio Marino, following press... Read more

“Attention, sinners: Confessions now being heard outside Cinnabon…”

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 10:59 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Catholic News Agency: In the South American nation of Colombia – where an estimated 70 percent of the population identifies as Catholic – it is not unusual to encounter Catholic priests at a cathedral, or perhaps at a religious school or hospital. Seeing scores of priests at a shopping mall, on the other hand, is a less frequent occurrence. But for thousands of shoppers at Gran Estación Mall in Bogota, Colombia last week, that’s exactly what happened. Some 350... Read more

Dominican Sisters returning to Oprah: “I think she was open to God’s grace”

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 10:56 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The scoop, from Aleteia: t was the last year of the Oprah show in Chicago and production staff were discussing what stories they hadn’t covered in their 25 year history. One woman spoke up. An “authentic” women’s religious community, she said. Oprah was hesitant. “Do you really think a community like that would be willing to be on my program?” she asked. She gave her staff permission to make some calls. All of the communities they contacted said “no,” except... Read more

Boom: Louisiana seminary reports record enrollment, 83% increase from five years ago

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 7:24 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A “practicum year” for deacon candidates?

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 7:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Must-see video: a groom’s priceless gift to his mother on his wedding day

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 12:20 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra