From the Archdiocese’s Facebook page: “Send forth upon them, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, that they may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the ministry.” Alleluia! 18 new deacons have been ordained for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (3 transitional and 15 permanent). Find more pictures here. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
Details: Sri Lankan security forces said they found the bodies of 15 people, including four suicide bombers who had detonated their explosives, in a house on Saturday morning, hours after a gun battle erupted as they raided it in search of suspects linked to the Easter Sunday bombings. Brig. Sumith Atapattu, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan military, said six children were among the dead, the four bombers had blown themselves up as security forces closed in on the house... Read more
From CNN: The ongoing hunt for terrorist suspects in Sri Lanka, and fears of reprisal attacks, have cast a shadow over the country still reeling from the devastation of the Easter Sunday bombings. Sri Lankans of different faiths were being urged to pray privately amid fears of further attacks Friday, as the country’s prime minister told CNN that security forces were also working to pick up any terrorist “sleepers” — who could activate to initiate another round of attacks. As... Read more
He is risen! And if you had any doubts, check out this brief video that appeared on Facebook, from a parish outside Ho Chi Minh City. One more reminder: it’s a big Church. Alleluia, y’all. Read more
From AFP: Sri Lanka’s Catholic churches suspended all public services over security fears on Thursday, as thousands of troops joined the hunt for suspects in deadly Easter bombings that killed nearly 360 people. Security forces also made fresh arrests overnight over the attacks, as the government faced pressure over its failure to act on intelligence warnings about possible bombings. Recriminations have flown since suicide bombers blew themselves up in luxury hotels and churches packed with Easter worshippers on Sunday. The... Read more
The following email was sent around the diocese early today: Annuntio Vobis Gaudium Magnum – I bring you news of great joy! It is with honor and great pleasure that I, currently the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Madison, announce that His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, the Fifth Bishop of Madison. The youngest of six sons, Bishop Donald J. Hying was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. Bishop Hying received his bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and... Read more
NCR and Phyllis Zagano suggest that just might happen: Will he or won’t he? That’s the question being asked in some circles as the date approaches for the pope’s appearance at this year’s May 6-10 meeting of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), the leaders of the world’s congregations of Catholic women religious. Every three years the group meets in Rome, and during the last gathering, in answer to a question from the group, Pope Francis agreed that it... Read more
Some interesting insight from Crux: A declining proportion of Catholics and accelerated growth of Evangelical denominations in Brazil since the 1970s have frequently caused anxiety for the Catholic Church, which fears a vocations crisis from which it might not easily recover. Although the country continues to have the biggest Catholic population in the world with 123 million adherents, a supposed lack of priests could speed up a downfall. But the insufficiency of the clergy in Brazil may not be so... Read more
Awful news from Maui: A chapel at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church was vandalized overnight, a day after parishioners joined other Christians in celebrating Easter. The damage was discovered Monday by women arriving to prepare the Saint Damien chapel for morning mass. “This morning, four of the ladies came and called me,” said the pastor, Father Robert Bunda. “They said ‘Father, the whole front door is trashed.’” Bunda called police and went to the chapel, and found a mess. “When I... Read more
Details: White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said on Tuesday a little known fact about President Trump is that he often brings up Christianity when meeting with foreign leaders. “What you don’t know about is what goes on behind closed doors. I very rarely talk about my private meetings with the president,” Mulvaney said at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. “I can assure you that I have been sitting with him in the Oval Office,... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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