The local paper, the Brooklyn Tablet, bids a fond farewell to Bishop Frank Caggiano, the day before he is to be installed as the new bishop of Bridgeport. From the special section devoted to his life and ministry: “He has an ability of getting the best out of people…to bring the good out of you,” said Deacon Jorge Gonzalez, who has worked for Bishop Caggiano, particularly on preparing men for the permanent diaconate, for over 10 years. “He allows you... Read more
That’s the provocative question our own Elizabeth Scalia is asking in today’s Washington Post: It has only been six months since Jorge Mario Bergoglio came to the world with a new name, but already MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, channeling his inner tween, has gushed, “is it too early to say Francis is the best pope ever?” His effusion prompts a different question: Are we, like the ancient Jews at Mount Sinai, and Americans in 2008, molding Francis into an image and polishing him... Read more
I think this is a story that needs to be told. When we think of the poor, we don’t usually think of people like this. It comes from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: On Sept. 1, Margaret Mary Vojtko, an adjunct professor who had taught French at Duquesne University for 25 years, passed away at the age of 83. She died as the result of a massive heart attack she suffered two weeks before. As it turned out, I may have been... Read more
Just watch. And smile. Life is hard. But people are great. Here’s the evidence. God love ’em. Read more
Details: Dalmanutha, a Biblical town described in the Gospel of Mark as the place where Jesus sailed after miraculously multiplying a few loaves and fish to feed 4,000 people, may have just been discovered by archaeologists, reports LiveScience. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away. And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and... Read more
Holy Toledo! I got the following e-mail this afternoon from Fr. Bill Rose: Attached is a picture from the Diaconate Ordinations this past Saturday at Rosary Cathedral. Bishop Leonard Blair ordained 17 men for service to the Diocese of Toledo. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! Read more
And now he’s being hailed as a hero. Attention: preachers. Looking for a great story for next Sunday’s homily? Check out the readings and then try this on for size. Details: A homeless Boston man who found $40,000 in a backpack has been hailed a hero — after he turned it all over to police. Glen James, who’s lived on the streets for eight years, said he didn’t consider keeping the haul for even a second after unearthing it at... Read more
From Catholic News Service: Recent remarks by Pope Francis about the need for a stronger pastoral approach to marriage and divorced couples, do not signal the church is overturning its laws or practice of denying communion to Catholics who divorce and remarry, said two canon law experts. When Pope Francis made parenthetical reference to the Orthodox churches permitting, in some cases, a second marriage, he was referring to an issue that has been under discussion for decades, said U.S.... Read more
“The more you get involved in the groups that are doing wonderful work in the church the more you will be filled with joy in being a Catholic. The corruption, scandal and heresy will fade away like shadows. You will see clearly what you should be doing and it will be positive, life filled and life giving. You will soon see all the good that is going on and the bad you see will fade in importance. Finally, remember this,... Read more
See the Holy Land as never before, thanks to the wizards at National Geographic. From HuffPo: Jerusalem is one of the world’s most important cities, held sacred by three religious traditions, and it’s now possible to virtually visit its holy places in an unprecedented way thanks to the vision and daring of the team behind “Jerusalem,” a new IMAX film presented by National Geographic Entertainment. Producers Taran Davies, George Duffield, and Daniel Ferguson faced huge challenges to gain access to sacred spaces... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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