The Deacon's Bench
You may remember that I posted on this upcoming event a couple weeks back. Now, here’s the first picture of the new deacons, above, courtesy the Catholic Spirit newspaper. Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos! Read more
You may remember that I posted on this upcoming event a couple weeks back. Now, here’s the first picture of the new deacons, above, courtesy the Catholic Spirit newspaper. Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos! Read more
You may remember that I posted on this upcoming event a couple weeks back. Now, here’s the first picture of the new deacons, above, courtesy the Catholic Spiritnewspaper. Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos! Read more
Some surprising and encouraging news out of England and Wales: New figures for 2012 show numbers of men and women entering religious orders have risen for the third year running, while ordinations to the priesthood have reached a ten-year high. There were 29 people entering religious life in 2010, rising to 36 in 2011 and 53 in 2012. Meanwhile, 20 men were ordained to the diocesan priesthood in 2011 and 31 in 2012, with 41 diocesan ordinations projected for 2013… ..If we... Read more
You may remember the story of Fr. Greg Shaffer that made headlines several days back. Washington’s cardinal archbishop Donald Wuerl celebrated Mass and preached a homily on the campus of George Washington University last Sunday. He’s just posted the homily on his blog. The cardinal concluded: The idea that the pastor of a parish today or the chaplain of a religious community and campus ministry today should simply be silenced because he faithfully announces the Gospel of Jesus Christ –... Read more
I quoted from this sermon after Sandy Hook, and it’s worth reprinting here today. This is part of the great Presbyterian minister Timothy Keller’s sermon which he preached on the five-year anniversary of 9/11: I’d like to freely acknowledge that every faith – and we are an interfaith gathering today – every faith has great resources for dealing with suffering and injustice in the world. But as a Christian minister I know my own faith’s resources the best, so let... Read more
The Holy Father sent a telegram today, through his Secretary of State: His Eminence Cardinal Sean O’Malley Archbishop of Boston Deeply grieved by news of the loss of life and grave injuries caused by the act of violence perpetrated last evening in Boston, His Holiness Pope Francis wishes me to assure you of his sympathy and closeness in prayer. In the aftermath of this senseless tragedy, His Holiness invokes God’s peace upon the dead, his consolation upon the suffering and... Read more
This image, from Facebook, appears to be his First Communion picture. Details: The 8-year-old boy killed in the explosions at the Boston Marathon has been identified as Martin Richard, The Boston Globe reported. The boy was at the event to watch his father race, according to TV station WHDH. Richard’s mother and 6-year-old sister were recovering in a hospital after suffering serious injuries, the TV station reported. It said the boy’s mother underwent surgery for an injury to her brain and... Read more
Details: Archbishop Charles J. Chaput joined a distinguished group on April 12. It includes four cardinals, a bishop, two governors of Pennsylvania, a United States senator, a Pennsylvania chief justice, three university presidents and scores of Catholic lay leaders. All were recipients of the Sourin Award, given annually since 1960 by Philadelphia’s Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute — popularly known as the Philo — and Archbishop Chaput was this year’s honoree. He accepted the 2013 award from Philo President Thomas B.... Read more
The pope emeritus turns 86 today. From Vatican Radio: The German Embassy to the Holy See will be hosting a party which will unveil a new portrait of the former pontiff painted by German artist Michael Triegel, who is known as “Papstmaler”, or “Pope Painter”. The painting is on permanent loan to the Embassy. A previous portrait of Benedict XVI by the same artist can be found at the Institute Benedict XVI in Regensburg. To each his own. I wonder... Read more
They were everywhere Monday: the good guys. EMS workers, rescuers, cops, volunteers, runners who completed the race and kept running, to go to the hospital and donate blood. People noticed the Twitter feed of former New England Patriot star Joe Andruzzi went quiet Monday afternoon. Turns out, he was helping victims downtown. (See picture). That’s just for starters. See many other examples here. Then there’s comedian Patton Oswalt’s reminder in this Facebook entry: This is a giant planet and we’re... Read more
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