From the archdiocesan website: Ten men were ordained by Archbishop Leonard Blair as Permanent Deacons on Saturday, June 7th at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The men who were ordained are Kenneth Bangs, Ronnie Bicknell, Steven Bilodeau, Thomas Cabeen, James McCormack, Dean Macchio, Jacek Muszynski, Jose Robles, Ernest Scrivani and Laurent Yergeau. Visit the site for a slideshow with other pictures. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome. Ad multos annos! Read more
They were ordained last weekend. I posted a story and video about them here. Now, the first photograph from that ordination, courtesy The St. Louis Review. Congratulations again, brothers! Read more
Know anybody like this? Diane at Te Deum laudamus! clearly does: Each of us puts a face on our Catholic faith, for good or for bad, whether it is in person, or online (anonymous or not). We need to convey the hope we have within; not a sense of anger, bitterness, hopelessness and despair. We must, always and everywhere, strive, by the grace of God, to be blameless amidst adversity and persecution (1 Peter 3:8-17). This is how we imitate... Read more
The Internet sensation—and winner of Italy’s “The Voice”—has given her first interview since her triumph: Speaking to reporters for the first time after her victory on The Voice Italy, Sister Cristina Scuccia said that she now plans to return to the two priorities in her life, which are “Jesus and prayer.” “My future is in the hands of my superiors. I trust in Providence,” the 25-year-old Ursuline Sister of the Holy Family said in an interview with the Italian website... Read more
This is heroism and humility: The following is a statement from Jon Meis, the Seattle Pacific University student involved in the campus shooting on June 5. Jon is requesting privacy and has declined interviews. To my brothers and sisters at Seattle Pacific University, and my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the nation and the world, Words cannot come close to expressing the tragedy that occurred this past week on our campus. Like everyone else, I would hear of these... Read more
From The Telegraph: Days before England play Italy in their first match at the World Cup, the Italians are in hot water in Brazil for a television commercial in which Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is dressed in a giant Italian football shirt. The Catholic Church in Brazil says the digitally-manipulated advertisement, which is running as a trailer for the competition on Italy’s state broadcaster, Rai, is disrespectful and inappropriate. The 30-second video shows children dressed in the blue... Read more
Word about these “apparitions” pops up from time to time on my Facebook feed. People continue to disseminate the “messages” from something that was soundly condemned by the Church decades ago. That may be one reason why the Bishop of Brooklyn, Nicholas DiMarzio, last week issued the following statement: Today, I write in order to dissipate any lingering doubts concerning the longstanding position of the Diocese of Brooklyn and the judgment of Bishop Francis J. Mugavero, Fifth Bishop of Brooklyn,... Read more
From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Archbishop Robert J. Carlson claims to be unsure that he was aware a priest sexually abusing a child constituted a crime when he was auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, according to a deposition released Monday. During the deposition, attorney Jeff Anderson asked Carlson whether he knew it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a child. “I’m not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not,”... Read more
The horror, the horror: Retailers are starting to push a new trend in menswear: the short suit. The ensemble looks like a regular suit from the waist up, with a sport coat over a button-down shirt and sometimes a tie or bowtie. Instead of trousers, however, the suit’s bottoms are cropped at the knee. J. Crew, Topman, Asos, and Barneys are among the retailers selling the short suit this season. They may be taking cues from fashion icon Pharrell Williams,... Read more
Photo: by Sarah Webb Details: Archbishop Charles Chaput ordained seven men to the permanent diaconate Saturday, June 7 in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. Accompanied by their wives and joined in the congregation by family and friends, the men hail from across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and will begin their service as ordained clergy in parishes of the archdiocese. See their assignments here, and read brief bios of the men here. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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