Pope to sisters: “What would the Church be without you? I love you very much”

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:24 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

[getty src=”489881888?et=UClr9HjASd17XGQrW1xopQ&viewMoreLink=off&sig=KFwW5bdBcUObZ1IDZVMHQ_k_LKyD6F14q5jWZelbQVM=&caption=true” width=”424″ height=”594″] View image | gettyimages.com From his homily Thursday night in St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Gratitude and hard work: these are two pillars of the spiritual life which I have wanted to share with you this evening. I thank you for prayers and work, and the daily sacrifices you make in the various areas of your apostolate. Many of these are known only to God, but they bear rich fruit for the life of the Church. In a... Read more

Pope Francis to bishops: “Ever present is life as gift and responsibility”

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 9:23 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From his reflection yesterday, delivered before bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington: Ours must not be just any kind of prayer, but familiar union with Christ, in which we daily encounter his gaze and sense that he is asking us the question: “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” (Mk 3:31-34). One in which we can calmly reply: “Lord, here is your mother, here are your brothers! I hand them over to you; they are the ones whom... Read more

Pope makes unscheduled trip for private meeting with Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 8:59 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

I presided at a Holy Hour and Benediction at a facility run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Queens last night, and one of the sisters mentioned something about this to me. “The Holy Father is visiting us in Washington,” she said discreetly, “but no one is supposed to know.” I didn’t think much of it at the time—but then I saw this piece in Aleteia: A Vatican spokesman revealed late Wednesday evening that Pope Francis earlier met privately with... Read more

Great moments in journalism: TV station uses Nazi emblem to send Yom Kippur greetings to viewers

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 7:41 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: A Chicago television news station made a truly unfortunate art choice to accompany a segment on the Jewish High Holidays on Wednesday: the yellow Star of David that Jews were legally required to wear during the Holocaust. The stock photo was first flagged by a Chicago editor, who posted a screenshot of the WGN news broadcast online. The station responded to apologize for the art choice about 30 minutes later, and said in a tweet the image was “inadvertently” used.... Read more

New York’s oldest deacon to sit beside Pope Francis at St. Patrick’s

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 9:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: He is the New York Archdiocese’s oldest serving deacon, at a mere 91 years young.And Thursday, Deacon John Maloney will have a very special honor.Not only will he get to be part of Pope Francis’ escort to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, he will get to sit right next to the pontiff.“I’m just going to say, ‘Welcome to New York, your holiness,” said Maloney.He isn’t planning on small talk, but he will have Pope Francis’ attention. The deacon will lead the... Read more

Francis isn’t the first pope to avoid mentioning abortion at the White House

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 2:21 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Some observers have expressed disappointment that Pope Francis did not mention abortion during his welcoming ceremony at the White House this morning. You can read the full text here. But for a little history and context, it’s interesting to read what Benedict said at the White House welcome in 2008. And what John Paul said at a similar event in 1979. In both speeches, the subject wasn’t mentioned. However, John Paul did bring it up, prominently, when he departed Denver after World Youth Day in 1993. ... Read more

Pope: “If they want me to recite the Creed, I can!”

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 1:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Before landing in Washington yesterday, Pope Francis had another of his brief news conferences on the plane and, among other things, he reminded reporters he is Catholic: Pope Francis defended his position on the economy, the environment and other social issues as faithful repetitions of the basic Catholic social doctrine. Speaking to reporters flying with him from Cuba to Washington Sept. 22, the pope was asked about comments, mainly from the United States, claiming the pope is a communist and... Read more

And now, Ann Coulter is bashing Catholics

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 1:13 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

After her remarks about Jews, should we be surprised? She sent out this tweet a short time ago, evidently responding to the visit of Pope Francis to Washington: You can read more, if you can stomach it, here. Read more

What kind of New York will Pope Francis find?

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 12:33 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My colleague Tom McDonald writes about that in the National Catholic Register: When Pope Francis lands at Kennedy International Airport, it will be the first papal visit to New York since Benedict spent three days there in April 2008. What kind of New York will he find? Deacon Greg Kandra of the Diocese of Brooklyn says he will find a warm welcome: “You’d be hard-pressed to find [a Catholic] in New York City who doesn’t adore this Pope,” said the... Read more

RIP Lawrence Peter Berra, the sports legend named for a deacon saint

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 12:23 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Yankees legend, and lifelong Catholic, died yesterday at the age of 90: Yogi Berra, one of baseball’s greatest catchers and characters, who as a player was a mainstay of 10 Yankee championship teams and as a manager led both the Yankees and Mets to the World Series — but who may be more widely known as an ungainly but lovable cultural figure, inspiring a cartoon character and issuing a seemingly limitless supply of unwittingly witty epigrams known as Yogi-isms... Read more