Photo: Fr. Yiu Sing Lucas Chan This report is gaining traction, from the Sunday Times of London: An Irish woman is being tipped internationally to be the Catholic church’s first female cardinal. If speculation in the Washington Post and Catholic media proves correct, Linda Hogan, 49, the vice-provost of Trinity College Dublin would be eligible to cast a vote in the election of the next pope. The professor of ecumenics at Trinity, once a Protestant stronghold, has not commented on... Read more
We installed new altar servers at my parish this morning: 38 kids, the largest class ever. This brings the grand total of servers to something close to 150 (not sure the exact number…it might be 140.) The picture here shows the new recruits lined up in the main foyer of the rectory, waiting for the cue to process in for the 11:30 Mass. The kids range in age from about the fifth grade all the way up to college, and... Read more
As one reader noted, on sending this to me, “Leave it to the Anglicans.” Check it out: The prayers of parishioners at two cold and damp churches have been answered after the Diocese of Exeter agreed to trial re-heatable cushions on the pews. One hundred cushions are being trialled in Broadclyst and South Tawton’s Anglican churches for three months. Designed for use by sports fans, the cushions are part of a campaign to cut carbon emissions and look at new... Read more
Here’s something you don’t see too often: the solemn high Mass in the Extraordinary Form at Assumption Grotto in Detroit, (complete with black vestments and catafalque – the stand used to hold a coffin – mindful of the souls in purgatory). Big diaconal bow to Diane over at Te Deum ladamus for posting these. Check out the rest of the pictures there. Read more
Details: A homeless man lay dead in a busy downtown Houston street for nearly a day as people took snaps of his corpse on their cellphones, cops say. The pantsless body of the vagrant, known as “Big Guy,” was left unattended on the corner of Travis and Anita streets for more than 20 hours Monday as hundreds of workers walked by. Cops claim that passersby believed the man was just sleeping and that no one had noticed he was dead.... Read more
Details from the Catholic Sentinel: Archbishop Alexander Sample ordained two men to the permanent diaconate at St. Mary Cathedral, reminding them that their call to the diaconate is not about achieving a special status, but to serve the people of God. “You are ordained here today for the community of the church,” said Archbishop Sample during his homily at the ordination ceremony. “This ministry is all about service, and I look forward to welcoming you to be a part of... Read more
Details: A prestigious Catholic high school booted a Bronx senior for being gay, the girl claims in a lawsuit. Amanda Acevedo, 17, says in court papers that a homophobic administrator at Preston HS in Throggs Neck took exception to her bringing a girl as a date to a school dance and embarked on a two-year campaign of discrimination that culminated in her expulsion in September. “Such a disgraceful act is proof positive of the fact that they got rid of... Read more
Oh, brother. This news broke the other day: With Halloween now history, businesses are revving up the Christmas shopping season, and Hallmark is getting off to a rocky start. The greetings and gift giant apologized Thursday for one of its intended-to-be-jolly creations: An ornament shaped like an ugly Christmas sweater, adorned with the words, “Don we now our FUN apparel.” That’s an allusion to the line from “Deck the Halls”: “Don we now our gay apparel.“ But gay doesn’t mean what... Read more
From the Los Angeles Times: You have 10 minutes to sell someone on Catholicism, no more than that to distill the teachings of the Koran or the foundations of Mormonism. It’s speed-dating for religion, and in a burst of faith-driven curiosity, dozens of students at UC Irvine raced from room to room Wednesday to listen to religious students (and two atheists) break down the core tenets of their belief system while on the clock. “Is it required to wear wraps on your... Read more
Over at Catholic Vote, Thomas Peters has written for the first time about the crippling accident that has changed his life. It’s a powerful, deeply moving testimony that he calls, with a breathtaking understatement, “Reflections on My Time Away.” You’ll want to read it all and share it. A snip: A major accident is an invitation to both physical and spiritual recovery. I have never felt God’s presence as much as I do since the accident. People will say that... Read more
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