Head of German bishops’ conference says the idea of women deacons “no longer taboo”

Last updated on: April 29, 2013 at 6:51 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From a German news website: Germany’s top Roman Catholic has called for women to be allowed to become deacons, which would enable them to perform baptisms and marriages outside of mass – a novelty for Catholic women. Archbishop of Freiburg Robert Zollitsch, who chairs the German Bishops’ Conference, called for the change at the end of a four-day meeting to discuss possible reforms. The conference, the first of its kind, invited 300 Roman Catholic experts to propose reforms. Zollitsch’s comments... Read more

Report: priest who admitted to groping teenager continues to work with children

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You may remember the story of Newark’s Fr. Michael Fugee from February. Now, an update from the Newark Star-Ledger: Six years ago, to avoid retrial on charges that he groped a teenage boy, the Rev. Michael Fugee entered a rehabilitation program, underwent counseling for sex offenders and signed a binding agreement that would dictate the remainder of his life as a Roman Catholic priest. Fugee would not work in any position involving children, the agreement with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s... Read more

Chicago priest’s confession: he crossed the border illegally

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

His story, and why he did it, from the Chicago Tribune: Just days after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border by climbing a wall, a Chicago priest said Sunday that what he did was wrong and urged parishioners in his Southwest Side church to apologize if they had done the same. “And by recognizing you did something wrong, you can’t keep doing it,” said the Rev. Gary Graf of St. Gall Roman Catholic Church in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood. “I’m begging the... Read more

Four stabbed at New Mexico Catholic church during Mass

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: At least four people were hurt at an Albuquerque church Sunday when a visitor jumped out of the pews and stabbed a choir member during a song, police and witnesses said. The victims did not appear to have life-threatening injuries, police said. Two parishioners told the Los Angeles Times that after communion at the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church on Sunday morning, a man in his teens or early 20s leaped from the pews and stabbed the choir’s lead... Read more

Spring fever: First Communions, weddings and “people who act as though they are at a ball game”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

My blog neighbor Fr. Mike Duffy notes that it’s that time of year again: the season for weddings and First Communions. Unfortunately, as Fr. Duffy notes, these events are often the very definition of a “mixed blessing”: I would never want to be cold or discourage anyone from coming to Church. But I do hope that anyone who comes to a church ceremony would be respectful. Unfortunately, some people don’t know how to compose themselves in Church any more. I’ve... Read more

Francis slept here: inside Cardinal Bergoglio’s apartment in Argentina

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Take a look: “A man drunk with God”, the title (from the French) of the classic biography of Saint Sharbel by Fr Paul Daher, spontaneously comes to mind when listening to those who were close to Pope Francis when he was still the archbishop of Buenos Aires. We are in the Archbishop’s Palace in the Argentine capital. Thanks to a special concession and led by Episcopal Vicar Mgr Joaquin Succunza, the Maronite Patriarch, Card Beshara Rai, was able to visit... Read more

Indiana copes with priest shortage

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Post-Tribune newspaper, which toward the end makes mention of deacons: Early in his career, the Rev. Rick Orlinski was one of three priests at Our Lady of Grace in Highland and spent two to three days each week ministering to the sick in their homes. Now, there is one priest who serves the church while Orlinski juggles multiple parishes in Hammond — St. John Bosco and St. Joseph. The United States is experiencing a decline in the number... Read more

Two small but significant changes regarding Communion reception—UPDATED

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

A website calls attention to this item in a USCCB newsletter on the new Roman Missal, from January: What does the Missal say about the posture of the faithful when receiving Holy Communion? What about Communion in the hand? Both of these questions are covered in no. 160 of the GIRM. It states clearly there that the “norm” established for the United States for reception of Holy Communion is standing. In the 2003 GIRM, it stated that no one should be refused... Read more

Nuns launch radio show in Texas

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

They aren’t exactly flying nuns, but they’re definitely on the air. Details: Yesterday we spent some time at the Guadalupe Radio Network studios prepping for our new weekly live show, A Good Habit. It debuts this coming Wednesday, May 1st, at 1pm. We hope you’ll not only tune in, but call in, as we’ll be devoting part of each show to your questions about our life. We hope our show will be something like this photo, infused with the joy and laughter we... Read more

Homily for April 28, 2013: 5th Sunday of Easter

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 4:51 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

[Click here for readings.] “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” Those words may be among the most familiar, most comforting, in all of scripture. It can be tempting to sentimentalize this passage. We shouldn’t. The fact is: it should make all of us lose sleep at night. Because, in this passage, Jesus throws down the gauntlet. What Jesus commands here is not only that we love one another, but that we love one another... Read more