From Catholic News Agency: After reading a letter while visiting Rome’s North American Seminary detailing the death of two young girls in a house fire, Pope Francis blessed their picture and a small statue to be given to their parents.“The Holy Father read the story about what happened and he was very moved by it. He prayed for the family and for the girls, and in fact he even put his hand on their picture as a sign of his... Read more
From Catholic News Agency: After reading a letter while visiting Rome’s North American Seminary detailing the death of two young girls in a house fire, Pope Francis blessed their picture and a small statue to be given to their parents. “The Holy Father read the story about what happened and he was very moved by it. He prayed for the family and for the girls, and in fact he even put his hand on their picture as a sign... Read more
Details: Germany’s Roman Catholic Church, an influential voice for reforms prompted by Pope Francis, has decided lay employees who divorce and remarry or form gay civil unions should no longer automatically lose their jobs. Catholic bishops have voted to adjust Church labour law “to the multiple changes in legal practise, legislation and society” so employee lifestyles should not affect their status in the country’s many Catholic schools, hospitals and social services… “The new rule opens the way for decisions that... Read more
Check this out: It happened on April 22, 2015 in the city of Sambreville, Belgium, in St. Victor Church of Auvelais. The parish priest, Fr. Francis Lallemand, took the initiative of celebrating the first religious service for a dog that we know of. He opened his church for the burial religious and preached a homily during the ceremony, above. A white crib placed in front of the altar had the cremated remains of a Chihuahua called “Miss Chiwa,” which had been... Read more
Well, quite a few people have expressed their displeasure at the Jubilee of Mercy logo—you can find a lot of justified grumbling here and here and here. I was curious to find out more about the artist and didn’t have to look far. His biography: Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik was born 28 November 1954 in Zadlog, Slovenia near Idrija. In 1973 he entered the Society of Jesus. He studied philosophy in Ljubljana and then, in 1977, enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts... Read more
Can there be any doubt he’s in? You don’t announce an announcement on FoxNews—to take place in your hometown, no less—to say you aren’t running. From Fox: Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said on Fox News Wednesday that he will announce whether he will run for president in 2016 on May 27. Santorum told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that he will announce his plans in Butler, Pennsylvania where he grew up. “It was a great campaign last time. We... Read more
It happened in Oklahoma over the weekend, at the beginning of the month dedicated to Our Lady: Churchgoers were upset Sunday morning when they discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary vandalized with black spray paint. The defacement of the shrine at St. Thomas More University Parish and Student Center, 100 E Stinson, near the University of Oklahoma, likely happened overnight. Those in attendance were shocked by the vandalism and offended by a sign left on the statue, church officials... Read more
From the foundation that bears the saint’s name: The Saint Pio Foundation is proud to present the 1st “Saint Pio Award Ceremony,” which will take place at The Naval Heritage Center (701 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20004), on Friday, May 22, 2015, at 6:30pm. A cocktail reception will be followed by the award ceremony. The Saint Pio Award has been established to recognize the selfless and outstanding contribution to the Catholic Church of those individuals who have strongly committed... Read more
Save the date: May 29, 2016. From the Holy See press office: “Some events are being organised which most likely will involve large crowds of people. We wanted the first event, which will be held from January 19-21, to be dedicated to all those involved with the organisation of pilgrimages. It will symbolically emphasise that the Holy Year is a true pilgrimage and should be lived as such. We will ask pilgrims to make a journey on foot, preparing themselves to... Read more
The full text of the papal bull announcing the Jubilee of Mercy was published several days ago, and is now available on the Jubilee of Mercy website. There are a number of specific, concrete details worth noting: The initiative of “24 Hours for the Lord,” to be celebrated on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Fourth Week of Lent, should be implemented in every diocese. So many people, including the youth, are returning to the Sacrament of Reconciliation; through this experience they... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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