From The Tidings in Los Angeles, a story about the 19 men who will be ordained to the diaconate tomorrow: Ramon Nuñez’ father told him, “If you don’t serve, you don’t know what you were born for.” He also put these words into practice. “When was I was little, all I ever saw was my parents always serving somebody — in the home, in the church and at school. Always serving,” Nuñez said. “I always looked for ways to serve,”... Read more
From the Post-Gazette: Sheila Ryan said she sensed she has had an unusual call from God from the time of her upbringing in McKeesport. It wasn’t until recently, though, that she learned the Catholic Church had a name for it and an official liturgy to formalize it. Early Sunday morning at St. Richard Church in Richland, the retired school teacher and administrator became the first woman in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to receive the Rite of Consecration of a Virgin... Read more
View image | gettyimages.com A Franciscan friar, repelled by some responses on social media, asks that question and blogs: What has troubled me this past week has been the response of far too many so-called Christians, and even those who are called forth to be leaders in the Christian community to this public announcement. Over the course of the last week, I have come across blog posts or articles that have had titles like, “How Christians should respond to Caitlyn/Bruce... Read more
Details: Twenty-one men will be ordained permanent deacons by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. All the faithful are invited to attend the ordination Mass and to pray for the men as they become ordained clergy in the archdiocese. The link includes biographies of the deacon candidates—a list which includes a pizza maker, a consultant at IBM, a retired cop, an... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: Persecuted Christians were remembered during Thursday’s Corpus Christi procession in Rome, where Pope Francis told the thousands taking part to walk and pray in unity with those who cannot express their faith so openly. “Let us feel united with them: sing with them, give praise with them, worship with them,” the Roman Pontiff said in his homily for Mass said in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran June 4, celebrated just before the procession. “As we... Read more
[getty src=”453476049?et=F7bEEafIRRZ2Im6hAw3OsA&viewMoreLink=on&sig=TZa4XcNBd7nyWtmZgdZLJg2Eb-LIMLpZYVMFd_4xJKY=&caption=true” width=”594″ height=”396″] View image | gettyimages.com Take note: We received an email from a parishioner at Good Shepherd in Andover, who said her priest, on Sunday, warned the congregation about sham letters. Letters offering tickets for sale to see Pope Francis. “Our priest told us to throw away any letter we received telling us we could get tickets for the pope’s visit by sending money to the people,” wrote the parishioner, who asked not to be named. For... Read more
There’s been a lot of ink spilled over the fact that ESPN is giving its Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the cover girl of the moment, Caitlyn Jenner (a.k.a. Bruce). A number of more worthy recipients have been mentioned—and at least one writer has noted that, despite online buzz, Noah Galloway was not a runner-up for the award. One can debate the merits of the Jenner honor—I offer my own opinion below. But what can’t be debated is the life and... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: Persecuted Christians were remembered during Thursday’s Corpus Christi procession in Rome, where Pope Francis told the thousands taking part to walk and pray in unity with those who cannot express their faith so openly. “Let us feel united with them: sing with them, give praise with them, worship with them,” the Roman Pontiff said in his homily for Mass said in the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran June 4, celebrated just before the procession. “As we... Read more
There’s been a lot of ink spilled over the fact that ESPN is giving its Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the cover girl of the moment, Caitlyn Jenner (a.k.a. Bruce). A number of more worthy recipients have been mentioned—and at least one writer has noted that, despite online buzz, Noah Galloway was not a runner-up for the award. One can debate the merits of the Jenner honor—I offer my own opinion below. But what can’t be debated is the life and... Read more
View image | gettyimages.com Take note: We received an email from a parishioner at Good Shepherd in Andover, who said her priest, on Sunday, warned the congregation about sham letters. Letters offering tickets for sale to see Pope Francis. “Our priest told us to throw away any letter we received telling us we could get tickets for the pope’s visit by sending money to the people,” wrote the parishioner, who asked not to be named. For many, a chance to... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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