Photo: by Desmond Lim I’m glad we didn’t have nuns like this when I was growing up. I never would have made it past third grade. Details: When Sister Linda Sim was growing up, all she wanted to do was serve the nation. In the 1970s, she applied to the Singapore Armed Forces to be a front-line soldier, but was told women could take up only clerical positions. The Singapore Police Force also turned her down as she was too... Read more
Details: If measured in spirit, there is hardly a soul who would question the success of Pope Francis’ Mass on giant Copacabana beach last weekend. The count when it comes to the flesh-and-blood numbers of faithful who actually attended is an entirely different matter. The Vatican said an historic 3.7 million people were at the Sunday event, an eye-popping number that would have made it the second largest papal Mass ever. But number crunchers were splashing cold water on those... Read more
This will certainly be of interest to Bridgeport’s new bishop. Details: It was like those cartoon moments when a light bulb appears to symbolize the spark of a new idea. A staffer at Congregation Rodeph Sholom, accepting the synagogue’s correspondence from a mail carrier, asked the man if he wanted water. But on that scorching hot day the carrier, a Muslim, said no. The 30-day period of Ramadan had begun, and he was fasting. The staffer was surprised because she... Read more
It was a mesmerizing and deeply moving moment during the pope’s visit last week. But who was the guy on his knees strumming the guitar? From Religion News Service: Growing up Roman Catholic in Newfoundland, Matt Maher never imagined that his childhood interest in music would lead to a career as a Grammy-nominated, chart-topping Christian rocker — let alone a crossover artist featured on Christian radio and in evangelical worship. Growing up Roman Catholic in Newfoundland, Matt Maher never imagined that his... Read more
Photo: by Desmond Lim I’m glad we didn’t have nuns like this when I was growing up. I never would have made it past third grade. Details: When Sister Linda Sim was growing up, all she wanted to do was serve the nation. In the 1970s, she applied to the Singapore Armed Forces to be a front-line soldier, but was told women could take up only clerical positions. The Singapore Police Force also turned her down as she was too... Read more
Well, looking around the pews on any given Sunday, I get the impression that’s what some people seem to think. I wrote about that a couple years ago. Now a blog dubbed The Catholic Gentleman has taken up the cause. The author offers some advice: While I think every man should dress up for mass, I’m not about to prescribe exactly what you should wear. It’s not my place to recommend a three piece suit, a certain color of pants, or... Read more
A priest reader dropped me the following note: I know you often like to report deacon ordinations. Today, Bishop Charles Thompson ordained 11 men for the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana. They are good and holy men. Peace! A visit to the diocese’s web page revealed the Twitter feed for the newspaper, The Message, and these great new pictures of the freshly ordained deacons and their happy bishop. Below, a great shot of the cathedral, with some 700 people in attendance... Read more
This is a common problem in the preaching at Catholic funerals, and something every priest and deacon should be wary of. This writer nails it: Laura’s funeral Mass was beautiful—that is, up until the homily. It was then that things took a turn for the weird. After speaking a few words about God’s love, the priest slowly stepped away from the lectern, spread his arms wide, and said “We are gathered here to celebrate the life of Laura.” As a... Read more
Hilarious. Just watch the video below. Backseat Italians – watch more funny videos Read more
Photo: CNS And it’s: mercy. John Allen explores that theme and posts this singular quote from the pope’s presser on the plane: “I believe this is the time of mercy. This change of epoch, also because of many problems of the church — such as the example of some priests who aren’t good, also the problems of corruption in the church — and also the problem of clericalism, for example, has left many wounds, many wounds. The church is a... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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