Lavish funeral in Rome for alleged mob boss

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 12:22 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Catholic News Agency: An outlandish funeral for an alleged Italian mob boss, complete with a horse-drawn carriage, flower petals strewn from a helicopter and a brass band playing theme music from the movie “The Godfather” was slammed by Rome’s politicians Thursday as an intolerable display of impunity. Hundreds gathered outside the church of San Giovanni Bosco on the outskirts of Rome to pay their respects to Vittorio Casamonica, 65, who’s been identified as the leader of the Casamonica clan,... Read more

Visiting an Anglican Ordinariate parish: “You know that you are in a different place, a place set aside for holy use”

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 10:30 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

I’d be curious to experience this liturgy sometime. It sounds like something I’d like. Here Devin Rose describes his first experience visiting Our Lady of Walsingham in Texas: The parish is beautiful. It is like an acre of England has been cut out and dropped in Houston. The church itself looks like a classic Anglican (originally Catholic!) church. The language of the liturgy is English, but the phrasing and words used are elegant, dignified, and mellifluous. They have a great organ and... Read more

Want to pass through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s next year? Get a reservation.

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 9:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNS: Drawing on the experience of the public exposition of the Shroud of Turin, Vatican officials are adopting a reservation system for pilgrims who want to cross the threshold of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Year of Mercy. The free, online registration will not be activated until October, but in late August the Vatican published a brief explanation of the plan on www.im.va, which is the website for the Year of Mercy that begins Dec. 8.... Read more

Lavish funeral in Rome for alleged mob boss

Last updated on: August 24, 2015 at 8:32 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Catholic News Agency: An outlandish funeral for an alleged Italian mob boss, complete with a horse-drawn carriage, flower petals strewn from a helicopter and a brass band playing theme music from the movie “The Godfather” was slammed by Rome’s politicians Thursday as an intolerable display of impunity.Hundreds gathered outside the church of San Giovanni Bosco on the outskirts of Rome to pay their respects to Vittorio Casamonica, 65, who’s been identified as the leader of the Casamonica clan, which... Read more

Cupich on Synod: “It is no longer sufficient to just repeat the formulas of the past” — UPDATED

Last updated on: August 23, 2015 at 12:17 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Ahead of receiving the pallium in Chicago today, Archbishop Blaise Cupich shared his thoughts on the significance of that event, the upcoming visit of Pope Francis to the United States, and preparations for the Synod this fall. From Catholic New World: CNW: What are your expectations for the Synod of Bishops on the Family to be held in Rome in October? Archbishop Cupich: First of all, I like the process. The pope is introducing a new process here in which he is saying... Read more

Cupich on Synod: “It is no longer sufficient to just repeat the formulas of the past” — UPDATED

Last updated on: August 23, 2015 at 7:17 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Meet some Franciscans and their unique method of evangelization in Rome

Last updated on: August 22, 2015 at 8:20 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Check out this video from Rome Reports, showing how members of one order are fulfilling Pope Francis’ call to go into the peripheries: Read more

New school policy targets parents “not living in accord with church teaching”

Last updated on: August 22, 2015 at 2:57 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It also requires non-Catholics to attend Mass and contribute to the parishes. Details, from The Springfield State Journal Register: The Springfield Catholic Diocese’s new school policy could call into question parents’ lifestyles, especially if they go against Catholic teaching, and takes a new approach toward a more Protestant tradition of tithing. The Family School Agreement would also require that non-Catholic families to attend Mass weekly and contribute to Catholic parishes, even while in most instances paying higher tuition rates at... Read more

Homily for August 23, 2015: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last updated on: August 22, 2015 at 6:38 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It could be one of the most important questions you ask yourself: Why are you Catholic? What keeps you coming back here week after week, year after year? In a time when so many other faiths are out there, offering what they claim is an easier, less difficult path to God—including a church right down the street that is promising free coffee and candy every Sunday morning—what draws you here? What makes you accept teachings that are hard, and pews... Read more

Meet some Franciscans and their unique method of evangelization in Rome

Last updated on: August 22, 2015 at 12:15 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Check out this video from Rome Reports, showing how members of one order are fulfilling Pope Francis’ call to go into the peripheries: Read more