A powerful story of a priest’s remarkable, difficult ministry to those on death row. Details, from the Columbus Dispatch: When Death Row inmate Mark Wiles asked the Rev. Lawrence Hummer to comfort him during his final hours, the Catholic priest agreed. “The only thing is, I’m a little bit afraid of screwing it up because I’ve never done this before,” Hummer told him. Wiles reassured him, saying, “I’ve never done this before, either.” Hummer, a priest for 40 years, has... Read more
It can lead to things like this. Read more
Well, it’s over. Msgr. Joseph Funaro, my pastor emeritus, has been to sent to his rest. The funeral Mass this morning was beautiful. On a glorious summer Saturday, the church in Forest Hills was packed: two bishops, a couple dozen priests, throngs of friends and family, a small army of altar servers. Music ranged from “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” for the entrance, “At the Breaking of the Bread” for the offertory, and “Ave Verum” for the communion meditation. Msgr. Funaro,... Read more
St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Photo by Tom Fedor/The Gazette I stumbled on this bit of news this morning, about the Maryland parish where my wife and were married in 1986. From the Gazette newspapers: In its 200 years, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockville has seen Civil War soldiers, famous authors and thousands of Rockville families. The Rev. Monsignor Robert George Amey, pastor of St. Mary’s, said historians are not sure exactly which day the parish was founded, but it... Read more
Bishop Chappetto, Bishop Sanchez, my brother clergy, family and friends from near and far… As we gather together tonight, I want to begin by letting Msgr. Funaro’s family know how much we at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs share your loss. There have been a lot of tears in this rectory this week. We offer our prayers and our condolences. We mourn with you. He was part of your family. And he was part of ours, too. I chose this... Read more
Msgr. Funaro had a great devotion to his patron, St. Joseph. The prayer on the back of the card: Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly... Read more
Lord God, You chose our brother Joseph to serve your people as a priest and to share the joys and burdens of their lives. Look with mercy on him and give him the reward of his labors, the fullness of life promised to those who preach your holy Gospel. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Read more
Lord God, You chose our brother Joseph to serve your people as a priest and to share the joys and burdens of their lives. Look with mercy on him and give him the reward of his labors, the fullness of life promised to those who preach your holy Gospel. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Read more
[img attachment=”76425″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010778-575×431″ /] [img attachment=”76426″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010773-575×431″ /] [img attachment=”76427″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010774-575×431″ /] [img attachment=”76428″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”P1010776-575×359″ /] Msgr. Funaro had a great devotion to his patron, St. Joseph. The prayer on the back of the card: Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession,... Read more
You may remember this story. The update, from a Columbus TV station: A teacher who was fired from a central Ohio Catholic school after her homosexuality was made public has agreed with the Columbus Diocese that she will not return to her former job. The law firm representing former Bishop Watterson High School teacher Carla Hale, along with a spokesperson for the Columbus Catholic Diocese, announced via a joint media release that the sides had agreed to the resolution during... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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