Mel Gibson set to direct another religion-themed movie

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Hollywood Reporter: Lionsgate is in final talks for North American rights to Hacksaw Ridge, a World War II drama starring Andrew Garfield and returning Mel Gibson to the director’s chair for the first time since Apocalypto in 2006. …Hacksaw Ridge stars Garfield as real-life war hero Pfc. Desmond T. Doss, who became the first conscientious objector in American military history to receive the Medal of Honor even though he refused to bear arms on religious grounds. Doss made himself a legend when saving 75 men during the... Read more

A young priest responds to criticism of the newly ordained

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A couple weeks back, a post over at PrayTell got a lot of attention, and stirred up a lot of debate, describing what it called “the pastoral difficulties with newly ordained priests.” Now a priest ordained in 2011 has offered a thoughtful response. Fr. David M. Friel, a blogging priest from Philadelphia, addresses the specific “difficulties” cited in the post, but then offers his thoughts about what the post left out: The two major issues that go unaddressed in the article are... Read more

Pope makes surprise visit to refugee camp

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details from CNS: When Pope Francis walked through the gate surrounding a group of shacks and very humble homes, it took a while for people to notice. In fact, when a couple of people looked out their doors, the pope’s chief security guard motioned them to come over.“Papa Francisco!” someone shouted in Spanish, and then dozens of people came running Feb. 8. The pope made an unannounced stop at the settlement on his way to the nearby St. Michael the... Read more

What can Brian Williams do next? Here are 5 possibilities

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

With Brian Williams announcing that he’s taking a leave from anchoring the NBC Nightly News — the duration, unspecified—we’re left to wonder what happens next. For him, the best-case scenario would have his bosses at NBC concluding that it was all an innocent mixup, and welcome him back to the anchor chair with open arms. The problem with that, of course, is that he will always have this cloud hovering over him. The viewing public will never again see him... Read more

The speakin’ deacon: thanks to divine Providence

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Spent a wonderful 24 hours in scenic, snowy Providence, Rhode Island Friday and Saturday, speaking to the convocation of deacons at the elegant Radisson Hotel at the airport. About 100 deacons and their wives attended to hear my talk on “Evangelization in the Digital Age.” I received a gracious welcome from Deacon James Walsh and his crew. Their hospitality couldn’t have been warmer. Auxiliary Bishop Robert Evans—who, it turns out, was a classmate of my pastor —spoke about the diaconate and the... Read more

Married Catholic priest: “I can’t be a good pastor if I’m a lousy dad or lousy husband”

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a story that will be familiar to a lot of deacons: On a January weeknight, Halyna Charron was finishing preparations of a dinner of spinach pie, pork and tabouli salad. Her husband, the Rev. Jason Charron, and all but the youngest of their six daughters, who range from 2 to 13 years old, pitched in at various times, slicing vegetables and setting the table in their Carnegie home. In between, one daughter played piano in the... Read more

Further proof that it’s a big Church

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: For some their perception of the world is based on what surrounds them, such as the foods they eat, the clothes they wear and for Catholics, how they celebrate their religion. A first of its kind initiative by the College of the Holy Cross called Catholics & Cultures is hoping to make the understanding of how ordinary lay Catholics across the world celebrate and practice their faith easier and more accessible to research for students, scholars and anyone interested... Read more

The pastor wants someone else to chant the Exsultet. What can a deacon do?

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

I’m sure this situation is more common than we think. On an online forum for deacons, one member wrote: Our music coordinator at my parish assignment told me that the choir will sing the Exsultet and that I would not need to be concerned with it this year. They where going to try it with a new music composition, and besides they spoke with our priest as well, all before speaking to me. This deacon was, understandably, upset. He says he... Read more

NBC launches investigation of Brian Williams

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From USA TODAY: NBC News confirmed Friday that it’s investigating chief anchor Brian Williams over his now-retracted statement that he was in a helicopter in Iraq that was hit by enemy fire and forced to land. “This has been a difficult few days for all of us at NBC News,” NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a staff memo circulated Friday. “Yesterday, Brian and I spoke to the Nightly News team. And this morning at the Editorial Exchange, we... Read more

The Brian Williams debacle: 3 things he did wrong in that apology

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That whopper the NBC News anchor told on the air a few days back was bad enough. But Brian Williams didn’t help matters with the unconvincing apology that followed. The text: On this broadcast last week, in an effort to honor and thank a veteran who protected me and so many others after a ground-fire incident in the desert during the Iraq War invasion, I made a mistake in recalling the events of twelve years ago. . . . I... Read more