Bishop stops speech, changes venue when reporter refuses to leave

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:15 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino halted a public speech Wednesday night at UW-Platteville and switched the venue to a Catholic student center after a reporter in the audience refused to leave. The bishop’s action followed the appearance at the event of nine protesters opposed to his leadership. They demonstrated with signs outside Doudna Hall, the site of the lecture, and some filed into the hall to hear Morlino speak. During the opening minutes of the talk — titled “Why... Read more

The cardinal and the mayor: “A sort of municipal buddy movie”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

While they haven’t quite forged the friendship that defined Cardinal John O’Connor and Mayor Ed Koch, Cardinal Dolan and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio are finding their own way to a unique partnership. From The New York Times: Less than a year into Mr. de Blasio’s tenure, he and the cardinal, two of New York’s most powerful figures, have found much to gain from each other, forging an unexpectedly useful relationship that so far seems blessed by fortuitous timing... Read more

Cardinal O’Malley writes about his “60 Minutes” interview

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Boston Pilot’s website: Last Sunday evening I was privileged to be featured on the CBS television program “60 Minutes,” which is actually three 20 minute segments. I was featured in segment two of the broadcast. The whole experience was fascinating. I was very impressed by the entire team, their work ethic, professionalism and dedication. Those 20 minutes are distilled out of many hours of hard work. Correspondent Norah O’Donnell and producers Frank Devine and Magalie Laguerre –Wilkinson are... Read more

People, look east: Bishop announces celebration of Mass ad orientem during Advent

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:15 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Bishop James Conley in Lincoln, Nebraska: Since ancient times, Christians have faced the east during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to remember to keep watch for Christ. Together, the priest and the people faced the east together, waiting and watching for Christ. Even in Churches that did not face the east, the priest and people stood together in the Mass, gazing at Christ on the crucifix, on the altar, and in the tabernacle, to recall the importance of... Read more

Miracle? Fire destroys church, but crucifix is discovered intact

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Photo: Gary Reyes / Bay Area News Group Details: The morning after the spectacular fire, the Rev. Firmo Mantovani and bleary-eyed members of his parish were stunned by the wondrous sight inside the burned out shell of Holy Cross Catholic Church. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” said Sam Arlotta, a parishioner for all of his 86 years. “Milagro!” added Cecilia Calderon, using the Spanish word for miracle. “God loves us very much.” Standing on Jackson Street in the city’s... Read more

Archbishop Cupich’s installation program, featuring music and the coat of arms

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

For those who missed it, you can download the full program right here. After all the debate that erupted online over the archbishop’s selection of “All Are Welcome” at the vespers service, liturgists might want to note that the installation Mass itself included “How Lovely Are the Messengers“ by Mendelssohn, and “Taste and See,” along with two personal favorites of mine, “Lord, When You Came” and, for the recessional, “O God, Beyond All Praising” (a perennial at my parish.) I also... Read more

VIDEO: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” — but with a twist

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

In much of the country right now, it really is cold outside. So here’s something to warm your heart: a new rendition of the winter classic by Michael Bublé and Idina Minzel (who last year was singing “The cold never bothered me anyway…” in “Frozen”). But this one has a charming twist. All the roles in this mini-musical are played by kids, doing some expert lip-syncing. Enjoy. Read more

Caught on video: an exorcism in the Czech Republic

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This happened last winter, but this week the priest involved finally confirmed it is authentic. Details: A chilling video of an exorcism taken at a Czech Republic Catholic church shows the chilling task of removing Satan. The ritual was captured on camera by a man who heard the shrieks of the woman inside the sanctuary and filmed it through a peephole. The incident occurred at The Assumption of the Virgin Mary church in Vranov nad Dyji in February. The church’s priest, Marek... Read more

“We are overjoyed”: reaction to pope lifting ban on ordaining married men as Eastern Catholic priests

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:15 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This news got a lot of attention earlier in the week, and reaction has been overwhelmingly positive: The Vatican has lifted its ban on the ordination of married men to the priesthood in Eastern Catholic churches outside their traditional territories, including in the United States, Canada and Australia. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, signed the decree on 14 June. It was published later online in theActa Apostolicae Sedis, the official periodical through which Vatican... Read more

Pope Francis: “All Christians are equal in dignity before God, united by vocation to holiness”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From his General Audience this morning: Dear brothers and sisters, good morning. A great gift of the Second Vatican Council was to have retrieved a vision of the Church founded on communion, and to have also embodied the principle of authority and hierarchy in this context. This has helped us to better understand that all Christians, as baptized, are equal in dignity before God and are united by vocation, which is to holiness (cf. Const. Lumen Gentium, 39-42). Now we... Read more