DETROIT — As a child, Mary Ann Rice considered Our Lady Help of Christians Church a second home. A daughter of Polish immigrants, she attended its elementary school and worshipped there in Masses said in her native tongue. After 83 years, the church will celebrate its final Mass on Sunday and become the first church in the Archdiocese of Detroit sold to a mosque. It will cater to a new crop of immigrants — from Bangladesh, primarily. “It’s going to... Read more

Hello–how are youHave you been alright, through all those lonely nights,Thats what I’d say, I’d tell you everything,If you’d pick up that telephone. Can you guess it? Oh yes I am wiseBut it’s wisdom born of painYes, I’ve paid the priceBut look how much I gainedIf I have to, I can do anythingI am strong (strong)I am invincible (invincible)I am womanName that tune! Okay, so I tricked you on that last one. But, you know it’s coming. Soon. To a... Read more

Back in August, I posted the sudden passing of Mary Stolzenbach. Last night I was informed that her husband, Conrad, collapsed Monday after listening to a violin concert and, within minutes, was gone. His death followed Mary’s by 80 days. The funeral is today at St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church, Franklin, Tennessee. Please pray for their sons, Fritz & John, and all those who mourn. May his memory be eternal! The title of this post is explained in the above... Read more

Doctor’s check-up, waiting room, time to spare. I found myself — finally — reading last month’s issue of TOUCHSTONE magazine. Lately, my nighttime recreational reading consisted of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I finished it last night; it was a bit troubling. Then, dawn came in the morning! David Mills, most-times mild-mannered editor of TOUCHSTONE, has a spot-on nutty piece, Puff the Maverick Dragons (about “scholars” falling all over themselves to support the Gospel of Judas), in the September... Read more

“Jethro! Come on in here, boy. Mr Drysdale’s got a question fer ya.” Jethro enters with customary high-water pants, too small long-sleeved shirt, and, oddly enough, tin foil wrapped around his head with antennae sticking out. JETHRO: “Golly, Mr Drysdale! You sure know how to make a mess of things! I was just about to speak in them there tongues that Mr Tent Revival done showed us last week!” MR DRYSDALE: “Jethro, I’ve been thinking about your recent conversion and... Read more

Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood?It’s Hollywood not Tradition; and, after all, it’s just a movie. But having had the opportunity to read the script for New Line Cinema’s The Nativity Story, I can honestly say: It’s pretty good. Really! I enjoyed it. Earlier reports of the movie could lead one to believe that Hollywood was tinkering with the glorious story of the birth of Christ. For example, the Hollywood Reporter stated that The Nativity Story was “to be... Read more

Clocks here run on Byzantine time, which starts at sunset. Dates are calculated according to the Julian calendar of the Roman Empire, which varies by 13 days from the modern Gregorian calendar you’re used to. Some settlements are supplied solely by mule teams, and the flags of Byzantium still fly. Radio? Television? Newspapers? Paved roads? If they didn’t exist in the year 972, you probably won’t find them here. And if you’re a woman, you’d better make other plans. Females... Read more

Blame the Irish? The following is from a priest outside the United States. Dear Father Joseph, I am concerned that the Orthodox … are offering falsehoods on their websites. We are called to the disciples of truth and not to spread misinformation. There was no deity called Samhain who was the Lord of Death and needed appeasing. Yes, let us take up arms against the resurgence of paganism but not by equipping our people with false “truths”. We are doing... Read more

BREAKFAST ! Okay, so … it wasn’t just me and ol’ Max Lucado heading to — say, TeleWink’s — for breakfast together. Nope. It was a Do slated for the Westin at the Galleria, sponsored by a funeral home group, and a whole bunch of other mens in cloth (womens, too, I assume) were invited. For fun, I was tempted to wear a dress cassock. But, dear and faithful readers, y’all know I just moved. And — hey! I’m right... Read more

Blogging for over two years & then taking a two week hiatus … interesting. Thanks to all the folks who sent me stories, many stories. It wasn’t so much the lack of material, but circumstances that prevented my updating the blog: 1) Our 2Wire modem decided to die one week after the warranty expired.2) We bought a house & moved.3) I really wanted a break. And, hey, maybe it was coincidental, but it was good for book sales. 🙂 Now,... Read more