Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Bridgeport

Last updated on: June 15, 2015 at 8:55 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Fairfield County Catholic, news of Bishop Frank Caggiano’s first diaconate ordination in Bridgeport: “We come here with awesome joy,” Bishop Frank J. Caggiano said just before he ordained six men as deacons for the Diocese of Bridgeport. “Our hearts are filled with joy because you have said ‘Yes’ to the Lord.” More than 500 priests, brother deacons, family and friends filled St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield for the ordination of Anthony Caraluzzi of Bethel, Jeffrey Font of Brookfield, John... Read more

BREAKING: Archbishop of St. Paul resigns—UPDATED

Last updated on: June 15, 2015 at 1:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From AP: The archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota, and a deputy bishop have resigned after prosecutors there charged the archdiocese with having failed to protect children from unspeakable harm from a pedophile priest. The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche. They resigned under the code of canon law that allows bishops to resign before they retire because of illness or some other “grave” reason that makes them... Read more

The year’s best song title?

Last updated on: June 15, 2015 at 10:08 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Well, this gets my vote. From Keith Urban, but written by Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman and Josh Osborne: “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” Key lyric: “I spent a lot of years runnin’ from believing / Looking for other ways to try to save my soul / The longer I live the more I see it / There’s only one way home.” As my blog neighbor Tony Rossi pointed out, Keith Urban is Catholic. Urban sings here that “I learned everything... Read more

Jim Gaffigan: “My faith is very associated with the notion of mercy”

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The comedian and his wife (who are premiering a new TV show next month) are profiled in First Things: FT: What would you say your Catholic faith provides you in a positive way, on a day-to-day basis? Jim: My faith is very associated with the notion of mercy. I understand that there is something greater than myself that does not judge me in a negative manner—or forgives me I should say. For me, being in touch with the idea that I’m... Read more

Forget “Jurassic World” — here’s the blockbuster everyone is waiting for this summer

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 10:22 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Read all about it here. But catch the trailer below. Read more

The mustard seed: a story aching to be told

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 10:08 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Does the mustard seed realize what it is destined to become? In the familiar parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, “the smallest of all the seeds on earth.” From such a small, seemingly insignificant start grows “the largest of plants,” with branches that attract the birds of the sky. It’s all so…improbable. Let’s face it: the mustard seed is so small, it’s the sort of thing most of us would easily overlook. But it holds... Read more

Jim Gaffigan: “My faith is very associated with the notion of mercy”

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 10:02 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The mustard seed: a story aching to be told

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 7:50 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Forget “Jurassic World” — here’s the blockbuster everyone is waiting for this summer

Last updated on: June 14, 2015 at 6:50 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Read all about it here. But catch the trailer below. Read more

Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Los Angeles

Last updated on: June 13, 2015 at 12:36 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Angelus: Archbishop José H. Gomez ordained 19 men to the permanent diaconate during a June 6 multi-lingual Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. “Brothers, you are called to be servants of love,” said the archbishop during his homily, directly addressing this year’s diaconate formation class, including Deacons Carlos Castro (St. Elisabeth, Van Nuys); José de Jesús Benavides (St. Marcellinus, City of Commerce); Juan Navarro (St. Joseph, Hawthorne); Dennis Shinn (St. Denis, Diamond Bar); Donald Burt... Read more