From the diocesan website: Joy filled St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo on Saturday (June 14, 2014) as nearly 1,000 priests, permanent deacons, family and friends gathered for the imposition of hands by Bishop Richard J. Malone, as eight men were ordained to the Holy Order of Deacon for the Diocese of Buffalo. Prior to the Mass, Bishop Malone met with each deacon and his wife, welcoming them to their ministry giving them their assignments, which include a parish and... Read more
Love you and miss you. Read more
Details from The Chattanooga Times Free Press: There was the man inspired by the written words of Pope Francis. There was the agnostic professor. And there was the widow of a Baptist preacher. All of them Tennesseans, and all of them recent converts to one of the world’s oldest Christian faiths. In the South, Catholicism is growing. The Diocese of Knoxville was recently ranked among the top 10 in the nation for its rate of adult conversions… Rates of Catholicism... Read more
He’s not taking sides: He recently renewed his Argentine passport and remains an official card-carrying member of his favorite Buenos Aires football club. But Pope Francis has pledged absolute neutrality for the World Cup. Francis recalled during an interview published Friday with the Barcelona newspaper “La Vanguardia,” that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff had asked him during a February visit to the Vatican to at least be neutral during the competition. Laughing, Francis said: “The Brazilians asked for neutrality. I’ll keep... Read more
One of my favorite parts of being a deacon is something most people never see: Baptisms. I usually do them every three months, in rotation with Fr. Passenant and Fr. Anthony. They’re usually small affairs, just a few dozen people, and it only takes a half hour or so. But it’s a chance to take part in something wondrous. They never fail to move me. Baptisms are typically joyous occasions. It’s a day of tremendous possibility and hope – even... Read more
Text of the letter: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I wish to respond to certain misconceptions stemming from a deposition that I gave in a case regarding alleged sexual abuse by a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis nearly thirty years ago. I wish to set the record straight. I understand this situation has caused concern and frustration for many people, and for that I apologize. Abuse of any kind is a serious moral offense and... Read more
From the good people at Dove, an early Father’s Day present. Read more
His marriage was later annulled. But this is definitely a vocation story you don’t hear about every day: Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell ordained two, new priests for the Diocese of Springfield, today, June 7, at an 11 a.m. Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, here. Father Christopher Andrew Fedoryshyn, 29, of Pittsfield and Father Francis (Frank) Jeffrey Lawlor, 57, a native of New Haven, became the two newest priests for the diocese. In a moving liturgy, the two men promised obedience and “expressed... Read more
Fascinating stuff for today, the feast of St. Anthony of Padua: The University of St. Anthony of Padua’s Anthropology Museum, together with a team of international forensic researchers, have attempted to reconstruct the face of St. Anthony using only a digital copy of his skull. Using the latest 3D technology, the researchers worked to recreate the saint’s face, which they say is “one of the most faithful reconstructions of the face of St. Anthony.” The face was presented on June... Read more
Grief and prayers for two priests who were victims of violence: June normally brings members of the Roman Catholic church together to celebrate the ordination of new priests. Instead of rejoicing, parishioners on Thursday night filled the pews of one Phoenix church to grieve. Community members gathered for a rosary and vigil at SS. Simon and Jude Cathedral to remember the life of Father Kenneth Walker and pray for the health of Father Joseph Terra. Walker, 28, was fatally shot... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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