This is our Church: more Catholics, more parishes, fewer priests

Last updated on: June 1, 2015 at 11:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com Some highlights of a CARA report released today: Arguably, the three most important indicators of “vitality” for the Catholic Church are the number of Catholics, the number of parishes, and the number of priests. …Overall, the global Catholic population has grown by 57 percent since 1980. However, this growth differs by region, with Europe’s Catholic population growing by just 6 percent while the number of Catholics in Africa grew by 238 percent. Differences between these two... Read more

Pope Francis: Civilization is measured by its ability to protect life

Last updated on: June 1, 2015 at 9:53 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Vatican Radio: “The degree of progress of a civilization is measured by its ability to protect life, especially in its most fragile stages.” These were the words of Pope Francis during an audience with the Science and Life Association, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary. The Holy Father began by thanking them for their service in promoting the protection of human life in a society marked by the negative logic of discarding.” “The love of Christ urges us to... Read more

Report: Pope’s new encyclical to be called “Laudato sii”

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 3:44 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Catholic News Agency reports: Taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun” prayer praising God for creation, the likely name of the Pope’s upcoming encyclical was informally announced just weeks before its anticipated publication.Fr. Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican Publishing House, reportedly announced the encyclical’s title during the delivery of the Cardinal Michele Giordano prize Saturday afternoon, May 30, in Naples.The prize honors the former archbishop of Naples, who died in 2010, and was inspired by his... Read more

Report: Pope’s new encyclical to be called “Laudato sii”

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 3:10 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Catholic News Agency reports: Taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun” prayer praising God for creation, the likely name of the Pope’s upcoming encyclical was informally announced just weeks before its anticipated publication. Fr. Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican Publishing House, reportedly announced the encyclical’s title during the delivery of the Cardinal Michele Giordano prize Saturday afternoon, May 30, in Naples. The prize honors the former archbishop of Naples, who died in 2010, and was inspired... Read more

Hundreds gathered in Arizona to protest Muslims—and then this happened

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 3:06 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That rally—in which armed protestors stood outside a mosque, wore profanity-adorned t-shirts about Islam, and screamed—resulted in this epiphany for a couple of the protestors: Jason Leger, a Phoenix resident wearing one of the profanity-laced shirts, accepted an invitation to join the evening prayer inside the mosque, and said the experience changed him. “It was something I’ve never seen before. I took my shoes off. I kneeled. I saw a bunch of peaceful people. We all got along,” Leger said. “They... Read more

Like father, like son: deacon’s son ordained a priest

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 3:00 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Georgia Bulletin: When the economic recession of the early 1990s hit the Garcias in a personal way, the Miami family with Cuban roots on both sides was in serious danger of collapse. “We went through some rocky times in our marriage when we lost my computer business, but what saved our marriage was an invitation to a charismatic group,” recalled Deacon Carlos Garcia, who these days is a technology specialist at Christ the King School in Atlanta. He... Read more

Hundreds gathered in Arizona to protest Muslims—and then this happened

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 4:48 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Like father, like son: deacon’s son ordained a priest

Last updated on: May 31, 2015 at 8:10 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Erie

Last updated on: May 30, 2015 at 5:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My friend Deacon Dennis Kudlak posted this snapshot this afternoon on Facebook. The diocesan website has this information, preceding the event: The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of Erie, will preside at the ordination to the Holy Order of Deacon on Friday, May 29, 2015 beginning at 7 p.m. Being ordained as permanent deacons: Paul C. Bauman Michael J. Dittman Edward R. Horneman Thomas G. McAraw David S. Romanowicz Raymond J. Sobina Robert J. Wilson Nicholas A. Cirell Stephen T.... Read more

Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Erie

Last updated on: May 30, 2015 at 2:53 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra