They’re trying it in the Philippines. Could this catch on? Details: Early on a Sunday morning, people are already streaming into a massive shopping mall in Manila. The seven-story Robinsons Place is a temple of consumerism. It houses about 350 stores, including gun shops, dental offices, massage parlors and a Kenny Rogers Roaster. The music and the crowds can be a little overwhelming after a while. But up on the fourth floor, next to the Cineplex and a barber shop,... 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
And now for something a little different, from Canada: Pacific Academy in Surrey considers itself unique among schools, and few would disagree. Thanks to a billionaire benefactor, the academy has a 40-acre campus with four handsome brick buildings housing primary, intermediate, middle and secondary grades. It boasts an international baccalaureate (IB) program, state-of-the-art media centre, 1,500-seat auditorium, multiple gymnasiums and, with 1,412 students, the second largest enrolment among B.C. independent schools. Through its outreach society, the academy also owns and... Read more
From AP: The nation’s record-low teen birth rate stems from robust declines in nearly every state, but most dramatically in several Mountain States and among Hispanics, according to a new government report. All states but West Virginia and North Dakota showed significant drops over five years. But the Mountain States of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Utah saw rates fall by 30 percent or more. In 22 states, teen Hispanic birth rates plunged at least 40 percent, which was described... Read more
From CNS: Father Michael Fugee, a priest of the Newark Archdiocese who recently resigned from active ministry, was arrested late May 20 on charges of violating a court’s “memorandum of understanding” that forbids him from contact with minors. The priest, 52, resigned May 2 after reports surfaced about his being with minors in an apparent violation of the court order. A May 21 statement from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said he was arrested after an investigation by that office’s Special Victims... Read more
After reading this latest post on how priests reportedly dislike the new Missal, a priest friend dropped me an email to share his impressions: One of the things going on here is very important, but I suspect most priests have never thought about it. I concelebrated at a Funeral Mass with an older priest (about 75) about four months after the new Missal came into use. I was the main celebrant. His parts were reading the Gospel and the sections... Read more
And, on top of that, they also welcomed three new transitional deacons. Details, from the Catholic Telegraph: Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr ordained 20 permanent deacons and three transitional deacons for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Saturday, April 27 at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish. A permanent deacon is a man, either married or single, who is ordained to the order of deacon, one of three ranks in ordained ministry — the other two being priest and bishop. A transitional deacon... Read more
Details: During the Mass he celebrates every morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, which he carried out this morning together with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai, Pope Francis spoke about doing good as a principle that unites all humanity. The pontiff began his reflection with today’s Gospel about the disciples who wanted to prevent a person from outside their group from doing good. “They complain” because they say, “If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If... Read more
It’s unclear what the methodology was for this survey, so take it for what it’s worth. Details: More than a year after the changes took effect in U.S. parishes, a survey of American priests shows that they are more disturbed by the innovations than their flocks. In fact, the poll, conducted by researchers at St. John’s University School of Theology-Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., showed that almost 60 percent of priests surveyed did not like the new Roman Missal, as the liturgical book... Read more
And, on top of that, they also welcomed three new transitional deacons. Details, from the Catholic Telegraph: Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr ordained 20 permanent deacons and three transitional deacons for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Saturday, April 27 at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish. A permanent deacon is a man, either married or single, who is ordained to the order of deacon, one of three ranks in ordained ministry — the other two being priest and bishop. A transitional deacon... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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