“God has called me to to support his sons this way”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Photo: by Gregory A. Shemitz I had the privilege of meeting Rosemary Sullivan last winter during a retreat in Huntington. She’s the real deal. Someone described her to me as “the most important lay person in the American church,” and that’s not an exaggeration. Details: Rosemary Sullivan firmly believes that God has directed her to serve the church in a special way.For more than a decade, she has played an integral role in cultivating vocations to the priesthood, beginning with a part-time position... Read more

Prayers for Benedict Groeschel

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Cardinal Newman Society posted this on their Facebook page: We received word from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal that Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., fell and reinjured the same arm that was hurt in his accident ten years ago. One of his brother friars, Fr. Glenn Sudano, related that Fr. Groeschel is in much pain, and that they are asking for the intercession of Venerable Solanus Casey, a former roommate of Fr. Groeschel who is up for beatification, in... Read more

Ordination update: a record 21 new deacons for Rockford

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:24 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The press release from last week says it all: The largest class of permanent deacons in the history of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford will be ordained this weekend before family and friends from across the 11-county Diocese. Bishop David J. Malloy will ordain 21 men to assist in the ministry of the Catholic Church through the 105 parishes in the Diocese. The Rite of Ordination will be conferred at an 11 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243... Read more

Bye bye, books: Catholic school drops textbooks for tablets

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A fascinating glimpse into modern education, from Ocala, Florida: Biology teacher Cheryl Tomlinson looked at her Trinity Catholic High School class and challenged her students to find interesting facts about adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Last year, many students would have had to thumb through their textbooks — or maybe used a laptop, if they had one — to find information about ATP. Research on ATP, which transports chemical energy within cells, is part of their photosynthesis instruction. But this year, there... Read more

“The pope’s most important step on sex abuse may come in Kansas City”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From John Allen in Crux: News yesterday that the Vatican is investigating Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, first reported by Joshua McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter, is potentially a prelude to the most significant step Pope Francis may ever take with regard to the church’s child sexual abuse scandals. Francis has already met with victims, pledged himself to zero tolerance, and launched a criminal procedure against a former archbishop and papal diplomat accused of paying underage boys... Read more

“The more conservative Catholicism of the United States has been dealt another blow…”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Vatican-watcher Sandro Magister weighs in on the man who will be the new archbishop of Chicago: While still reeling from the news of the imminent removal of Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, the more conservative and traditional Catholicism of the United States – and historically the more “papist” – has been dealt another blow with the appointment of the new archbishop of Chicago. Francis’ selection of Blase J. Cupich as the new pastor of the third-ranking diocese in the U.S. has... Read more

St. Jerome and me

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the vault: Today marks the feast of St. Jerome– a prolific writer, scholar, and friend of lions (he reputedly helped one by removing a thorn from its paw). He’s also someone close to my own heart. In his youth, my father was a Christian Brother, and was given the name of “Brother Jerome” — a fact I didn’t discover until long after he had died, and my aunt gave me the silver pocket watch he carried, engraved simply: “Br. J.”... Read more

Muslims rally in Paris to protest ISIS; Muslim leaders issue condemnation of violence

Last updated on: March 23, 2016 at 7:25 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Hundreds of Muslims have gathered near the Grand Mosque in Paris to condemn the execution of the French tourist, Herve Gourdel, by Islamic State-linked jihadists and the rise of Islamophobia caused by it. The demonstrators were holding up placards, reading “”Tribute to Herve Gourdel” and “God is merciful” as well as signs with NotInMyName hastag. The crowd chanted “Islam for peace,” with French officials and representatives from the Parisian Arab community present at the event. “We French Muslims say stop to barbarism, stop... Read more

Vatican investigating KC Bishop Robert Finn—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From NCR: A Canadian archbishop visited the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., diocese last week on behalf of the Vatican to investigate the leadership of Bishop Robert Finn, the first Catholic prelate to be found criminally guilty of shielding a priest in the ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis. Ottawa, Ontario, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast visited the Midwestern diocese for several days last week, interviewing more than a dozen people about Finn’s leadership, several of those interviewed told NCR. According to those who spoke... Read more

Atheist offers “invocation” at town council meeting in Alabama

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 3:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Here’s what happens when an atheist offered Alabama’s first non-theist invocation to open a public meeting: 90 seconds of thoughtful statements that began with “Dearly Beloved” and ended with “Let it be so,” and no reaction from a packed City Council chamber. As the invocation ended, everyone swung automatically to face the flag to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance, with the atheists who had come going silent on the “under God” phrase. Many people at the meeting listened to... Read more