A shout-out to my friend Deacon Sean Keller, who received the sacrament of Holy Orders yesterday along with 15 other men in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in my beautiful home state of Maryland. (The pictures here are cribbed from the good deacon’s Facebook page. He’s the tall one. He will be an invaluable gift to the people of God, especially when it comes to changing lightbulbs.) A write-up about the deacons from a recent issue of the Catholic Review: All... Read more
Here, from the Toledo Blade, is the obituary for the man who was a priest for just 40 hours: The Rev. Scott R. Carroll, who sustained his interest in becoming a Roman Catholic priest through an 18-year career as a middle school teacher and coach, died Friday in the Maumee home of his father, Robert. He was 46. In December, Father Carroll learned that melanoma first treated more than a year earlier had recurred and was inoperable, his brother Patrick... Read more
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. Read more
Take three minutes out of your day and be moved beyond words. This beautiful video looks at two people who are living the answer to that question—”What is love?”— every moment of their lives. God bless ’em. Read more
[Click here for readings.] Last December, just before Christmas, Esquire magazine as public service published an important piece of journalism: “What To Give the Man Who Has Everything.” It turns out if you want to give something to the man who has everything, you have to have everything yourself. It’s not cheap. On their list: A camel topcoat and paisley silk scarf, for $2200. A pair of cufflinks, finished with dinosaur bone, for $1200. A sport jacket from Barney’s for... Read more
An explanation: Alfredo De Jesus is a fire-and-brimstone preacher who represents a global groundswell of Hispanics who’ve left the Catholic Church to become Protestant Evangelical Christians. De Jesus pastors the New Life Church in Chicago, helping to expand it from 120 members in 2000 to over 17,000 today on multiple campuses. “In the Evangelical church, we find freedom to worship, and with Hispanics, it’s in us to be able to love people. Naturally, we just love people. We are hugging... Read more
How one priest does it: A local minister once likened writing a Sunday sermon to doing a school research paper every single week —— a daunting task, when viewed in that light. Fr. Joseph Levine, pastor at St. Peter Catholic Church in The Dalles, shared his process for preparing a homily, as a sermon is called in the Catholic Church. Levine not only has weekend mass on Saturday and Sunday, but also performs a daily mass for which he also... Read more
[Click here for readings.] Last December, just before Christmas, Esquire magazine as public service published an important piece of journalism: “What To Give the Man Who Has Everything.” It turns out if you want to give something to the man who has everything, you have to have everything yourself. It’s not cheap. On their list: A camel topcoat and paisley silk scarf, for $2200. A pair of cufflinks, finished with dinosaur bone, for $1200. A sport jacket from Barney’s for... Read more
A New Jersey priest has written a song celebrating mothers, and now the video is catching on. From the Catholic Star Herald in Camden: Pure Jerzy Kidz, a choir that includes children from five South Jersey schools, was formed to sing “Mom,” a song with lyrics by Father Edward Namiotka, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Somers Point. It is available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and other digital music stores. It is also available as a CD single, and... Read more
From the Cardinal Newman Society: Archdiocese of Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley said today that he plans to boycott Boston College’s commencement ceremony May 20 because it will feature Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny as its commencement speaker. The College is scheduled to award Kenny an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Kenny supports loosening the country’s legislation against abortion. “Since the university has not withdrawn the invitation and because the Taoiseach (prime minister) has not seen fit to decline, I shall not... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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