I love getting emails like this: I was one of 16 men ordained last Saturday by Bishop Earl Boyea as Deacons for the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. Twelve of us are permanent deacons; the four new transitional deacons will be ordained priests next year. It was a Spirit-filled day with great joy, especially since most of us gave our first homilies on Pentecost weekend! I’m humbled and glad to be part of the Order of Deacons… Meantime, from the Diocese... Read more
Some days back, David Brooks in the New York Times took note of words that we rarely use anymore: A study by Jean M. Twenge, W. Keith Campbell and Brittany Gentile found that between 1960 and 2008 individualistic words and phrases increasingly overshadowed communal words and phrases. That is to say, over those 48 years, words and phrases like “personalized,” “self,” “standout,” “unique,” “I come first” and “I can do it myself” were used more frequently. Communal words and phrases... Read more
I love getting emails like this: I was one of 16 men ordained last Saturday by Bishop Earl Boyea as Deacons for the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. Twelve of us are permanent deacons; the four new transitional deacons will be ordained priests next year. It was a Spirit-filled day with great joy, especially since most of us gave our first homilies on Pentecost weekend! I’m humbled and glad to be part of the Order of Deacons… Meantime, from the Diocese... Read more
This is pretty wonderful: Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s 2013 commencement speech at Notre Dame: Thank you, Notre Dame, for the joy of your company, the gracious invitation, the warm welcome, and the high honor of this degree. It was so obvious I almost missed it . . . See, ever since, almost a year ago, Father Jenkins, with characteristic thoughtfulness, invited me to deliver this commencement address, I’ve been mulling over just what to say to you, class of 2013. Only... Read more
From CNS: Pope Francis will visit the birthplace of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, on the saint’s feast day, Oct. 4. The Vatican confirmed the trip May 23. Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi said he was thrilled about the visit and that it was “a great sign” of the pope’s benevolence and consideration. “It could be no other way,” he said, than a trip to Assisi “for someone who took the name of Francis.” He told Vatican Radio that... Read more
An interesting tidbit from Rorate Caeli: Following his recent visit ad limina with the bishops of his region, the Bishop of Molfetta (Apulia, Italy), Luigi Martella, spoke of the conversation they had with the new Pope, including the following: Then, he spoke to us about Benedict XVI with such tenderness: “When I met him for the first time in Castelgandolfo, I noticed that he had a very lucid memory – he said – even though physically challenged. Now he is... Read more
Details: A study by the Marriage Foundation calculates that cohabiting couples who have children are more than twice as likely to split up as those who had tied the knot beforehand. But of those who do not then go on to get married after having children, only a handful will still be together by the time the child is 16, it claims. And it predicts that half of children born today will have been through a family break-up by the... Read more
Four transitional deacons and one new permanent deacon were ordained by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky last Sunday. From the Diocese of Peoria Facebook page: pictured here with Bishop Jenky after the Mass for the Ordination of Deacons at Holy Trinity Church in Bloomington are, from left, Msgr. James Kruse, vicar general; Deacon James Brewer; Deacon Matthew Hoelscher; Msgr. Brian Brownsey, director of priestly vocations; Deacon Kyle Lucas; Deacon Corey Krengiel; Deacon Chase Hilgenbrinck; and Msgr. Timothy Nolan, episcopal vicar for... Read more
Details: Bishop McManus is reinstating the permanent diaconate formation program with a new class to start in 2014, according to Deacon Anthony R. Surozenski, director of the Office of the Diaconate. Deacon Surozenski made this announcement this week, as three men prepare for ordination as permanent deacons. Bishop McManus is to ordain them and a transitional deacon at 10 a.m. June 1 at St. Paul Cathedral. To be ordained permanent deacons are William A. Bilow Jr., of Immaculate Conception Parish... Read more
Details: That Christians might spread the spiritual salt of faith, hope and charity: this was Pope Francis’ exhortation at Mass Thursday morning in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in the Vatican. The Pope warned against the risk of becoming insipid, “Museum-piece Christians.” In his homily, Pope Francis focused on the savour that Christians are called to give to their own lives and to others’. The Holy Father said that salt the Lord gives us is the salt... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In