‘The Deacon magazine is still alive and well…’
The following email was forwarded to me yesterday, from the National Association of Diaconate Directors (NADD), spreading the good news
Living in an age of martyrs: 17 church workers murdered in 2025
From CNS via OSV News: Seventeen Catholic priests, sisters, seminarians and lay workers were murdered in 2025, according to Fides,
‘Grace is everywhere’: a homily on the Feast of the Holy Family
Each of us is living in our own Nazareth, a place of everyday life, and everyday problems. And we pray
‘We’re Not That Far from Bethlehem’
I talk about this song (by the Christian music trio Point of Grace) during my Advent mission, so today seems
The Advent tidings of Ben Sasse
Two days before Christmas, former Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse dropped a bombshell: he's dying of cancer. From The New York
Pope Leo on priestly ministry — and deacons
Pope Leo issued an Apostolic Letter this morning (Monday) on priestly ministry, "A fidelity that generates the future." Vatican News
‘Peace Be With All of You’: A new look at our new Pope, the servant
A few weeks ago, I received the first copies of my new book, "Peace Be With All of You!": The
Hegseth moves to overhaul chaplain corps
From The Hill: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday he is overhauling the military’s chaplain corps, which provide religious and spiritual support
It’s Hicks: Illinois bishop tapped to replace Dolan, will lead Archdiocese of New York
"I really want to grow in having a pastoral heart. I want to truly make sure I am not separated
Did young Robert Prevost of Dolton, Illinois ever imagine THIS?
Vogue just named him one of the best-dressed people in the world for 2025: Elected to the papacy just seven
So, why did that Vatican commission say ‘no’ to women deacons?
From OSV News, two deacons on the commission explain the news that broke earlier this month: Addressing the issue of
Mass behind bars: California bishops bring Christ to immigrants at ICE detention center
Details, from the Victorville Daily Press: Six of California’s Catholic bishops visited the Adelanto ICE Processing Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10, to
Government suspends aid to Texas Catholic Charities
From CNA: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has suspended Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley from receiving federal
The room where it happened: the place where Juan Diego’s miraculous cloak was revealed
With the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe tomorrow, here's a fascinating piece of history, via CNA: Although millions of
‘ICE was here’: the provocative message in a Boston parish’s Nativity scene
This story has been floating around for a few days. NCR has the latest: Calling it a "politically divisive display,"
‘Why are so many young priests leaving ministry?’
It's a good question. I've noticed a lot of new priests — many ordained just a few years — walk
Vatican commission says no to women deacons
The Commission unanimously expressed support for the establishment of new ministries that “could contribute to synergy between men and women.”
‘Something worth dying for’: Remembering the El Salvador martyrs
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of four women who served as missionaries in El Salvador. In 2009, I
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Brooklyn
Welcome and congratulations to the new deacons of my home diocese! Details, from The Tablet: George Mougias had no doubt
Pope Leo issues Apostolic Letter on Nicaea Anniversary
From Vatican News: Ahead of his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Türkiye, Pope Leo XIV issued on Sunday, 23 November, the
Taken: Hundreds abducted from Catholic school in Nigeria
From Reuters: More than 300 children and staff are thought to have been abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria
Report: 1/3 of recent Catholic priests in U.K. are former Anglicans
From CNA: A new report reveals that significant numbers of Anglican clergy have converted to Catholicism in the United Kingdom
Vatican expert: No, Mary does not hold back God’s wrath
“To think that Mary has to mediate and convince God to be merciful undermines the Trinity: the Father, the Son,
Another boom: Orthodox report wave of new converts
Something is happening. There's been a sudden flood of stories about more people embracing religion in the United States —
WATCH: Pope Leo speaks out in support of US bishops’ immigration message
From OSV News: Insisting that the dignity of all people, including immigrants, must be respected, Pope Leo XIV asked U.S.
Boom: More Americans attending nondenominational churches
From CBS News: In 1972, fewer than 3% of Americans identified as nondenominational Christians. Now it's 14%, or nearly 40
Boom: More New Yorkers turning to church, number of converts soaring
“My generation is watching things fall apart. When things all seem to be going wrong in greater society, maybe organized
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Trenton
From The Trenton Monitor: In the presence of loved ones, supporters and clergy, Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M., ordained nine
USCCB responds to border czar Homan
Yesterday, the Trump Administration's leader on border enforcement, Tom Homan, responded on EWTN to a rare Special Pastoral Message from
Border czar: ‘Catholic Church is wrong’ on immigration
"I’m a lifelong Catholic. I’m saying it as not only a border czar. I’ll say it as a Catholic. I
Losing faith: Religiosity among Americans drops
From Gallup: The 17-point drop in the percentage of U.S. adults who say religion is an important part of their
MAHA fuels rise of NFP
From The New York Times (gift article): Samantha Kopy logged onto a video call at 8 p.m. on a Tuesday
Happy New Year: Pope Leo plans major meeting of cardinals in January
From CNA: Pope Leo XIV is planning to convene an extraordinary consistory of cardinals in early January, the theme of
November thoughts: What every Catholic needs to do sooner rather than later
As we begin the month when we remember our faithful departed and honor our beloved dead, I think this is
Washington’s Cardinal McElroy diagnosed with cancer
The statement from the Archdiocese: The Archdiocese of Washington announced today that Cardinal Robert McElroy has been diagnosed with cancer, which
WATCH: Pope Leo speaks about ICE detainees being denied Communion
You may have heard the news on All Saints Day: Auxiliary Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado celebrated a Mass on Nov.
Deacons in solidarity with the poor
The notice below was sent to me by Msgr. Gerard Lopez of the Diocese of San Bernardino, along with this
Vatican labels the Marian titles of ‘Co-Redemptrix’ and ‘Mediatrix’ inappropriate
Via CNA: The Vatican’s doctrinal office said Tuesday the titles of “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix” are not appropriate ways to describe
Shock: Catholic school features ‘notorious symbol of hate’ on Halloween float
UPDATED: Scroll to the bottom to read a lengthy comment by the float's designer, Galen Shelley. Incredible, via PennLive: The
Catholic Charities starts national hunger drive in case SNAP runs out
From OSV News: Days before a looming lapse in federal food assistance programs, Catholic Charities USA, the network organization dedicated to
Speaker Johnson: clergy do not have right to ‘get in the face’ of ICE agents
From RNS: House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed religious freedom concerns on Wednesday (Oct. 29) about clergy protesting mass deportations being
Legal battle looms over statues of saints on Massachusetts city building
From NBC News in Boston: The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a prominent legal group that's argued before the Supreme
Cardinal: deacons are called to bring hope, joy to those they serve
From Washington's Catholic Standard: Permanent deacons are called to serve Jesus and His Church by offering hope to the poor,
Pivot: NBA head coach plans to become a deacon
From ChurchPop: NBA head coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics recently appeared on the Dominican Friars’ Godsplaining podcast with host Father Joseph-Anthony
Watch: Pope Leo and King Charles make history, pray together in the Sistine Chapel
From Vatican News: After a meeting in the Apostolic Palace earlier in the morning, Pope Leo XIV, King Charles III
‘Hello, I’m a Catholic priest!’
A great idea for evangelization, via OSV News: “Hello! I’m a Catholic Priest!” greets the cheerful, large-font sign taped to
Tehran unveils subway station named for the Virgin Mary
From CNA: This past week, social media was flooded with images showing a new metro station in Tehran called the “Virgin Mary”
A new saint — and, I think, a patron for deacons
I'm moved and inspired by the story of one of our new saints (canonized today!), Peter To Rot from New
Vatican report: More Catholics worldwide, fewer vocations — except in one notable area
From CNA: On the occasion of the 99th World Mission Day, to be celebrated on Sunday, Oct. 19, with the theme
For first time since Reformation, British monarch and the Pope will pray together
Details from CNA: For the first time since the Protestant Reformation, a reigning British monarch and a pope will pray
Patriarchs: ‘The work of peacebuilding has only just begun’
From OSV News: Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem said in a joint Oct. 14 statement they “rejoice
ICE enforcement impacting immigrant priests, religious in U.S.
From OSV News: Immigrant priests, seminarians and religious in the U.S. are among those impacted by immigration enforcement policy, advocates
New survey: priests are satisfied, but burnout looms
From OSV News: A new study on U.S. priests shows that many report satisfaction with their ministry, but trust in
Meet Mel Gibson’s new Jesus
From Variety: Mel Gibson’s “The Resurrection of the Christ,” his long-delayed follow up to 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ,”
Maria Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Catholic
This year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is, by any measure, a figure of great courage — but also
Changes: Homily for October 12, 2025, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
When I was growing up, my mother had an unwritten rule: the day after Christmas, if you haven’t done it
How will The Passion in ‘The Chosen’ be different from the one filmed by Mel Gibson?
Religion Unplugged's Bobby Ross, Jr. sat down with The Chosen's creator, Dallas Jenkins, and offers these tidbits about what's to
Pope Leo on a free press: ‘Doing the work of a journalist is a right that must be protected’
The Holy Father delivered some remarks today, during an audience the participants in the 39th Conference of the MINDS International
Pope Leo in first Apostolic Exhortation: Love for the poor is a hallmark of faith
From CNS: Many Christians "need to go back and re-read the Gospel" because they have forgotten that faith and love
Coming soon: a new Liturgy of the Hours
Both Word on Fire and Ascension Press have been selected to publish the 2nd Edition of the The Liturgy of the
Coming to Peoria: ‘The Fulton Sheen Experience’
The press release just landed in my in-box: The Diocese of Peoria will host a Mass and groundbreaking ceremony that
No SCOTUS justices attended this year’s annual Red Mass due to security concerns
From OSV News: Due to security concerns, no Supreme Court justices attended this year's Red Mass Oct. 5 at the
Yes, there are Catholics in Utah!
Over on Facebook, I posted some pictures from this past weekend, when I lead a retreat for the deacons of
Westward, ho!
It's October, and that means it's retreat and convocation season. I'm about to climb into an Uber and head to
Historic: first woman named as Archbishop of Canterbury
From The New York Times: The Church of England announced on Friday that Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, will
Ave Maria University to display Timothy Schmalz statue of Charlie Kirk
The press release just landed in my mailbox: Ave Maria University is honored to receive the first casting of a
Pope Leo: Migrants, refugees are ‘privileged witnesses of hope and faith’
From OSV News: Migrants and refugees often are “privileged witnesses of hope through their resilience and trust in God,” Pope
Report: Pope Leo Apostolic Exhortation may be released this week, encyclical could follow
From Zenit: Rome is already abuzz with speculation: around October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo
Donations grow to support LDS shooter’s wife and children in Michigan
This calls to mind the Christian charity of the Amish after the tragedy in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. This is a
UPDATED: Pope Leo speaks out on the Cupich/Durbin controversy; Durbin declines award
“I understand the difficulty and the tensions. But I think as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important
UPDATE: Has this ever happened before? WH issued a statement on the Feast of St. Michael
The statement is below, from the White House website. UPDATE: Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay was moved by the
The sin of indifference: Homily for September 28, 2025, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
22 million. At last count, that is the number of people who watched Erika Kirk’s speech at her husband’s memorial
Camden’s bishop on deacons: ‘I’ve been deeply impressed by their zeal for the Gospel’
From the Catholic Star Herald, Bishop Joseph A. Williams offers some encouraging words: Over the years, I have experienced first-hand
In first major Vatican appointment, Pope Leo names his replacement for his old job
From CNA: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Filippo Iannone as prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops, a department
N.J. teacher placed on leave over surrogacy
From NJ.com: A Catholic school teacher in South Jersey has been placed on administrative leave after disclosing she is carrying
Jimmy Kimmel, Catholic
He alluded to his faith in his monologue last night. This item appeared today on the website Premier Christian: Talk
Pope Leo moves Bishop Checchio to New Orleans
From OSV News: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, N.J., as coadjutor archbishop of New
‘Grave scandal’: Chicago Archdiocese’s award to Durbin sparks criticism
"Given Senator Durbin’s long and consistent record of supporting legal abortion, this decision risks causing grave scandal, confusing the faithful
Coming soon: A documentary on the pope, ‘Leo from Chicago’
The folks at Vatican Media are putting this together and I can't wait to see it: With a glance at
St. Patrick’s welcomes ‘an ode to the immigrants’ — and it’s a stunner
I had a rare Sunday off — I was assigned to the Saturday evening Mass at my parish — so
Pope Leo on ordaining women as deacons
As you may have heard, Pope Leo XIV sat down for an extended interview with Elise Ann Allen of Crux
The way we were: Check out this great video about the diaconate in Minnesota
This comes from the good people at Hundredfold Video (kudos to my old Brooklyn friend Katie Rutter!) and it offers
From IRA gunman to Catholic deacon: The amazing journey of Mark Lenaghan
From Sunday World: A Catholic clergyman whose funeral took place earlier this week was once a ruthless IRA gunman, the
San Diego deacon says he will self-deport after his residency status was revoked
From CNA: A deacon in San Diego told parishioners last week that he will voluntarily deport himself after his residency
Vatican: Pope Leo is praying for Charlie Kirk, family
From Vatican News: The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, responded to reporters’ questions on Tuesday about
Report: First document from Pope Leo to be titled ‘He Loved You’
From Reuters: Pope Leo is preparing to publish the first high-level document of his four-month papacy, which is expected to signal
‘To tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world’
One of the greatest speeches of my lifetime. We need to listen to it again. Once, we were a different
Vatican announces feast days for its two new saints
Details from CNA: The Catholic Church will commemorate the liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis on Oct. 12 and of
New church dedicated to St. Carlo Acutis
This might be the first in the world. From UCA News: A Catholic Archdiocese in the southern Indian state of
History: King Charles will be first monarch to attend Catholic funeral in UK in 400 years
From The Times of London: The King will next week become the first monarch to attend a Catholic funeral in
On St. Carlo: ‘Make every moment matter’
Three years ago, my parish in Queens hosted a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. As part of the event, we
Pope Leo’s homily for two new saints
From Vatican News: Addressing over 80,000 faithful filling Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Mass with the canonization of
Minneapolis prays for ‘a future filled with hope’ — UPDATED
From The New York Times: “We are stronger together.” “We are spirit strong.” “A future filled with hope!” Messages of
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Ogdensburg
It happened on August 9, and here they are, left to right: Deacon Francis Sczerzenie, Deacon James Law, Deacon Nicholas
BREAKING: Minnesota Catholic church shooting leaves two children dead
From The New York Times: A gunman fired a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis where
‘The family business’: One family, 4 vocations
This is great: a story on the local news in Washington, DC spotlighting "a family of faith." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnJ_YPvMZFk
‘St. Monica Project’ seeks to help parents of children who have left the Church
A great idea, and much-needed. From OSV News: Father Jay Buhman still remembers the elderly gentleman he encountered weekly, in
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Joliet
And here they are (thanks to Victor Puscas for the picture and details). They were ordained Saturday August 23: Their
What’s behind the stunning vocations growth in Arkansas?
They're doing something right. This story is from 2023, but just popped up in my feed today. It's news to
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for San Bernardino
Msgr. Gerard Lopez from the diocese sent this along to me (thank you!): Bishop Alberto Rojas ordained 9 new deacons
Entering through the narrow gate: Homily for August 24, 2025, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Scholars will tell you that this passage is where we get the familiar
R.I.P. ‘America’s Nicest Judge,’ Frank Caprio, Catholic
The beloved and popular Rhode Island TV star died Wednesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. From CNA: Frank Caprio,
In DC churches: attendance drops, fear rises
From RNS: The first weekend after President Donald Trump demanded federalization of the police force in Washington, D.C., and deployed
Worth your time: A deacon writes about ‘balancing the stole and the stroller’
"A mentor once told me, 'You are your wife’s deacon first.' That simple truth reordered my ministry, not as something
‘We are a church of the poor. Let us make peace with our own poverty’
Pope Leo celebrated Mass and had lunch with the poor and homeless from the Diocese of Albano this morning. Check
Kansas bishops issue letter on immigration, ‘dignity of every person’
'Unnecessary raids, mass detentions, and family separations betray the values of our nation and the Gospel.' From OSV News: The
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Fort Worth
From the North Texas Catholic: The first seven men ordained in the early Church as deacons were chosen for their
Stunning: ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’ by Timothy Schmalz
The statue is headed to Baltimore, according to CNA: As advocates in Baltimore work to end violent crime in the
When a Pope defied the Nazis outside the basilica of St. Lawrence
As we mark the saint's feast today, here's a look back at a powerful moment of recent history, via John
So, just who was General Albert Pike?
The general made some news recently: The National Park Service is planning to restore and reinstall a statue of Albert
Mel Gibson’s ‘Resurrection of the Christ’ will be split into two movies
From Variety: Mel Gibson‘s much-delayed “The Passion of the Christ” sequel will be split into two films, with each part
Finally: First Mass celebrated at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
From CNA: As part of a new Catholic ministry, the Archdiocese of Miami celebrated its first Mass at the Florida
France? Here’s your chance.
Are you aching to see the restored Notre Dame? Want to join the candlelight procession at Lourdes? Ever wanted to
Boom: Requests for papal blessing surge
From CNA: The Vatican has seen a boom in requests for blessings from the new pope, with at least a
UPDATE: The Catholic actor who says ‘Hollywood turned on me’ because of his values
UPDATE BELOW: Neal McDonough responds to the headlines over his TMZ interview. From Variety: Neal McDonough, the veteran character actor
Hello, Newman: St. John Henry Newman to become newest Doctor of the Church
From Vatican News: John Henry Newman was one of the great modern thinkers of Christianity, a key figure in a
UPDATE: Battery charge against Fr. Carlos Martins dropped, case dismissed
Some may remember this story from last year, which caused quite a stir. Now, an update, via The Catholic Register:
Churches feel strain, as deportation fears keep immigrants from work
My pastor told me recently that attendance at our Spanish-language Masses has dropped by about 20%. Evidently, we aren't the
A permanent deacon advances toward sainthood
Thanks to Deacon Michael Weaver for pointing this out, from the pages of The Deacon magazine: A permanent deacon from
Archbishop Wenski leads Knights on Bikes to pray rosary outside ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
From OSV News: Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami and some 25 Knights of Columbus saddled up their motorcycles to pray a
The Pillar: Vatican diplomat jailed for child pornography returns to work
Incredible, but true: Father Carlo Alberto Capella, formerly a high ranking diplomat in the apostolic nunciature in Washington, D.C., was
Two killed, several parishioners injured in attack on Gaza Catholic church
The latest from AP: Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church on Thursday morning,
Young guns: Meet some of America’s young permanent deacons
There aren't many of them, but Jack Figge at The Pillar found a few and reports on the special challenges
What’s it like being married to a deacon?
This story from Aleteia has the scoop: A married man who answers the call to become a permanent deacon now
Go and do likewise: Homily for July 13, 2025, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
It sounds like such a simple question. Who is my neighbor? If you think you know, this Gospel says: think again.
‘Alarming’: Miami’s Archbishop Wenski on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
From The Miami Herald: The Archbishop of Miami has some strong words about Florida’s new detention center for migrants in
Chicago vestments for a Chicago pope
From OSV News: Vestments worn by Pope Leo XIV and his concelebrants July 9 at the first Mass “for the care
California bishop issues decree dispensing Mass obligation
In an extraordinary move, the Bishop of San Bernardino, Alberto Rojas, today issued a decree dispensing members of his diocese
UPDATED: Will the Catholic Church be making political endorsements?
The news from the I.R.S. — that it believes that churches can endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking
I.R.S.: Churches can endorse candidates without risking tax-exempt status
From CNBC: The IRS said in a new federal court filing that churches can endorse political candidates to their congregations without risking the loss of their tax-exempt
‘Behind the collar, there is a man’: Pray for our priests
This appeared in my social media feed Sunday night: On Saturday 5 July 2025, Fr. Matteo Balzano , a priest
‘His style is simplicity’: Sizing up the first months of Leo
From AFP: Pope Leo XIV heads off on holiday on Sunday, having spent his first two months as Catholic leader
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Washington
From The Catholic Standard: Washington Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr. ordained nine new permanent deacons for the Roman Catholic
‘All political activity must serve the good of the human person’
This is a good moment to re-read the address of Pope Francis to a joint session of Congress in 2015.
Holy flip: Chicago suburb votes to buy Pope Leo’s boyhood home
From The New York Times: The Chicago suburb where the first American pope grew up will buy the boyhood home
Historic: Catholic Mass to be celebrated in Canterbury Cathedral
Details, from RNS: King Henry VIII and his iconoclast-in-chief, Thomas Cromwell, would be stunned: Nearly 500 years after the English
‘The realities are becoming more ominous’: Bishops challenge Trump deportation policy
From The New York Times: As the Trump administration escalates its aggressive deportation campaign, Roman Catholic bishops across the United
UK priest bans MP from receiving Communion
From The Observer: Liberal Democrat MP was denounced by his Roman Catholic priest before his congregation and banned from communion
Being an apostle: Homily for June 29, 2025, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
When I was in Rome a few months ago, these two men were everywhere. Peter and Paul. If you entered
Churches grapple with ICE arrests: ‘We have an army of prayer warriors fighting for us’
From Christianity Today: On June 19, as Iran and Israel exchanged volleys of missiles and officials secretly finalized plans to
Bishop denounces ICE raids, speaks out: ‘Your Church walks with you’
From The Press-Enterprise newspaper in California: After recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showing up at Catholic churches
Shock: suicide bomber strikes Syrian church, killing more than 20
From OSV News: Christians in Syria are reeling after a suicide bombing struck a Greek Orthodox church in Damascus during a June
‘Humanity cries out and calls for peace’
Pope Leo addressed the deepening crisis in Iran during his Angelus address Sunday: Alarming news continues to emerge from the
San Diego clergy marked World Refugee Day at the courthouse — and here’s what happened
The incoming bishop of San Diego called on clergy to be present for immigrants on Friday June 20th, World Refugee
The incredible journey of Sister Maria: convert, widow, mother of five religious vocations
Amazing. Just...amazing. From CNA/National Catholic Register: Sister Maria Zhang Yue Chun made her perpetual vows on May 13 at the
Poll: Italians give Pope Leo a big thumbs-up
From Zenit: Just a month into his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV is already receiving significant approval from Italians, according to
‘It feels like COVID again; people are hiding’: ICE raids rattle Latino parishes
This is hitting close to home. We're seeing it here in Florida too. From Angelus: In the months since the
Vacay! Pope Leo will be taking a summer break at Castel Gandolfo
A custom that Pope Francis suspended is returning. From CNS: Pope Leo XIV will spend two weeks of July at
Pope Leo’s opening pitch in Chicago
If you missed it, here's the Holy Father's address to young people gathered in Chicago. It's his first address specifically
California bishops urge solidarity with migrants, refugees
First, there was this news from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on Tuesday, as reported by CNA: Archbishop José Gomez
‘God Only Knows’: Brian Wilson’s masterwork brought religion to the pop charts
Photo: by Takahiro Kyono / Creative Commons license The legendary songwriter and founding member of The Beach Boys died today
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Los Angeles
From the diocesan news site Angelus: As an electronics systems engineer at Raytheon, a major U.S. defense contractor based in
‘Faith kept me going’: the powerful testimony of a Gaza hostage
Well worth your time, from The New York Times: Each morning, Shelly Shem Tov would enter her son’s empty bedroom
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Jefferson City
From the Jefferson City, Missouri Facebook page on June 7: Congratulations to all those ordained to the Diaconate this morning!
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Lansing
From the diocese's Facebook page: Here are some great images of the ordination to the diaconate of 12 men from
The Leo Effect: Augustinian vocations boom?
Maybe. From OSV News: The Augustinian order has been in the spotlight since May 8, the day one of its own was
‘Leo is taking his time’
From Reuters, a glimpse at how this pope is different from the last one: Two of Leo's long-time associates told
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Baton Rouge
Details, from the diocesan website: A jubilant spirit filled St. Joseph Cathedral as Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained Deacon Byron
A prayer intention for this moment
We need this. Pope Leo has released his first prayer intention, for the month of June: Pope Leo XIV's monthly
Looking for a Father’s Day gift? Go to Joseph.
If you're wondering what to get The World's Best Dad (besides a coffee mug announcing that), I have a suggestion:
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Rochester
Hot off the presses: Bishop Salvatore R. Matano ordained Frederick F. “Rick” Burgess, Ludwig Mark Amann and David Cataline as
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Biloxi
The men were ordained by Bishop Louis F. Kihneman on Saturday May 31 at the Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral
Coolest. Pope. Ever.
This is what happens when you get a pope who is a baseball fan. Wednesday, somebody from the crowd tossed
Vatican unveils a bright new website
Isn't she a beaut, Clark? Put down the ketchup. Then take a moment to step away from the grill and
‘Leo should not hesitate to make English the dominant language at the Vatican’
An audacious proposal for our polyglot pope, from veteran Vatican observer Robert Mickens: Francis did not speak any languages aside
Vatican posts warning about fake Pope Leo quotes, videos
This is what we have come to. From CNS and OSV News: All the speeches and messages Pope Leo XIV has given
SCOTUS deadlocks on religious charter school case
From CBS News: An evenly divided Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court decision that invalidated a contract approved
Chicago suburb plans to buy pope’s boyhood home
From The New York Times: The Chicago suburb where the first American pope spent some of his boyhood is seeking
Fit for heaven: How Pope Leo worked on his salvation — and his abs
This is something new: a Vicar of Christ with a gym membership. Details from CNN: An Italian personal trainer has
‘This is going to be a massive problem’: Pope Leo in the age of deepfakes
I've posted about this on Facebook a few times over the last couple of weeks — the rapid multiplication of
Pope Leo at Inaugural Mass: ‘In the one Christ, we are one’
Unity was a prevailing theme in Pope's Leo's homily from the Mass of Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry: Brothers and
Another Catholic bishop added to Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission
From CNA: U.S. President Donald Trump has tapped San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone to serve on an advisory board
Who is Deacon Teodoro Mandato?
The program for Sunday's papal inauguration liturgy mentions one deacon prominently: Deacon Teodoro Mandato will take part in the section
Tagle on Leo: ‘He has a deep and patient capacity for listening’
The cardinal who sat beside him during the conclave — and who was himself often mentioned as a leading contender
Can Leo XIV remain an American citizen?
Good question. CNA has an answer: The pope is, after all, an absolute monarch; he possesses, as the Vatican’s Fundamental
Pope Leo meets the media: ‘Let us disarm words and we will help disarm the world’
Below, the remarks of Pope Leo during an audience with representatives of the media on Monday. Brothers and sisters, I
Love baseball? Love Leo? This is for you
The ultimate papal memento. There are a lot of them out there — including the inevitable Da Pope tee shirts
Homily for May 11, 2025, 4th Sunday of Easter: Listen up
In Rome, not far from the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, there’s a Trappist monastery, built on the
Leo lived here: Wanna buy the pope’s boyhood home? Make an offer
From The New York Times: Real estate prices jump for a lot of reasons: location, the market, even a shiny
Pope Leo to cardinals: The Church must respond to another ‘industrial revolution’ of AI
The new pope addressed the College of Cardinals Saturday morning. Below is the text from the Holy See website. Dear
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Cleveland
From the Diocese of Cleveland website: As he ordained three men to the permanent diaconate, Bishop Edward Malesic reminded them
Pope Leo’s first public homily: “It is essential that we repeat, with Peter: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'”
From OSV News, a little piece of history: Full text of the first public homily of Pope Leo XIV, given
New pope has Creole roots in New Orleans
From The New York Times: Robert Francis Prevost, the Chicago-born cardinal selected on Thursday as the new pope, is descended
Leo XIV’s first word to the world: ‘Peace’
Here's a translation of his first blessing, via OSV News: ‘Peace be with you all!’ Beloved brothers and sisters, this
Ladies and gentlemen, Pope Leo XIV
I admit my jaw dropped when I heard his name mentioned and realized that the impossible had not only become
What’s in a name? Here’s some background on the history of papal names
Before the day is done, we may have a new pope, and a new name to add to the Eucharistic
Dean to cardinals: ‘Choose the pope the world needs’
From CNS: At Mass before the conclave that will elect the next pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals
Someone you should know: America’s first cardinal, John McCloskey
With all the news about cardinals in the conclave who will be voting from far-flung places that never had cardinals
Cardinals’ final meeting: discussing priorities for the next Pope
This cracks open a window into what the cardinals are prioritizing in the hours before their first vote. From Vatican
What will the cardinals be thinking about on Wednesday?
A quick look at the Mass readings for that day may offer a few themes, as they prepare to cast
A new use for an old Popemobile in Gaza
From The New York Times: When Pope Francis visited Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2014, he crisscrossed the
Martin Scorsese producing documentary featuring Pope Francis’ last filmed interview
From CNN: Renowned Hollywood filmmaker Martin Scorsese is set to produce a new documentary that will feature the late Pope
Cardinal reminds fellow cardinals: ‘Your duty is to always remain deacons’
Details from OSV News: The College of Cardinals gathered April 30 for the fifth Memorial Mass -- novendiali -- at
Survey shows U.S. Catholics want ‘more inclusive’ Church — and many disagree with Church teaching
This latest survey offers an in interesting glimpse at the thinking of the people in the pews. And, as with
Could the next pope come from Africa?
The New York Times is asking that question this morning: When Pope Francis presided over a Mass that incorporated elements of
From The New York Times: The cross as a hot fashion accessory
Across TikTok, young Christian women have been sharing the meaning behind their own cross necklaces, saying they help cultivate a
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Cincinnati
This popped up last weekend on the archdiocesan Facebook page: The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrates the ordination of ten
Mark your calendar: Conclave to start May 7
From The New York Times: A conclave to elect the next pope will start on May 7, the Vatican said
From 2013, the words that helped elect Jorge Bergoglio pope
Details from journalist Sandro Magister in 2013: It is a widespread opinion, confirmed by numerous testimonies, that the intention of
We are all entering the Upper Room
This is humbling, and worth a prayerful read. This comes from Universi Dominic Gregis, (The Lord's Whole Flock), promulgated by
Pope Francis will be greeted by the poor at his burial site
Remarkable: Given the late Pope Francis' care and concern for the poor, a representative group of them has been formally
Worth a thousand words
Check out this editorial cartoon on Pope Francis by Morten Morland View on Threads
From 2013: ‘The new Pope is getting to me’
This week, I remembered writing something about Pope Francis in the early days of his papacy, and I went searching
Could this cardinal be the next pope?
All the prognosticators are starting to wonder who will succeed Francis. Let me toss out a suggestion whose name never
An unforgettable moment with the Pope: ‘When he asked me to sing for him…’
Kudos to David Muir and his ABC News team for this well-done overview of Pope Francis's life — and for
Vatican: Pope’s funeral will be held on Saturday
From Vatican News: The Holy See Press Office announced on Tuesday that Pope Francis’ funeral Mass will take place on
How to pray for the next pope
Given the lightning-fast speed of news these days, I suppose it's not surprising that already people are posting on social
Pope Francis’s message to the world: ‘Let us allow hope to be rekindled’
The Lord awakens so as to reawaken and revive our Easter faith. We have an anchor: by his cross we
BREAKING: Pope Francis has died
From Reuters: Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died, the Vatican said in
Easter at the Vatican: Pope appears during Urbi et Orbi, meets with JD Vance
From Vatican News: Pope Francis has dedicated much of his pontificate to appealing for peace. This year on Easter Sunday,
Deacons of Hope: ‘We are hard-wired for this’
During a recent visit to Kansas, I was privileged to meet Deacon Kevin Cummings, who is spearheading an organization called
Deacons, Illinois is calling! Join us for NDICE this summer
I'll be there once again, and I hope you will be there, too. The National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education
Should Easter Monday be a federal holiday?
I can think of a few church clergymen and parish employees who would say "Yes!" Details: U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt,
Timothy Schmalz’s ‘Be Welcoming’ added to St. Peter’s Square
Photo: Victoria Isabel Cardiel/EWTN News From CNA: A new Vatican-commissioned sculpture by Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz titled “Be Welcoming”
Deacon on the run, heading for the Boston Marathon
From OSV News: When Deacon Vincent Charles is on a training run and meets a car, instead of waving a
Boom: Catholic resurgence in Britain, France
“The great challenge that presents itself to us now is to make disciples.” Some good news just ahead of Easter
Pope names new bishops for Providence and Kansas City
Big news from the Vatican today. A new archbishop for Kansas City: This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, announced
From the vault: ‘I am Catholic’
The news of former Cardinal McCarrick's death reminded me of something I preached seven years ago, when the scandalous stories
Police search for motive in killing of Kansas priest
From The New York Times, an update on the murder of Father Arul Carasala: The authorities arrested Gary L. Hermesch,
Pope Francis make surprise appearance at Jubilee of the Sick and Healthcare Workers
From CNA: Still recovering from bilateral pneumonia that hospitalized him for nearly 40 days, Pope Francis made a surprise appearance
Disgraced former Cardinal McCarrick dies
From NCR: Defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the once-powerful archbishop of Washington, D.C., who was removed from the priesthood amidst one
BREAKING: Kansas priest shot and killed — UPDATED
"In this time of sorrow, let us entrust Fr. Carasala to the mercy of God and lift up in prayer
A ‘camino’ in Lebanon?
Plans are afoot for a network of pilgrim trails that would follow roads traveled by Jesus and early saints. CNA
It’s happening: ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’ will begin filming this summer
From Variety: “The Passion of the Christ” will resurrect this summer. Mel Gibson’s long-awaited sequel, titled “The Resurrection of the Christ,”
Catholic clergy promote Lent with ‘Not Like Us’ on TikTok
Evidently, this is A Thing. Who knew? From RNS: In the moments before Kendrick Lamar launched into his Grammy-winning diss
Pope’s doctor: ‘We had to choose whether to stop and let him go…’
The Holy Father came very close to death, according to this report from CNA: The head of the medical team
He’s home: Pope Francis leaves the hospital
From Vatican News: Pope Francis greeted some three thousand faithful gathered in the square in front of the entrance to
Cardinal Fernández: ‘I think now a new pope begins’
Some insight on the Holy Father's recovery, from Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine
Praying with St. Joseph
Holy Joseph, you lived the simple and predictable life of a carpenter, planning and building, dreaming and praying. Yet, you
What have Catholics learned from COVID?
As the world marks the five-year anniversary of the pandemic — and everything that came with it — Ann Rodgers
Vatican releases first picture of Pope Francis since hospitalization
On the Vatican News website: In the photo of Pope Francis taken from behind him, he is seated in a
Bishop Seitz announces march to protest mass deportations
The march will take place on the feast of St. Óscar Romero, the martyred archbishop of San Salvador known for
Doctors: Pope Francis no longer in ‘imminent danger’
From NCR: Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger from double pneumonia his doctors announced for the first time
Trump White House hosts Ash Wednesday Mass
Details from CNA: A Catholic Mass was reportedly celebrated for the staff at the White House today in observance of
The next anchor of the NBC Nightly News? Committed Catholic Tom Llamas
Following in the footsteps of Huntley and Brinkley, John Chancellor and Tom Brokaw comes a young news anchor who is
The pope’s message on Ash Wednesday: ‘Dust is precious in God’s eyes’
From the Vatican website, a homily from the Holy Father read by Cardinal Angelo de Donatis: This evening, we receive
For Lent: A Prayer at the Beginning of a Fast
Prayer at the Beginning of a Fast Heavenly Father, as I begin this time of fasting, this I pray: Lord,
Pilgrims of Hope: Thinking of an Italy trip this year? Read this.
After a few days of sleeping in my own bed, I'm finally feeling like my life is (somewhat) back to
Excellent and timely advice for Lent
From the incomparable Simcha Fisher, who casts a cool and critical eye on this particular moment, at a time when
MEDICAL UPDATE: Pope resting, drinking coffee
From Vatican News: The Holy See Press Office said on Saturday morning that Pope Francis slept well and spent the
Want to have a meaningful Lent? Make EVERY Friday a Blackout Day
You may have heard that today, February 28th, has been declared an Economic Blackout Day. From CNN: In early February,
In a first, Austrian bishop names woman ‘episcopal vicaress’ of his diocese
While the move is sure to provoke a response from canon lawyers — because the title of vicar is reserved
Pilgrims of Hope: ‘Arrivederci, Roma!’
And just like that, it was over. After a great Italian farewell dinner at a nearby restaurant — pasta and
Pilgrims of Hope: Thousands of deacons attend ordination Mass at Vatican
This was it. This Sunday, we were scheduled to have Mass with Pope Francis and attend the ordination of deacons
Pilgrims of Hope: The Jubilee of Deacon Wives
You don't sleep in on Saturday when you're on a pilgrimage. We were up early once again to attend a
Pilgrims of Hope: Seeing doors, nails, thorns…and a cardinal
Has it really been a week? Our journey goes on. We began our 8th day in Italy with an early
Will the pope resign?
Short answer: maybe. Details from The Telegraph: Pope Francis could resign over ill health says Italian cardinal. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the
I have plenty of company: 6,000 arrive in Rome for Jubilee of Deacons
I thought it was a little crowded around here. From Vatican News: Etymologically, the word 'deacon' means “servant”. 4,000 of
Pilgrims of Hope: Peter and Paul
This was a big day — beginning very early in the morning. We left our hotel at 6:15 (!), parked
Pilgrims of Hope: Hanging with the saints
Wednesday marked our first full day in Rome. We didn't let a minute go to waste. We were up early,
A Prayer for the Pope
Dear Father, watch over and protect our Holy Father, the Pope. Give him strength to bear the burdens of his
Pilgrims of Hope: Almost in Rome — but first, Cascia
And we're off to visit another saint. We boarded the bus early Tuesday morning, bound for Rome. But first we
Pilgrims of Hope: Seeing Assisi
This isn't Florida. Weather in Italy this week has hovered in the mid-40s. This morning, it was 37 when I
Pilgrims of Hope: A slice of Bologna
If it's Sunday, we must be in Bologna. We checked out of our hotel (after a hearty Sunday morning breakfast)
Pilgrims of Hope: Venice, anyone?
Today, we left the rainy weather behind and sailed off to Venice. But first: our morning began with a hearty
Pilgrims of Hope: Welcome to Italy!
Well, we made it. After a long trip on three different flights, from Orlando to Atlanta to Amsterdam, we finally
Faith groups sue over policy allowing immigration arrests in churches
From OSV News: More than two dozen Christian and Jewish groups filed a lawsuit Feb. 11 in federal court to
Pope sends letter to U.S. bishops, expressing support for migrants
"Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups. The
Tucson’s Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger named Archbishop of Detroit
From the archdiocese: Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger, currently Bishop of the Diocese of Tucson, as the
Cardinal Tobin orders review of Seton Hall president’s actions regarding McCarrick
From OSV News: Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey announced he has engaged a law firm to investigate
‘What is greatness?’ Watch this powerful ad debuting on the Super Bowl
From the people who launched the "He Gets Us" campaigns a few years back, comes the latest installment. RNS reports:
Into the deep: Homily for February 9, 2025, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What does it take to follow Christ? This Gospel shows us. Shove off from the shore. Leave what’s comfortable and
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Charleston
And the ordinations keep coming! I received the following email Thursday (h/t to Deacon Gerard Couture for passing this along!):
WATCH: Spokane priest attacked during prayer service
From The New York Post: A Catholic priest was attacked by a “disturbed gentleman” during a prayer service in Washington
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Atlanta
And what a great group this is. I had the privilege of leading their pre-ordination retreat back in early January.
Some good news: a book in braille!
I got an email about this the other day from Aisling Redican, of the Xavier Society for the Blind. I
Report: CRS laying off staff, cutting programs
From NCR: Catholic Relief Services is bracing for massive cuts — as much as 50% this year — because of
‘Covenant marriage’ could come to Tennessee. What is it?
Just ahead of World Marriage Day, an alert reader sent me a story about a bill that has been introduced
TV’s next Biblical epic: ‘Can one stone change the course of history?’
Will this be as big as "The Chosen"? Amazon Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for its new series "House
‘My first act as President is a prayer’
It seems so long ago when we had a president speak these words at his inauguration. It was a different
On immigration: ‘We know that truth, justice and love are inseparable’
This has been getting a lot of attention on social media, deservedly so. Below is a statement on immigration from
Amazing grace: receiving indulgences during the Jubilee
It's almost time. Next week, I depart for Italy with a group of nearly 30 pilgrims, making our way to
Giving migrants the freedom to worship
"To intrude on the right to fulfill our duties to God is a grave judgment that must be guided by
Detroit exorcist arrested, charged with battery over alleged incident at Illinois church
This story first popped up in November. Now charges have been filed. From WKRC TV: A priest who hosts an
The priest at the crash site: ‘To have the Church visibly present is absolutely key’
EWTN's nightly news program featured an interview with the parish priest who knows Reagan National Airport well; the facility is
Who is Karoline Leavitt? Meet Donald Trump’s Catholic press secretary
Many got their first glimpse of Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday, when she conducted the first formal press briefing of the
‘In solidarity and accompaniment’: More bishops speak out in support of immigrants
The Trump immigration crackdown is getting a response from a number of U.S. bishops from different corners of the country.
On Migrants and Refugees: ‘In Jesus, God came seeking human hospitality’
How can the baptized claim to welcome Christ if they close the door to the foreigner who comes knocking? "If
Saying ‘Yes’ in Newark
Some signs of hope in the Archdiocese of Newark. These images were posted on the Facebook page for the Seton
A little homiletics news
For some reason (maybe desperation?) the good people at the Homiletic & Pastoral Review asked me to compose the homilies
JD Vance, Tom Homan blast U.S. bishops, the Pope
The Catholic Church was on the mind of the Trump White House this weekend. After the pope and the U.S.
Permanent deacons in the Philippines?
From The Pillar: The bishops of the Philippines will discuss this weekend guidelines for the formation of permanent deacons tailored
Another Annunciation: Homily for January 26, 2025, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We’ve heard this passage so often. “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” But do we really hear
To life: Trump pardons 23 pro-life activists
From OSV News: On the eve of the national March for Life rally in Washington, President Donald Trump announced Jan.
‘Human dignity is not dependent on citizenship or birthright status’
The USCCB seems to be delivering these statements daily now, as the White House continues to issue Executive Orders. The
Just in time for Lent, here’s ‘The Handy Little Guide to Fasting’
The good people at OSV invited me to write a little book on fasting, and I was happy to oblige.
Trump reverses policy to allow immigration arrests at churches
“The end of the Department of Homeland Security’s sensitive locations policy strikes fear into the heart of our community, cynically
USCCB: ‘Some provisions in the Executive Orders are deeply troubling’
"Our prayer is one of hope that, as a Nation blessed with many gifts, our actions demonstrate a genuine care
Report: Priest in Spain could face charges for denying Communion
From The Pillar: Amid an ongoing standoff between Spain’s government and ecclesiastical leaders, the country’s equality minister said Saturday a
Bishops issue statement on Trump Executive Orders
This hasn't gotten much attention. It was posted on the USCCB website Monday: WASHINGTON - In response to the Executive
‘Give him a cool head and a warm heart’: Praying at the inauguration
In case you missed it: two Catholic clergyman offered prayers at Donald Trump's inauguration today. Cardinal Timothy Dolan said a
Pope names Austin’s Bishop Joe Vasquez to lead Galveston-Houston
From the Holy See Bulletin: The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese
Pope Francis sends message to Donald Trump, offering prayers
One day after describing the president-elect's reported plans for mass deportation as a "disgrace," the Holy Father is offering him
Brooklyn priest to deliver closing prayer at Trump inauguration
This makes the second New York Catholic clergyman tapped to speak — following the news that the Archdiocese of New
Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire announces plans for religious order
Bishop Robert Barron first floated this idea three years ago: “One of my dreams is to establish an order of
Rest in peace, Deacon Ray Dever
This email was forwarded to me late Tuesday afternoon from the Diocese of St. Petersburg: It is with sadness that we
Out of the ashes: Tabernacle rescued from ruins of LA church, with Blessed Sacrament intact
Beautiful. From The Angelus news: Four days after Corpus Christi Church was incinerated in the Palisades fire, Captain Bryan Nassour of the
Ladies and gentlemen: Deacon Elvis
Thank you, thank you verra much. From The New York Post: Elvis has left the building — to go to
Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope Francis
This marks the only time in his presidency Biden bestowed that award “with distinction.” Then-President George W. Bush awarded the
Why did he do it?: Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Why did he do it? It’s a question that often pops up when we hear these readings and observe this
‘Imagine’ and Jimmy Carter’s funeral
More than a few people noticed that the funeral for Jimmy Carter included a rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" —
‘God, please spare my church’
From Angelus News in Los Angeles: As he drove frantically past charred buildings along the smoky streets of Altadena in
Grace in Alabama: Blessing stoles and washing feet at a pre-ordination retreat
I've been in Cullman, Alabama all week, at the beautiful Saint Bernard Abbey and Retreat Center, leading a retreat for
It’s McElroy
Late last night, multiple news sources confirmed what Catholic Vatican-watchers had been buzzing about for days: Pope Francis named a
A move toward Christianity in Muslim-dominated Kosovo?
Check this out from The New York Times: The Catholic priest stood at the altar in the hilltop church for
When A.I. steps into the pulpit
While most agree that using A.I. for tasks like research or marketing is acceptable, other uses for the technology, like
Pope expresses sorrow over New Orleans attack, sends message to Archbishop Aymond
Details: Pope Francis has said he is“deeply saddened” to learn of the “loss of life and injury" caused by a
Bishops express ‘grave concern’ over possibility of arrests in churches
"Grounded by the demands of the gospel of Jesus Christ and love of our neighbors, we urge our elected officials
John Dickerson on Jimmy Carter’s faith: A man ‘at ease in the face of eternity’
This popped up the other day: a refreshing look at the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter by correspondent (and
Tangled: Homily for January 1, 2025, Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God
This is a time of year when a lot of us are making resolutions – trying to kick habits, lose
Homilies come from surprising places — and I just found one on CBS’s ‘Sunday Morning’
I had a rare Sunday morning when I didn't need to be at my parish, and so of course I
‘My soul doth magnify the Lord’: Olivia Hussy as Mary in ‘Jesus of Nazareth’
What a beautifully realized scene this is: Marina Berti as Elizabeth and the incandescent Olivia Hussey as Mary, showing Franco
Pope Francis on St. Stephen
The Holy Father delivered an Angelus address on December 26th to commemorate the proto-martyr and deacon, St. Stephen. He had
Pope Francis opens the door at St. Peter’s, beginning the Holy Year
A dramatic moment of history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLuE6a3q6JQ From Vatican News: As Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica,
ABC News goes behind the scenes of ‘The Chosen’ for the 5th season
Just in time for Christmas, here's something different from our friends in the legacy media: a respectful and fairly lengthy
Protests erupt in Syria: ‘We will sacrifice our souls for our cross’
From the BBC: Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the
‘Why are so many Christians so cruel?’
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash Columnist David French looked at that question in The New York Times
‘The Shock of Faith’ — and a striking echo of Thomas Merton
The New York Times columnist David Brooks — once an agnostic, now a believer — writes about his experience of
To life: Biden commutes nearly all death sentences on federal death row — UPDATED
From The New York Times: President Biden on Monday commuted the sentences of nearly all prisoners on federal death row,
Are we there yet?: Homily for December 22, 2024, 4th Sunday of Advent
Are we there yet? How many times I asked that question when I was growing up! Two or three times
Trump taps Brian Burch for Ambassador to Holy See
From Reuters: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Friday that he had picked Brian Burch, the president of the political
When it comes to receiving Holy Communion, kneeling isn’t the problem
From my experience: the kneeling-and-on-the-tongue Catholics aren't the problem. It's everybody else. Like a lot of people, I read Cardinal Blase
‘An awesome moment’: Bishop blesses and formally installs three women as acolytes
From NCR: Nearly four years since Pope Francis changed canon law to allow women to be installed as lectors and
Trump’s Catholics in the White House: ‘There’s a very specific Catholic paradigm’
P0litico noticed that the new administration has a lot of Catholics, and decided to look at what that might mean:
USCCB and American Jewish Committee join forces to combat antisemitism
Details: In an effort to “continue building bridges and combat antisemitism,” the U.S. Bishops’ Conference and American Jewish Committee have
Let’s talk about those Notre-Dame vestments …
They raised a lot of eyebrows, and blood pressures, when they were spotted at the Mass for the restored cathedral
Notre-Dame tells the story of Advent: Homily for December 8, 2024, 2nd Sunday of Advent
They said it couldn’t be done. In April of 2019, the world watched in sorrow and disbelief as one
Dear God, I hope I grow old like Dick Van Dyke
This is pretty wonderful. From The New York Times: Dick Van Dyke, the lithe and witty nonagenarian whose career spans
Why Notre Dame matters
In 2019, just a few days before Easter, one of the great treasures of the world, Notre Dame in Paris,
A ‘fourth order’ for women deacons?
The topic has come up in some discussions, and my friend Deacon William Ditewig addresses that question in the current
Trump will attend Notre Dame reopening
From OSV: President-elect Donald Trump will attend the upcoming reopening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, he said Dec.
Study: Fewer than half of Americans go to church at Christmas
For a country that claims — according to Gallup — to be nearly 70% Christian, this is surprising. Details: As
Remembering Msgr. Phillip J. Reilly, a great pro-life leader from Brooklyn
This great priest entered eternal life on November 30 at the age of 90. The founder of Helpers for God's
Beyond Pre-Cana: a groundbreaking marriage prep that is getting results
Witness to Love is now flourishing in multiple languages in ninety dioceses in the United States, where it is touching
Welcome back, Notre Dame. You look stunning.
This is something to see. From CNN: The resurrection of Notre Dame – the treasured Gothic gem in the heart of Paris
Bill Murray on the painting that saved him: ‘I, too, get another chance every day the sun comes up’
The comedian Bill Murray spoke about this painting a decade ago, but his comments are now making the rounds on
Make this day a prayer: A Thanksgiving homily
A priest I know likes to say that Thanksgiving is one of his favorite holidays, and not just because of
Vatican to consider ‘spiritual abuse’ as a crime
From Reuters: Pope Francis has asked the Vatican to study whether the Catholic Church should classify "spiritual abuse" as a
Who are the most fulfilled workers? Hint: you see them every Sunday.
The people at AmeriCorps decided to ask the question, "What are the most fulfilling jobs in America?" The process was
Collared deacons: this is how it’s done
The Diocese of Syracuse will soon have its deacons wearing the Roman collar. And the diocese is being smart and
So what’s the deal with December 9?
With the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception falling on Sunday this year, things are complicated. Our Sunday Visitor unpacks it:
Pope announces canonization dates for Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati
From Reuters: An Italian teenager who used his computer skills to spread the Catholic faith will become the first saint
After nearly 50 years, Baltimore clergyman reinstated as priest
'With great joy, I hand your chalice back to you.' A remarkable tale, from Baltimore's Catholic Review: Almost exactly 50
‘Turning sorrows into joy’: Diocese of Columbus re-establishes Order of Widows
As far as I know, this is the first place to do this in the U.S. From Aleteia: On October
Pope: investigate whether Israel’s attacks on Gaza constitute genocide
From AP: Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, according to excerpts released
Martin Scorsese talks about ‘The Saints,’ filmmaking and faith — UPDATED
"For me, it’s time to go back to the perennial values of the church and, which Pope Francis is trying
Oklahoma creates ‘Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism’
Maybe other states have done this, too, but this seems worth noting: The Oklahoma Department of Education has announced that
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Phoenix
Some happy news Monday from the Diocese of Phoenix. Ignacio Rodriguez dropped me a line to say: I share with
‘No greater love’: A prayer for veterans
Jesus, you said, ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ Today we pray
Dorothy Day and ‘the duty of hope’
I found this today and couldn't resist sharing. Dorothy Day was born on November 8, 1897. This reflection is from
Bishop abrogates decree on sacred music in Jefferson City
This is an extraordinary move from Bishop Shawn McKnight, following the uproar surrounding the banning music in his diocese: “I
A small choice, a big difference
Axios published this advice yesterday and I think it makes sense. From CNN's Madeline Holcombe: I was listening to the
Words for a Wednesday morning: ‘We need to see the light of hope’
I'm giving a couple talks to deacons this weekend in Massachusetts, built around the theme of hope (and, more pointedly,
Election 2024: Catholics favored Trump; seven states voted for abortion rights
From CNA: The Catholic vote on Tuesday broke for former President Donald Trump by a large margin nationwide and within
A letter to the next president
This was published yesterday, from Bishop James T. Ruggieri of Portland, Maine, who noted: Regardless of the outcome of the
Wise words from a Guardian of the Galaxy: ‘Be of service’
Your civic duty can be uniquely exercised on November 5th, but there is an even bigger civic duty required the
‘Chatbots are the new priests’
The Catholic Answers debacle gave us a preview of what's to come. Now, it seems, everybody is getting into the
Chicago’s Auxiliary Bishop Grob named new Archbishop of Milwaukee
The Holy See made the announcement this morning: The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of
‘Send Me a Sign’: Is this 2024’s best ad?
The gifted marketing folks at John Lewis & Parnters offer the world a gift every year with their artful, poignant
Once again, the Amish show us what it means to be Christian
Their extraordinary outreach after the horrific tragedy in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania set the gold standard for showing the world what
From The New York Times: ‘You might consider praying’
Well, here's some good advice from a surprising source: The New York Times. The paper today published a guest essay
Prayer before an election
Lord God, as the election approaches, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country, and
Right now, three words to live by: ‘Love your enemies’
The people behind He Gets Us have shrewdly started sprinkling this particular ad on cable TV, scattered among shows on
Archbishop severs ties with Girl Scouts
From Cincinnati: Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr said Monday he is ending the Catholic archdiocese’s relationship with the Girl Scouts because
‘All Are Welcome’ not welcome: Bishop bans hymns in diocese — UPDATED
Details: [Bishop Shawn McKnight] of the Jefferson City Diocese has published a list of forbidden hymns. Bishop McKnight earned a doctorate
Puerto Rico archbishop calls for personal apology from Donald Trump
From OSV News: The Archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Archbishop Roberto O. González Nieves, has written an open
Tom Llamas, NBC Anchor and Catholic
For several years now, The New York Times has devoted space in its Sunday paper to profiling notable New Yorkers
‘We are all Bartimaeus’
From my homily for this Sunday: The fact is: we are all, in some way, Bartimaeus. We are all weak
Vatican produces final Synod document
From Vatican News: Addressing the Synod Assembly on Saturday evening, Pope Francis highlighted how the Final Document, written over the
WATCH: Trailer for new movie about military chaplains, ‘Fighting Spirit’
This looks like a powerful and important work, about men whose stories have long been overlooked, from Paulist Productions. Details:
How about an ordinariate for TLM Catholics?
That's one proposal being put forth by a priest in France. From OSV News: As pilgrims gather in Rome for
It’s here: the pope’s new encyclical on the Sacred Heart, ‘He Loved Us’
Details: ‘He loved us’, Saint Paul says of Christ (cf. Rom 8:37), in order to make us realize that nothing can ever
Looking for a prayer resource for Advent? Here you go.
If you're hunting around for a little something for your parish or prayer group, maybe this will be right up
Humility: Bishop declines to become a cardinal so he can ‘grow in priestly life’
This is extraordinary, from the Vatican Tuesday night: 62-year-old Indonesian Franciscan Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, who was appointed by Pope
The Nazareths of John Paul
Greatness often begins in unexpected places. Today is St. John Paul's feast day. Below is the homily I delivered at
Another election year, another fake ‘Catholic’ newspaper
You may remember this story from a couple years back, describing a "Catholic" paper that was being delivered to unsuspecting
Cardinal Fernandez: In some places, deacons are seen as ‘ordained altar boys’
Pope Francis has expressed that “at this moment the the question of the female diaconate is not ripe." From Vatican
Coming Thursday: a new encyclical from Pope Francis
Details: Pope Francis will publish the fourth encyclical of his pontificate on Thursday on “the human and divine love of
WATCH: Gaffigan and Trump at the Al Smith Dinner
I didn't catch this last night. (I had to be up early Friday morning to catch a plane to Tulsa,
BREAKING: Los Angeles agrees to record payout in sex abuse claims
'No designated donations to parishes or schools or to archdiocesan-wide collections and campaigns will be used for the financing of
Surviving the storm: Chicago deacons send supplies to North Carolina
From The Chicago Sun-Times: Catholic deacons gathered Sunday in southwest suburban Lemont to finish packing hundreds of buckets filled with
Governor Whitmer’s apology to Catholics
You may have heard that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer caused quite a stir a few days ago: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
A deacon at the Synod: we are ‘bridge-builders’
Deacon Geert De Cubber from Belgium is the only Latin Rite permanent deacon participating at the Vatican Synod, and he
A thing of beauty
We're back in business. Power flickered back on at 5:30 pm ET Sunday. Woo hoo! "Now thank we all, our
After Milton: The story so far
So after the storm of the century, what do you do? It's Saturday afternoon, about 12:30, and I'm sitting in
WATCH: ‘The Blessings of Being a Deacon’
It's rare for a diocese to invest the time, talent and money in making a video of this caliber about
Some Advent thoughts while waiting for Milton
Advent came early this year in Florida. We're waiting for what can accurately and without exaggeration be described as the
Deacon preaches at Washington Red Mass, calls for civility
A grateful diaconal bow to Washington media vet (and all around great gal) Susan Gibbs for alerting me to this.
Pope Francis names 21 new cardinals
From Vatican News: Pope Francis announced after his Sunday Angelus that he would hold a Consistory for the creation of
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Rockford
Congratulations, brothers and welcome! Ad multos annos!
Blessing of Animals, 2024
After several years of missing this event, I finally got to do the Blessing of Animals this year. It was
‘Radical amazement’: Homily for October 6, 2024, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Defending the unborn at the beginning of life is just the beginning. If we want to call ourselves “pro-life,” we need
Archbishop: diaconate is a ‘surrender’ to Jesus
Some news out of Rome that has nothing to do with the Synod, via CNS: Before the Altar of the
A Synod begins, a clear ‘no’ to women deacons
"The dicastery judges that there is still no room for a positive decision by the Magisterium regarding the access of
Praying for forgiveness as the Synod begins
From OSV News: The Catholic Church cannot be credible in its mission of proclaiming Christ unless it acknowledges its mistakes
Devastation: Catholics respond in North Carolina
From OSV News: Relief efforts are under way to help communities across western North Carolina reeling from the impacts of
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Boston
From The Boston Pilot: While volunteering at MainSpring House and My Brother's Keeper, Deacon Michael Judge met many "giving men."
Word on Fire launches mental health ministry — with inspiration from Shia LaBeouf
Details from CNA: The Word on Fire Institute, founded by Bishop Robert Barron, launched a program earlier this month designed
Trump slams Catholics who vote for ‘Comrade Kamala’ Harris
"Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined." After Kamala Harris's campaign announced that she
A new treasure for New York City: John Nava’s ‘Holy People of the Americas”
This popped up on my Facebook feed this morning, from Fr. James Martin: I was scrolling through Instagram and came
‘Are you resolved to support your husband…?’
I'm leading a retreat for deacons this weekend in bucolic Lafayette, Indiana — surrounded by (parched) cornfields and acres of
WATCH: King Charles reads ‘God’s Grandeur’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Here's something you don't see every day: the head of the Church of England reading the classic words of a
Bishops of Ohio issue letter on Springfield and ‘the dignity of every person’
"Let us reject a mindset of judging who belongs to our community and put on the mind of Christ to
Vatican gives green light to devotion at Medjugorje
“Although we find many positive elements that help to heed the call of the Gospel, when we consider the overall
It can’t be said enough: pray for our priests
The X thread below combines tweets by Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP, and it serves as a reminder to us all
A Vatican verdict on Medjugorje?
Maybe. Catholic News Service posted the following on X Monday morning: Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery
On lying
Maybe it's time to take a look at lying. That includes spreading half-truths, unsubstantiated rumors and baseless accusations. You don't
Saying who Jesus is: Homily for September 15, 2024, 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is not much we know about him beyond his name: Matthew Ayariga. But his story, or what we know
Pope Francis: Both Trump and Harris are ‘against life’
"Which is the lesser evil? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know. Each person must think and decide according
Pope in Singapore: ‘All religions are a path to God’
From Crux: In a line that may once again stir reaction in more traditional Catholic quarters, Pope Francis on Friday
An archbishop stands up for the migrants of Springfield
Kevin Clarke at America magazine spoke with a Catholic prelate who has long experience in migration issues, Miami's Archbishop Thomas
Remembrance: Santa Fe installs plaque to victims of clergy sexual abuse
This is something exceptional, via OSV News: The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has installed a plaque near the entrance of
WATCH: A brief documentary on women deacons from America Media
This is worth your time: a thoughtful and balanced video that looks at the ongoing discussion about ordaining women as
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Milwaukee
From the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Facebook page: Joy, Love, and Celebration as We Give Thanks to God for 11 New
Prayer for a deacon who has died
Father of mercies, I pray at this hour for one of your servants, a brother deacon who has completed his
Well done, good and faithful servant: newly ordained Deacon Von George has died
Some of you may remember his story from a few days ago. This news was posted by his wife on
Allentown’s newest deacon is battling terminal cancer
Details: Von George kneeled before Bishop Alfred A. Schlert, his head bowed, wearing the white stole of a cleric. It
Change of heart: Homily for September 1, 2024, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts…” In the gospel we just heard, Jesus speaks of the roots
Another opportunity for deacons in Rome during next year’s Jubilee
The good people at the International Diaconate Centre sent me a little news for next February: Are you planning to
Ordination update: 10 new deacons for Louisville
Details: During a ceremony that was at times meditative and others joyful, 10 men were ordained permanent deacons Aug. 24 at St.
Are Communion chalices coming back?
In my travels after the pandemic, it seems the shared use of chalices at Mass for the Precious Blood is
How JD Vance found his way into the Catholic Church
The New York Times unpacks the religious journey of the GOP nominee for Vice President: From his new home in
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for San Bernardino
The booming diocese in California got a new batch of deacons on Saturday. The new deacons: Alejandro Reyes, Rubin Rodriguez,
Boston’s new archbishop: ‘I realize my life is not my own now. I’ll be completely theirs.’
The new archbishop of Boston, Richard Henning, spoke with OSV News recently — and attention must be paid. He has
UPDATE: ‘There is nothing a deacon can do that a lay person can’t’
Father Thomas Reese pulls the pin and tosses a live grenade into the conversation about ordaining women as deacons, by
Jesus at the ballpark
An interesting look at a growing phenomenon in baseball, from the good people at Religion Unplugged: At 8:15 p.m. on
On Mary: ‘A living house for the Lord’
My homily for the Feast of the Assumption, 2019: Imagine for a moment the map of Italy. On the back
From CBS News: A look at California’s Catholic ‘megachurch’
Details: For Catholics in Central California, bigger means better — and St. Charles Borromeo Church feels heaven-sent. The largest Catholic
Need a little joy? Here.
My old CBS News colleague Dan Rather sent this out this morning to his Substack subscribers, along with some thoughts
Pope names Providence Bishop Henning to replace retiring Cardinal O’Malley in Boston
Details: Capping more than twenty years as one of American Catholicism’s most influential leaders, Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s tenure as the
Hindu faithful in Italy embrace a Catholic saint
From The New York Times: After they spread pink petals on golden statues of Ganesh and Shiva, and recited prayers
St. Sebastian, rosaries, Sunday Mass: The faith of Simone Biles
From CNS: U.S. Olympic gymnast and Paris gold medalist Simone Biles said she credits God and her faith for her success. Biles,
Fragments: Homily for July 28, 2024, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He may be one of the most important American saints that most people have never heard of. His name is
‘We have been deceived’: In Nigeria, chancellor claims deacons were ordained under false pretenses
From The Pillar: A Nigerian diocese announced on Friday that four deacons were ordained earlier this month under false pretenses,
Celine Dion’s stunning ‘Hymn to Love’ at the Olympics
Unquestionably, the highlight of the long (really long) and often bewildering — and, at times, blasphemous — opening ceremonies of
What Mary Magdalene may have to tell us about women and the diaconate
Here's a different way of looking at the ministery, from someone who has written about the saint, Elizabeth Schrader Polczeer:
R.I.P. Bob Newhart, Catholic
The comedy legend died today at the age of 94: Bob Newhart, the genteel but sharply satirical comic whose TV
FIRST LOOK: ‘Conclave,’ starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci
The first trailer of this new film is below. Details: Conclave is an upcoming thriller film directed by Edward Berger and written by Peter Straughan, based
What’s the problem with celebrity converts?
A convert and blogger, Michelle Arnold, has some thoughts and what seems to be a distinctly Catholic phenomenon right now.
LISTEN: The story behind my homily after the Trump assassination attempt
Some of you probably saw the revised homily that I wrote for last Sunday. The piece was picked up by
WATCH: Archbishop Listecki’s invocation at GOP convention in Milwaukee
In case you missed it, here is the opening prayer delivered Monday night by the Catholic leader of Milwaukee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rtS4990_oQ&t=2s
Meet J.D. Vance, Trump’s Catholic running mate
From The New York Times: Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, the newly announced running mate to former President Donald J.
Faith leaders react to assassination attempt on Trump
From RNS: Reactions from faith leaders and fellow politicians to Donald Trump’s narrow escape from an apparent assassin’s bullet called
After Butler: Revised Homily for July 14, 2024, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I preached at the 5 p.m. Mass Saturday. But after the events of Saturday afternoon, I decided I needed to
The Catholic Camino increasingly draws the spiritual but not religious
I've met a few non-Catholics who have made this trek — and apparently they have plenty of company. From RNS:
Packing light: Homily for Sunday, July 14, 2024, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Every time I encounter this gospel in the Sunday readings, I’m reminded of this sad fact: I would have been
‘You are to become a living gospel’
This is extraordinary — and should be required viewing for anyone in ministry. One of the great communicators of our
Knights of Columbus will cover Rupnik mosaics at St. John Paul II shrine
From OSV News: The Knights of Columbus has announced the Catholic fraternal organization will cover mosaics by ex-Jesuit Father Marko
From The New York Times: A look at America’s new Catholic priests
Take a look: On a sunny afternoon in May, Zachary Galante was sitting in a conference room in St. Francis
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Bridgeport
"Remember the example of Peter, who was chosen not because he was perfect but because he was humble of heart
Vatican approves another Marian apparition
This is a new one to me: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) announced the approval of
UPDATE: Meet the father and son deacons of Indianapolis
"There must be a reason that he’s calling the two of us to Holy Orders. … It’s just complete providence.”
BREAKING: Viganò excommunicated
From Vatican News: Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former apostolic nuncio to the United States of America, has incurred excommunication latae sententiae for
‘Apache Christ’ returned to New Mexico church
This caused a stir a few days ago. Now, an update, from OSV News: An Indigenous image of Jesus Christ
Report: ‘Full communion’ with some Anglicans?
“If this bold initiative works ... communion between Catholics and Anglicans in the Global South would be an overwhelming witness
Worth a thousand words: O come, let us adore him
Noted on Facebook (h/t Jason Shanks): Bishop of Columbus, Earl Fernandes adoring Jesus contained in a tabernacle in the National Eucharistic
Walking by faith: Homily for June 30, 2024, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Have we been listening? Across the last few weeks, one small word has loomed large over the gospels: Five letters
Cardinal O’Malley urges Vatican departments to stop using Rupnik artwork
From NCR: Less than one week after the head of the Vatican's communications department strongly defended his office's continued use of
Court fines church leaders for denying woman admission to diaconate
Details: A Belgian civil court has fined two Catholic prelates after they denied a woman entry into a diaconate formation
Historic: Former Anglican priest is consecrated Catholic bishop
Details: In a first, a former Anglican priest has been consecrated as a bishop in the Ordinariate of Our Lady
Religious sister on women deacons: ‘An interview is not the magesterium of the church’
From NCR: A leading religious sister in the Amazon region believes Pope Francis' recent interview that seemed to close the door
The aging diaconate: questions and concerns
From OSV News: The number of permanent deacons in America is holding relatively steady, but more than a third of
A little news
So this happened last night. I got a text from my friend Elizabeth Scalia with one word: "Congratulations!" Attached was
Collared: Meet the priest who is about to clerk at the Supreme Court
“I believe he’s the first priest to serve as a priest and Supreme Court clerk simultaneously." History in the making:
Ordination update: 20 new deacons for Wheeling-Charleston
It happened on June 7th. Details below. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos!
Trenton plans to retool its diaconate program
Take a look, from the Trenton Monitor: A restructured program for deacon preparation is set to be rolled out this
Viganò: Vatican is launching trial against me for schism
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò posted the following on his X account this morning: The archbishop's full response can be found
It’s the law: Louisiana now requires 10 Commandments to be displayed in schools
Details, from The New York Times: Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation on Wednesday requiring the display of the Ten Commandments
Great moments in social media: Father’s Day edition
Really, Word on Fire, I think you know better. (Spoiler alert: that guy in the ad below is not a
Pope to comedians: help us to dream of a better world
“When you manage to bring intelligent smiles to the lips of even a single spectator, you also make God smile.”
‘I wish you guys could feel what I feel inside right now’
This is beautiful: a video from the Diocese of Trenton, with highlights of the recent ordination of deacons. I think
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Orlando
My new home diocese welcomed new deacons last Saturday, when Bishop John Noonan ordained 18 men at the Basilica Shrine
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for San Antonio
Archbishop Gustavo himself made the announcement on X: There’re new 16 permanent deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
So, the pope, a comedian and a talk show host walk into a bar …
No joke. This is about to happen: Pope Francis will take the mic in front of over 100 comics, stand-up
Ordination update: new deacons for San Jose
It happened on Saturday, May 18. Bishop Bishop Oscar Cantú ordained Oscar Godinez to the diaconate, along with seminarian Thanh
Saskatoon’s first permanent deacon dies two days after ordination
Remember him, please, in your prayers: On May 28, 2024, two days after he was ordained a Permanent Deacon, Paul
So, you want to go to Greece? Here’s my advice
"We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road..." With those words from Richard Gillard's hymn burning
Ken Burns’ commencement speech offers two important words of advice
The great documentary filmmaker and storyteller says it repeatedly in the speech: "Listen, listen." While a few news stories have
On pilgrimage: So long, farewell
If it's Tuesday, it must be our last day for our journey in the footsteps of St. Paul, and we
On pilgrimage: In Corinth
This was a relatively short day, spending the morning in Corinth before returning to our hotel in Athens for the
On pilgrimage: With Mary, John and Prochorus
This is why we came here. It wasn't for the sensational weather, glorious blue seas or exotic dining. It was
On pilgrimage: Setting sail, marking an anniversary, fighting the crowds in Santorini
Friday, we were up early (again) and out the door (again) to head for the port and begin our three-day
On pilgrimage: holy Greece, ancient ruins, and arriving at last in Athens
Up early again and out the door, heading for the legendary Delphi and the region around Mount Parnassus. Our first
On pilgrimage: Climb every mountain
Our journey through Greece continues! Wednesday, we boarded the bus and headed west. Along the way, we got a glimpse
On pilgrimage: Great beginnings in Greece
So here we are. After a loooong journey from Orlando to Frankfurt to Thessaloniki — departing Florida (delayed an hour)
Where does the time go?
So 17 years ago, May 19, 2007, this happened. It seems a lifetime ago — and only yesterday. How did
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Trenton
And I'm pleased and proud to report one is a friend and former colleague from Patheos, Tom McDonald. Details: BISHOP
Picture of the day — maybe, of the year
A stunning moment from the pope's visit Saturday to Verona: Pope Francis’s one-day pastoral visit to the northern Italian city
Albany to ordain 5 priests and a deacon at the same liturgy
Combined ordinations aren't commonplace, but they're doing it in Albany on Saturday. From the diocesan press release: The combined Priesthood
A prayer before a pilgrimage
We head to the airport Sunday afternoon and will be in Greece late Monday, beginning our journey in the footsteps
Fact check: Butker on antisemitism, Congress and Catholic teaching
OSV News did some fact-checking: Claims circulating among right-leaning influencers about legislation under consideration in Congress to counter antisemitism on
Vatican releases new norms on apparitions, supernatural phenomena
The document originates from the long experience of the last century, which saw cases where the local bishop (or bishops
Too busy for church? How about a 15-minute ‘micro service’?
Seriously? Is this what we have come to? The idea, from Religion Unplugged: Is 15 minutes enough for a church
WATCH: 60 seconds of beautiful devotion and faith
Behold: thousands gathered at the renowned shrine in Portugal to mark the 107th anniversary of the first apparition of Our
Chicago pastor offers apology for the way he conducted same-sex blessing
You may remember this story from a couple weeks ago: A priest in Chicago last month blessed a same-sex couple,
Louisiana First Communion Mass interrupted by teen with rifle
From OSV News: A first Communion Mass at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana, was disrupted May 11
‘Jesus’ speaks to grads at CUA: ‘Preach the Gospel by the life you live’
Details: Actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus Christ in the popular television series “The Chosen,” encouraged graduates at the Catholic
Deacon Joseph Donadieu, RIP
He was a singular figure in the diaconate community of Trenton and in Catholic journalism and communications. Thanks to Tom
South Carolina to get its first Catholic college
From CNA: Author and Anglican convert Father Dwight Longenecker along with a number of Catholic scholars are launching the first
Orthodox patriarchate ordains female deacon in Zimbabwe
From CNA: The Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa ordained Zimbabwean Angelic Molen as a deaconess in the Orthodox
Pope declares a Holy Year devoted to hope
From OSV News: “The time has come for a new Jubilee when once more the Holy Door will be flung
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for Metuchen
From the diocese's Facebook page: On Friday, May 3, 2024, on the Feast of Saints Philip and James, at the
From Nashville to Knoxville: Pope names Tennessee priest as new bishop
From the Diocese of Knoxville: Pope Francis has appointed Father James Mark Beckman, 61, a priest of the Diocese of
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Cleveland
This makes my heart dance. The Diocese of Cleveland welcomed six new deacons Saturday, including my old friend Mike Hayes
Father Gregory Boyle to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
This hasn't gotten much attention, but I think this is notable: President Joe Biden on Friday will name 19 recipients of
Does the Church need transitional deacons? Here’s another view
Several days ago, Deacon Bill Ditewig published this essay in America magazine, calling for re-thinking the diaconate — beginning with
Russell Brand, Christian
The actor who has been chronicling his faith journey on social media for many months now announced he was "taking
‘The Catholic Church doesn’t need transitional deacons’
That's the headline for this essay from Bill Ditewig, in the new edition of America. Snip: First, we must immediately
A first for Indianapolis: father and son deacons
What a wonderful witness. From my friend Sean Gallagher at The Criterion: I was blessed today to do reporting at
Report: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati to be canonized next year
There's been no official announcement or confirmation yet from Rome. But a report popped up this morning, quoting remarks by
Historic: Francis will become first pope to attend G7 summit
From America: In a surprise announcement on April 26, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Pope Francis had accepted her invitation
BREAKING: ‘Father Justin’ laicized
It started with a bang. And ended with a whimper. Thus ends one of the shortest religious vocations on record.
Catholic Answers unveils ‘Father Justin,’ an AI priest — UPDATED
Welcome to 2024. Catholic Answers is now using a computer-generated "priest" to answer questions. Color me skeptical. And a little
‘Living proof that God is Catholic’
This is just fantastic. Bono pays tribute to Frank Sinatra at the 1994 Grammys. Best. Intro. Ever. Bono reportedly scribbled
In two years, he doubled the number of priestly vocations in his diocese. What’s his secret?
He believes young people need to know that 'God is calling them after a purpose — whatever God has created
The important quality we are missing today: humility
This essay caught my eye yesterday, and I think the author, Frank Bruni, is on to something: We live in
‘A shepherd doesn’t run’: Homily for April 21, 2024, 4th Sunday of Easter
He was born in Okarche, Oklahoma in 1935. His parents, Franz and Gertrude Rother, were farmers. They gave their son
On women deacons: ‘The pope wants to listen…’
This short video from Rome Reports caught my eye this morning. It features an interview with theologian Linda Pocher, one
FBI probe finds no ‘malicious intent’ toward Catholics
From The New York Times: A memo by the F.B.I. warning of possible threats posed by “radical-traditionalist” Catholics violated professional
See you in Rome: Join me on pilgrimage for the Jubilee for Deacons
I am so looking forward to this. After months of planning, the pieces are finally in place. I'm pleased to
‘Where did food pantries come from?’
My friend Tony Rossi looks at a subject that should be of interest to a lot of people involved in
Assyrian bishop stabbed, blesses his attacker while bleeding
From CNN: A bishop was among several people reportedly stabbed at a church service in Sydney, Australia on Monday –
Hold on for dear life: experiencing the Storm at Sea with Jesus like never before
That's just one part of the extraordinary art exhibit called "Frameless" that's been playing in London for several months now.
Survey: Approval of pope slips; most Catholics believe some teachings should change
From NCR: Three-quarters of U.S. Catholics view Pope Francis favorably, but that figure is down 8 percentage points from 2021
UPDATE: Man accused of stealing cash while posing as priest arrested
You may remember this story from last month. He's been caught in California: A New York man who was allegedly
How common is religious fasting?
With Ramadan coming to an end (and Lent just recently past), the good people at the Pew Research Center decided
UPDATE: New allegations against Father Rupnik filed in Rome
The story just keeps getting worse: Five new complaints of alleged abuse committed by Father Marko Rupnik have been presented
Franciscan priest from Atlanta named bishop of Charlotte — UPDATED with video
From The Catholic Herald: The Diocese of Charlotte today announced that longtime Bishop Peter J. Jugis, 67, is retiring due
New Vatican document condemns widespread threats to human dignity
The new document seeks to elevate a number of social themes emphasized by Pope Francis during his decade-long papacy —
Wisconsin bishop accuses Viganò of ‘public defamation’
Details: A Wisconsin bishop has publicly rebuked the former apostolic nuncio to the United States, accusing him of defamation and
Boom: Diocese of Charlotte to build new cathedral
Among 193 Catholic cathedrals across the U.S., 15 have been built or expanded within the past 40 years – including
A worldwide phenomenon: fewer priests and consecrated religious, more deacons
The number of permanent deacons continued to show significant evolutionary dynamics. In 2022, the number improved in all continents at
Coming next week: Vatican document on human dignity, sex-change surgery, surrogacy
Details: The Vatican’s top doctrinal office next week will unveil a new declaration on the theme of human dignity, one
Tammy Peterson: Joining the Church and feeling ‘at home’
This is a short but potent video, featuring the wife of Jordan Peterson. She talks about her experience of coming
Kansas will honor Servant of God Father Emil Kapaun
Excellent news: A Catholic priest from the Diocese of Wichita who served as an Army chaplain in World War II
What does Easter feel like?: Homily for Easter 2024
I'm late getting to this, but now that I'm preaching somewhat regularly again, I hope I can post my homilies
Megyn Kelly’s Good Friday confession: the challenges of going through an annulment
The former Fox and NBC anchor now hosts a show on Sirius XM. And during a conversation with Bishop Robert
Russian Orthodox Church issues document condemning Fiducia Supplicans
Details from Zenit: The Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church published a document titled “On the Orthodox Attitude towards the New Practice
Bad numbers on Good Friday
Catholics continue to lose more members than they gain, though the retention rate for Hispanic Catholics is somewhat higher. A
In a first, pope washes feet of women only
From CNN: Pope Francis on Thursday has washed the feet of 12 women at a prison in Rome during a ceremony emphasizing
When the pews go empty: church attendance dropping
From Axios: Vermont (75%), New Hampshire (66%) and Maine (66%) have the highest share of adults who say they never
Want deacons at the Synod? Add your name, send a message
Deacon Dom Cerrato, editor of The Deacon, has asked me to spread the word about this item, recently posted on
Nicholas Sandmann update: SCOTUS declines to hear ‘cancel culture’ case
You may remember the name Nicholas Sandmann from the Catholic high school student's confrontation with a Native American a few
Catholic Charities reports threats to staffers are on the rise
From RNS: The man who left a recording on Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor’s voicemail earlier this month spoke with an even
The excommunication of Deacon Peyton
Our Sunday Visitor has the details: A permanent deacon in the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, whose then-teenage son was molested by
A deacon’s lament: The empty chair at the Synod table
With the news that the next Synod gathering will include five U.S. priests, Deacon Bill Ditewig reflects on the continuing
Five U.S. priests chosen to attend Synod meeting
Details: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced Wednesday the names of five parish priests who have been selected
FIRST LOOK: ‘Wildcat,’ a film about the haunted, haunting world of Flannery O’Connor
This just dropped, and it's fascinating. Details: Wildcat is a 2023 American biographical drama film about American novelist Flannery O'Connor struggling to publish her first novel.
Boom: Diocese of Columbus doubles its number of seminarians in two years
From Vatican News: “When I was installed as bishop almost two years, there were no ordinations to the priesthood in
‘The quiet member of the Holy Family has much to say, if we are willing to listen.’: Why St. Joseph matters
He teaches us that silence is golden—and that the quiet ones, the shy ones, can sometimes change the world. In
Vatican: Women deacons, not celibacy, on the docket for Synod study
From Crux: Organizers of Pope Francis’s ongoing Synod of Bishops on Synodality announced Thursday that ten different working groups had
Pope: If I resign, I want to be known as the ‘Bishop Emeritus of Rome’
From Vatican News: The Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera” releases several passages from Pope Francis’ autobiographical book entitled "Life. My
Father of lies: Man accused of stealing cash while posing as a priest
Be aware and alert: A man accused of posing as a priest to steal money may have also stolen from
‘If you are looking for a movie about how saints actually look, how ordinary the extraordinary is, then this is the movie to see’
I haven't had an opportunity to see “Cabrini” yet, but my friend Gerard Nadal has, and posted this take on
So how did ‘Cabrini’ do at the box office?
A press release from Carmel Communications: Angel Studios — a platform and studio empowering filmmakers to crowdfund, create and distribute
In honor of St. Patrick: Make this incredible soda bread! Your priests will thank you.
It happens every year around this time: thoughtful, well-meaning people cart large amounts of carb-enriched food to rectories, knock on
Want a little inspiration for the Year of Prayer? I know a guy.
Actually, I know a few. There are plenty of resources out there to help spark prayerful ideas for this year,
France makes history, guaranteeing right to abortion in its constitution
From The New York Times: French legislators on Monday voted to explicitly enshrine access to abortion in the Constitution, making
Church Militant to shut down next month
This news was first circulating late last week, following a high profile legal settlement — and months after its founder
‘You want a summary of what Lent is about? This is it.’
From my OSV News reflection this week: Incredibly, we’re already entering the third week of Lent. The ashes are a
‘The State of Texas killed Ivan Cantu. I was there with him…’
Yesterday, Sister Helen Prejean posted the following on her Facebook page: The State of Texas killed Ivan Cantu last night.
Helping the helpers: a great idea for Lent
I'm visiting Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Houston, Texas this week, preaching a Lenten mission, and I was impressed
Slaughter: Catholics killed in Burkina Faso while gathered for prayer
From the BBC: At least 15 people have been killed and two others injured following an attack on a Catholic
Pope Francis: ‘The diaconate does not disappear with priesthood’
"To serve, dear friends, is a verb that refuses all abstraction: to serve means to be available, to renounce living
The Lent Marathon: Houston, we have a Kandra
The journey continues! Heading out the door shortly to hop a flight to Houston and the second stop of my
Words for a broken world: ‘Go, get reconciled, and then come back’
A friend shared this with me this morning and I think it speaks to a lot of us right now.
Texas AG targets Catholic nonprofit, alleging it facilitates illegal immigration
Details: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to shut down a Catholic nonprofit organization in El Paso based on
After Rome intervenes, cardinal warns of schism
From OSV News: Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna warned of schism as German bishops want to keep to their reform
So, Cardinal Dolan, what do you think about that controversial funeral at the cathedral?
OSV News has the answer: Five days after mourners filled the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York for an
From the studio that brought you ‘The Chosen’ comes a new series: ‘Testament’
It's actually based on the success of a 2022 film by the same name, which imagined the parables retold in
‘Deacons are usually the first to arrive and the last to leave church…’
Atlanta's Auxiliary Bishop John Tran had the privilege of ordaining eight new deacons for the archdiocese earlier this month, and
St. Patrick’s holds reparations Mass after controversial funeral of Cecilia Gentili
This story made headlines yesterday, and it didn't take long for the cathedral in New York City to respond: The
The Lent Marathon begins
So I'm here at MCO (Orlando International Airport) at 4:13 am, about to begin what I'm calling my Lent Marathon:
St. Patrick’s Cathedral hosts funeral for transgender self-professed atheist
From The New York Times: The pews of St. Patrick’s Cathedral were packed on Thursday for an event with no
Wahlberg to Colbert: “Your lovely wife will tell you when you’re not ‘prayed up’ enough”
The actor and Hallow pitchman appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Wednesday night — complete with ashes on
Catholic mother of two killed in Super Bowl parade shooting
“She was full of joy all the time, no matter where she was.” Awful news. Please remember this mother and
Pope Francis: He gets it
There's been a lot of discussion online this week about the controversial "He Gets Us" ads that popped up during
How can you help your children stay Catholic?
A new study from CARA has some insight. From OSV News: The study found that participants from these families generally
The Pope said WHAT?!
The item below has been floating around social media for the last couple of days: People have reacted with variations
Jesus scores: Religious ads stand out at Super Bowl; Hallow sees record spike
From CNA: The Catholic prayer app Hallow aired its first-ever commercial during Super Bowl LVIII, which saw the Kansas City
The priest shortage in the U.S. could get a lot worse. And soon.
Because of changes to federal immigration processes, thousands of priests, brothers, and religious sisters across the country could have to
‘Stay prayed up’: Watch the Wahlberg-Roumie Super Bowl ad
Here it is: Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie promoting the popular app Hallow. This may be the most proudly "Catholic"
New ‘He Gets Us’ ads premiere during Super Bowl
Details: After making a splash on America's biggest secular holiday with two ads during last year's Super Bowl, "He Gets Us" is
Opening today: Padre Pio chapel in Kansas containing first-class relic
Details: A foundation dedicated to spreading devotion to St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio, is set to
Theologian: Pope Francis is ‘very much in favor’ of women deacons
Color me skeptical — more on that below — but here is a report from the website of the Catholic
The OTHER vocation: A homily for World Marriage Day
Married life is God extending Himself through time, continuing what began when He first called forth light and life. The
From New Orleans: St. Thomas More’s Prayer for Good Humor
The great Barbara Golder brought this to my attention, and it deserves a wider audience. As New Orleans prepares for
Hallow Super Bowl ad features Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan Roumie
From NCR: Catholic prayer and meditation app is hoping to inspire more than a Hail Mary pass or a bended
Pope Francis: ‘Welcome’ is at the heart of ‘Fiducia supplicans’
"No one is scandalized if I give a blessing to an entrepreneur who perhaps exploits people: and this is a
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Atlanta
It happened on Saturday, February 3: Auxiliary Bishop John Nhàn Trần ordained 8 new permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of
Bueller? Bueller? Deacon? Deacon?
Remember that scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off? A teacher (played memorably and all-too-perfectly by Ben Stein) takes attendance at
Joni Mitchell’s great epistle: ‘I really don’t know life at all…’
A few years back, I presided at a wedding where the bride did something unusual: she asked her great aunt
‘Observance of both matter and form has always been required for the validity’ of sacraments
"We ministers are required to have the strength to overcome the temptation to feel like owners of the Church." The
Fired Catholic CVS employee sues, claiming religious discrimination
Details from RNS: A former CVS Health employee filed a federal lawsuit in Florida against the company after she was
A standing ovation for Jesus on ‘The View’
On Wednesday, actor Jonathan Roumie paid a visit to the daytime talk show to plug the season premiere of "The
Florida priest and his sister killed in shooting spree
From OSV News: A retired Florida Catholic priest and his sister were killed in a multi-location rampage that also took
What’s up with that?: Answering the most-asked questions about sisters
Got questions about sisters? Here are answers! Two Sisters of Life sat down to answer the internet's top questions about
Pope Francis emphasizes: Bless the persons, not the union
"These blessings, outside of any liturgical context and form, do not require moral perfection to be received." He had a
Diocese of Pittsburgh to put armed guards in schools
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on Thursday said they would be staffing armed officers in schools
UPDATE: With all that’s happening in the Holy Land, Greece is the word
As many of you know, I was going to be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land this May, hot
And then there were ‘nones’: A closer look at the largest cohort in the U.S.
Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash Details: When Americans are asked to check a box indicating their religious affiliation, 28%
Farewell to a gentleman and a giant, Charles Osgood
A great writer has died: Charles Osgood, a legend at CBS News. He was 91. Among the many blessings in
‘Groundbreaking’: Iowa to ordain its first black American priest
H/T to Deacon Steven Greydanus for finding and sharing this press release: In a historic moment for the Catholic community,
Let us pray: Pope announces Year of Prayer ahead of 2025 Jubilee
Details: Pope Francis announced the start of a Year of Prayer on Sunday in preparation for the Catholic Church’s 2025
Shock: Bishop Dorsonville dies unexpectedly at 63
I've been on the road and am finally getting around to this sad news: Bishop Mario Dorsonville of the Diocese
Georgia on my mind
If anyone is around Atlanta Friday and Saturday and has nothing better to do, here's an idea. I'm giving a
Worth your time: ‘Can prayer empty hell?’
Here is faith, hope and love. This comes from Sister Gabriela of the Incarnation, a cloistered Discalced Carmelite whose life
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Grand Rapids
From the diocesan website: Nine men, members of the Parmenas class of deacon candidates, were ordained deacons for the Diocese
‘It was the culmination of a journey’: Watch video of Shia LaBeouf’s confirmation
Bishop Robert Barron posted this video on YouTube Friday. Related: Dear Shia: So you want to be a deacon. Great.
Pope meets with clergy of Rome, discusses blessing of same-sex couples
From Vatican News: A "missionary land." This was how Pope Francis described the Diocese of Rome on Saturday morning. He
‘It’s a shame you’re a woman, Mother. You would have made an excellent man.’
I don't know how I missed this trailer when it first came out last year, but this looks like something
Martin Scorsese discusses new film about Jesus
"I’m trying to find a new way to make it more accessible and take away the negative onus of what
Courage: Amid kidnappings and detentions, Nicaragua ordains 9 new priests
Since 20 December, at least 14 priests, two seminarians and the Bishop of Siuna, Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega, have
Vatican official: Time to ‘discuss seriously’ a married priesthood
It's a little ambiguous what he's talking about, but please read my footnote at the bottom. Details: The Church should
Dear Shia: So you want to be a deacon. Great. Here’s some advice.
Dear Shia, Well, let me just start out by saying: Congratulations on completing your journey into the Catholic Church! Welcome!
BREAKING: Vatican clarifies application of blessings in ‘irregular situations’
"We are talking about something that lasts about 10 or 15 seconds. Does it make sense to deny these kinds
Deacons, don’t forget this…!
UPDATE: You can find a good rendition for 2024 with all the applicable dates right here. It's that time again:
The hope and promise of Catholic Finland: ‘The distances are huge…but there’s a lot of love among us Christians’
"I told Pope Francis I want to be a shepherd who smells like reindeer, and he laughed quite a bit."
Happy New Year, Happy New Catholic: actor Shia LaBeouf confirmed New Year’s Eve — UPDATED
From Our Sunday Visitor: An actor who recently portrayed a beloved saint on screen has now fully come into the
Worth your time: Five Helps for the New Year
H/T to Father Daniel Gordon Dozier, my Byzantine sibling, who posted this on January 1. It comes from Bishop Michael
‘Grace is everywhere’: a homily for the Feast of the Holy Family
Here is part of my first homily for this weekend's feast, delivered just after Christmas 2007. I had the good
Cardinal Burke after meeting with Pope: ‘Well, I’m still alive’
From Reuters: Conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of Pope Francis' fiercest critics, had his first private audience with the
A Prayer for the Christmas Season
Heavenly Father, as we live these days of gratitude and grace, celebrating the birth of your son, guide our hearts
A little St. Stephen’s Day gift for you: a fresh and inspiring look at ‘The Chosen’ on CBS News
If, like a lot of us, you had other things to do on the morning of Christmas Eve — Mass,
‘To God, who changed history in the course of a census, you are not a number, but a face’
"Sisters and brothers, let us marvel at the fact that he 'became flesh' (Jn 1:14). Flesh: the very word evokes
You need to see this: some famous Britons, including the King, read ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’
Who would imagine these famous faces and voices from Across the Pond would collaborate to read arguably the most famous
WATCH: Powerful Nativity scene shows ‘God under the rubble in Gaza’
From The New York Times: There will be no musical festivities. No tree-lighting ceremony. No extravagant decorations that normally bedeck
The Pillar: Cardinal Fernández speaks out about his declaration on same-sex blessings
"Even if there was some kind of sexual relationship, known or not, the blessing made in this way does not
Quiet talks, loud resistance: Inside the pope’s decision on same-sex blessings
From The New York Times: As liberals celebrate and same-sex couples begin receiving public blessings, some are wondering why the
Vocation crisis: Irish diocese to use laity to lead funeral services
From CNA: More than 40 laymen and laywomen in the Diocese of Clogher in the north of Ireland will soon
What does a blessing of couples in ‘irregular situations’ look like?
The New York Times offers one answer, from an event arranged by Father James Martin Tuesday morning: As a Jesuit
Worth your time: Rocco Palmo on ‘The Real Scandal’ from a 2015 footnote
The reclusive grandfather of the Catholic blogosphere posted this item to his X (formerly Twitter) feed, noting, "[The] Pope's acrostic
LISTEN: ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ sung in English, Hebrew and Arabic over Jerusalem
This comes from the One for Israel Ministry. The description: In this time of war we wanted to join together
‘The man of sorrow, acquainted with grief’: First look at the next season of ‘The Chosen’
Just in time for Christmas, here's a glimpse of Holy Week. Check this out: the official trailer for Season 4
Vatican approves some blessings for couples in ‘irregular’ situations — UPDATED
"The Church does not have the power to confer its liturgical blessing when that would somehow offer a form of
Homily for Gaudete Sunday: ‘The color rose is a sign of life in a place that is parched…’
From the vault: My homily for the 3rd Sunday of Advent from 2013. The first thing to know is that
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for St. Paul and Minneapolis
From the diocesan Facebook page: Eighteen men were ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at
Pope reveals his funeral plans — including where he will be buried
Details from Crux: While insisting that he continues to improve and has no present plans to resign, Pope Francis nevertheless
Behold: the Vatican’s Nativity scene for 2023, featuring St. Francis of Assisi
On one side of the manger, Mary kneels, flanked by Joseph, while on the other side, St. Francis of Assisi
‘The Lord is with you’: a powerful message of Mary
To all who might feel alone or lonely, to all who might feel helpless or hopeless, to those who might
UK study: church lockdowns during pandemic caused mental, physical harm
From The Catholic Herald: The closure of Catholic churches during the 2020 lockdown contributed to widespread mental and physical suffering,
RIP: Shane MacGowan, Catholic
From The New York Times: Shane MacGowan, the brilliant but chaotic former songwriter and frontman for the Pogues who reinvigorated
The New York Times: Pope’s critics feel the sting after his patience runs out
While some have wondered whether his ailing health might be driving his actions, Francis, who from the beginning said he
Pavone, Priests for Life file FOIA request on FBI targeting conservative Catholics
From Crux: Almost a year after the FBI’s supposed targeting of traditional Catholics came to light, a conservative Catholic organization,
Reports: Pope Francis to evict Cardinal Burke from his Vatican home — UPDATED
Reports started circulating about this story earlier this week, and now it's hit The New York Times: Almost as soon
Vatican draws a line, warns German bishops of ‘disciplinary consequences’
The letter warned of “disciplinary consequences” for those who contravene doctrine, including potential excommunication for “attempting to ordain a woman."
Baltimore cathedral restores use of high altar
From Deacon Fritz Bauerschmidt at the blog Pray Tell: Though the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore was dedicated
Just pray it: NBA player launches sneakers with Bible verses as alternative to Nike
Details: Jonathan Isaac, an NBA player who may be best known for missing more than two seasons in a row as he
This could be the best ad of the season — or, maybe, the decade
Every now and then, an ad transcends marketing and becomes someething more. This is one of those ads. From Chevrolet,
Pope to media: ‘You are called to protect the dignity of people’
This hasn't gotten much attention, but it deserves a thoughtful reading, especially among those of us who work in the
Report: Priest who fled to Italy with teenage girl has legally married her
From The Guardian: A Roman Catholic priest in Alabama who was investigated by law enforcement after fleeing to Europe with a
Michael Voris resigns from Church Militant — UPDATED
The statement: Fellow Catholics, Church Militant/St. Michael's Media was founded as a bastion of Catholic truth and a light to
One bishop’s advice for the Vatican: ‘Get it out of Italy. It’s too Roman.’
From Crux: In a local television interview, the new archbishop-in-waiting of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut, said that if there
Pope Francis expresses concern about direction of German church
From CNA: Pope Francis has expressed deep reservations about the direction of the Catholic Church in Germany, warning that concrete
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for London, Ontario
The announcement of the November 18 ordination at St. Peter's Cathedral from the diocesan website: With great joy, the Diocese
Bishop Strickland: ‘I’d do it the same way again’
Soon after being removed as the bishop of Tyler, Texas, Joseph Strickland gave a brief interview to John-Henry Westen of
Stunning: ‘Bring Them Home’ recorded to draw attention to Gaza hostages
A prayer for a Saturday night. Details: Broadway performers have recorded a rendition of the song Bring Him Home from the famed
BREAKING: Bishop Strickland out — UPDATED
From the USCCB: Pope Francis has relieved the Most Reverend Joseph E. Strickland from the pastoral governance of the Diocese
Lay people authorized to perform baptisms in German diocese — UPDATED
Details: Twenty-six non-ordained theologians have been authorized to administer the sacrament of baptism in church liturgies for the first time
Vatican: Transgender people can be baptized, witness marriages
Details: The Vatican’s doctrine office has said an adult who identifies as transgender can receive the sacrament of baptism under
‘A pure lie’: Canon lawyer denies involvement in papal election reform
Following up on this report from last week, CNA has this: A cardinal and canon lawyer has denied reports that
How a retired Chicago priest lost his life savings in a scam targeting the elderly
Let this serve as a cautionary tale: The Rev. Robert Banzin had saved up about $61,000, which he planned to
‘If you think you don’t have a vocation, you are wrong’
This is Vocations Awareness Week. Sunday, the priest at Mass encouraged us all to pray for vocations. Some years back,
Report: Pope Francis considering reforms to papal election process
From The Pillar: Pope Francis has delegated Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda to develop draft revisions to the papal election process, in
Must-read: ‘Why are you hopeful?’
"I have a deep joy at the bottom of my soul because Christ called me to be a priest. Nobody
Rob Schneider: ‘I am a new convert to Catholicism’
The comedian and former SNL star posted this message two days ago on X (formerly Twitter): I want thank ALL
Something beautiful and unexpected today: Litany of the Saints
My wife and I dropped by Corpus Christi parish in Celebration, Florida for Mass today and encountered something wonderful. The
For All Saints Day: ‘What do you ask of God’s church?’
From the vault: my homily for All Saints Day from 2015 ... When I’m doing a baptism, the first question
A priest’s reversal: ‘I was wrong. Father Rupnik’s art must go’
An important read, from Father Patrick Briscoe in Our Sunday Visitor: Last December, when news started to come to light
Looking for a good homily resource? Check this out.
It's called simply: SundayMassReadings.org. Take a look. Then bookmark it. You can thank me later. For several years now, a
Cardinal McElroy: ‘Do we need to reimagine the diaconate?’
An interesting take from NCR. U.S. Cardinals Blaise Cupich and Robert McElroy sat down for an interview after the synod
On humility, gratitude, and being content in the shadows
I caught this story this morning after we returned home from Mass and I thought: there's wonderful wisdom here for
Synod issues report calling for continued research on women deacons
The possibility of ordaining women, it says, was considered "unacceptable" by some assembly members "because they consider it a discontinuity
Twins baptize twins: ‘We just thought that was the coolest thing in the world’
This is awesome, from CNA: Twins Gianna and Andrew Renwick were born on July 18, each weighing slightly less than
What will the final synod document say about women deacons?
The Pillar got hold of a draft text and noted this: It is not clear whether synod delegates will debate
BREAKING: Pope lifts statute of limitations to allow prosecution of Rupnik
Over the last few days, developments in the Rupnik case generated a lot of ink and a considerable amount of
Pope Francis: ‘Holy Orders is reserved for men’
Does this settle the question? Details: Pope Francis reaffirmed the impossibility of women becoming priests, or even modern Church deacons,
Report: Disgraced Father Rupnik returns to priestly ministry in Slovenia
From The Catholic Herald: Marko Ivan Rupnik, a former Jesuit who has been at the centre of controversy amidst accusations
‘A cohort of nuns favoring female ordination has formed at the synod’
RNS has the story, one I haven't seen reported elsewhere: Discussions about women’s ordination to the priesthood have become livelier
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Portland
From the Archdiocese of Portland (Oregon) Facebook page: Congratulations to Deacon William Becker and Deacon Mario Magaña, ordained to the
A rally in Raleigh: Behold, the Holy Spirit at work
Well, first I want to thank everyone who prayed for me yesterday. My presentation at the Eucharistic Congress in the
A message for this moment: ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’
My friend Tony Rossi of The Christophers posted this little flashback today, in remembrance of actor William Christopher, who entered
GUEST POST: For World Mission Sunday, a deacon reflects on his mission in Uganda
Deacon Don Grossnickle from the Archdiocese of Chicago offers his thoughts on his unique ministry and mission ahead of World
When Francis met Whoopi
"Sister Mary Clarence" got to meet the Holy Father — and the woman who made that sister come alive in
What are you hearing?: Study will look at the neuroscience of preaching
Some of you may remember my work with a project called Preaching with the Sciences at Chicago's Catholic Theological Union.
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Orange
From the diocese's Facebook page: The Diocese of Orange is thrilled to welcome 19 Deacons to our community! Ordained by
Heroism: Jerusalem Patriarch offers to be exchanged for Gaza hostages
From Reuters: Pope Francis' representative in the Holy Land said on Monday he was willing to exchange himself for Israeli
‘Everything seems to speak of death’: A call for prayer and fasting for peace
A letter to the world from the Patriarch of Jerusalem: Dear brothers and sisters, May the Lord indeed give us
An update from the road
Greetings from (let me quickly check)...DeWitt, Michigan! I'm here at the lovely St. Francis Retreat Center, in the Diocese of
Archbishop Cordileone issues statement praising Dianne Feinstein
From America: The archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, released a lengthy statement on Thursday, praising the late Senator Dianne Feinstein’s “civility”
Debating the question of women deacons at the synod
A good overview of the issue, from OSV News: As the Synod on Synodality opens Oct. 4 in Rome, among
Pope opens Synod, declaring ‘Let us walk together: humble, fervent and joyful’
Pope Francis preached the homily below at the Mass in St. Peter's Square for the opening of the synod. The
A Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi
— From A Deacon Prays: Prayers for Liturgy and Life
More priests and bishops like this, please: ‘The only ladder I want to climb is to eternal life’
"We’re here for Jesus and I will do whatever he asks me to do, and Pope Francis is the Vicar
Wouldn’t you love to visit Italy with Bill Ditewig?
This is your chance! The legendary uber-deacon (and, I confess, a good friend and mentor) is leading a pilgrimage to
The New York Times on Strickland and the pope
The Times is taking notice. Details: This year alone, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has accused the pope of undermining
‘The service of diaconal ministry finds its identity in evangelization’
On the weekend when Archbishop Christophe Pierre became Cardinal Christophe Pierre, I thought it would be useful to recall what
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Baltimore
Thanks to Baltimore Deacon Chuck Hoppe for this news: Just want to ensure you were tracking the 14 men that
‘The College of Cardinals is called to resemble a symphony orchestra’
Below, the homily of Pope Francis at Saturday's consistory for creating new cardinals. Thinking of this celebration and particularly of
The Archdiocese of Baltimore files for bankruptcy
Details: he Archdiocese of Baltimore declared bankruptcy on Friday several weeks after warning it might do so in response to
CARA study on Eucharist: 64% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence
From OSV News: Almost two-thirds of Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but only 17
RIP Brooks Robinson, Baltimore legend and Catholic
'I couldn't be happier being a Catholic. It’s worked out well for me and it’s been a good impression on
The pope’s next document on the environment: ‘Praise God’
From CNA: Pope Francis’ new document on the environment, to be released Oct. 4, will be called Laudate Deum. The pope
Mass appeal: how long should Mass be?
I'm in Nantucket this weekend, where it's cold and drizzly and about a hundred people are gathering for a black
Spanish diocese adds a new condition for baptisms
From Zenit: The Diocese of Getafe, located in the Madrid region of Spain, is implementing a new pathway for parents
Milestone: Indianapolis marks 15 years since first permanent deacons were ordained
“Back in the early days, the question from the pastors was, ‘What do I do with this guy?’ Now, the
Diocese of Rome praises Rupnik center, raises doubts about excommunication
Details from Crux: Despite being expelled in July from his Jesuit order over charges of sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse,
Deacons at the front lines, serving new arrivals in New York’s migrant crisis
Via America, here's a glimpse of some New York City deacons doing what deacons do, as migrants continue to pour
Ordination update: 10 new deacons for Boston
From The Boston Pilot: When he was young, Deacon Rafael Bautista lived a life of self-described "wildness" in his native
The Pillar: Where in the world are permanent deacons?
Good question! Luke Coppen and Brendan Hodge have an excellent answer and overview: In an Aug. 17 letter conveying the
Bishop Strickland: ‘I cannot resign the mandate given to me by Pope Benedict the XVI’
The bishop of Tyler is speaking out about the recent reports saying he may be asked to resign. He answered
He survived 9/11 — and out of that came his vocation to the diaconate
This resonates for me in so many ways. But Paul Carris' experience of 9/11 was far more personal, intimate and
And now, Switzerland
From AP: A sweeping, year-long study of sex abuse by Catholic priests and others in Switzerland published Tuesday has turned
Cleveland pastor reassigned after controversial homily
Details: A longtime pastor in Bay Village has been reassigned to a church in Brunswick just months after a man
9/11
Below, I continue a tradition and re-post my homily from 9/11/11, commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on our
This old house: Is it time to rethink rectories?
A priest, Father Joe Laramie. S.J., weighs in over at America: For over 100 years, the rectory has been a
Hundreds march to protest proposed California Planned Parenthood facility
Here's something you don't hear about every day: A proposal has been made for a new Planned Parenthood facility in
Must-see: A moving glimpse into the heroic lives of the Ulma family
This is something to see: a short film about the family that will make history this weekend, when every member
Research identifies thousands of Jews hidden by Catholic religious in Rome
From CNA: Research in the archive of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome has uncovered a list of the names
Report: Abortions rose in first half of 2023
Details: Legal abortions most likely increased in the United States in the first six months of the year compared with
Bishop Strickland on women deacons
The controversial and outspoken Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas — recently the subject of an apostolic visitation from the
Did you know there’s a cathedral named for Mother Teresa?
There is! On this, her feast day, want to pay a visit? I posted about it shortly after it was
Between rest and action: in praise of Jimmy Buffett, Catholic
Leave it to Elizabeth Scalia to put into words so perfectly what I've been thinking about the life and death
On flight home from Mongolia, Pope Francis talks about upcoming synod
From CNA: On his in-flight press conference returning from Mongolia on Monday, Pope Francis outlined his vision for the upcoming
For Labor Day: What the world needs now…
I remember watching this as it happened 47 years ago: a moment of pop culture history that made headlines around
No, Pope Francis did not say that!
You've probably seen it floating around social media: an eloquent reflection on happiness from a "recent speech" by Pope Francis.
Coming next month: an Apostolic Letter on St. Thérèse of Lisieux
From CNA: On board the plane taking him to Mongolia, Pope Francis announced Aug. 31 that he is preparing an
Meet Mark Thompson, the Catholic who will soon be running CNN
This phrase caught my eye when I read about the new head of the cable news network: Mr. Thompson, a
‘Detestable’: Bishop Hubbard’s family slams funeral homily
From The Albany Times-Union: The 13 nieces and nephews of Albany Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard, who died last week,
Pope Francis: ‘The situation in the United States is not easy…there is a reactionary attitude’
'The view of church doctrine as a monolith is wrong.' From NCR: Pope Francis blasted what he described as groups
“I’m a ‘none,’ but I want to be something…”
From The Washington Post, columnist Perry Bacon, Jr. reflects on his journey away from organized religion: I'm currently a “none”
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for San Bernardino
It happened Saturday at Holy Family Family Catholic Church in Hesperia, California. The new deacons ordained by Bishop Alberto Rojas
Banned: Nicaragua expels Jesuits, confiscates assets
Details: Despite worldwide protests and condemnation, the Sandinista regime’s crackdown against the Catholic Church and opposition continues unabated. After expelling
Cardinal Burke: Synod could lead to schism
Details via Crux: In the foreword to a new booklet by a conservative group criticizing Pope Francis’s looming Synod of
Meet Dexter, a stand-up kind of guy
This is so worth your time: an inspiring profile of a dog like no other, from the great Steve Hartman
The Synod, deacons and a ‘listening Church’
A great write-up from OSV News, with a few names you might recognize: When bishops, other delegates and observers gather
Texas Carmelites say they no longer recognize authority of bishop
From OSV News: A community of cloistered Carmelite nuns in Arlington, Texas, said they no longer recognize the authority of Bishop
UPDATE: Albany’s retired Bishop Hubbard dies at 84
From the Diocese of Albany: Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard, once the youngest bishop in the United States and known
The strange case of Father Crow
A recurring question in my mind: how was this allowed to happen? I mean, weren't there warning signs before he
Prayer for a house blessing
Heavenly Father: At the dawn of time, You gave mankind a home. You created a lasting homeland for your chosen
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Norwich
It happened in Connecticut on July 7. The new deacons and their bishop are pictured in the cathedral: Ronald Krystofik,
Nicaragua blocks WYD priests from returning home
The persecution goes on: The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega prohibited two priests from returning to Nicaragua from Lisbon, Portugal, where
Have you checked out Preaching with the Sciences yet?
I have written about this project a couple times, most recently in the the spring of 2022: I was invited
From The New York Times: On ‘The Exorcist,’ heaven and hell
A compelling read by Matthew Walter, editor of The Lamp, on what a horror masterpiece has to say to a
What WYD pilgrims want: Unity, diversity — and the Latin Mass?
Photo from CNS/Synod Secretariat Another frequently repeated concern, 'always repeated with this idea of unity in diversity,' was greater access
If deacons can’t go to the Synod, they can still have an impact
As I've noted elsewhere, the conspicuous absence of deacons at this fall's synod meeting means an important voice in the
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Greensburg
And they were ordained on the Feast of St. Lawrence! Bishop Larry Kulick — a Lawrence himself! — posted this
No applause in church? Wait until you see this.
'I want whoever reads the Guiness World Book to see that the longest applause was for Jesus.' A ministry in
A Fatima miracle? ‘I opened my eyes and I could see’
This is a remarkable story: “I opened my eyes and I could see perfectly,” said Jimena, a 16-year-old Spanish World
Pope Francis writes to the priests of Rome on the dangers of clericalism
The Holy See today published a lengthy letter from the pope, dated August 5, the Memorial of the Dedication of
Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Sioux City
From Deacon David LaMar, who sent this to be via Facebook: Congratulations to Will Fergen (Mater Dei Sioux City), Jeff
The pope’s new title for Mary: ‘Our Lady of Haste’
In Lisbon, Pope Francis offered this reflection after praying the rosary with World Youth Day pilgrims: We are here [as
San Francisco archdiocese braces for bankruptcy
'The Archdiocese would join a growing list of dioceses in the United States and California that have filed for protection
Pope Francis at WYD: The Church is for ‘Everyone, everyone, everyone’
There is a message here for all of us. Below is an excerpt from the Holy Father's homily Wednesday night
A Vatican ‘UFO cover-up’?
And now for something completely different. Newsweek is wondering if the Vatican knows something we don't: Pressure is growing on
Incorrupt body of St. Benedict Moor seriously damaged in fire
Details: The incorrupt body of St. Benedict the Moor, a 16th-century son of slaves who joined the Franciscans and would
Albany’s retired Bishop Hubbard marries in civil ceremony
Well, as a reader noted: here's something you don't see every day. From The Evangelist: After his request to be
A priest writes about what happened when he was ‘disenrolled’ from Catholic school
In response to Melinda Henneberger's column on a boy who was "disenrolled" from Catholic school, a priest in California wrote
‘Dechurched’: Why have millions of Americans stopped going to church?
The current issue of The Atlantic offers a compelling and challenging dissection of what's ailing America's Christians — and it
Concerns grow over extremist attacks on Christian monastery in Israel
Details from CNA: Extremist Israeli groups have on several occasions in recent weeks attempted to storm the Melkite Catholic Church
Fulton Sheen’s parish church demolished after collapse
From NPR: A historic church on Peoria's South Side was demolished for safety reasons on Saturday after sustaining a major
‘Catholic school kicks out boy to punish his mom’
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Melinda Henneberger of the Kansas City Star reports on a case unfolding now in Kansas City: Will
Vatican considers ‘indigenous liturgical adaptions’ from Mexico
Details: The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has recently presented to the Vatican for its approval a series of Indigenous liturgical
Shattered: Russian missiles destroy historic Orthodox cathedral
"This is inhumanity,” said one city resident, Ludmila Partinchuk. Details: There are no longer walls behind the main altar of
And now, a word of thanks to St. Ann
Today is the feast of St. Ann (actually, St. Ann and St. Joachim, her husband). St. Ann, of course, is
Davenport’s Bishop Zinkula appointed to Dubuque
From The Holy See: The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Thomas Robert Zinkula, hitherto bishop of the diocese of Davenport,
Baltimore archbishop issues guidelines for ‘pastoral accompaniment’ of LGBT Catholics
One woman involved in LGBT ministry called the document 'bold, extraordinary and hopeful.' From Baltimore's Catholic Review: Ministry to LGBT
‘Priests should stop pushing deacons off to the side’
The deacon is a "man on the threshold", sacramentally ordained and totally immersed in society. Deacon Laurent Szymczak is a
Someone needs to turn this woman’s story into a movie
I'm thinking "Erin Brockovich" with a rosary. From The New York Times: Missy Sims carefully picked her way through a
Boffo: the stunning success of ‘Sound of Freedom’
Details from CNA: “Sound of Freedom,” an anti-human-trafficking film made by Catholic filmmakers Eduardo Verástegui and Alejandro Monteverde and starring
Four new auxiliary bishops for Los Angeles
From The Angelus: Pope Francis today appointed four local priests as new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
What’s missing from the synod? Deacons — UPDATED
The diaconate is an ordained ministry that is uniquely synodal in its nature and focus. Deacon Bill Ditewig takes aim
F.D.A. approves first over-the-counter contraceptive pill
Details: The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a birth control pill to be sold without a prescription for the first
Some great thoughts on prayer, publishing and pondering what comes next
I mentioned to someone not long ago that while we are considering what women can or could bring to the
Two views of World Youth Day — UPDATED
"To believe in Jesus is to accept what he says, even when it runs contrary to what others are saying.
Interfaith America: An American Muslim sings the praises of Catholic sisters
This is worth your time: a conversation between Rev. Tish Harrison Warren — an Episcopal priest and regular contributor to
Pope announces 21 new cardinals, including one from the U.S.
This is what I get for sleeping in late on Sunday. While I was snoring away, dreaming of palm trees,
Vatican publishes list of Synod participants
Details: The Vatican published Friday the full list of participants who will take part in the upcoming Synod on Synodality
New doctrine chief: ‘I’m not a Soros spy’
'I try to be an honest person, I confess often, I love the Church and its doctrine, most of my
Pope establishes commission for ‘new martyrs’
"With this initiative, we do not intend to establish new criteria for the canonical ascertainment of martyrdom, but to continue
Israeli reporter poses as priest — and is spat at numerous times
From OSV News: A local Israeli reporter went undercover as a priest and was spat at several times while walking
Baby boom: Study finds abortion restrictions led to 9,800 more births in Texas
Details: The six-week abortion ban in Texas, which outlaws abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, led to nearly
For 4th of July: Archbishop John Carroll’s Prayer for America
The following prayer was composed by Baltimore Archbishop John Carroll in 1791 for the inauguration of President George Washington. We pray, O
Honoring ‘The Compassion Man’
This is something else: a story from CBS News Correspondent David Begnaud with a message here for all of us
‘I’ve had a privileged view of the human condition’
Rabbi David Wolpe offers some reflections on the perspective of life that he has gained from being a rabbi —
‘The cross is our story’: Homily for July 2, 2023
A few people have asked me about this, so here it is: my farewell homily from the 11:15 Mass at
BREAKING: Pope names new head of doctrine office
This is big. Details: In an unexpected and highly significant move, Pope Francis has appointed the Argentine theologian and archbishop
When the priest forgets to say ‘You may kiss the bride’
This is priceless. h/t to Fr. Paul Sparklin for bringing this little bit o'light into my day. I needed this.
The crisis in Portland
Details: Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, has closed his archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools amid backlash over a new
A glimpse at plans for the new Notre-Dame
From Le Croix: Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris has chosen Guillaume Bardet, a well-known French designer, to create the liturgical
Knoxville’s Bishop Stika resigns
From NCR: Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard Stika, the embattled leader of the Diocese of Knoxville,
Authorities investigate Catholic church fire on Dobbs anniversary
Details: Investigators with the Orlando Fire Department are looking into what started a blaze at Incarnation Catholic Church in Orlando,
Burlington’s Bishop Christopher Coyne named co-adjutor for Hartford
From the Holy See daily bulletin: The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Christopher J. Coyne of Burlington, United States of
Report: Vatican concludes apostolic visitation to Diocese of Tyler
From Where Peter Is: Reports of an apostolic visitation in [Bishop Joseph] Strickland’s East Texas diocese were reported by Church
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Tulsa
From The Diocese of Tulsa Facebook page: This morning, 11 men were ordained as permanent deacons by Bishop David Konderla
‘Thank you for praying with me and for me’
As I prepare to leave my parish, I was asked if I wanted to write something for our church's bulletin.
Ron DeSantis opens up about being Catholic
Photo: by Gage Skidmore / Flickr / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license After months of dodging the question, DeSantis’
When God calls, he lets you know it
A great vocation story, about Father Timothy Reid, who became Catholic during his senior year of college and then, a
Fatima’s Sister Lucia is declared to be ‘Venerable’
The visionaries of Fatima: Lucia dos Santos, right, with her cousins Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto From Vatican News: Carmelite
Epiphany in Aisle 1: My afternoon at Walgreen’s
In what my pastor refers to as "the public and common world," I've come to discover that there is nothing,
So, yeah, this is happening
I've posted about this a little on social media, but thought I'd take a moment to make it official. We're
‘Shameless’: Fake priest hired to hear employees’ confessions at California restaurant
“I found the conversation to be strange and unlike normal confessions,” Maria Parra, a server at Taqueria Garibaldi, said in
‘This church is the pulse of this parish’: The installation of my new pastor
I thought I'd post this, for those who might be interested. This is from Saturday afternoon: the homily and part
So what happened at Dodgers’ ‘Pride Night’ with Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?
From USA Today: With a heavy police and security presence along the first level of seating, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were
Forgive us our trespasses on ‘Jeopardy!’
Seriously. It happened Tuesday night. Watch below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyvCdOAJ8Nk The interwebs, understandably, went nuts: “How can those Jeopardy! nerds not know
WATCH: The power of art, memory and a daughter’s love
You have to see this. This young bride found a way to break through her father's dementia on her wedding
Survey: Deacon numbers expected to continue slow decline
From OSV News: Results of an annual survey on the permanent diaconate of the U.S. Catholic Church show the estimated
Jesuits expel Marko Rupnik for ‘refusal to observe vow of obedience’
From the AP: Pope Francis’ Jesuit religious order said Thursday it has expelled a prominent Slovenian priest from the congregation
Another Anglican bishop to become Catholic
At least 15 Anglican bishops have converted to Catholicism through the Anglican ordinariate since its inception, which included four bishops
Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Philadelphia
Details: Four men were ordained permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Saturday, June 10 in the Cathedral Basilica
Ordination update: 10 new deacons for Patterson
Bishop Kevin Sweeney ordained the men last Saturday at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. You can read all
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for San Antonio
It happened on June 10 at the archdiocesan cathedral of St. Mark the Evangelist. Above you see them with their
Bishops call on Catholics to pray an Act of Reparation over Dodgers event
"We call on Catholics to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart on June 16, offering this prayer as an act of reparation
UPDATE: Pope alert, joking after surgery
From Vatican News: “The Holy Father is well, he is awake, alert, and has already joked with me!” Doctor Sergio
Guest post: Take courage and be humble
I invited my old friend Mike Hayes — a deacon candidate for the Diocese of Cleveland — to read and
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Hartford
From Deacon James McCormack in the Archdiocese of Hartford: Last Saturday June 3rd, 8 men were ordained to the permanent
Prayer request: Vatican announces Pope Francis to undergo intestinal surgery
Details: Pope Francis is going to the hospital Wednesday for abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after
Sacramento officials ‘shocked’ as van drops off migrants outside diocesan headquarters
“It just adds to a sense of cruelty. How are you going to move folks to a place that is
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Washington
Details: Cardinal Wilton Gregory ordained 12 men as permanent deacons for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington during a June
Oklahoma approves first publicly funded Catholic school in U.S.
While some government money already goes to religious schools, St. Isidore would be fully paid for by the government. From
The sign of the cross: a homily for Trinity Sunday
A little something from the vault: Periodically, people ask me, “What is your favorite part of being a deacon?” Well, first,
Penitential rite held at St. Peter’s after desecration
From CNA: Two days after a naked man stood on the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in a shocking
Meet LA’s first paraplegic priest, Cesar Galan, F.S.P.
“In my darkest days, I couldn’t imagine myself doing this. But here I am. And to those discerning a vocation,
Is one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence a Catholic deacon?
This detail turned up in an early draft of this report on the "order" by OSV News: Dodgers starting pitcher
Shock: Naked man approaches the altar in St. Peter’s
From Zenit: Exactly two weeks after a man forced his way in a car into Vatican City, on the afternoon
A vroom with a pew: Church to hold ‘Checkered Flag Mass’
From The Detroit Free Press: Get your engines ready to rev because the annual Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix is returning to the
Holding Jesus hostage — UPDATED
The latest, from OSV News: Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, has dismissed a religious superior from the
Martin Scorsese speaks with pope, announces plans for new movie about Jesus
From Variety: Martin Scorsese is on a post-Cannes tour of Italy where over the weekend the director, known for having a
Viva Las Vegas: Pope elevates Nevada Diocese to Metropolitan Archdiocese
The press release: Pope Francis has created the Archdiocese of Las Vegas and named the Most Reverend George Leo Thomas,
Taking ‘The Monk Class’: Why universities should be more like monasteries
A provocative notion, from writer Dr. Molly Worthen in The New York Times: Nery Rodriguez just graduated from the University
Memorial Day, 2023: ‘Teach us to be instruments of peace’
Below is my invocation for the Forest Hills, New York Memorial Day parade, delivered Sunday morning outside the local American
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Brooklyn
A nice big class — and the first in Brooklyn for Bishop Robert Brennan. He wrote about it on Facebook:
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Beaumont
Here's a great pre-Pentecost gift. It happened Saturday morning at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont, Texas: Bishop David L.
‘Bishop Strickland, we’re watching you’
From RNS: If Texas Bishop Joseph E. Strickland is known outside of his diocese for anything, it’s for controversy. The
What would Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully say?
Reading about the ongoing controversy involving the LA Dodgers and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, I was reminded of two Catholic
Horror: nearly 2,000 children abused by clergy over decades in Illinois
Details: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a May 23 report revealing decades of abuse by Catholic clergy against almost
Body of sisters’ foundress reported to be incorrupt
Sister Wilhelmina's funeral, 2019 “We think she is the first African American woman to be found incorrupt." Details: Hundreds of
Worth a thousand words
A friend sent this my way: a posting on Facebook by Father Matthew Laird: As Good As It Gets: This
On Deacon John Donaghy: Well done, good and faithful servant
It was with sorrow and a heavy heart that I learned today that Deacon John Donaghy has entered eternal life,
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for Fall River
Details, from the diocesan website: On Saturday, May 20, in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, Bishop Edgar M. da
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Trenton
From the Trenton Monitor: Twelve men were ordained deacons by Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., during a May 20 Mass
May 19, 2007
Thanks be to God. Some words from Pope Francis, from an address to permanent deacons on June 19, 2021: Since
In France, clergy will be required to wear QR codes to ID sex offenders
Could this be coming to a diocese near you? Details: Rattled by repeated cases of sexual abuse over the years,
Ordination update: 23 new deacons for Chicago
Cardinal Blaise Cupich on Saturday ordained 4 transitional deacons and 19 permanent deacons in a liturgy at Chicago's Holy Name
‘Their God is my God’: Homily for May 14, 2023, 6th Sunday of Easter
There is not much we know about him beyond his name: Matthew Ayariga. But his story, or what we know
The Mother’s Day problem at Mass
Behind the flowers and sentiment, Mother’s Day is very hard for a lot of people – perhaps it’s the most difficult
‘This is a first’: Vatican formally recognizes 21 Coptic martyrs of Libya
From AP: The Vatican is formally recognizing 21 Coptic Orthodox workers who were beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya as
‘Christianity’s got a branding problem’
From opinion writer Jessica Grose's newsletter sent to subscribers of The New York Times: “Christianity’s got a branding problem,” Phil
Bearing fruit
This reflection appeared with today's readings for Give Us This Day, the monthly devotional published by Liturgical Press:
In a first, Coptic pope joins Pope Francis to speak at General Audience
From Vatican News: Pope Francis was joined at his weekly General Audience by Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Cleveland
It happened Saturday, as Bishop Malesic ordained six men to the Order of Deacon in Cleveland's Cathedral of St. John
Check this out: Living Faith
I'm pleased to announce my debut in the little prayer periodical Living Faith. The new issue just arrived in my mailbox,
‘A bishop should have a much broader vision of the Church’
The pope's new prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops shares a few thoughts with Vatican News: At the age of
UPDATE: Catholic hospital told to extinguish sanctuary candle or risk losing accreditation
From OSV News: A Catholic hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the federal government has presented it with a choice to
Building something beautiful in South Carolina
While the church is new, it also has many vintage elements incorporated inside, making it a well-spring of art that
Prayer request: for the family of Deacon Lawrence Klimecki
This is heartbreaking. I received word today that the multi-talented artist Deacon Lawrence Klimecki of Sacramento has entered eternal life.
Let’s do this: join me for our next pilgrimage to the Holy Land
If you followed our adventures in March of 2023, wouldn't you like to join us in May of 2024? It's
For the first time in 500 years, Catholics will play a role in a coronation
Details from The Tablet: Cardinal Vincent Nichols is to become the first Catholic bishop to play a formal role in
In a first, royal coronation to feature non-Christian religions
From AFP: The UK's non-Christian faiths and its Celtic languages will play a prominent role for the first time in
Meet a deacon proclaiming the Gospel through icons
A terrific profile of Deacon Charles Rohrbacher in Our Sunday Visitor: “An icon isn’t really an icon without a viewer,”
A Prayer to St. Joseph, Father and Traveler
Searching Joseph, you journeyed far to seek shelter and security in Bethlehem, only to find instead a place that had
Are we listening?: A reflection for Good Shepherd Sunday
My homily for this Sunday from 2014 ... On a spring morning in 2010, a young man by the name
Grace in aisle 7: Parish plans to turn grocery store into a church
A great idea, via Aleteia: With almost daily reports of Catholic churches shutting down, forced to consolidate due to financial difficulties, or sold
Religion in public schools is making a comeback
Details, from Vox: This month, Texas Senate Republicans passed three bills about religion in schools that have historians feeling déjà
Sisters of Charity of New York: ‘We are on the path to completion’
"We will no longer work toward finding nor accepting new members to our Congregation, in the United States." A sad
A first: Pope gives women right to vote in Synod
From America: For the first time in the history of the synod, Pope Francis has given women the right to
‘A new frontier’: protecting ‘vulnerable adults’ from clergy sexual abuse
From OSV News: The Catholic Church in the U.S. has made progress over the past two decades in confronting sexual
Making history: Coptic patriarch to offer Orthodox liturgy at St. John Lateran
"It will be the first time a non-Catholic has celebrated in the pope’s cathedral." Details: The head of the Coptic
Deacons, are you going to NDICE this year?
Every summer for a long time now, the National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education (NDICE) has hosted a conference for
Making history: The oldest religious sister in the U.S. turns 110
A news bulletin from the Facebook page of the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville: Our very own Sister Francis
‘Significant ecumenical gesture’: Pope gives pieces of True Cross for King Charles’ coronation
From Reuters: Pope Francis has gifted fragments believed to be from the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified to
Boston Catholics brace for ‘SatanCon’
"We are finalizing a list of places throughout our whole Archdiocese where we will gather in adoration and prayer. All
Did someone actually make a movie like this? Really?
The trailer has been working its way through social media, and when I finally took a moment to watch, I
Former Cardinal McCarrick charged with 1977 sexual assault in Wisconsin
Details: Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been criminally charged with fourth-degree sexual assault in Wisconsin for an incident that allegedly
In Ireland, Biden meets priest who gave his son last rites
From The New York Times: President Biden, who spent most of this week exploring his family lineage in Ireland, broke down in
On the road: next stop, Malvern
I'm headed out the door shortly, bound for the amazing Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station and, beyond that, Malvern,
Survey: Among U.S. Latinos, Catholicism in decline, but still the largest faith
From Pew: Catholics remain the largest religious group among Latinos in the United States, even as their share among Latino
They do, come rain or shine: Catholic outdoor weddings
It's catching on in Baltimore. And yes, it's allowed. As Canon Law notes, Catholic weddings should take place in a
WATCH: ’60 Minutes’ looks at the rebuilding of Notre Dame
An Easter-night report on CBS offered a glimpse at this extraordinary undertaking: The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is
FBI accused of ‘domestic violent extremism investigations against Catholic Americans’
From CBS News: The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to FBI Director Christopher Wray for records as part of
A.I. has its first superstar: Pope Francis
The New York Times takes note: Pope Francis wearing a long, white puffer jacket inspired by Balenciaga. Francis rocking aviators and
The young men risking their lives to be Catholic priests
Here's a story that needs to be told. From the BBC: When Miguel Pantaleon was ordained into the Catholic church
Good Friday: What our Lord saw from the cross
The watercolor above, by the great James Tissot, speaks volumes. From Wikipedia: What Our Lord Saw from the Cross (Ce que
‘Do you realize what I have done for you?’: Homily for Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Holy Thursday
Ours is a God of boundless generosity and humility. How much does he love us? He becomes less so that
Holy Thursday: Inside the room where it happened
The image above comes from my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and shows the Upper Room, the Cenacle, the
‘Staggering’: Report details decades of abuse in Maryland
From AP: More than 150 Catholic priests and others associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore sexually abused over 600 children
Archbishop of Dubuque resigns
Details: Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michael O. Jackels from the pastoral government of the Archdiocese
Christo Jivkov, John from ‘Passion of the Christ,’ dies
Sad news this Holy Week: Christo Jivkov is dead. According to media reports, the Bulgarian actor succumbed to a long
Jonathan Roumie on playing Jesus: ‘It becomes super humbling and strange’
Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest and a fan of the streaming sensation "The Chosen." She also is a
As the pope left the hospital, this happened
Delia Gallagher posted this on social media yesterday. As my friend Tony Rossi noted: "This is a more important theology
Who is the man in the shroud?
That's the provocative and intriguing title of an exhibition at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem, the final hotel where
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Nashville
The ordination happened Saturday, April 1, at Sagrado Corazón Church in the Catholic Pastoral Center of Nashville. One of the
What did the pope do in the hospital? Ate pizza, visited cancer patients, baptized a baby
He's probably heading home Saturday, according to the Vatican: Pope Francis is expected to be discharged from hospital and return
Vatican rejects German proposal for lay preaching, baptisms
Details: The Vatican’s liturgy czar has intervened against the implementation of resolutions of the German Synodal Way that demand laypeople
Reported Eucharistic miracle has connection to Blessed Michael McGivney
Could this lead to his canonization? Details: As Connecticut Catholics approach Easter, the faithful are flocking to tiny Thomaston following
Vatican: Pope hospitalized with respiratory infection
Details: Pope Francis will be hospitalized for “some days” after being diagnosed with a respiratory infection, the Vatican said Wednesday.
The universe of ‘The Chosen’ is about to get bigger
From Deadline: Former DreamWorks exec Mark Sourian has been appointed as President of Production for the Angel Studios Original The Chosen, with plans to build
On pilgrimage: 10 things I have to tell you
What a trip. Well, the jet lag has subsided, and I finally finished unpacking my suitcases, and I’m now trying
‘Very real, very shocking’: Possible Eucharistic miracle reported in Connecticut
Details: A local Connecticut television station is reporting that the Archdiocese of Hartford is investigating a possible Eucharistic miracle that
Bishops: surgery to change gender ‘not morally justified’
From RNS: A group of U.S. Catholic bishops has issued a statement discouraging Catholic health care groups from performing various
On pilgrimage: farewell, Jerusalem
By now, I'm sure I don't have to tell you: we had a sensational time in the Holy Land. Words
On pilgrimage: The morning I will never forget
It started with a wake-up call at 3:30 in the morning. My wife and I threw on our clothes. I
On pilgrimage: the little town of Bethlehem and the muddy waters of the Jordan
So, here are a few more highlights from this week's pilgrimage. Let's start off with an early morning view of
‘Joseph, in his silence, shows us who he is…’
With the feast day of Saint Joseph right around the corner — March 19! — my friend Elizabeth Scalia decided
On pilgrimage: the story so far
We're at the halfway mark of our 11-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We've walked cobblestone streets, climbed ancient steps,
WATCH: 10 moments of Pope Francis in 10 minutes
From the editors at America, here's a video marking the Holy Father's 10-year anniversary, highlighting memorable moments of this landmark
Pope Francis adds new members to council of cardinals
From CNA: Pope Francis appointed five new members to his council of cardinals advisers on Tuesday, including Synod organizer Cardinal
WATCH: Bill Ditewig on humility, synodality, serving in the Navy and more
This is pretty cool. Two of my friends, Deacon Bill Ditewig and (future deacon!) Mike Hayes had a conversation recently
Jerusalem, here I come
In about 24 hours, I'll be at JFK Airport, waiting to board a Turkish Airlines flight that will carry me
Mexican bishops will ask Pope Francis to include Mayan rites in Masses
Details: he Diocese of San Cristóbal, in southern Mexico, will send Pope Francis a proposal to include indigenous Mayan rites
What happens when an AI chatbot writes a homily?
The good people at The Tablet (our diocesan newspaper in Brooklyn) decided to find out. Take a look: The following
Thousands attend funeral Mass for LA’s Bishop O’Connell
From RNS: Catholics, multi-faith clergy and elected leaders from across Southern California filled the pews of the Cathedral of Our
New York City mayor decries separation of church and state
This raised a lot of eyebrows in one of the most liberal corners of the country. From Politico: At an
Visiting the spectacular Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma
I'm beginning Lent far from Queens, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where I'm leading a mission at St. Anne's Catholic Church.
‘He picks up the beam and begins dragging it, wood scraping on stone…’
The Way of the Cross for Deacons 3rd Station: Jesus Falls the First Time We adore you, O Christ, and
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Atlanta
Details from the Georgia Bulletin: Deacon Dennis Dorner, the director of the permanent diaconate, said after five years of classwork
Funeral services announced for Bishop O’Connell
Details: Funeral services were announced Thursday for Los Angeles Catholic Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell, who was gunned down at his home in Hacienda Heights.
Mark Wahlberg talks Lent on the Today show
This is something remarkable: a committed (and well-known) Catholic popped up on network television on Ash Wednesday, with a big,
The meaning of ashes: Homily for February 22, 2023, Ash Wednesday
In a few minutes, we will be marked with ashes. What, exactly, does that mean? We know historically they
A prayer for Ash Wednesday
Almighty and merciful Father, I pray this day as a prodigal, beginning my long walk home. As I mark the
The marriage cross: a beautiful tradition in Croatia
Scott Hahn posted this on his Facebook page, and it deserves wider circulation: According to Croatian tradition, when a couple
Sheriff: Man arrested in bishop’s killing is husband of housekeeper
'He was a good priest and a good bishop and a man of peace.' — Archbishop José Gomez This afternoon,
BREAKING: Arrest made in killing of Bishop O’Connell
Details: A suspect has been arrested in the killing of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday. O’Connell,
UPDATE: ‘This incident is being handled as a murder investigation’
The latest on the death of LA's Bishop O'Connell, from CNA: The shooting death of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David
‘Forgiveness is a choice’: Homily for February 19, 2023, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
What we have just heard may be one of the most recognizable passages in all the Gospels. The great Jewish
Shock: Los Angeles auxiliary bishop shot and killed — UPDATED
Details: An auxiliary bishop with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was shot to death Saturday afternoon in Hacienda Heights, authorities
Beatification set for married couple martyred by Nazis
Details: The beatification date has been announced for Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their seven children, who were killed by
Parish remembers MSU victim: ‘His light shined bright with love, leadership and kindness’
From The Detroit Free Press: Brian Fraser was a leader. From sports teams to church programs, fraternities to classrooms, Fraser
He wanted to die for Allah. Now he lives for Jesus.
Want to know the power of witness? Here's a remarkable conversion story, by Al Fadi, from Christianity Today: I was
Blessed Stanley Rother shrine to be dedicated
From The Oklahoman: Another chapter in the remarkable story of an Oklahoma priest will begin with the dedication of a
Jesus visits the Super Bowl: check out these two ads
From the people behind the He Gets Us campaign, these two ads appeared during two different halves of Super Bowl
Talking about St. Joseph
The folks at Shalom World TV invited me on their Book.ed program a couple weeks back to talk about Befriending
Persecution: Nicaraguan bishop sentenced to 26 years in prison
"This constitutes the most severe repression against the Catholic Church in Latin America since the assassination of Guatemalan Bishop Juan
‘He always wanted to champion the little guy. He supported the lost, the least, and the lonely’
Today is the funeral Mass for Deacon Donald Zirkel, who entered eternal life last month. Attention must be paid. What
Pope Francis appoints new Archbishop of Toronto
From the Archdiocese of Toronto: Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Francis (Frank) Leo, currently Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of
Survey: Church giving is steady after COVID, but with fewer donors
"The base of people shrunk significantly. That was the scary part for us from a sustainability point of view." From
Church of England considers a gender-neutral God for prayers, liturgy
From MSN: In what would mark a departure from centuries of tradition, bishops are to launch a project “on gendered
Statue of Mary survives earthquake that demolished cathedral
Details, via CNA: A statue of the Virgin Mary was untouched after the collapse of a Catholic cathedral in an
History: Pope names first auxiliary bishop for Diocese of El Paso
From the diocese's website: Pope Francis has announced the appointment of a new auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of El
‘This is our faith’: We need to rediscover the power and beauty of Baptism
My latest for OSV News: While parishes across the country gear up for a Eucharistic revival, we shouldn’t forget another
UPDATE: ‘The admission of women to the diaconate is a doctrinal matter…’
Whenever I travel, I find people asking me about the latest Vatican commission on women deacons. One of the members
UPDATE: Charges dropped against woman arrested for praying outside U.K. abortion clinic
You may remember her story from late last year. The update: Authorities in the U.K. have dropped charges against a
The biggest parish church in North America is now open
Wow: North America’s largest Catholic parish church – St. Charles Borromeo with seating for 3,200 souls – was officially dedicated
Rejoice! Watch the offertory for the papal Mass in Kinshasa, DRC
An estimated one million people attended the Mass at the local airport Wednesday — evidently, the only space large enough
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Arlington
From The Arlington Catholic Herald: Bishop Michael F. Burbidge ordained five men to the permanent diaconate at the Cathedral of
Report: Jean Vanier’s L’Arche hid a ‘mystical-sexual sect’
'Vanier was part of a small sectarian group that subscribed to … predatory and deviant doctrine and practices...' Horrifying: Two
Father Hallowell: ‘I was healed at Lourdes’
Many of you will remember the inspiring story of Father John Hallowell, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in
Pope Francis explains his comments about homosexuality and sin
Earlier this week, in an interview with the Associated Press, Pope Francis made some headlines when he answered a question
Revealed: the real reason Benedict resigned
Details: Ever since Benedict XVI announced his resignation on Feb. 11, 2013, cardinals and others have speculated on the main
Could this ad about Jesus show up during the Super Bowl?
Maybe: For the past 10 months, the “He Gets Us” ads have shown up on billboards, YouTube channels and television
Machete attacks in Spanish churches leave one dead, four wounded
From The Guardian: A machete-wielding man killed a sexton and wounded a priest in attacks at two churches in the
What country has the highest Mass attendance?
That's the lead question in a new post at the 1964 blog, run by the good people at Center for
Pope: Homosexuality is not a crime
From the AP: Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as
Pope Francis on preaching: ‘The homilies, they are a disaster’
Last week, Pope Francis offered a few words to participants in a course for Diocesan liturgical officials, organized by the
A prayer for Pope Benedict
From CNA: A bishop has authorized and published a prayer for private devotion to Pope Benedict XVI, who died Dec.
Sister André, world’s oldest person, dies at 118
From CNN: French nun Sister André, the world’s oldest known person, died on Tuesday at the age of 118 in
Lawyers say McCarrick is unfit to stand trial
Given his advancing age, this shouldn't be a surprise: Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is in “significant” mental decline and may
Are you ready for Sunday of the Word of God?
Four years ago, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illis, instituting Sunday of the Word of God for the
WATCH: Man ordered to remove ‘Jesus saves’ tee shirt at Mall of America
This happened two weekends ago, but this story is now gathering steam on social media. Details: A man inside the
‘Ungodly and inhumane’: Priest burned alive in Nigeria
From AP: A Nigerian priest was burned alive in his home in the country’s north on Sunday, police said. Rev.
A diaconal connection to the funeral of Cardinal Pell
Reading about the funeral of Cardinal George Pell in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, I saw this photograph: I thought
‘I trust that you will always be signs of a Church that goes forth’
From Pope Francis's remarks Saturday morning to the priests, deacons, seminarians and staff from the North American College, here's a
‘If discouragement overwhelms you, think of Joseph…’
Part of this homily popped up in my Facebook feed yesterday. I really needed to see it. Maybe you do,
‘Pray for Damar’: the birth of a movement
The collapse of Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin has sparked something of a movement, according to Bills team chaplain Len
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Fort Wayne-South Bend
Happy new year! Happy new deacons! Details from Today's Catholic: A glorious day! More than 1,300 people witnessed the ordination of 18
Shock: Cardinal Pell dead at 81
From the BBC: Cardinal George Pell, whose conviction on child abuse charges shocked the Catholic Church before being quashed, has
Damar Hamlin’s recovery: ‘Prayer is real’
'Damar got the whole world to pray. God allowed Damar to get the whole world to pray.' From OSV News:
The gift of Benedict: Homily for January 8, 2023 Memorial Mass
We dedicated the 1 p.m. Mass at my parish Sunday to Pope Emeritus Benedict. I was asked to preach the
When a funeral homily is also a eulogy: Cardinal Ratzinger on Pope John Paul II
There has been a lot of discussion lately about Pope Francis's homily for the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict; some
Man arrested after destroying altar in Arkansas abbey
'The man had wanted to break into the tabernacle but had looked up at the statue of Mary and decided
Joseph Ratzinger, ‘led where you do not want to go’
A different look at the trajectory of Benedict's life, from Elizabeth Scalia at OSV News: It was a coldish day
Catholic urban ‘village’ proposed for Detroit
Details: Many thousands of churches are being abandoned in North America as worship communities become geographically dissipated, often spread over
Report: ‘Passion of the Christ’ sequel to begin shooting this spring
Details: After almost a decade of anticipation, the Passion of the Christ sequel is finally in the works. Passion of the Christ:
The New York Times looks at the bond between football and faith
Check this out: As the ambulance carrying the injured Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin rolled slowly off the field in Cincinnati Monday
Read: Pope Francis’s homily at funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict
'Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!' From
Damar Hamlin: ‘I see myself through God’s eyes’
From OSV News: The Central Catholic High School community in Pittsburgh is joining in prayer for NFL player Damar Hamlin,
2017 letter from bishop explained plan to laicize Pavone
From The Pillar: A 2017 letter to then-Father Frank Pavone warned the now-laicized leader of Priests for Life that his
Gänswein: The devil was ‘very against Pope Benedict’
From Crux: Retired Pope Benedict XVI’s longtime personal secretary has given an interview in which he says he believes the
WATCH: Benedict’s last journey to St. Peter’s
The remains of the Pope Emeritus were transferred to St. Peter's Monday morning. Video below, from Vatican News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0vmyUJSAAM
Happy New Year, happy new news service: the debut of OSV News
At the end of 2022, before the ball fell, an important piece of news dropped: the launch of OSV News.
Benedict’s last words: ‘Lord, I love you!’
The Vatican released this photograph Sunday: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, lying in state at his home chapel in the Monastery
‘A shepherd must love the people entrusted to him’: Homily for January 1, 2023
This weekend, as we start a new year, we’re doing more than changing calendars and making resolutions. We’re watching history
Pope Benedict at installation: ‘Do not be afraid of Christ!’
My mind goes back to 22 October 1978, when Pope John Paul II began his ministry here in Saint Peter’s
Vatican: Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Father’s house
From the Vatican: The Holy See Press Office announced that the Pope Emeritus died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning
‘The story of the Holy Family is about life not always turning out the way you expected’
A little something from the vault: I’m struck every year by the timing of this feast, celebrating the Holy Family. It
Diocese of Rome to offer special Mass for Pope Emeritus
'Although his condition remains serious, the situation at the moment is stable.' Details: The Diocese of Rome will offer a
Prayer to St. Joseph for a happy death
"Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us
Benedict: ‘Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life…’
"Quite soon, I shall find myself before the final judge of my life. Even though, as I look back on
Pope Francis describes Benedict as ‘very ill,’ asks for prayers
From Vatican News: Concluding the General Audience on Wednesday morning Pope Francis asked the faithful for a "special prayer" for
‘I said I was Jew-ish’: The case of Catholic Congressman-elect George Santos
It turns out that New York's congressman-to-be misled, embellished, fabricated and outright lied about parts of his life — including
‘The manger reminds us that Jesus was surrounded by nothing but love’
"The manger of Bethlehem speaks to us not only of closeness, but also of poverty. Around the manger there is
My first Christmas homily
In December 2007, the first Christmas after my ordination, my pastor asked me to preach at Midnight Mass. The homily
Great moments in weather reporting
Let's hear it for Mark Woodley, ladies and gentlemen: Anyone who has ever seen a local news broadcast during a
Christ is always coming: Homily for Christmas 2022
Merry Christmas! If you’ve said it someone today, say it again! And say it again tonight. And tomorrow. And for
Holiday cheer in the U.K.: Woman arrested for silently praying
This incident has understandably caused a firestorm. The report from CNA: A pro-life volunteer has been arrested and charged after
Poll: All I want for Christmas is less Mariah Carey
A blessed sign of hope for our troubled times, via RNS: Most Americans plan to give a dozen gifts during
Remembering ‘Sean Patrick’ of Catholic Digest: ‘He loved God, loved life, and loved to tell stories’
My friend Paul McKibben alerted me to this sad news: a man who was a beloved fixture of Catholic Digest
The town that ‘Silent Night’ put on the map
Some fascinating history here, via CNS: The Christmas song “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night”) may have put the town of Oberndorf,
One number for the new year that can really count
My latest for OSV: As the new year begins, it’s all about numbers, isn’t it? From the annual countdown in
Holy humility — and a saint for this moment, Jeanne Jugan
Reflecting on the idea of obedience, many people this week have mentioned the case of Padre Pio. Others have brought
Nearly 1,000 U.S. faith leaders call for Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine
Details: Nearly 1,000 U.S. faith leaders are calling for a Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine 10 months after Russia invaded its
Mary, did you know?: One reason why it’s a wonderful film
'Mary sees the big man in George from the first, because she is a big woman.' From The Bulwark, writer
Everything you wanted to know about the Pavone case
Sources said that the Pavone case had less to do with his media profile and public statements, and more to
‘Be open to believe’: Just in time for Christmas, ’60 Minutes’ gives us a story of miracles
This is something to see: From CBS News's Bill Whitaker, a fascinating, inspiring and superbly-reported account of the miracles that
Pavone vows legal action
From CNA: The national director of Priests for Life, Frank Pavone, canceled a scheduled livestreamed Mass today, one day after
CNA: Father Pavone dismissed from clerical state — UPDATED
This has been a long time coming. Details: Father Frank Pavone, a well-known pro-life activist and national director of the
Martyrs: Married couple with 7 children, all executed by the Nazis, could be beatified
Details: Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of a married couple with seven children who were killed by the Nazis
Life matters: Oregon’s governor commutes sentences of death row inmates
Attention must be paid: Democratic Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon announced on Tuesday she is commuting the sentences of the state's 17
Women deacons? A member of the Vatican commission weighs in
From Our Sunday Visitor, here's part of an interview with Deacon Dominic Cerrato, editor of OSV’s The Deacon magazine, and
Pope names Holy Cross priest bishop of St. Cloud
From the Diocese of St. Cloud website: The Holy See announced that Pope Francis has appointed Father Patrick Neary, C.S.C., a
On Jordan’s bank: a stunning development rises at baptism site
Those of us who have been to this ancient site can't help but find this jarring and a little disorienting
‘We are all Newtown’: Remembering the tragedy of Sandy Hook
From 2012, part of my homily after the tragedy in Sandy Hook: As some of you know, my office is
More Protestant churches are celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe
The presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Episcopalian, Lutheran or other Protestant spaces could be more commonplace in Mexican
‘Men for others’: Heisman winner Caleb Williams salutes Gonzaga’s influence on his life
"To the 11-year-old out there who’s watching right now, who was told you’re too small, like they told me. Go
Chicago’s Father Pfleger cleared of abuse allegations, reinstated as pastor
Details, via CNN: Father Michael Pfleger, the senior pastor of the St. Sabina Parish in Chicago, has been reinstated after
The Lord is near: Homily for December 11, 2022, 3rd Sunday in Advent
“Rejoice in the Lord always…the Lord is near!” That message from St. Paul, from the opening chant for this Mass,
The composer behind ‘Mary’s Boy Child’
He also composed that contemporary classic, "Amen," that we all remember from "Lilies of the Field." (He also dubbed Sidney
Mary, the woman of ‘Yes’
This feast we celebrate, the Immaculate Conception, commemorates a great mystery and a miracle: that God so loved the world
Prominent Jesuit artist has ministry restricted after allegations
Photo: by Centroaletti / Creative Commons From CNS: Slovenian Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik, whose mosaics decorate chapels in the Vatican,
‘Carol of the Bells’: Ukraine’s enduring song of hope
One hundred years after it was introduced to Western audiences at Carnegie Hall, this enduring classic returned. And it's even
Ordination update: 20 new deacons for Peoria
An early Christmas gift! Details from The Catholic Post: In ordaining 20 permanent deacons for the Diocese of Peoria on
Another diocese plans to file for bankruptcy
From the Press Democrat in California: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa plans to file for bankruptcy protection in
Next stop: the glorious lights of Attleboro
The Fall Tour (Deaconpalooza '22) is wrapping up. I'm heading to the train station this morning with my wife to
The great religious caretakers of America: chaplains
About a quarter of new students in the Master of Divinity programs at Boston University and Union Theological Seminary in
Check it out: A gift for the preacher in your life
I'm pleased to announce that a new collection of homilies is being released today by the good people at Clear
Amid scandals and politics, Poland’s young people are losing faith
“This is a time bomb that was always going to explode sooner or later.” Further evidence that we are often
Census: Less than half of England and Wales is Christian
From the BBC: For the first time fewer than half of people in England and Wales describe themselves as Christian,
Rest in peace: ‘Die Hard’ actor Clarence Gilyard, Catholic
His memorable turn as a computer hacker in the Bruce Willis smash led to ongoing roles in "Waker, Texas Ranger"
History: Deacon becomes first Indigenous man ordained in Brisbane
From The Catholic Leader in Australia: Deacon Clinton McGoldrick became the first Indigenous man ordained in the history of Brisbane
Must-read: Pope Francis’s wide-ranging interview with America magazine
The Holy Father spoke exclusively with Matt Malone, S.J., the departing editor in chief of America, Sam Sawyer, S.J., the
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Scranton
Just in time for Advent! Details: Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, ordained eight men as permanent deacons for
Vatican: China violated terms of agreement with bishop installation
From CNA: The Vatican said on Saturday that Chinese authorities had violated the terms stipulated in its provisional agreement on
No, you don’t have to sing that hymn this weekend. Really.
It's everybody's go-to chant for Advent: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." It's a classic, sober piece of music, and it's
Jesus Christ, streaming star: ‘The Chosen’ becomes a breakout hit
The streaming sensation has even caught the attention of The New York Times: In the biblical account of the miracle
Report: Apostolic Visitation for Diocese of Knoxville
From The Pillar: A Vatican-ordered apostolic visitation will be conducted in the Diocese of Knoxville next week, several sources close
‘Oh, the humanity’: The true story behind the WKRP ‘Turkey Drop’
From Rodney Ho at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who re-posts this item every year: The show was created by former Atlanta
Bishop Henning of Rockville Centre becomes coadjutor bishop of Providence
News from the In My Backyard Desk: The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D.
Shock: Pope removes entire leadership of Caritas, appoints administrator
From CNA: Pope Francis on Tuesday removed the entire leadership of an international confederation of charities and appointed a temporary
Singing phenomenon Sister Cristina of ‘The Voice’ leaves religious life
You remember she caused a sensation a few years back. Now, this news: A nun who became a singing sensation
Unpacking the USCCB meeting — and finding some surprises
Elizabeth Scalia sat through most of the public sessions (so we wouldn't have to) and offers this assessment over at
Rest in peace: ‘Miracle deacon’ Ken Conklin has died
Friday evening, Bishop Rick Stika posted the news on Facebook: It is with sadness that I share with you the
Albany’s retired Bishop Hubbard asks Vatican ‘to return to the lay state’
This is extraordinary, via The Evangelist newspaper: Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard of the Diocese of Albany has asked the
Patriarch: discussions underway about one date for Easter
From Zenit: In an interview with a Turkish media , the Patriarch of Constantinople stated that conversations are underway between
Rest in peace: writer Michael Gerson dies at 58
A writer of great faith and passion is gone: Michael Gerson, a speechwriter for President George W. Bush who helped
Catholic vs. Catholic for president? Could happen.
If — and it's a big "if" — Ron DeSantis throws his hat in the ring and if — another
‘I had two patients to take care of’: An abortion doctor’s powerful conversion
A doctor who performed abortions tells the story of what made him change his mind in a new book, Two
USCCB: It’s Broglio and Lori
From CNS: Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services was elected Nov. 15 to a
Statue of Native American will replace toppled one of St. Junipero Serra in Sacramento
From The Sacramento Bee: State lawmakers and local tribal leaders shared details Monday on the plan to replace the toppled
A TV reporter’s big scoop: he’s returned to the Catholic Church
What a great story, from Detroit Catholic: Chuck Gaidica has been in the TV business for more than 40 years,
The big winner Tuesday night? Abortion
A sobering assessment from Religion News Service: If there was one clear winner in the November midterms, it was abortion
Wear this in memory of me: passing on a deacon’s vestments
This is great, from Baltimore's Catholic Review: Vestments once worn by a beloved deacon of St. Rita in Dundalk over
Next stop: sunny Florida
The Fall Retreat-a-Palooza continues. This morning, I'm headed to Florida, to St. Augustine and the Marywood Retreat Center to lead
Tim Ryan’s concession: ‘The highest title in this land is citizen’
No matter what party you belong to, or whose ides your support, you should be able to appreciate these words
Church Militant on Election Day: ‘Violence is not immoral…it must always be an option.’
The mind boggles. Via Salon: On Tuesday morning, the far-right Catholic media outlet Church Militant published a video editorial suggesting
Ross Douthat: How Vatican II ‘eviscerated a culture of obligatory practice’
Ross Douthat of The New York Times has taken aim at Vatican II — again — with some followup ideas
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Phoenix
Bishop John Dolan ordained seven men to the diaconate in Phoenix on Saturday November 5. The new deacons are: William
Don’t give up
Behold: a captivating little piece of art by French choreographer Yoann Bourgeois. Here is life's journey in 90 seconds —
Report: Emile Adams, ‘the oldest active deacon in the U.S.,’ dies at 100
This news appeared on the Facebook page of Diocese of Toledo's Black Catholics Saturday afternoon: Deacon Emile Adams passed into
A ‘Father Stu’ for the whole family?
I have to wonder: why didn't they do this in the first place? Details: Mark Wahlberg's Father Stu is getting another go
Before there was DeSantis, there was Paul Harvey and this classic truck ad
There's been a lot of talk on social media about the new ad for Florida's Ron DeSantis, suggesting God's endorsement.
Bishops: Those political newspapers aren’t connected to the Catholic Church
From CNA: In recent days, residents of at least four U.S. states have received newspapers in the mail bearing variations
‘Outrage’: Minnesota cemetery desecrated; Bishop Barron vows to reconsecrate site
Details: Bishop Robert Barron has pledged to reconsecrate a Catholic Minnesota cemetery vandalized on Halloween night with satanic and vulgar
RIP, Thomas Cahill, author of ‘How the Irish Saved Civilization’
From The New York Times: Thomas Cahill, a multilingual scholar who wrote a surprise 1995 best seller demonstrating to the
We want to be in that number: Homily for November 1, 2022, Solemnity of All Saints
A few years ago, my wife and I were in New Orleans for a conference, and in the lobby of
60,000 lives saved: the impact of overturning Roe
The details, via CNA: More than 10,000 unborn babies are alive today because of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn
A Blessing for Trick-Or-Treaters
This comes from the blog for Give Us This Day, and the pen of Father Michael Kwatera, OSB: Compassionate God...
Greetings from Gallup
As I write, it's Sunday morning — 23 degrees outside, if you were wondering — and I'm wrapping up my
Up next: Galloping to Gallup
And the Fall Tour continues. I'm departing early Friday morning (very early) for Gallup, New Mexico, to lead a retreat
Poll: 45% of Americans say U.S. should be a ‘Christian nation’
But what, exactly, does that mean? Details: Most U.S. adults believe America’s founders intended the country to be a Christian
Synod document reveals desire for ‘radical inclusion’
"Many reports ask that the Church continue its discernment in the active role of women in the governing structures of
USCCB: Biden ‘gravely wrong’ on abortion
"This single-minded extremism must end, and we implore President Biden to recognize the humanity in preborn children." CNA reports: President
Diocese of Buffalo agrees to submit to secular oversight
Priests who have been credibly accused of abuse will be assigned an individual monitor with law enforcement experience to ensure
Cardinal: Church blessings of same-sex unions not a settled matter
From CNA: In an interview with Vatican media, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., said he believes Church blessings for same-sex unions,
Chaput: ‘Biden is not in communion with the Catholic faith’
From CNA: Archbishop Charles Chaput said on Saturday that Joe Biden “is not in communion with the Catholic faith” and
Lessons from the journey: Homily for October 23, 2022, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Everyone knows how important it is to pack for a journey — but I also think it’s important what you
Cardinal to EWTN: Unity with pope is necessary for Catholic media
From NCR: The Vatican's top diplomat has called on the U.S.-based media conglomerate Eternal Word Television Network, which regularly criticizes
Grief: Phoenix bishop loses third sibling to suicide
From the National Catholic Register: After announcing Bishop John P. Dolan lost his sister to death by suicide, the Diocese
Looking to ‘prepare the way’ this Advent? Join me for a weekend retreat in a spectacular setting
I say "spectacular," because it's the only way to describe this spot in Attleboro, Massachusetts. I'll be leading a weekend
‘Are priests flourishing or struggling?’: Survey finds fulfillment, fear, burnout
The authors of a major new survey — described as the largest conducted in more than 50 years — summarize
French bishop ordered to live a life of ‘prayer and penance’ for sexual abuse
From CNA: The Diocese of Créteil in France confirmed last week that its former bishop had been credibly accused of
Biden vows to make legal abortion the law of the land
From CNN: President Joe Biden on Tuesday made a major promise on a push to put abortion rights into law
Awake: Milwaukee group works for change in addressing sexual abuse
Awake is unique among most anti-clergy sexual abuse groups because its leaders are practicing Catholics who want to remain in
Parish stands behind Father Pfleger, as he faces another sex abuse accusation
From The Chicago Sun-Times: A day after the Rev. Michael Pfleger was accused again of child sex abuse, the popular priest
‘We can’t hurry’: Pope extends Synod another year, to 2024
From NCR: Pope Francis announced on Oct. 16 that he is significantly expanding the timeframe for his ongoing consultation process
New footage shows Pelosi praying on January 6
From RNS: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi began her day on Jan. 6, 2021, by praying with colleagues and discussing the
Someone you need to know: Bangkok’s Father Joe, ‘an outcast among outcasts’
From The New York Times: The young priest, always something of a misfit, chose an unconventional spot to start his
On the road again: the Maine event
Next stop: Portland. I'm headed there Friday to lead a retreat for deacons and their wives at the Marie Joseph
Want to persevere in prayer? Look to Father Walter Ciszek
Just in time for this weekend's Gospel, about persevering in prayer, along comes this remembrance of a future saint of
‘The council was a failure’
That's one of the bold conclusions drawn by Ross Douthat in today's New York Times. He writes: Just because a
Pope Francis on Vatican II and the command to ‘Feed my sheep’
'All of us are children of God, all brothers and sisters in the Church, all of us making up the
$100 million ad campaign tries to ‘rebrand’ Jesus
Good luck with this: Jon Lee has some words for evangelical leaders who argue that Christian ethics like kindness, honesty
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Burlington
They were ordained by Bishop Christopher Coyne at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Burlington last Saturday. In the picture,
Report: Steubenville Diocese may merge with Columbus
The Pillar has the scoop: The Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, is expected to announce to priests Monday that a process
‘Deacon Sunday’?? What??
Again and again on social media this weekend, I kept reading deacons who said, "How come I'm only hearing about
The Catholic roots of the oldest public library in the Americas
From AP: It is, according to UNESCO, the oldest public library in the Americas, tucked away from the street front
Check this out: Eucharistic Adoration in the 21st century
My friend Father Matthew Schneider posted this picture below on social media, showing a kiosk outside a chapel for Adoration.
Survey: 4 in 10 ‘non-Catholic’ Latinos were once Catholic
From RNS: A new NBC News/Telemundo poll focusing on the Latino electorate found that 41% of Latinos who do not
Pope Francis: ‘The saints are not sourpusses’
'It has been said that a sad saint is a sad excuse for a saint. Approach life with a sense
Got joy?
Earlier this week, I spoke at the convocation of priests in the Diocese of Cleveland, and my keynote was entitled,
Ordination update: 17 new deacons for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's Bishop David Zubik ordained 17 new deacons at St. Paul Cathedral on October 1. As the diocesan website notes:
Gracias, El Paso!
I had a wonderful time this weekend — praying, sharing, fraternizing and generally just enjoying the company of the deacon
WATCH: The life of St. Peter projected on St. Peter’s at the Vatican
I posted about this event a few weeks back. Now here is the video (in Italian) as it was captured
An ‘extraordinary’ way of living? They’re just being Christians
Here's a great look at a way of living as community, via The Catholic Spirit in the Archdiocese of St.
On the road again: Traveling to El Paso with St. Jerome
Greetings from LaGuardia's amazing new Terminal B. It's a gorgeous September morning in New York City. I'm headed to the
‘Seek the City to Come’: Archdiocese of Baltimore begins review, considering major changes
The Archdiocese of Baltimore is taking a hard look at Mass attendance and how to face the future. From The
Patriarch Kirill: Russian war dead have their sins forgiven
Image: by Jim Forest / Flickr / Creative Commons license From Radio Free Europe: Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian
RIP: Brother Andrew, known as ‘God’s Smuggler’
'Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to your children across this border. When you
Archbishop: wearing religious clothing is ‘revolutionary’
He was evidently speaking at an ordination for transitional deacons. From CNA: The archbishop of Valladolid, Spain, Luis Argüello, called
Ordination update: 17 new deacons for Rockford
Details from the diocesan website: Most Reverend David J. Malloy ordained 17 men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese
Worth your time: Pope Francis’s beautiful homily on the Eucharist
This is too important and beautiful to miss. Pope Francis offered a stirring, eloquent homily Sunday on the Eucharist: One
What can you give the Catholic who has everything? Look no further
If you're looking to do some early Christmas shopping, you need to check this out: The Holy Hour: Meditations for
In a first, Catholics now outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland
From The Guardian: Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time, a demographic milestone for a state that was designed
Video projection on life of St. Peter to illuminate his basilica
From Vatican News: Beginning Sunday 2 October at 9 pm, a special video showing the life of St. Peter will
Defiance: Belgian bishops publish blessings for same-sex couples
From CNA: Catholic bishops in Belgium on Tuesday announced the introduction of blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples in their dioceses.
Vatican turns down request for ‘Feast of the Holy Spouses’
Interesting news, via The Pillar: The Vatican has turned down a request from some U.S. bishops to add a feast
From the BBC: ‘The Queen’s faith went far beyond protocol and duty’
A worthwhile read: Almost every aspect of official ceremony surrounding the death of the Queen has been steeped in religious
Orlando’s next big attraction: the Stations of the Cross by Timothy Schmalz
This will be something to see. CNA reports: Catholic artist Timothy P. Schmalz sought to find and bring to life
Pastors ‘mixed’ on migrants in Martha’s Vineyard?
This item from the AP caught my eye this morning: As Republican governors ramp up their high-profile transports of migrants to
‘Behold, the wood of the cross…’
From the vault, some thoughts for the feast we mark today, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Behold the wood
And then there were ‘nones’: Christians could make up less than half of U.S. population by 2070
By one projection, “nones” would rise to somewhere between 34% and 52% of the U.S. population. Some sobering statistics, from
Daughters of St. Paul prepare to leave Chicago
The story in RNS: When the Daughters of St. Paul received permission from Chicago’s then-Cardinal John Cody to open a
‘We accompany those who struggle’: Diocese launches Office of Mental Health Ministry
“It’s about time we put this in the forefront. We need to recognize it and talk about it.” Kudos to
On the road again: next stop, Pittsburgh
After a quiet summer, I'm back on the road. The fall season of retreats and missions is beginning. First stop:
‘The last Christian monarch’: Remembering Elizabeth II, servant and queen
Much will be written about her historic reign, and the extraordinary — epic, really — life she lived, during a
Dutch diocese will no longer offer Mass in every parish every Sunday
From CNA: A diocese in the Netherlands says it will no longer offer Mass every Sunday in its parishes. Instead,
Pregnant and with cancer, she chose life: ‘This was God calling me to something so big’
Beautiful and humbling, via CNA: Jessica Hanna, a mother of four, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer when she was
What are critics saying about Shia LaBeouf’s ‘Padre Pio’ movie?
The actor got a lot of attention several days ago, for his interview with Bishop Barron about his conversion to
Saints ahoy! Dorothy Day sets sail for New York
This is pretty neat, via The Staten Island Advance: Anchors Aweigh! The third and final new Staten Island Ferry boat
Patricia Heaton on meeting Pope Francis — and working as a Catholic in Hollywood
'As much as people want to paint Hollywood as a sort of anti-religious place, I have found that going into
In new video, pope calls for worldwide abolition of death penalty
"Always, in every legal sentence, there must be a window of hope. Capital punishment offers no justice to victims, but
In praise of St. Jeanne Jugan, humblest of servants
August 30 is the feast day of this remarkable woman — someone who can teach us all a thing or
Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Baton Rouge
Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained the men on Saturday August 13, at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. The new
Bishop Barron: ‘One of my dreams is to establish an order of priests’
From Fox Digital: Bishop Robert Barron, a controversial cleric on both the secular left and right for his talks on ethics
‘Whoever needs, come and eat’
This is just great. This photo went viral last week and caused a sensation. The story, from The Columbia Missourian:
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for San Bernardino
The new deacons — 11 permanent and 2 transitional — were ordained by Bishop Alberto Rojas on Saturday at St.
WATCH: Shia LaBeouf on his conversion to Catholicism and playing Padre Pio
From Fox News: Actor Shia LaBeouf said he converted to Christianity while shooting his upcoming film "Padre Pio" and has
Why many Latinos are choosing to become Protestant
From Axios: The percentage of Latinos who identify as Protestant — evangelical and other Christian faiths — is expected to grow from
Father and son make a little history in New Jersey
You see this happening more and more — and it recently happened in the Archdiocese of Newark. The story (h/t
Want a great way to start the new school year? Try this.
This video has begun circulating on social media. Humbling. Moving. Profoundly beautiful. All of the above. Just look. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQJa9wpKtvk Twitter
Archbishop Weakland dies
From CNA: Archbishop Rembert Weakland, a Benedictine who served as archbishop of Milwaukee from 1977 to 2002, died overnight on
Discovering Mary Magdalene in Nice
A parishioner, Joseph Terry, posted this stunning image on social media this morning, from Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice: I had
‘No grounds’: Vatican says it will not conduct canonical investigation into Ouellet charges
Details: The Vatican said Thursday it will not hold a trial against Cardinal Marc Ouellet over allegations he sexually assaulted
Canada’s Cardinal Marc Ouellet accused
Details: Quebec Cardinal Marc Ouellet, once considered a front-runner to become pope, has been accused of sexual assault and is
Must-read: Frederick Buechner on ministry and being ‘however inadequately’ a servant of Christ
"Again and again Christ is present not where, as priests, you would be apt to look for him but precisely
WATCH: Inside what will reportedly be North America’s largest Catholic parish church
This is something else, via The Fresno Bee: When the work is completed on the new $21 million St. Charles
Olivia Newton-John’s Catholic connection
From CNA: Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, perhaps best known for her role as Sandy Olsson in the 1978 film
Must-see video: ‘I wanted to go over there and spread God’s love and make sure that he’s OK…’
WWJD? I think he'd do this. Check out this emotion-filled clip from a Little League game this week in Oklahoma.
On St. Lawrence and the true meaning of a deacon’s service
"The diaconal service of charity must include imitation of Christ by means of unconditional self-giving." Today is the Feast of
Lightning strike damages historic Illinois church
Details: A lightning strike caused a roof fire Monday that severely damaged a historic Catholic church in Rockford, Illinois, and
‘Some of the blame for poor preaching in Catholic churches belongs to the people in the pews…’
That's the provocative idea put forth by Rev. Terrence Klein in the current issue of America. He offers some tips
Consultants recommend suspending sainthood cause of Father Capodanno
In September 1967, the native New Yorker, Father Vincent Capodanno — a Maryknoll priest known as "The Grunt Padre" —
RIP: Oldest cardinal dies at 98
From CNA: Cardinal Jozef Tomko died early Monday morning in Rome at the age of 98. At the time of
‘This isn’t the only stop on the train’: Homily for August 7, 2022, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He was known as “the voice of summer” — Vincent Edward Scully, Vin Scully, simply the greatest sports announcer of
‘This is how you do Church…’
"The music was accessible and easy to sing. The homily was on-point and offered food for thought. The Liturgy of
Persecution watch: Media outlets closed, parish raided, as Nicaragua cracks down on Catholic Church
Attention must be paid. From CNS: Nicaraguan authorities have ordered the closure of Catholic media outlets and raided a parish
Tom Cornell, activist and deacon, dies
Details from NCR: Tom Cornell, whose actions and writings through more than six decades brought Christian nonviolence and war resistance
RIP: Vin Scully, legendary broadcaster and Catholic
"You know, this isn’t the only stop on the train. There’s one big one we’re still waiting for. I used
Detroit auxiliary bishop accused, denies allegation
“Archbishop Russell is shocked and saddened by the claims that have been made, and states that they are without merit."
The secret to being an everyday evangelist
My latest for Our Sunday Visitor: Psssst. Want to be an evangelist? Here’s a secret you may not know: You
‘I embrace this willingly’: The cross of Father John Hollowell
Longtime readers may remember the posts about Father John Hollowell. Sean Gallagher from Indianapolis told his story in 2020: Father
Pope Francis: ‘Door is open’ to retirement
From AFP: Pope Francis admitted Saturday he needs to slow down, telling reporters after a six-day trip to Canada that
Francis in Canada: Pope apologizes for clergy sexual abuse
It happened Thursday night in Quebec, during vespers at the Cathedral of Notre Dame: At the cathedral, Francis pointed the
Is this a Eucharistic miracle?
Details, from Catholic News Agency: A video circulating on social media shows what appears to be a eucharistic miracle —
Judge dismisses five libel suits by Nick Sandmann
Details: A federal judge has dismissed libel lawsuits against five media companies that a Kentucky student filed over an incident
Francis in Canada: ‘I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians’
"I am here because the first step of my penitential pilgrimage among you is that of again asking forgiveness, of
Francis in Canada: A pope and a high-stakes apology
From Politico: The big question when the Pope speaks to First Nations, Métis and Inuit gathered at Maskwacis is: Who will
A home seller’s prayer to St. Joseph
Beloved St. Joseph, You found shelter for Mary and made a welcoming home for your adopted son Jesus in Nazareth.
‘Astonishment’: German Church leaders respond to Vatican intervention
If Germany's bishops are feeling a little hot under the Roman collar, it's not necessarily because of the summer heat.
‘The Bishop of Madison has taken disciplinary action regarding Fr. Richard Heilman…’
Here's a followup on the controversy about Father Richard Heilman, whose public political posturing has raised eyebrows (and blood pressures)
Holy See issues statement on Germany’s ‘Synodal Path’
"The 'Synodal Path' in Germany does not have the faculty to ... to assume new forms of governance and new
Who will choose the next pope? A lot fewer Europeans
The leadership structure of the Roman Catholic Church is tilting away from its historic European base and toward developing nations
Wisconsin priest encourages donations to help January 6 defendants
Details: A Cross Plains Catholic priest warned last year by Madison Diocese officials to temper his right-wing political activity is
Ivana Trump’s Catholic funeral — UPDATED
The details: Ivana Trump will get a flashy send-off in New York City on Wednesday, as friends and family gather at
Worth your time: ‘How America Lost Its Religion’
From The Atlantic comes this interesting and sobering effort to unpack what has happened over the last 30 years, citing
‘A misunderstanding’: Bishops will allow lesbian to foster a child
“That is neither a ‘change’ in the USCCB’s position, nor a change in Church teaching." From The Washington Post: An
Historic: Pope names 3 women to Dicastery for Bishops
Details: Pope Francis on Wednesday named three women to the Dicastery for Bishops, the first time women have been appointed
Priestless funerals in Ireland?
''I think it is a shock still to people. There are a lot of lay people and priests who are
In new interview, Pope Francis discusses what he would do if he retires
'I am the Bishop of Rome. In that case I would be the bishop emeritus of Rome,' he said, adding
Vandalism, suspected arson at Maryland churches
This strikes close to home. The incidents all occurred over the weekend, not far from where my wife and I
Who is my neighbor?: Homily for July 10, 2022, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
It sounds like such a simple, obvious question. Who is my neighbor? If you think you know, this Gospel says: think
‘A Deacon Prays’ wins First Place at Catholic Media Awards
Wow. Deo Gratias! The winners were announced last night at the Catholic Media Association's conference in Portland, Oregon. A complete
Prayer request: for a new deacon and his wife
Last month, I had the privilege of leading the pre-ordination retreat for deacon candidates in the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Big news: OSV announces new Catholic news service
With CNS folding up its tent, Our Sunday Visitor is stepping in to fill the void. The press release: One
Meanwhile, in Australia …
Some interesting developments in the Catholic Church Down Under. First, tensions flared at the country's plenary council over discussion of
Reuters: Pope Francis says he will give women say in selection of bishops
'Two women will be appointed for the first time in the committee to elect bishops in the Congregation for Bishops.'
‘A papacy complicated by the shadow of resignation’
'Now it is much easier to envision a resignation because Benedict paved the way for that, and it changed our
In historic move, Congregation of Holy Cross elects a brother as superior
The announcement: On Friday afternoon, July 1, in a historic first, the 2022 General Chapter of the Congregation of Holy Cross elected
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for San Francisco
And there's one more on the way! I received this email from Deacon Russ Wertenberg: 10 of us were scheduled
Pope Francis weighs in on SCOTUS abortion decision
From Vatican News: Pope Francis has responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which returned power
WATCH: African liturgical dance at Vatican Mass
Here's something jubilant and wonderful — and not the sort of thing you see every day at St. Peter's. Details:
Wisconsin Catholic church vandalized
Details: The Madison Police Department is investigating a graffiti/damage to property complaint at a Catholic Church in Madison. MPD said
A saint speaks: ‘Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed’
For the holiday weekend, some words of wisdom from St. John Paul II, concluding a visit in Detroit in 1987:
Pope Francis: ‘It is time to rethink the concept of a just war’
'Everything I have done was neither my invention nor a dream I had after a night of indigestion. I picked
‘Devastating’: Paulist Fathers to leave Ohio State
Details: The group of priests who have run the Catholic ministry at Ohio State University for 65 years will be departing at
‘Couples need role models’
Simcha Fisher looks at what is going on with Catholic marriage preparation these days — and finds a lot that's
A pro-life ministry for this moment: Walking with Moms in Need
'This is a ministry. The same way we call people to the pastoral care of the sick. This is a
Epic ordination update: A big class for Little Rock, as bishop ordains 46
From Arkansas Catholic: Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain 46 permanent deacons for the diocese at 10 a.m., Saturday, June
Pope Francis issues Apostolic Letter on liturgy
Details: The Pope has written an Apostolic Letter to the people of God on the liturgy, to recall the profound
‘Pilgrims of Hope’: Vatican unveils logo for 2025 Holy Year
Details: In a press conference held on Tuesday in the Sala Regia of the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, the Vatican revealed the official
And the prize for Best Penitential Rite goes to …
... whoever came up with THIS. A friend sent this to me. It's obviously not new — the rose vestments
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Biloxi
From the Diocese of Biloxi Facebook page: CONGRATULATIONS!! This morning at Nativity Cathedral in Biloxi, 6 men were ordained to
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Bridgeport
Details: “You are meant to be a counter-sign of the world in which you live by becoming a living sign
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Indianapolis
Who says it don't rain in Indianapolis in the summertime? It's raining deacons! A grateful diaconal bow to my friend
SCOTUS overturns Roe: Reaction — UPDATED
'Now is the time to begin the work of building a post-Roe America.' The news we have been waiting for
Report: Church braces for ‘extreme violence’ following SCOTUS abortion decision
From Newsweek: The Catholic Church is heeding federal law enforcement's warning that a radical group is "calling for extreme violence"
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Toronto
I received this message Monday from Deacon Neil Daunt: I was blessed to be ordained to the diaconate with 18
Horror: priests slaughtered in Mexican church
'They had no defense but their faith in God.' Details: Catholic dioceses throughout Mexico are condemning the murder of two
‘Can you imagine if I showed up in St. Peter’s wearing this?’
Pope Francis met with bishops from Brazil at the Vatican and they brought him an unusual gift. Watch the video
Deacon: ‘I survived because of the Real Presence’
Quite a story here, via National Catholic Register and Thomas McDonald: At dawn on Oct. 4, 1966, Maj. Joseph Tedeschi
RIP, Mark Shields
Details: Mark Shields, a piercing analyst of America’s political virtues and failings, first as a Democratic campaign strategist and then
Bringing Christ into the world: Homily for June 19, 2022, Corpus Christi
Her name was Juliana of Liège If you ever doubt that one person can have an impact on the world,
‘The Bench’ just got a fresh coat of paint
If you visit The Deacon's Bench, you'll see it has a new look. You can still find my latest blog
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for St. Augustine
Last week, I was privileged to direct their pre-ordination retreat; Saturday morning, June 11, just hours after completing the retreat,
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for San Antonio
I haven't been able to find a published list of the new deacons, but this text of Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller's
Bishop issues decree: school may no longer call itself Catholic
"Mass, sacraments and sacramentals are no longer permitted to be celebrated on Nativity School premises or be sponsored by Nativity
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Orlando
Details: Eighteen men entered the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in anticipation and gratitude,
Report: Number of abortions in U.S. rose
Details: The number of patients seeking abortions in the U.S. rose in 2020, reversing some 30 years of decline in the number
WATCH: Chaplains offering God’s love to soldiers in Ukraine
This is one more reminder of why CNS is so valuable. Here, from Ukraine, is a remarkable video showing a
Pope: Number of U.S. Catholics want to ‘gag’ reform
Details: The United States contains a "significant" number of groups seeking to "gag" the reforms of the Catholic Church initiated
‘God may be calling us’: the women who want to be deacons
From America: While the Catholic Church is not considering ordaining women to the priesthood, the ordination of women to the
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for Los Angeles
Details from Angelus News: On the night of Oct. 13, 2013, having just suffered a heart attack, cardiac arrest, and
A tee shirt for today
You know you want one. Different sizes and colors available. Find it here. You're welcome.
In Uvalde, a bishop makes an impassioned plea for gun control
From The New York Times: The day after an 18-year-old gunman massacred 21 students and teachers at an elementary school,
Catholics, Muslims sign agreement to work on interfaith peace
Details: A Catholic lay group based in Rome, and Indonesia’s largest moderate Islamic organization have signed a deal to continue
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Philadelphia
Details: Six men will be ordained permanent deacons by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Saturday,
Behold: 3 new Paulist Affiliate Deacons
The news, from Deacon Dennis Dolan: Deacon Mark Asselin of Rockville, MD; Deacon Patrick Ouellette of Alexandria, VA; and Deacon
French archbishop to seminarians: stop wearing cassocks
Details: A letter sent by the new archbishop of Toulouse in southwestern France to the seminarians of his archdiocese, in
‘The bond of perfection’: Homily for deacon candidates of St. Augustine
I spent this week in St. Augustine, Florida, leading the pre-ordination retreat for seven men who will be ordained deacons
From Uganda: ‘If you see that look with your eyes, you have to jump in and help’
From Deacon Don Grossnickle, recently back from a mission trip to Uganda: Truck driver, Rick Swope in 1990, heroically jumped
A COVID vaccine for those with religious concerns?
Details: A COVID-19 vaccine that could soon win federal authorization may offer a boost for the U.S. military: an opportunity
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for San Angelo
Details, courtesy Deacon Freddy Medina, Director of the Office of Diaconal Ministry for the Diocese of San Angelo: On June
Colorado bishops: pro-abortion lawmakers must refrain from communion
From RNS: Catholic bishops from Colorado asked Catholic lawmakers who voted in favor of abortion rights legislation earlier this year
‘We are broken’: Brooklyn bishop blesses church after desecration
The attack and theft made headlines around the globe. An update: The loss of St. Augustine Church’s tabernacle in a burglary
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for St. Louis
From the St. Louis Review: Eighteen men who were ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Louis
‘Vile and satanic attack’: Gunmen open fire at Catholic church in Nigeria
Words fail. Details: Gunmen opened fire on worshippers and detonated explosives at a Catholic church in southwestern Nigeria on Sunday,
Another Palm Sunday — pray for us!
I'm heading south this Pentecost — flying to the land of palms, St. Augustine, Florida, to begin leading a five-day
Great moments in journalism, royal edition
My friend Ellen Fleysher shared this on Facebook, as seen on KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.
Happy Pentecost from Manville, NJ!
Saturday, I had a wonderful visit to the parish of Sacred Heart / Christ the Redeemer in the town of
Snapshot: Annual survey offers a glimpse at the diaconate in the U.S.
From the USCCB: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations has released the
Theft of Brooklyn tabernacle leaves more than just a physical void
Congregations that were sparse before the pandemic have gotten even thinner since it started. Tight budgets continue to shrink, priests
‘Praying 4 Vocations’: Teen pilgrims walking for seminarians and deacons
From the Arlington Catholic Herald: The sun came out Memorial Day weekend for the fourth Annual Arlington Camino, an event
It’s official: Barron to Winona-Rochester; bishop ‘overjoyed and humbled’
"I’m thrilled to receive this new appointment as bishop of Winona-Rochester ... I'd humbly ask for prayers." — Bishop Robert
So what is an indulgence, anyway?
A few people were surprised to see that Pope Francis, as he did last year, is offering a plenary indulgence
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Savannah
It happened Saturday May 28, as Bishop Stephen Parkes ordained 11 men as permanent deacons and one as a transitional
WATCH: How Mark Wahlberg congratulated his son on his confirmation
The producer and star of "Father Stu" posted a video and message on Instagram. The video is from Europe, and
For Memorial Day: Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. Bixby
This gets me every time: a pivotal scene from "Saving Private Ryan." Spielberg at his best. He has often said
‘This is devastating’: Tabernacle stolen from Brooklyn church
From Ed Wilkinson on Facebook: Tabernacle dating back to the 1890s stolen from the altar at Brooklyn Catholic Church The
Pope announces new cardinals — including one from the U.S.
Details: Pope Francis announced he will create 21 new cardinals Aug. 27, including 68-year-old Bishop Robert W. McElroy of San
A prayer for peace
Thursday afternoon, I was invited to take part in an interfaith prayer vigil in my community. (My pastor was unable
Ukrainian Orthodox Church issues resolution, condemns the war
"The Council appeals to the authorities of Ukraine and the authorities of the Russian Federation to continue the negotiation process
Ordination update: 17 new deacons for Dallas
From Deacon Vincent R. Vaillancourt, this happy news: On Saturday, Bishop Edward Burns ordained seventeen men to the Order of
Ordination update: 1 new deacon for San Jose
Bishop Oscar Cantú did the honors last weekend, ordaining Ken Wright as a new deacon for the diocese. He's pictured
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Rochester
Photo: Catholic Courier photo by Jeff Witherow. Details from Catholic Courier: On April 17, 1982, the first class of permanent
Pope: ‘My heart is broken for the massacre in Texas’
Details: Pope Francis said on Wednesday that his heart was broken by the killing of at least 19 children and
Worth your time: From 2012, Obama’s remarks at Sandy Hook prayer vigil
On December 16, 2012, President Obama traveled to Newtown, Connecticut for an interfaith prayer service honoring the victims of the
Did Nancy Pelosi receive Communion this weekend?
This is what we have come to: a reporter watching a livestream of Mass to see if someone goes to
Anonymous and unforgettable
My reflection for May 24, 2022 from Give Us This Day:
New bishop of St. Augustine is son of a deacon — and he’s the head of Little Rock’s Deacon Formation
The press release: The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has appointed Father Erik Pohlmeier the next bishop of the
Oops: DC archdiocese mistakenly sends email about Pelosi to reporter
From The Washington Examiner: Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., has refused to comment publicly on whether he
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Buffalo
Here they are, with their wives, after the Big Event. The release: With Gratitude to Almighty God, the Diocese of
Bombshell: sex abuse, coverup in America’s largest Protestant denomination
It's all so painfully, shockingly familiar. From The New York Times: National leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention suppressed reports
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Trenton
Jersey Boys! Details: Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will confer the Sacrament of Holy Orders on six men who will
Ordination update: 10 new deacons for Syracuse
Here they are, in their first formal photograph. They are: Adeolu Ademoyo Michael Carroll Michael Casey Louis Delsole Dale Grey
Archbishop formally bars Nancy Pelosi from Holy Communion
This letter to the faithful was released today by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone: My Dear Brothers and Sisters
Remembering Blessed Franz Jägerstätter
I discovered today that this remarkable Catholic hero and martyr was born on May 20, in 1907. His feast day
Shock: Catholic New York newspaper to cease publication
The closure will bring to an end one of the most successful and well-honored diocesan publishing operations. More sad news
When Bono asked the pope a question …
An unusual encounter between the pope and the pop star today in Rome: An atypical scene at the Benedict XVI
The deacon at Mass: ‘Am I really doing this? Yes. It was really happening.’
My friends at Ave Maria Press (we've worked together a time or two) asked me to share some personal thoughts
May 19, 2007: ‘Oh, the places you’ll go…’
May 19, 2007: By the grace of God, I was ordained a deacon. It's been 15 years? Where has the
Sheriff: California church shooting was a ‘hate incident’
Pray for our country. From The New York Times: Gathered to celebrate a beloved former pastor, snapping photographs of their
Living the #ConventLife on TikTok
From The New York Times: Before she entered the Community of St. John Baptist in 2012, Claudette Monica Powell performed
You gotta love this
The Holy Father knows what's good for him. Here's your smile for a Monday. A seminarian from Mexico posted this
‘We need her’: Why more people are turning to St. Dymphna
A timely reminder during Mental Health Awareness Month, from The Los Angeles Times: Elena Zuniga didn’t go searching for the
Ordination update: 20 new deacons for Chicago
On Saturday, Cardinal Blaise Cupich ordained 20 men to the order of deacon at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral. The release:
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Metuchen, diocese’s first Spanish-speaking class
It happened Saturday. Bishop James F. Checchio ordained the new deacons at Methuchen's Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. Details:
Solidarity: Notre Dame expands partnership with Ukrainian university
The press release: University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak, organizer and president of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/13/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to
On the demise of CNS: ‘Catholic journalism is not piety or apologetics’
Let this serve as a clarion call for the bishops to rethink their decision to shut down the domestic offices
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/12/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to
Report: Hong Kong police arrest, release Cardinal Zen
From CNS: Hong Kong’s national security police released Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, May 11 after
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/11/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to
Bishops ask faithful to fast, pray the rosary on May 13
From the USCCB: In response to the leak of a draft opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Dobbs v.
Conservative Americans are gravitating toward Orthodox churches
From NPR: When Sarah Riccardi-Swartz moved from New York City to a small Appalachian town in West Virginia in the
CNN’s Brian Stelter talks with EWTN’s Montse Alvarado
Details: CNN’s Brian Stelter had a remarkably civil conversation with Eternal Word Television Network host Montse Alvarado, as they discussed the Catholic perspective
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/10/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here
Pope to LGBT Catholics: ‘God does not disown any of his children’
From Vatican News: “God’s style is closeness, mercy and tenderness” Pope Francis said answering three questions put to him by Jesuit Father
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/9/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here
Costumed protestors disrupt Mass at Los Angeles cathedral
Details: Several protesters dressed in "huge hats" and "red, hooded gowns," disrupted a Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady
‘Help me abort my babies’: Abortion supporters stage protest outside New York basilica
From Kathryn Jean Lopez in National Review: “God killed his kid, why can’t I kill mine?” A woman in a
‘He made us, his we are’: Homily for May 8, 2022, the 4th Sunday of Easter
Every year at this time, on the 4th Sunday of Easter, we encounter readings about Jesus the Good Shepherd. We
Pro-choice group calls for protests at Catholic churches this weekend
Details: Pro-choice abortion activists are calling on Americans to storm Catholic churches on Mother’s Day to protest the potential overturning of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/6/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to
Colorado Catholic church vandalized with abortion graffiti
Details: Criminals sharing abortion-rights sentiments targeted a church in Boulder Tuesday night, smashing windows and spray painting Sacred Heart of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/5/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to
Shock: Catholic News Service to cease domestic operations
“Catholic News Service offices in New York and Washington will be closed at the end of the year, as will
Female Swiss Guards?
Maybe: The new barracks of the Vatican Swiss guards will be built to accommodate female members if Pope Francis or
Pope Francis on Kirill: ‘The Patriarch cannot transform himself into Putin’s altar boy’
From CNN: Pope Francis warned the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, not to become "Putin's altar boy,"
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/4/22
NOTE: On May 16, this daily feature, The Church Bulletin, will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/3/22
NOTE: On May 16, The Church Bulletin will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don’t miss out: click here to learn how
Politico: Draft opinion shows SCOTUS has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade
The court’s holding will not be final until it is published, likely in the next two months. The leak of
Great Moments in Journalism: ‘Symbolic’? ‘Grape juice’?
This video popped up on the Sunday edition of TODAY over the weekend. First, I was impressed that the parish
LISTEN: Talking about St. Joe
Last week, I was delighted to join Deacon Scott and Brenda Aikin on their show A View from the Pew
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/2/22
NOTE: On May 16, The Church Bulletin will become available exclusively to Patreon subscribers. Don't miss out: click here to
Prayer to St. Joseph, Carpenter
Holy Joseph, You lived the simple and predictable life of a carpenter, Planning and building, dreaming and praying. Yet, you
‘Listen to the messenger!’: watch the joy of the Gospel in this jubilant Mass
Need a lift? Here you go! Dancing nuns and a dancing deacon? Yes. Take a few minutes to watch. You
Announcing the May 2022 Book-a-Palooza
A couple years back, I offered a special gift for folks who became patrons of The Deacon's Bench, and I'm
‘Err on the side of generosity’
Joan Sheen Cunningham is the niece of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. She tells the story of visiting him when she was
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/29/22
Seattle settles two abuse claims (AP) The Archdiocese of Seattle said Thursday it will pay $375,000 to settle two separate
‘Catholicism is losing its grip on Latin America’
From Axios: Catholicism is losing its grip in Latin America as the percentage of people who say they identify as
Catholic League v. Marjorie Taylor Greene — UPDATED
"Her burst of anti-Catholicism now demands stronger sanctions against her." It's rare to see a politician on the national stage
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/28/22
Pope tells pilgrims knee still "not healing" (CNA) Pope Francis told pilgrims at his Wednesday general audience that he was
Timothy Schmalz’s ‘Angels’ land in Washington
From Catholic Standard: A monumental work of art depicting migrants and refugees seeking a home has found a permanent home
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/27/22
Catholic priest sentenced in shooting of bishop-elect (CNA) A Catholic priest was among four people sentenced on Monday over the
A little COVID update
Just wanted to offer a brief coda to last week's post, about my wife being diagnosed with COVID. All is
‘I love baptisms’
With spring in the air and "Alleluia" on our lips, heres a reflection on one of my favorite ministries, from
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/26/22
Pope names new archbishop of Paris (CNA) Pope Francis on Tuesday named Archbishop Laurent Ulrich as the new Catholic archbishop of
Easter in Ukraine: ‘What church service? The churches around us were ruined’
A glimpse of Easter in one Ukrainian village, via AP. Pray for Ukraine and her people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuYuJLR6mZA
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/25/22
Pope sends Easter message to Patriarch Kirill (Vatican News) “Dear Brother! May the Holy Spirit transform our hearts and make
One woman’s mission with pysanky: ‘The egg is my weapon’
From The Washington Post comes this story of a Ukrainian-American artist who is using a beautiful Easter tradition to spread
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/22/22
Pope's agenda cancelled for "medical checkups that are needed" (CNA) Pope Francis’ agenda was cleared on Friday for needed medical
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/21/22
Vatican's foreign minister contemplates visit to Ukraine (Crux) As Ukraine awaits word on whether a potential visit from Pope Francis
COVID hits home — UPDATED
To put it simply: COVID is in the house. After several days of sniffling and coughing, my wife on Easter
Blessed Augustus Tolton?
This slipped under the radar last week, when the Triduum was kicking off, but this could be very big news.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/20/22
Camden agrees to settle sex abuse claims for $87.5 million (The New York Times) The Diocese of Camden, N.J., said
In massive settlement, Camden to pay $87.5 million over sex abuse claims
In what may be a first, the settlement allows for further litigation against insurance companies for the diocese. From The
Want to keep the Easter fire going?
Lumen Christi! Join me on retreat next month! I'm delighted to be offering a retreat for parish ministers — Extraordinary
WATCH: An Exsultet to raise the rafters
Think you know the Exsultet? Think again. Chances are, you've never heard it quite like this. It serves as a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/19/22
Days after tabernacle was stolen, donors provide replacement (Crux) Days after a tabernacle containing the Eucharist was stolen from a
Next year, don’t just follow Christ’s story — walk in his footsteps
This has been in the planning stages for a while, but I’m excited to announce: it’s finally happening. I’m leading
After COVID: How a remarkable ‘prayer project’ helped bring people back to church
This is a creative and inspiring idea, from The Leaven in Kansas City, Kansas: “We started with the welcome-back mosaic,”
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/18/22
Pope Francis: Christ's resurrection brings hope amid "Easter of war" (CNS) The joy of Christ’s resurrection is needed now more
Worth your time: Bishop Paul Sanchez’s homily for Easter Vigil 2022
It's rare to find Seamus Heaney, Julian of Norwich, Ukraine and the Exsultet cited in the same homily. But my
Pope Francis issues impassioned plea for peace in Easter blessing
"Please, please, let us not get used to war! Let us all commit ourselves to imploring peace, from our balconies
After outcry, Vatican makes change to Good Friday Way of the Cross
Details: The Vatican adapted Pope Francis’ Way of the Cross on Good Friday after an outcry in Ukraine over a
Prayer Before Chanting the Exsultet
Father of wonder and miracles: This is the night. Tonight, your Church announces the scattering of darkness, the hope of
Behold the wood of the cross: Homily for Good Friday
Just after World War II, the psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote a best-selling book about his experiences as a prisoner in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/15/22
Cardinal marks Way of the Cross in Kyiv (Vatican) The stations of the Cross in Ukraine are marked by carcasses
Pope celebrates Mass, washes feet at Rome prison
Details: Before washing the feet of 12 inmates, Pope Francis told them and other prisoners that God never tires of
The heart remembers: Homily for Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Back home, buried in a box of old photos, I have something that should be in a time capsule. It’s
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/14/22
Pope at Chrism Mass: Priests must fix eyes on Christ (Vatican News) Being a priest is a very great grace,
What did the critics think of ‘Father Stu’?
A few excerpts from Wednesday's papers show a decidedly lukewarm reception from the secular media. From Variety: “Father Stu” is
The women who carry the weight of Holy Week in Spain
Fascinating: The team of women rocked rhythmically from foot to foot carrying a 1.5-tonne float topped with a statue of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/13/22
Pope: war is an outrage and a blasphemy (Vatican News) At his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis once again denounced “the
The Chrism Mass Deacon Ken Conklin never thought he’d see
You may remember my postings last year about deacon candidate Ken Conklin: dying from cancer, given just weeks to live,
Head of Ukrainian Catholic Church asks Vatican to change plans for Rome’s Way of the Cross
“The texts and gestures of the 13th station of this Way of the Cross are incoherent and even offensive." From
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/12/22
Report: Caritas workers killed in Ukraine (America) Two staff members and five others taking shelter at a Caritas office in
COVID and the clergy: ‘The last Mass … it was like a funeral.’
COVID hit all of us in different ways, and for a lot of us clergy, it changed us in ways
‘We have no tears left’: Way of the Cross with Pope Francis for 2022
The meditations this year were composed by families, which gives them a very distinct and intimate character. I was a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/11/22
Pope calls for "Easter truce" in Ukraine (CNA) Pope Francis said on Palm Sunday 2022 that nothing is impossible for
A sign of joyful hope: Palm Sunday 2022
After two long years, on Palm Sunday we saw something beautiful: a church packed with people. It wasn't the capacity
O happy fault: Living with a deacon in the days before Easter
A little something from the vault: It can’t be easy living with a deacon, especially now. Every year, for a
Wounds of war: stunning drone footage shows before and after in Ukraine
This comes from The Guardian newspaper, which put together this side-by-side comparison of key cities in Ukraine. And this is
Schindler’s ‘girl in the red coat’ is now helping Ukrainian refugees
Inspiring: An actress who was the “girl in the red coat” in “Schindler’s List” has turned real life heroine by
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/8/22
Pope meets Ukrainian ambassador to Holy See (CNS) Andrii Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See, presented his credentials to
Mark Wahlberg on faith, Father Stu and financing his movie
The producer and star of "Father Stu" spoke about the new movie Thursday on the TODAY show. You don't often
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/7/22
Jesuit professor and editor Father Drew Christiansen dies (CNS) Jesuit Fr. Drew Christiansen, a professor at Georgetown University and formerly
Palm Sunday challenge: How can you turn your palms into works of art?
We'd all like to have palms like the ones they have in Rome, wouldn't we? Well, this is why God
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/6/22
Pope: UN organizations "impotent" in facing Ukraine war (Crux) Pope Francis on Wednesday said that the international organizations, such as
Calling Dorothy Day a saint
As Rome begins to consider the evidence that's been collected for her cause, a leading authority on Dorothy Day's life,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/5/22
English police guidelines change after MP's death (CNA) Police guidelines in the U.K. have changed to allow clergy to assist
Want some homily ideas? ‘Preaching with the Sciences’ is here
I'm delighted to pull back the curtain and reveal, at last, the website for an extraordinary homiletics project: Preaching with
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/4/22
Diocese, school in standoff over BLM, Pride flags (MassLive) The vivid rainbow hues of the Pride flag and bold monochromatic
What are you doing the day after Easter? This deacon will be busy.
Two weeks from Monday — on the day when many of us in ministry are going to clutching our pillows
The new bishop of Columbus: son of immigrants
Here's a terrific testimony Father Earl Fernandes gave nearly a decade ago, telling his vocation story. With today's appointment, he
Pope names Cincinnati priest as bishop of Columbus
From the Holy See Bulletin: The Holy Father has appointed Reverend Earl K. Fernandes, currently pastor of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
When a non-Catholic tries to go to Adoration
A field report from Julia Duin (h/t to David Mills!) tells us what a lot of us know — and
Pope to indigenous people of Canada: ‘I feel shame’
From Vatican News: Over the last few days, Pope Francis has been meeting with delegations from Canada’s First Nations, Inuit,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/1/22
Pope begs forgiveness for Canada school abuses (AP) Pope Francis apologized and begged forgiveness Friday for the “deplorable” abuses suffered
Cardinal Dolan remembers his mother: ‘I praise God for her life and her death’
From Catholic New York, Cardinal Dolan's homily at his mother's funeral: That all of you would gather with me at
‘O Lord of saints and sinners…’: A prayer for Lent
Source: The Busy Person's Guide to an Extraordinary Life
Finding Lenten inspiration in Disney’s ‘Encanto’
Some terrific insight here from my friend Nicole Perone in U.S. Catholic: As Encanto is rereleased in theaters this Lent, I am
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/31/22
Historic installation of Louisville archbishop hailed as "new era" for church (WFPL) The Archdiocese of Louisville has a new archbishop.
My pastor, the bishop, resigns
Several people have written to ask me about this. So yeah: my pastor, Brooklyn Auxiliary Bishop Paul Sanchez, is now
Brazil court allows giant statue of Virgin to be built
Details: São Paulo State’s Court of Appeals has reversed a 2019 decision that stopped the building of a giant steel
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/30/22
Tabernacle stolen from Maryland church (WBAL) The search is on for the person who stole several things from inside a
Cardinals, bishops, theologians gather in Chicago to discuss how to support Pope Francis — UPDATED
This wasn't publicized in advance, but news is beginning to trickle out: A group of about 70 cardinals, bishops and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/29/22
Vatican issues new document on Catholic education (Vatican News) The underlying principle of the new “Instruction” issued by the Congregation
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/28/22
Indigenous leaders meet with Pope Francis (AP) Indigenous leaders from Canada and survivors of the country’s notorious residential schools met
Looking for homily material for this weekend? Look no further.
Pope Francis remains one of the best homilists of the modern papacy — with preaching that is consistently clear, relatable,
Becoming a Jersey Boy for a few days …
March, true to form, has been a breezy month, and I've been blown from one corner of the country to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/25/22
How can you join in the pope's Act of Consecration? (CNA) Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/24/22
Pope Francis to meet indigenous people, bishops next week (CNA) Pope Francis will meet with a delegation of Canadian Indigenous
Pope writes to world’s bishops ahead of Act of Consecration
'At this dark hour, the Church is urgently called to intercede before the Prince of Peace and to demonstrate her
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/23/22
Pope sends letter to world's bishops ahead of consecration (Vatican News) The Pope is formally inviting every Catholic Bishop around
The generous faith of Ukraine, where war-torn parishes have become ‘humanitarian hubs’
Beautiful and humbling: As internally displaced Ukrainians flee the Russian bombardment of their cities, Catholic parishes in the country have
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/22/22
Italy prepares to welcome 600 Ukrainian refugees (Crux) As the war in Ukraine draws near to the one-month mark and
Ordination update: 16 new deacons for Austin
Thanks to Deacon Rob Embry for this happy news and the picture. Bishop Joe Vásquez ordained the new deacons Saturday,
Pope issues new Vatican constitution, allowing lay people to lead key departments
This news dropped unexpectedly over the weekend, on the Feast of St. Joseph. From The New York Times: Pope Francis
My Prayer to St. Joseph: ‘Help me to open my arms to God’s will…’
Holy Joseph, You lived the simple and predictable life of a carpenter, Planning and building, dreaming and praying. Yet, you
Pope to invite all bishops around the world to join in consecration of Russia, Ukraine
Details: In a letter sent urgently on Mar. 17 to all U.S. bishops, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe
See you in California!
I'm tweaking my talk and packing my bags and early Friday morning, God willing, The Deacon's Wife and I will
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/17/22
Pope Francis speaks with Patriarch Kirill (CNS) Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill spoke via video conference about the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/16/22
Pope offers special prayer for Ukraine (Vatican News) As Pope Francis wrapped up the General Audience on Wednesday, he led
Pope will consecrate Russia, Ukraine to Mary on Feast of Annunciation
From the Vatican: Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday, 25 March,
German bishop commissions lay people to do baptisms
"Over the past 2,000 years, the church has repeatedly reacted to external circumstances." AP broke the news Monday: The Roman
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/15/22
German bishop institutes lay ministers, including 17 women, to perform baptisms (AP) The Roman Catholic Diocese of Essen has become
A quick update from Chicago — and a preview of coming attractions
So I've been in Chicago for a few days and I thought I'd tell you what I've been up to.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/14/22
Pope Francis issues new plea to end war in Ukraine (CNA) Pope Francis on Sunday called for an end to
Former Anglican bishop ordained a Catholic priest
Details: Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster reflected on the priesthood on Saturday, preaching at the Mass of the priestly ordination
A letter to Patriarch Kiril: ‘Prayerfully reconsider the support you have given to this war’
'Before God, we bear witness that there is no religious justification from any side for the destruction and terror the
Father James Goode dies, ‘Dean of Black Catholic Preachers’
From CNS: Franciscan Father James E. Goode, whose evangelizing work among Black Catholics became known throughout the United States and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/11/22
Pope's almsgiver in Ukraine, speaks with journalists (Vatican News) “I am not a diplomat. I came here with the logic
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/10/22
Pope removes Puerto Rican bishop from office (CNS) Pope Francis has “relieved” Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres of Arecibo, Puerto Rico,
‘Morally, Ukraine has won the war’
Details from CNS: Archbishop Borys Gudziak, the highest ranking Ukrainian Catholic prelate in the United States, declared during a March 5
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/9/22
Bishop removes pastor over COVID refusal (Catholic World Report) In a letter to parishioners of Holy Family Parish in Springfield,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/8/22
Vatican official reiterates willingness to mediate in Ukraine (Crux) At nearly two weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, causing civilian deaths,
Bishop Cozzens: Former bishop will not have ministry in diocese
From The Pillar: The first U.S. bishop to resign after a Vos estis lux mundi investigation will not conduct priestly ministry in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/7/22
Pope: "Rivers of and tears blood" flowing in Ukraine (CNS) Pope Francis said the Vatican “is ready to do everything
Hello, Columbus
I didn't give up traveling for Lent. I'm headed Saturday to Lancaster, Ohio, in the Diocese of Columbus, to offer
‘Command this stone to become bread…’
With this Sunday's Gospel in mind, I wanted to post this dramatic image, one of my favorite interpretations by one
The Way of the Cross for Deacons
This Friday, many of us will begin the Lenten tradition of praying the Way of the Cross. There are countless
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/4/22
Pope sends medical supplies to support Ukraine (Vatican News) In a concrete gesture of closeness to the people of Ukraine,
‘Wears sandals too much’: How would today’s students evaluate the teaching style of Jesus?
What if Jesus was a college professor? What would students think of him? From writer Amanda Lehr at the humor
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/3/22
Archbishop to patriarch: Urge Putin to stop the war in Ukraine (CNA) The president of Poland’s Catholic bishops’ conference has
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/2/22
Bomb strikes Catholic headquarters in Ukraine (CNA) A bomb struck the headquarters of a Catholic diocese on Tuesday in the
Marked for Lent: Homily for March 2, 2022, Ash Wednesday
Here’s a name you probably didn’t expect to hear on Ash Wednesday: Martin Hildebrandt. You've probably never heard of him.
Writing the next chapter
Well, what do you know? Forty years ago this month, on the Ides of March in 1982, I took the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/1/22
Priest who performed invalid baptisms does them over (AP) Families came one by one to the baptismal font in a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/28/22
Pope Francis to sit out ceremonies because of knee pain (The New York Times) Pope Francis has abandoned plans for
The archangel Michael and Kyiv
"Christian tradition above all thinks of Michael as the one who is successful in combating Satan." A statue of St.
On Ukraine: ‘No one can afford to be silent’
The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Pope Francis both made powerful statements today about the war
Praying for Ukraine: Homily for February 27, 2022
I have to be honest: This isn’t the homily I was planning to preach this weekend. But Wednesday changed everything.
MUST-SEE VIDEO: The heartbreak of war
This video below is circulating widely on social media: a father in Ukraine sending his daughter to safety, while he
In Ukraine, Christians and Jews join together to pray this psalm
“For me, as a pastor, that Psalm … well, I read it differently now, because it’s about our current situation
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/25/22
Vatican decries Russian invasion of Ukraine (CNA) Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin lamented on Thursday the “tragic scenes”
So how is Bill Ditewig doing?
No, he's not palling around with the Pope — at least, not yet. But he'd love to, if he could.
Ukraine faces ‘colossal human catastrophe’
“We need your support to have a chance to respond to the humanitarian crisis and assist the people affected by
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/24/22
Major Archbishop calls for solidarity with Ukraine (Vatican News) In the aftermath of Russian troops entering the rebel-held territories of
Pope Francis calls for global day of fasting for peace in Ukraine on Ash Wednesday
Details: Expressing great sadness at the worsening situation in Ukraine, Pope Francis asked world leaders on Wednesday to “make a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/23/22
Pope declares day of prayer for Ukraine (Vatican News) During the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis made a heartfelt
Where have all the clergy gone?
The pandemic spurred the Great Resignation — and evidently, that includes pastors and rabbis. From The Wall Street Journal: In
Pope names missionary and Haitian immigrant Father Jacques Fabre as bishop of Charleston, SC
First official word, from the Vatican: The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/22/22
Father Jacques E. Fabre, CS, named bishop of Charleston (Holy See Bulletin) The Holy Father has appointed as Bishop of
‘It’s probable that the Catholic Church in Poland will meet the fate of the church in Ireland’
From The Wall Street Journal: Julian Rembelski, 21, grew up in the Catholic Church, like most other Polish children, receiving
Looking for some preaching ideas for Lent?
The good people from the Jordan Ministry Team are here to help. You may remember that Deacon Steve Kramer offered
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/18/22
Cardinal Oullet on celibacy, clericalism and ordaining women (Crux) Speaking to Crux, Ouellet said the main reason for organizing the Feb.
What does a deacon do?
As with most things ... it depends who you ask. H/T and a grateful diaconal bow to Deacon Doug Konzel.
Frank Francis on his 52 years as a priest: ‘These reflections are the swan song of my own priestly life’
From CNA: Pope Francis on Thursday offered a long reflection on his more than 52 years of priesthood, giving advice
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/17/22
Pope calls priests to draw near to God, bishop, priests, people (Vatican News) Pope Francis drew on over fifty years
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/16/22
Catholic school enrollment makes biggest increase in 50 years (AP) Enrollment in Catholic schools in the United States rose 3.8%
Bill Ditewig update: ‘He is doing really well’
Deacon Bill Ditewig had his spinal surgery yesterday, the 14th, and today his wife, Diann, sent me this text: He
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/15/22
Pope issues motu proprio transferring some responsibilities to local bishops (Vatican News) With a new motu proprio published on Tuesday,
For St. Valentine’s Day: Wise words on persevering in love
"If you allow true love and the unselfish spirit of perfect sacrifice to guide your every action, you can expect
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/14/22
Ukrainian bishops call for prayer vigil as invasion looms (CatholicPhilly.com) As fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to
‘By the middle of this century, three-quarters of the Catholic Church will live outside the west…’
Crux's John Allen has been unpacking the recently published numbers of the Vatican's Annuario Pontificio, and he has some eye-opening
Vatican: Number of permanent deacons worldwide continues to grow
It's one of many statistics found in the new edition of Annuario Pontificio, tallying up the numbers of 2020. Details:
Prayer request: for Bill Ditewig
As we tick down the final hours of this World Day of the Sick, I wanted to ask for a
VIDEO: Meet and hear the real ‘Father Stu’
Years before Mark Wahlberg began the work of bringing the remarkable story of Father Stuart Long to the screen, the
In a first, Fordham names woman as its new president
From The New York Times: Fordham University, one of the most prominent Jesuit universities in the United States, announced its
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/11/22
Fordham's names new president — and it's not a priest (The New York Times) Fordham University, one of the most
WATCH: The powerful trailer to Mark Wahlberg’s ‘Father Stu’
This looks sensational. The studio announced that this is movie is opening on Good Friday. (Read more about that here.)
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/10/22
Quebec bishops reluctantly accept vaccine passports for Mass attendance (CNA) The Catholic bishops of Quebec, while registering their opposition to
Survey: 85% of Catholics say they’ve gotten the COVID vaccine
That would make Catholics the most vaccinated religious group in the U.S. From Pew: The new Pew Research Center survey
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Port of Spain
This is unusual: I got an email from a priest in Germany (!) wanting me to know about ordinations of
Here: 30 seconds of holy delight
Maybe the neighbors of this church feel differently, but I think the world needs this right now. It popped up
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/9/22
Ukraine's Catholic leader repeats his call for a papal visit (Crux) As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to foment,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/8/22
Pope names Bishop Shelton Fabre to succeed Archbishop Kurtz in Louisville (Holy See Bulletin) The Holy Father accepted the resignation
Pope Francis’ reaction to conflict is a lesson for us all
A little something I wrote for Our Sunday Visitor this week: Let’s face it: We live in an era of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/7/22
New Zealand inquiry finds hundreds of reports of abuse (The New York Times) Reports of abuse were filed against hundreds
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Atlanta
I received this happy news Sunday from Deacon José Espinosa: the Archdiocese of Atlanta has eight new deacons, ordained Saturday
Study sheds light on religion, living together and what makes for a lasting marriage
"Religious women might look for spouses who share values, beliefs, or practices that are important for union stability. Sharing these
Man who was the longest-serving Anglican bishop becomes Catholic
Details: Peter Forster, a former Anglican Bishop of Chester, was received into the Catholic Church in Scotland last year, a
Priest resigns as pastor over invalid baptisms
From CNS: Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix said baptisms performed by a priest during years of ministry in the
Colbert: ‘I hope when I get to heaven, Jesus has a sense of humor’
This is something you just don't see on television — except on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Here, pop
How can you engage parishioners this Lent?
How about a little online workshop? This landed in my in-box, from the good people at Word on Fire. Best
Timothy Schmalz’s ‘Let the Oppressed Go Free’ to be displayed at Vatican
Details: A statue of Saint Josephine Bakhita, the patron of human trafficking victims, will be displayed in St. Peter’s Square
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/4/22
Ukrainian Catholics praying for peace in their homeland (B.C. Catholic) As threats of a Russian invasion of Ukraine intensify, Ukrainian-Catholics
Iowa priest battles breast cancer
Here's a reminder that this disease can strike both women and men: It may seem unusual for a Catholic priest
Trail Blaise-er: The story behind the blessing of throats today
When I was growing up, going to Catholic school in Maryland, it was a winter ritual: every February 3rd, the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/3/22
Cardinal Marx backs loosening rules in celibacy for priests (AP) A prominent German archbishop advocated loosening celibacy rules for Catholic
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/2/22
Pope interrupted during audience; he responds with prayer (NCR) Pope Francis' weekly general audience was interrupted on Feb. 2 by
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/1/22
Vatican projects budget deficit (CNS) Presenting a budget projection that foresees a deficit of $37.1 million in 2022, the prefect
Should churches drop online services?
Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren in The New York Times offered this opinion Sunday: I think it’s time to drop
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/31/22
Cop wins settlement after suspension for praying at abortion clinic (CNA) The city of Louisville, Ky., is paying a local
Mark Wahlberg’s long-planned film on ‘Father Stu’ to be released on Good Friday
From RNS: Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson will star in a movie about a boxer-turned-actor-turned Catholic priest known as “Father
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/28/22
Pope denounces fake news in meeting with media (AP) Pope Francis denounced fake news about COVID-19 and vaccines Friday, blasting
Is this the most beautiful Bible you can own? Maybe.
Like a lot of people who do what I do, I have my share of Bibles. There's the Good News
Sister Janet Mead, whose ‘Our Father’ was a smash in the ’70s, has died
Those of us of a Certain Age remember this song vividly, and recall with fondness the voice of the singing
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/27/22
Pope Francis calls on parents to "never condemn" gay children (AP) Pope Francis on Wednesday called on parents around the
Cardinal: ‘Why not have married priests, too?’
"In my diocese, I have married deacons who carry out their diaconate role in a marvelous way, who give homilies
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/26/22
Pope appeals for peace in Ukraine (Vatican News) At the conclusion of his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis asked the
Deacons, have you heard about this?
Deacon Mark Miller of the Josephinum Diaconate Institute dropped me a note recently. He wanted me to know they have
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/25/22
Benedict corrects statement for Munich abuse report (CNS) Amending a written statement made to a panel investigating clerical sexual abuse
Caught on camera: 100 abortion activists protest outside St. Patrick’s
CNA has the story: Barricades and a line of police protected pro-life attendees entering and exiting the Archdiocese of New
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/24/22
Pope confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay men and women (CNS) Highlighting the importance of the Bible in the
‘Many homilies are abstract and instead of awakening the soul, they put it to sleep’
Pope Francis had some thoughts on preaching at Sunday's Angelus, for Word of God Sunday: In the Gospel of today's
Did the mainstream media ignore the March for Life?
"We ended slavery, we ended segregation, and now we’ll end abortion.” More than a few people on social media have
‘Please do not enter our property’: A monastery in the age of COVID
From The Washington Post, a glimpse at what life has been like for the last two years at the Monastery
Archdiocese pulls support for men’s conference over ‘significant baggage’
"This year's primary speakers ... have publicly aligned themselves with divisive political positions and have used their Catholic platforms to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/21/22
Pope Francis declares St. Irenaeus "Doctor of Unity" (CNA) Pope Francis on Friday officially declared St. Irenaeus of Lyon as
Blasphemous stunt: Catholics for Choice projects abortion message on D.C. shrine
From John Burger at Aleteia: "Pro-choice Catholics, you are not alone,” read a large sign at one of the many
Great moments in journalism: TV reporter hit by car during live shot
In a word: Wow. This is something to see. Give this reporter an Emmy! Reporter Tori Yorgey from WSAZ was
BREAKING: Benedict faulted for handling of abuse cases while archbishop
From The New York Times: A report released on Thursday faulted Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for what the authors called
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/20/22
Report: 1 in 7 Christians live under persecution (Forbes) Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians,
Historic: Pope to confer lay ministries Sunday
Details: The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will confer the ministries of catechist, lector, and acolyte upon lay men
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/19/22
Vatican asks bishops to invite Protestant, Orthodox leaders to take part in synod (CNA) The Vatican has issued a letter
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/18/22
Pope looks ahead to anniversary of Nicaea in 2025 (CNA) In an ecumenical meeting with a Lutheran delegation on Monday,
‘The community is devastated’: New Orleans priest takes his own life
“It is our collective prayer that through the Mercy of God, our beloved Fr. Weiss is now resting with God
A window into love: Pope Francis on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Love bears every trial with a positive attitude. It stands firm in hostile surroundings. This “endurance” involves not only the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/17/22
Pope asks Catholics to offer up sufferings for Christian unity (CNA) Pope Francis has asked Catholics to offer up their
Pope Francis: ‘I miss not being able to wander the streets’
The pope dropped a note to the journalist who caught him slipping out of a record store this week: "What
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/14/22
Pope: Synodality is about "listening to the spirit," not "majority consensus" (CNS) The synodal process is a path of engagement
Deacons, you’re invited: join me for a pre-Lenten retreat on the ‘Holy Mountain’
Looking for a prayerful way to recharge your batteries and get ready for Lent? "Come away to a deserted place
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/13/22
Catholic universities named in lawsuit alleging rigging of financial aid (CNA) The University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University are
Heroic nun who secretly baptized babies under Communism dies
Attention must be paid. From CNA: An Albanian nun who inspired Pope Francis with her courageous faith under communist persecution
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/12/21
Pope: Work is essential for our growth in holiness (Vatican News) In his catechesis at the General Audience focusing on
WATCH: Pope Francis makes unexpected visit to Rome record store
Well, here's something you don't see every day, caught on camera by Rome Reports: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL6Pl_hs83s&feature=emb_imp_woyt Reuters reports: Pope Francis, a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/11/22
Priest in India to face trial on charges of hate speech (CNA) A Catholic priest in India will face trial
Combatting COVID: Pope calls for global commitment to vaccines
This story got some attention early today: The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an urgent reality check against baseless information and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/10/22
Pope: getting vaccinated against COVID a "moral obligation" (AP) Pope Francis suggested Monday that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was
As COVID surges among priests, parishes find ways to cope
The story from St. Paul-Minneapolis: The number of priests with COVID-19 in the archdiocese is the highest it’s been since
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Grand Rapids
Some happy news in the new year out of Michigan: Deacon Jerry Roersma, director of diaconate formation, wrote to tell
The cardinal in winter: Gregory reflects on life in quarantine
The cardinal archbishop of Washington has tested positive for COVID and he's been on lockdown for several days. This reflection
How about an ‘Amen’ for the great Sidney Poitier?
It was announced today that the film legend has died at the age of 94. What a treasure he was:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/7/22
Vatican newspaper marks anniversary of 1/6 attack (CNS) The attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021, “represented a direct
UK tribunal rules Catholic nurse was ‘victimized’ for wearing a cross at work
From The Guardian: A nurse who claimed she was victimized for wearing a necklace with a Christian cross at work
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/6/21
In wake of Omicron, Catholic colleges go online (CNS) In response to the current spike in COVID-19 cases across the
Former House chaplain after 1/6: ‘Stop the judgment, stop the anger, stop the blame’
Just ahead of the 1/6 anniversary, The Washington Post has published part of an interview with the former chaplain of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/5/22
Small but dramatic change to Pope's General Audience (AP) Pope Francis called Wednesday for simplified adoption procedures and urged couples
Guest post: A Chicago deacon’s ministry in Uganda
A few days ago, I got an email from Deacon Don Grossnickle, from the Archdiocese of Chicago, eager to spread
Cardinal, Tony Blair honored by Queen Elizabeth
Details: A cardinal said on Monday that he was grateful to be honored by Queen Elizabeth II in the British
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/4/22
Chicago parishes facing pandemic hardships (Chicago Tribune) When parishioners gathered for Christmas Eve Mass at St. Clement Catholic Church last
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/3/21
Schools in India ordered closed for celebrating Christmas (Crux) A Christian school was ordered closed in India on Dec. 26
Chalk, Kings, Chants: Just another Epiphany in Queens
It was a jam-packed day at my parish, beginning with the 9 a.m. Mass, when our administrator, Father Passenant, blessed
Cardinal Gregory has COVID
Details: The cardinal who leads the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has tested positive for the coronavirus. The archdiocese said
One resolution to keep: Homily for January 2, 2022, Epiphany of the Lord
“They departed for their country by another way.” Commentators and homilists have long used this phrase, the conclusion of this
Pope Francis: ‘Let us learn from Mary how to keep and ponder’
From the Holy Father's homily on January 1: Mary’s pensiveness is the expression of a mature, adult faith, not a
A Deacon’s Prayer for the Christmas Season
Heavenly Father, As I live these days of gratitude and grace, celebrating the birth of your son, guide my heart
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/31/21
Vatican pays tribute to murdered church workers (CNS) In situations of extreme poverty, war or civil tensions, 22 Catholic church
Must-read: What Catholics (and everyone else) should know about the COVID vaccines
This is one of the best overviews on the issue I've read, and it comes from Dr. Gwyneth Spaeder, writing
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/30/21
Priest who led diocesan Office of Child Protection charged in abuse case (CNS) A retired priest of the Diocese of
The New York Times: New Yorkers who pray at home in ‘sacred spaces’
"You enter in your room and you pray in front of your father who is present with you. It is
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/29/21
Vandals increasingly target Catholic churches (Newsweek) Attacks on church properties (arson; statues beheaded; limbs cut, smashed and painted; gravestones defaced
Our Lady of the Hoops? Italy’s bid to have a patroness of basketball
From The New York Times: In the chapel of a small hillside sanctuary in Porretta Terme — a handsome town
New Year’s resolution: 8 ways to kickstart your prayer life in 2022
A little something I wrote for Our Sunday Visitor: Whatever way you welcome 2022 — I’ve reached the age where
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/28/21
Recruits from Africa help ease clergy shortage (AP) As fewer American-born men and women enter seminaries and convents, U.S. dioceses
Cardinal Cupich will require priests to get permission to celebrate Latin Mass
Details: Beginning Jan. 25, 2022, all clergy in the Chicago Archdiocese will need the archbishop's permission to celebrate the Tridentine
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/27/21
Priest: Churches should require proof of vaccination (The Daily Mail) A Catholic priest and cable TV contributor has said that
On Feast of Holy Family, Pope Francis issues letter to married couples
Details: On the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis encouraged married couples to rely on the strength of Christ
The clergy who quit: COVID’s other casualties
From The Washington Post: The past few years have jostled and rocked the labor market overall, with many millions losing
Urbi et Orbi: ‘Amid all the many problems of our time, hope prevails’
From CNA: Giving his traditional Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” blessing on Saturday, Pope Francis urged leaders to be open to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/24/21
In flyover, bishop blesses people impacted by tornadoes (CNS) Owensboro Bishop William F. Medley wanted to bless his people who
An early gift: ‘Angels’ Carol’
Here's a lovely rendition of John Rutter's modern classic, performed by the Queens Oratorio Society (under the direction of my
‘Celebrate differently’: Church in Quebec cancels Masses, Christmas celebrations
Details: Faced with the seriousness of the health situation, in consultation with the leaders of the parishes and his team,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/23/21
Pope urges humility in Christmas address to Vatican administrators (AP) Pope Francis urged Vatican cardinals, bishops and bureaucrats Thursday to
Illinois statehouse once again welcomes Satanic Temple’s holiday display
From RNS: The Satanic Temple of Illinois’ contribution to a holiday display in the Illinois Statehouse rotunda in Springfield Monday
‘It’s like a ghost town’: COVID spoils another Christmas in the Holy Land
From The New York Times: There were only a few shopping days left until Christmas, but in the Christian Quarter
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for St. Paul-Minneapolis
Details: Noting a common call to be servants in the readings chosen for the ordination Mass of seven men to the permanent diaconate Dec. 4, Archbishop Bernard Hebda encouraged
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/22/21
Prosecution of McCarrick moves forward (Crux) A Dec. 21 motion for transcript, audio and video recordings of depositions related to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/21/21
Pope appoints Scranton parish priest to be bishop of Gaylord (Holy See Bulletin) The Holy Father has appointed as bishop
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/20/21
Report: Catholic Church in Spain faces abuse investigation (Reuters) Spain's Catholic Church is to open an investigation into alleged sex
Looking for a last-minute gift for a deacon? Look no further
This has been a good season for books that any deacon would be happy to add to his shelf. So
America faces ‘the second pandemic’
"There is an overwhelming sense of malaise and fatigue.” From The New York Times: As Americans head into a third
Yes, Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ is really that good
The first thing to know about Steven Spielberg's stunningly good film of "West Side Story" is that it doesn't really
Mark, did you know? The writer of THAT Christmas song explains
From RNS, here's a conversation with Mark Lowry, the composer of one of the most contentious Christmas songs of our
Stunning: Assisi offers unique Christmas light show of Giotto frescoes
Details: Saint Francis' hometown of Assisi has once again been illuminated with Giotto’s frescoes this Christmas season. The frescoes from
Nick Sandmann says he has reached settlement with NBC
From The Cincinnati Enquirer: A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed against NBC by Covington Catholic graduate Nick Sandman. Sandman
Deacon George Bailey?
A lucky parish in Bedford Falls would have been enriched by a Deacon George Bailey. This could be a deacon's
Will Catholics come home this Christmas?
Last year, attendance at the big Christmas Eve Mass at my parish was shockingly low — about 200, for a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/17/21
Happy 85th birthday, Pope Francis (Vatican News) People across the world, and certainly not only Catholics, are celebrating with the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/16/21
Group calls for Catholic Church to recognize Anglican ordinations (CNS) A group of Catholic and Anglican theologians has publicly called
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/15/21
Russia's Orthodox Church dismisses talk of union with Rome (Greek Reporter) Russia’s Orthodox Church dismissed talk of union between Orthodox
‘Let us be light’
Tuesday night, I paid a visit to the Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens, just down the road from my
Bishop suspended over attempted marriage
Not surprising: The apostolic administrator of Solsona announced Saturday that the diocese’s former bishop, Xavier Novell i Gomà, had incurred
Survey: Number of ‘Nones’ continues to grow
"The Protestant share of the population is down 4 percentage points over the last five years and has dropped 10
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/14/21
Mourning, prayer, and resolve to rebuild after tornadoes (CNS) Mourning, prayer and a resolve to rebuild shattered lives, homes and
Commission approves changes to Notre-Dame
Details: The latest in a series of controversies that have surrounded the renovation of Notre-Dame unfolded on Thursday, when a commission of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/13/21
Bishops decry California plan to become "sanctuary" for abortion (CNS) California’s Catholic bishops slammed a new plan endorsed by Gov.
It’s Bambinelli Sunday!
Once again at my parish, we will be blessing the Baby Jesus figurines used in home nativity scenes. Details: The
The season of a knock at the door: Homily for December 12, 2021, Gaudete Sunday
Sunday, our candidates and catechumens will take part in the Rite of Welcoming and Acceptance. This homily is for that
What’s a ‘Star on the Mantle’?
Here's an interesting development in Kansas — featuring a community and a title, I confess, I had never heard of
Dear Post Office: What happened to the stamps this year?
As the mail piles up during the holidays, I don't know how many others have noticed this. But the United
BBC names courageous nun one of the most inspiring women of 2021
Details: Among the BBC’s “list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2021”, is a Catholic
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/10/21
Cardinal Tagle consecrates new cathedral in Bahrain (CNA) Vatican Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle consecrated on Friday the Cathedral of Our
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/9/21
Report names five European nations with increasing anti-Christian violence (CNS) Catholics are facing soaring levels of discrimination in some of
WWMD? A few thoughts for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
His name was Charles Sheldon – and he is one of the most influential preachers in American history. Don’t be
It’s here: a gift that can truly make a splash
I'm humbled to once again be a part of an extraordinary undertaking that is going to bring comfort to a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/8/21
Pope prays for sick and suffering before Mary (Vatican News) On Wednesday morning, just before 6:15 am, Pope Francis went
80 years ago today: How Pearl Harbor helped advance the cause of religious freedom
An important part of this important day, via The Tallahassee Democrat: Dec. 7, 1941, the day 2,300 other American troops died, is the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/7/21
Pope asks pardon for sins that drove apart Catholics, Orthodox (CNS) Like St. John Paul II before him, Pope Francis
Something’s coming — besides ‘West Side Story’
I'm pleased to offer this early look at the cover of my next book, Befriending St. Joseph: Finding Faith, Hope
A day to honor the priesthood — and a wonderful priest
My parish gathered Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of my pastor, Bishop Paul
‘Keep Christ in Christmas’: The story behind New Orleans’ historic billboard campaign
Details: Eternal hope is the overarching message of Christmas: A child born in a barn changed the world. Charlie LeBlanc
Gänswein: Benedict has received three COVID shots
Details: Archbishop Georg Gänswein has said that both he and Benedict XVI have received three COVID-19 vaccine doses “out of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/3/21
NYC sets vaccine mandate for religious, private school workers (The New York Times) New York City will require employees at
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/2/21
Pope accepts resignation of archbishop of Paris (CNA) Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michel Aupetit on Thursday amid
Some thoughts on ‘Christmas with The Chosen’
So my wife and I on Wednesday went to see the special Christmas episode of "The Chosen," now playing at
‘On the front lines of hope’: Excerpts from Bishop Robert Brennan’s first homily in Brooklyn
A few highlights from a thoughtful and inspiring homily, delivered at his installation Tuesday afternoon at the Co-Cathedral of St.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/1/21
A great day in Brooklyn, as Brennan takes the chair (The Deacon's Bench) It was a day rich in emotion,
A great day in Brooklyn: Brennan takes the chair
It was a day rich in emotion, history, pageantry and joy, as Brooklyn welcomed Robert Brennan as our 8th bishop.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/30/21
Pope advances sainthood causes, including priest murdered at Dachau (CNS) Pope Francis signed a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to
Now hear this: talking about Advent on Catholic Review radio
My friend Chris Gunty from the Archdiocese of Baltimore invited me to be a guest on his radio program this
Vatican cardinal dismisses women’s ordination, calling it ‘a wrong path’
From Crux: Though the week-long Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America offered a long string of bold proposals, the proposal of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/29/21
Fetal viability faces a Supreme Court test (The New York Times) In 1973, in Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court drew
Making Advent matter: Homily for November 28, 2021, 1st Sunday of Advent
“There will be signs.” These days, we are seeing a lot of signs. “No mask, no entry.” “Stay 6 feet
Helen Keller, Dorothy Day, Advent — and the daring adventure
I live not far from a synagogue in Queens, New York and on the wall outside is a plaque, dedicated
Report: A ‘kind of a theme park’ for the new Notre Dame?
The new design will reportedly replace the cathedral's confessional boxes, altars, and classical sculptures with modern art murals. It will
AP: Archbishop of Paris admits ‘ambiguous’ relationship, offers to resign
“The word ‘resignation’ is not the one I used...In reality, I am handing it over to the Holy Father because
What will happen to the Church in Ireland?
A new report paints a grim picture for the faithful in the land of St. Patrick. From The Irish Times:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/26/21
Wife of Catholic radio host among those killed in Waukesha (CNA) Tributes have continued to pour in in the wake
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/24/21
McCarrick named in new sex abuse lawsuit (AP) Defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is facing another sexual abuse lawsuit, from a
Here’s a picture to cherish this Thanksgiving: Deacon Ken Conklin
You'll remember that Ken Conklin was ordained just days before doctors expected him to enter eternal life. Since then, his
How Americans make sense of suffering
A new survey cracks open a window into how we cope with crisis, especially in light of the COVID pandemic.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/23/21
Pope prays for victims of Wisconsin tragedy (Vatican News) Pope Francis said he is close to all those who have been
‘He gave his soul to the Lord’: Last surviving Trappist monk of Tibhirine dies at 97
Details: Trappist Father Jean-Pierre Schumacher, the last survivor of the 1996 attack on the Tibhirine monastery in Algeria, died at
Saying grace: the importance of those words we pray before meals
Some timely insight, just a few days before Thanksgiving, in The Washington Post: The state of grace in contemporary America
Priest, parishioners among the casualties in Waukesha
“It is in our most difficult hours that we, as a community, turn to our Lord for refuge, strength and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/22/21
Praying for victims of the tragedy in Waukesha (Vatican News) According to a press statement from the Communication Director of
Only 1,257 days a priest — and now a ‘Blessed’ in the Church
The story of a future saint we all should know, a priest who died when he was only 28: A
Looking for a great way to kick off Advent? Try this.
My friend Leo Zanchettin from Word Among Us Press has just published this terrific book on St. Mark's Gospel, and
‘Thanksgiving in a cone’: delightful or disgusting?
Iowa's latest gift to the world: Everyone raves over pumpkin spice in the fall. But where's the limelight for our
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/19/21
Despite empty pews, Catholic schools booming (The Economist) this autumn dioceses all over the country are seeing increases in enrolments.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/18/21
Catholic bishops avoid confrontation with Biden over Communion (The New York Times) The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States
Upcoming Christmas movie of ‘The Chosen’ breaks records
This will be something to see: A new bonus episode of “The Chosen” will hit theaters on Dec. 1, delighting
Bishops approve document on Eucharist, 222-8
From CNS: The U.S. bishops approved their statement on the Eucharist with 222 “yes” votes Nov. 17, the second of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/17/21
Bishops move to approve new RCIA norms (CNS) More commonly known over the past two generations as the Rite of
Holy Land religious leaders’ message to the world: get vaccinated
From Crux: Israel’s top religious leaders joined President Isaac Herzog in calling for more people around the world to be
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/16/21
New Orleans archdiocese to pay more than $1 million for fraudulent Hurricane Katrina claims (CNA) According to the DOJ, the
Deacons, check out this online workshop on preaching
This looks pretty great, from my friend Deacon Silas Henderson and the good people at the Jordan Ministry Team... It's
What happened to the ambitious Veritatis Splendor project in Texas?
Some may remember this story from last winter: A grand oratory, seven Catholic institutes, a retreat center, residences, multilevel educational
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/15/21
Bishops gather in Baltimore for meeting (CNA) When the U.S. Catholic bishops gather in Baltimore Nov. 15-18 for their annual
Deacon dies hours after delivering a homily about being ready for death
I had the privilege of meeting him a few years ago when I gave a retreat to the deacons of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/12/21
Portugal's bishops announce child sex abuse commission (AP) Portugal's Roman Catholic Church said on Thursday it would create an independent
Report: 4,200 allegations of child abuse against clergy; 22 are current cases
“It should be noted that the vast majority of these reports were historical in nature." From CNS: More than 4,200
Boom: The diocese that has grown from a few thousand to a million in 40 years
From La Croix: When the Archdiocese of Abuja, located in the capital of Nigeria, was established as a "missio sui
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/10/21
Blessed Charles De Foucauld to be canonized May 15 (Vatican News) Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Charles De Foucauld, considered
Survey: over half of U.S. priests say state of Church ‘not so good’
"That the Catholic Church is not doing well is something progressive and conservative priests agree upon, even if their reasons
Why are churches being vandalized?
RNS looks at the issue: It was after a pair of Catholic churches caught ablaze last summer, one in Southern
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/9/21
French Catholic Church will sell assets to compensate abuse victims (The New York Times) The Roman Catholic Church in France
‘We are pilgrims on a journey’: Check out this special Holy Land pilgrimage for deacons
The good people at the Josephinum have put this together with Peter's Way Tours, and I think this is a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/8/21
French bishops kneel in penance over Church's role in child sex abuse (The Guardian) Senior members of France’s Roman Catholic
‘Miracles surround us!’: an update on Deacon Ken Conklin of Knoxville
You may remember the poignant story of Ken Conklin, who was diagnosed with cancer and was ordained as a permanent
Ruling: Priest can’t sue former parishioners he claims spread lies about him
From Pennsylvania: A Catholic priest can’t sue several members of his former Pennsylvania parish whom he claims got him fired
Loyola Marymount to host fundraiser for Planned Parenthood
From Crux: Pleas from members of the Loyola Marymount University community against Friday’s on-campus Planned Parenthood fundraiser have fallen on
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/5/21
Students boycott pro-life assembly at Catholic school (CNA) Students at a Catholic high school in San Francisco staged a walkout
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/4/21
Police ID suspect in Denver cathedral vandalism (CNA) Metro Denver Police announced Nov. 2 that the individual who allegedly vandalized
Texas votes to ban government from restricting church services
This may have slipped under the radar today, as people unpack the results of races in Virginia and New Jersey,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/3/21
Pope urges leaders at COP26 to be courageous in tackling climate change (CNS) Education, a change in lifestyles and a
An Angel becomes a deacon: retired MLB player ordained in California
How cool is this? From Black Catholic Messenger: In a milestone moment for Southern California, former MLB player Darrell Miller Sr.—brother
Cry from the heart: An artist crafts a pain-filled Pietà like no other
From Baltimore's Catholic Review: Wayman Scott IV couldn’t sleep. Even as a professional grief counselor at Gilchrist Hospice whose job
‘My place is here’: Jewish Holocaust survivor who became a priest to be buried as a Jew
From The Jerusalem Post: Later this week, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who became a Catholic priest in Poland, moved to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/2/21
Supreme Court hears challenges to Texas abortion ban (CNA) The U.S. Supreme Court spent nearly three hours Monday hearing arguments
A Deacon Prays: A Prayer for November
From A Deacon Prays: Prayers and Devotions for Liturgy and Life (Ave Maria Press) Signed copies available at this link!
SCOTUS turns down Catholic hospital appeal in transgender case
From NBC News: The Supreme Court on Monday turned down an appeal from a Catholic hospital in California that was
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/1/21
Biden receives Communion in Rome (AP) President Joe Biden received Communion at St. Patrick’s Church, Rome’s American parish, during Saturday
A beloved priest died of COVID. What happened after is remarkable.
Father Francisco Valdovinos had a profound effect on the families he served in Mecca, California. His sermons endeared him to
Dignity on death row: ‘Central to caring for the dying is touch’
Catholic priest and theologian Father Dorian Llewelyn weighs in on an issue that has found its way to the Supreme
‘She loved very much’: Homily for October 31, 2021, 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Do you see what he did there? In this Gospel passage from Mark, Jesus gave an answer to a question
Cardinal Burke posts statement on abortion, Catholic politicians and Canon 915
On his web page, Cardinal Raymond Burke posted a long statement this week regarding abortion, Canon 915 and the urgent
The Deacon’s Conference is coming — and you’re invited
I'm pleased to announce a virtual event next weekend, November 5 and 6. I'm privileged to be a part of
Biden: Pope said ‘he was happy I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving communion’
From The New York Times: President Biden told reporters on Friday that Pope Francis had called him a “good Catholic”
UPDATED: White House ‘readout’ of Francis-Biden meeting
I suspect there will be more details to come, but here's the first take, from the White House: UPDATE, with
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/29/21
Biden, Pope to talk COVID, climate change, poverty (AP) Hours after arriving in Rome, President Joe Biden will meet with
This Christmas, the Vatican offers a Jesus from the Andes
News about the annual Nativity scene at the Vatican: Over 30 figurines created by five different artists belonging to the
The pope and the president: Vatican cancels live broadcast of meeting between Biden and Pope Francis
From AP: The Vatican on Thursday abruptly canceled the planned live broadcast of U.S. President Joe Biden meeting Pope Francis,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/28/21
La Crosse bishop tests positive for COVID (WXOW) Bishop William Patrick Callahan, the head of the Diocese of La Crosse,
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Orange
From the Diocese of Orange, CA Facebook page: After five years of study and preparation, these 13 men were officially
Elizabeth Scalia on sex abuse: ‘There needs to be a penitential liturgy’
Writing of her own experience as a victim of sexual abuse — and the continuing revelations in a seriously wounded
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/27/21
Pope to visit Canada (AP) The Vatican says Pope Francis has agreed to visit Canada to help ongoing efforts at
‘The Holy Fiancée’: Sandra Sabattini is now a blessed — and her former fiancé is a deacon
The Church's newest blessed was the fiance of a young man who is now a married deacon in Italy. Her
Report: Young people say disconnect keeps them from church
“I hear what priests and pastors say at the pulpit and say to myself, ‘No, that is not what I
Axios: Worship under attack
From the Axios morning newsletter: Houses of worship — across faiths, including Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples and Catholic churches — are
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/26/21
Haitian bishop asks kidnappers of missionaries to "show some humanity" (Crux) After the kidnapping of 17 American and Canadian missionaries
Family ties: Father and son ordained together as deacons
"I wouldn't say coincidence because I don't think anything with God is a coincidence. It was an amazing event.” Beautiful,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/25/21
Patriarch Bartholomew hospitalized (AP) The spiritual leader of the world’s 200 million Eastern Orthodox Christians was hospitalized Sunday in Washington
Just in time for Halloween … something Erie!
Boo! I'm on the road again: heading this weekend to the Diocese of Erie (by way of Cleveland ... getting
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/22/21
Number of Catholics in Asia, Africa continues to rise (CNA) The number of Catholics in Asia and Africa continued to
‘The most powerful evening of my priesthood’
Photo: Twitter That's how my friend Father Michael Duffy from the Diocese of Rockville Centre described this extraordinary event: a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/21/21
Archbishop: my archdiocese will not take part in Synod (CNA) A Catholic leader has said that his archdiocese won’t take
WATCH: Pope Francis gets some company onstage during his audience
Details: The unexpected encounter took place early in the audience as clergy read out Galatians 5:13-14 in various languages, a passage in
What can you do when you hate yourself — and God?
Elizabeth Scalia steps up to the plate, adjusts her cap, raises her Louisville Slugger, and slams one out of the
Cardinal Burke update: ‘I am now able to offer daily the Holy Mass’
"Divine Providence will determine the time of my return to my usual pastoral activities." Details: Cardinal Raymond Burke said his recovery
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/20/21
Bishop calls for recognition of anointing as "emergency service" (CNA) A Catholic bishop called on Tuesday for greater recognition of
‘I was raised by a father with Down Syndrome…
Photo: via Instagram A recent version of this popped up on my Facebook feed, so I did some digging and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/19/21
Bishops: attacks on Catholic sites are "acts of hate" and must stop (CNS) The Oct. 10 vandalization of Denver’s cathedral
How Jill Biden recovered her faith after saying ‘Goodbye’ to God
Photo: by marcn / Wikipedia / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. A powerful testimony, via CNN: In May 2015, emotionally hobbled
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/18/21
Andrew Cozzens named Bishop of Crookston (Holy See Bulletin) The Holy Father has appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston
Ordination update: 4 new deacons for St. Petersburg
This news was posted by Bishop Gregory Parkes on the diocese's Facebook page over the weekend: Congratulations to Deacons Frank Averill,
Reports: U.S. missionaries and their families kidnapped in Haiti
From BBC: A group of US missionaries and their family members, including children, are reported to have been kidnapped by
Sicily imposes three-year ban on godparents for baptisms — UPDATED
God parenting, church officials said, had fallen to earth as a secular custom between relatives or neighbors — many deficient
What’s wrong with this picture?
I happened to drop by the Diocese of Orange website today and — long story — wanted to see what
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/15/21
Confirmed: Biden to meet with Pope Francis this month (NCR) Pope Francis will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and
One Catholic’s mission to protect the Church from ‘the second child abuse crisis’: youth football
From The New York Times: Denny Doyle is a committed Catholic and a lifelong football fan, and he saw little
Reports: High profile former Anglican bishop to become Catholic priest
Hot on the heels of this news about Bishop Jonathan Goodall comes this report from Damien Thompson in The Spectator
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/14/21
Judge: Church Militant rally in Baltimore can go on (AP) Baltimore city officials can’t ban a conservative Roman Catholic media
Latino Catholics have high rate of vaccination against COVID. Why?
Some interesting background and context, from RNS: Throughout the different stages of the pandemic, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Call him ‘Blessed’: Pope John Paul I to be beatified
From CNA: Pope Francis has recognized a miracle obtained through the intercession of his predecessor Venerable John Paul I, who
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/13/21
Military archbishop: Catholic troops can refuse vaccine on religious grounds (Politico) The archbishop of the U.S. military said on Tuesday
Military archbishop: Catholic troops can refuse vaccine on religious grounds
From Politico: The archbishop of the U.S. military said on Tuesday that Catholic troops could refuse the mandated Covid vaccine
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/12/21
European court rules Vatican cannot be sued (CNN) The Vatican cannot be sued in European courts because it is a
Pope asks U.S. nuncio to stay on past retirement age, help plan Biden meeting
From CNS: Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the 75-year-old apostolic nuncio to the United States, said when he met Pope Francis at
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/11/21
Report: No, Pelosi wasn't heckled at Mass in Rome (NCR) U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was not heckled
The Synod begins
"That expression – 'We have always done it that way' – is poison for the life of the Church. Those
‘This is what I’m called to do’: Homily for October 10, 2021, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“All things are possible for God.” We’ve heard that before, haven’t we? It’s the message of the angel to
Pelosi and the pontiff
Vatican Media released this picture Saturday, showing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi having a sit-down with Pope Francis. No
Biden will nominate Joe Donnelly to be next U.S. Ambassador to Vatican
From Business Insider: President Joe Biden will nominate former Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly as the US ambassador to the Vatican,
CNN’s Father Edward Beck removed from his parish on Long Island
NCR's Brian Fraga has the story: A New York diocese's decision to effectively remove a priest who is a well-known
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/8/21
Most U.S. Catholics unaware of Latin Mass restrictions (Pew) Pope Francis’ decision to impose new restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass in
Survey: Most U.S. Catholics don’t know about new limits on Latin Mass
Details: Pope Francis’ decision to impose new restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass in July drew a strong reaction from Catholics in the United
‘Church shouldn’t just be on Facebook’
Some sage advice regarding television in the 1980s can also apply to social media today. From Bonnie Kristian in Christianity
Pope Francis to declare St. Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church
Details from CNA: Pope Francis said on Thursday that he plans to declare St. Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/7/21
Federal judge blocks Texas abortion ban (CNN) A federal judge in Texas issued an order Wednesday blocking the state's six-week abortion ban.
Judge pauses Texas abortion law, calling it an ‘offensive deprivation of an important right’
Details: A federal judge on Wednesday granted the Justice Department’s request to halt enforcement of the recently passed Texas law
Shock: Antisemitic graffiti found at Auschwitz
From The New York Times: Vandals sprayed antisemitic slogans and phrases denying the Holocaust in English and German on nine
Thank you, Baltimore!
I know I'm late getting to this, but I just wanted to give a quick shout-out and thanks to the
Anglican leader wears papal ring to Vatican
Fascinating piece of history, via Vatican Media: Wrapping up an interview with Vatican News, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby,
Pope Francis on sex abuse scandal: ‘This is a moment of shame’
From Reuters: Pope Francis said on Wednesday he was saddened and ashamed by the Catholic Church's inability to deal with
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/6/21
Pope expresses shame over Church's abuse (Vatican News) At Wednesday's General Audience, Pope Francis prays for victims of clerical sexual
Overturning Roe: ‘We are optimistic’
From The Texas Tribune: As the battle over Texas’ law that effectively bans abortions six weeks into pregnancy plays out
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Boston
Cardinal Sean O'Malley ordained seven new deacons in the Archdiocese of Boston last weekend! They are: Richard W. Ashburn, James
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Ogdensburg
From North Country Catholic: Through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, Bishop LaValley ordained
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/5/21
French report: 330,000 children victims of sex abuse (AP) An estimated 330,000 children were victims of sex abuse within France’s Catholic
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/1/21
Cardinal to become first to stand trial at Vatican (Crux) When the Vatican’s megatrial for financial crimes begins next week,
Guest post: 5 things you may not know about St. Francis of Assisi
Jon Sweeney has just published a new book about the beloved saint (and deacon!) from Assisi, whose feast we celebrate
Pray for Pelosi: Archbishop endorses ‘Rose and Rosary for Nancy’ campaign
From CNS: Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco is asking “all Catholics and others of goodwill” to join a
Chicago Tribune spotlights schools’ ‘competition of values’ between Church and flock
Details: Pope Francis has taken a more liberal view toward gay Catholics than his predecessors, endorsing civil unions and saying homosexual “tendencies” are not
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/30/21
Brooklyn bishop retires after 18 years (The New York Times) Pope Francis named a new bishop to lead the Roman Catholic
Worth your time: Bishop Robert Brennan’s homily to deacons
In November 2020, the man who will become the next bishop of Brooklyn ordained deacons in the Diocese of Columbus.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/29/21
Bishop Brennan of Columbus named new bishop of Brooklyn (Diocese of Brooklyn) The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has named the
BREAKING: Bishop Robert Brennan of Columbus named bishop of Brooklyn
“In the selection of Bishop Robert Brennan, the Holy Father has called upon a native New Yorker to return to
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Richmond
Photo: Michael Mickel/The Catholic Virginian From The Catholic Virginian: Bishop Barry C. Knestout ordained 15 men to the permanent diaconate
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/27/21
Bishops' committee: transgender men 'unknowingly admitted' to seminary (NCR) A leader of the U.S. bishops' conference has written to Catholic
Cardinal Burke pens a ‘letter to those who are praying for me’
"My principal challenges, at the present, are regaining certain fundamental physical skills needed for my daily living, and overcoming a
Ordination update: Welcome, Deacon Ken Conklin of Knoxville
Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville posted late Friday the news that he was going to ordain Ken Conklin as a
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Charlotte
Details from The Catholic News Herald: Bishop Peter Jugis ordained 12 men as permanent deacons during a two-hour Mass Sept.
What happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Now we may know.
Fascinating: A new scientific discovery in modern-day Tall el-Hammam is being touted as potential evidence of God's destruction of Sodom
Catholic Church apologizes for indigenous abuse in Canada
"We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural,
Prayer request for a deacon candidate in hospice care about to be ordained
Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville posted the following news on Twitter Friday night: Tomorrow, I will ordain Ken Conklin as
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/24/21
Catholic leaders urge humane treatment of Haitian migrants (CNS) The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ migration committee and the head
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Palm Beach
Following the Mass of Ordination to the Diaconate Sept. 11, 2021, Bishop Gerald Barbarito, center, is flanked by the Diocese
And now, Florida
Via CNN: A Republican Florida state lawmaker on Wednesday introduced a bill that is modeled after a strict Texas law
‘The proposed legislation is nothing less than child sacrifice…’
"Indeed, HR 3755 is surely the type of legislation one would expect from a devout Satanist, not a devout Catholic."
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/23/21
John Garvey, president of Catholic University, stepping down (CNS) John Garvey, president of The Catholic University of America in Washington
Afghan woman gives Pope Francis her wedding ring as a reminder of her missing husband
Photo: Vatican Media A remarkable gesture, as reported by CNS: When Pary Gul, a Christian woman from Afghanistan, met Pope
Looking for quality Catholic television? There’s more than just EWTN
With the recent critical comments by Pope Francis about a "Catholic television channel" — evidently, a thinly-veiled reference to EWTN
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/22/21
Cleveland's retired Bishop Pilla dies (Cleveland.com) Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, a Cleveland native who helped start a national dialogue on
Lawsuits filed against Texas doctor who performed abortion
From The New York Times: A man in Arkansas and another in Illinois on Monday filed what appeared to be
Pope Francis: ‘There is a large Catholic television channel…’
“I personally deserve attacks and insults because I am a sinner, but the Church does not deserve them. They are
Vatican will require vaccine pass for visitors, employees
From CNA: The Vatican will require all visitors and personnel to show a COVID-19 pass proving they have been vaccinated,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/21/21
Vatican requires COVID vaccine pass for visitors, employees (CNA) The Vatican will require all visitors and personnel to show a
The Christian comedy of Norm Macdonald
From The New York Times, an appreciation of the comic, who died last week from cancer. The author is Matthew
Canadian archdiocese to require proof of vaccination for Mass
"At Masses next week, several volunteers are expected to be at the doors of each church to ask worshippers for full
Give me a break!
Really! Feel like you need a sabbatical? Take a number and get in line. We're all feeling it — stressed,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/20/21
Pro-life groups in states surrounding Texas prepare for increased abortion demand (OSV) As Texas’ “heartbeat law” gains national attention, pro-life organizations
Ordination update: 23 new deacons for Toledo
Holy Toledo! Bishop Daniel Thomas ordained the men Saturday at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy
Remembering Yorke
A familiar presence in our parish died suddenly last week. Yorke Mizelle was active in a variety of ministries in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/17/21
At Notre Dame, Clarence Thomas criticizes judges who veer into politics (AP) Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday criticized some
Survey: Catholics are most vaccinated religious group in the U.S.
From CNA: Catholics are the religious group most vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States, according to a new national survey by
From Detroit: Deacons’ wives, heart of the domestic church
Check this out, from Detroit Catholic: Behind every great man, there is a great woman, or so the saying goes.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/16/21
"Largest U.S. parish church" under construction in California (AP) It’s billed as the largest Catholic parish in the United States
‘Life matters even more than love’: First trailer for ‘West Side Story’
What strikes me here — and it was there in the teaser, too — is the prominent presence of Catholicism.
Pope on denying Communion: ‘What should a shepherd do? Be a shepherd.’
“No, I have never denied the Eucharist to anyone; to anyone! I don’t know if someone came to me under
Well, look at that: 400-year-old treasure discovered in a New York church
Amazing: A 100-year-old church in New Rochelle housed a 400-year-old treasure and no one realized it until a man stopped
Bishop restricts ministry of unvaccinated clergy
“We have to be promoting the common good, and this is the one of the ways that we do it."
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/15/21
Bishop: unvaccinated clergy may not minister in diocese (CNA) Priests of the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky who have not been
Lift High the Cross!
For today's feast, here's a fitting and glorious soundtrack. Below is a favorite rendition of mine, sung by the Plymouth
UPDATE: Woman arrested for smashing statues in Queens
A followup from this story from earlier this summer: A 23-year-old Forest Hills resident was hit with hate crime charges
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/14/21
Bishops: 95 attacks on Catholic churches since May 2020 (CNA) There have been at least 95 reported incidents of vandalism
Female Swiss Guards?
Maybe. From Reuters: The new barracks of the Vatican Swiss Guard, the elite and colorfully dressed corps that protects the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/13/21
Students sue Creighton over vaccine mandate (AP) Four students are suing Creighton University over its requirement to get vaccinated against
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Owensboro
Many thanks to (brand new!) Deacon Tony Carmona for sharing these details: The Diocese of Owensboro is pleased to announce
‘I will be in the stairwell of your final moments…’
A friend passed this on. She said her church sent it out in an email to parishioners: You say you
One of the most stunning artifacts of 9/11
Pages of the Bible were fused to a chunk of steel as the World Trade Center collapsed, to be found
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/10/21
Biden administration sues Texas over abortion law (CNA) The Biden administration on Thursday sued Texas over its new law prohibiting
USCCB releases updated ‘National Directory’ for deacons
From the bishops' website: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released the second edition of the National Directory for
Unvaccinated United Airlines staff with religious exemptions to be placed on unpaid leave
Details: Any United Airlines employee who has been given a religious exemption from getting a coronavirus vaccine will be placed on temporary, unpaid personal
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/9/21
Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican leaders release historic message on climate (CNA) Pope Francis, Archbishop Justin Welby, and Patriarch Bartholomew I
Cardinal Gregory: ‘The president is not demonstrating Catholic teaching’
“Our Church has not changed its position on the immorality of abortion, and I don’t see how we could, because
Report: Number of deacons in U.S. declines slightly
From CNS: The U.S. Catholic Church in 2020 had 18,075 permanent deacons serving in ministry, a decrease of 118 deacons,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/8/21
Vandals deface Catholic church with pro-abortion graffiti (The Washington Times) A Catholic church in Boulder County, Colorado, was vandalized Sunday with
Politico: Biden’s ‘private matter’ becomes a public clash with the Church
This is long, but worthwhile: from Politico, a very good dissection of Joe Biden's faith, and the public disputes that
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/7/21
Vatican releases Synod Preparatory Document (Vatican News) The General Secretariat for the Synod has published the Preparatory Document, along with
Cordileone: ‘You cannot be a good Catholic and support expanding a right to kill innocent human beings’
"Abortion is the most pressing human rights challenge of our time. Can we pastors speak softly when the blood of
‘Remember this: No matter what, your father loves you’
"Like the miracles Christ performed two thousand years ago, God continues to insert himself into the dirty details of life
For Labor Day: Thoughts from John Paul, Laborer-Pope
"I come from your midst. I come from the quarries of Zakrzowek, from the Solvay furnaces in Borek Falecki, and
Three Chicago priests step aside over ‘inappropriate’ relationships with adults
This is something rare and notable, via The Chicago Tribune: Three Roman Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Chicago have
McCarrick pleads not guilty to sex assault charges
From AP: Former Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the once-powerful American prelate who was expelled from the priesthood for sexual
Anglican bishop, former chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury, to become Catholic
"I have made my decision as a way of saying yes to God’s present call and invitation, and not of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/3/21
White House dismisses question about Biden and abortion (Yahoo News) When a reporter asked at a White House press briefing
Pray ball! The umpires who pray
From The New York Times: The umpires dialed in at about 3 p.m. on a Friday, calling from places like
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/2/21
SCOTUS formally declines to block Texas abortion law (CNN) The Supreme Court formally denied a request from Texas abortion providers to
A bishop who gets it: ‘I want to give a big shout-out to our permanent deacons…’
This is great, from Bishop Donald Hying of Madison, WI. A grateful diaconal bow to the good bishop — and
Harvard Catholics: Atheist chaplain’s role will be ‘purely administrative’
The recent report in The New York Times got some lively reaction around the country — and CNA has this
Chatting about books and prayer and stuff on Facebook LIVE
Didja miss it? No worries. Thanks to the miracle of Facebook archives, Word Among Us has preserved my little conversation
Charges against Brooklyn’s Bishop DiMarzio found ‘not to have any semblance of truth’
“I repeat what I have said from the beginning. There is no truth to these allegations. Throughout my more than
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/1/21
Remains of first Korean martyrs recovered (AFP) The remains of the first Korean Catholic martyrs have been recovered, church officials
‘I inform you with profound sorrow that Fr. Danny took his own life …’
This is a message no bishop ever wants to write. It was released today by Bishop Michael Duca of Baton
Survey: Most White Americans who attend regular church services voted for Trump
From Pew: Similar to past elections, religion played an important role in the 2020 U.S. presidential contest: Republican candidate Donald Trump
Pope on withdrawal from Afghanistan: ‘I don’t want to judge, but…’
From Crux: In a new interview, Pope Francis appears to criticize the handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan by the
What’s Father Altman up to? Plenty.
"I tell my clients, I can only defend you this far. All I can say is, he must have a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/31/21
Catholic church is shelter during Hurricane Ida (CNS) After the winds from Hurricane Ida peeled off the roof of the
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Gallup
Happy news from Deacon Timoteo Lujan in New Mexico: On Saturday, August 14, Bishop James Wall ordained two new deacons
More saints like this, please
The Vatican today announced the happy news that Maria Cristina Cella Mocellin is on the path to sainthood. The pope
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/30/21
Pope urges prayer, fasting for Afghanistan (CNA) Pope Francis on Sunday urged Christians to intensify their prayer, penance, and fasting
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for San Bernardino
Details from Msgr. Gerard Lopez, Vicar General: Most Rev. Alberto Rojas, accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Gerald R. Barnes and Auxiliary
A letter from Cardinal Burke
"I have been transferred out of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and settled in a hospital room where the doctors,
Prayer of St. Michael update: ‘Fr. Emanuel wishes to state that he misspoke…’
This report and video caused a stir on social media over the last 24 hours. On Saturday the pastor of
‘Should we say the St. Michael Prayer after Mass?’
In a timely coincidence — following yesterday's discussion — someone just asked that very question to Msgr. Charles Pope, who
After more than 50 years behind bars, Sirhan Sirhan may be freed
From The New York Times: California parole commissioners recommended on Friday that Sirhan B. Sirhan should be freed on parole
‘The prayer to St. Michael is not to be said publicly…’ — UPDATED
UPDATE: Read Saturday's statement from the parish's pastor here. Fr. Z. posted about this and included the video below, in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/27/21
Catholic organizations help Afghan refugees (CNS) The Catholic Church, particularly in the U.S., has been “involved in the reception and
Jim and Joy and me on EWTN, Part 2
And here's the rest. (Part 1 is here). In this segment, we talked about The Busy Person's Guide to Prayer
The new chief chaplain at Harvard is an atheist
Wow. From The New York Times: The Puritan colonists who settled in New England in the 1630s had a nagging
A beloved bishop loses his battle with COVID
Photo: CNEWA “God has called me to radiate his love and care for these brothers and sisters without looking at
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/26/21
Pope appoints religious sister to lead Dicastery on Human Development (Vatican News) The Pope has appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA,
Jim and Joy and me on EWTN
Well, I survived. My wife hasn't seen it yet; she was at the dentist. (She probably enjoyed that more, anyway.)
Remembering Bishop Guy
Over the weekend, we learned that Brooklyn's auxiliary bishop Guy Sansaricq entered eternal life. Many in Brooklyn are heartbroken. Here
And now, a programming note
For those who have been asking — besides my immediate family — I'll be popping up on EWTN's "At Home
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/25/21
Houses of worship struggle back, tread lightly on vaccines (The New York Times) Houses of worship have struggled over the
Jason Berry’s harrowing discovery: ‘This is like Watergate’
This week, The New York Times superb videographer Ben Proudfoot profiled writer Jason Berry — the first person who reported
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Baton Rouge
Details: Bishop Michael G. Duca ordained six new permanent deacons on Saturday, Aug. 14 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton
My EWTN adventure — UPDATED
So Sunday night, I arrived in bucolic Irondale, Alabama, just outside Birmingham, to spend 36 hours on the campus of
Commission on women deacons to hold first meeting
From The Tablet: Almost two years since Pope Francis announced he would be re-forming a commission on the female diaconate, The
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/23/21
Pope: 'Incarnation calls us to recognize Jesus in others' (Vatican News) In his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis reflects on
A church rises in South Carolina: ‘We wanted something transcendent’
Last year, I posted about a remarkable building project in South Carolina, to erect a new parish church in the
Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Rochester
Photo by Jeff Witherow / Catholic Courier Details: For Deacons Aaron Kelly and Brian Mizzoni, Aug. 21 was marked by
Hitting the road, dodging Henri
I'll be heading south on Sunday — and possibly sharing the skies with Hurricane Henri. The storm is churning northward
‘Praised be Jesus Christ!’: Cardinal Burke update
From the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Praised be Jesus Christ! The Cardinal’s family is pleased to announce that
‘Mortified’: Police chaplain apologizes after giving Holy Communion to Chicago’s mayor
Mistakes happen. Details: A Chicago police chaplain says he is “mortified” that he mistakenly gave Holy Communion to Mayor Lori
Archbishop: vaccine exemption shouldn’t require clergy approval
Details: A Catholic has a right to seek an exemption from a vaccine requirement, but that decision shouldn’t depend on
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/20/21
Catholic officials on edge after reports of priests using Grindr (The New York Times) The reports by the blog, The
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/19/21
Newly installed statue vandalized in Queens (CNS) A newly installed and dedicated statue of St. Bernadette outside St. Michael’s Catholic
Bishops resigns after explicit video hits social media
From CNA: Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Bishop of São José do Rio Preto on Wednesday, five days
Praying for Afghanistan — and the Taliban
A challenging and prayer-provoking post from The Gospel Coalition: Even with the restraining force of a U.S. military presence, Afghanistan
Pope appears in new video promoting vaccination for COVID-19
From The New York Times: Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is “an act of love,” Pope Francis says in a public service
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/18/21
Pope appears in video encouraging vaccination (The New York Times) Getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is “an act of love,” Pope
Report: Cardinal Burke’s condition has ‘deteriorated’ — UPDATED
From CNA: The condition of Raymond Cardinal Burke, who was recently hospitalized with Covid-19, has reportedly deteriorated. A source who
Jesuit-founded Homeboy Industries takes ‘quantum leap’
This is remarkable — and well-deserved. From RNS: Homeboy Industries, believed to be the world’s largest reentry organization for formerly
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/17/21
Catholic charity concerned for Christians in Afghanistan (CNA) A Catholic charitable organization working in Afghanistan said Sunday it fears for
As Kabul falls, remembering ‘the very best piece on television, ever’
A former colleague from CBS News today remembered this report as "a remarkable feat of airmanship and a tour de
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/16/21
9,000 sex abuse lawsuits filed in New York (AP) For two years, New York temporarily set aside its usual time
Cardinal Burke update
The following appeared on Cardinal Raymond Burke's Twitter account Saturday night: Cardinal Burke has been admitted to the hospital with
Composer of ‘Pescador de Hombres’ accused of abuse
Details: The Marist Congregation in Spain has confirmed it has received credible accusations of the abuse of minors against Fr.
The heart-wrenching theology of Nightbirde: ‘God is on the bathroom floor’
I'm new to discovering this remarkable talent, Jane Marczewski, a 30-year-old singer-songwriter known as "Nightbirde," who made an electrifying debut
Variety: Shia LaBeouf will play Padre Pio
Details: Shia LaBeouf could be making a comeback turn. Legendary director Abel Ferrara has exclusively told Variety that LaBeouf has come on board to play
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/13/21
Miracle may be attributed to late Tennessee priest's intercession (CNS) As Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, presided at
Archbishop proposes lay people as pastors. But what about deacons?
This story caught my eye over at Catholic News Agency's website — and my first question was, "Why not deacons?"
Infrastructure bill includes grants for religious congregations
A detail many may not be aware of, via RNS: Buried on Page 1,729 of the trillion-dollar infrastructure bill approved by
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/12/21
Sri Lanka files charges against Easter bombing suspects (AP) Sri Lanka has filed 23,270 charges against 25 people in connection
Seminaries in northeast require vaccinations this semester
Details: Catholic seminaries in the Northeast are requiring COVID-19 vaccination for their seminarians before the coming semester begins. Mount St.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/11/21
Andrew Cuomo's legacy (National Catholic Register) Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Catholic, announced on Tuesday he will resign
Ordination update: 17 new deacons for El Paso
Details: Bishop Mark Seitz ordained 17 men as permanent deacons for the Diocese of El Paso on Friday evening at
Cardinal Burke: I’ve tested positive for COVID-19 — UPDATED
The cardinal posted the following on Twitter Tuesday night: Praised be Jesus Christ! I wish to inform you that I
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Wilmington
Photo: Dan Blake / The Dialog A nice summer surprise! From The Dialog: Bishop Koenig presided at the ordination of 15
Olympic medalist Molly Seidel: Prayer to St. Jude helped me in the marathon
I preached about Molly Seidel and her struggles last Sunday — and so I was moved to see this item
Cuomo quits. So who is Kathy Hochul?
A lot people probably don't know much about the figure who will soon be the state's first woman governor. Like
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/10/21
Catholics in France mourn murdered priest (Vatican News) Catholics across France are mourning the death of Fr. Olivier Maire, SMM,
A Prayer to St. Lawrence: ‘Help me treasure those whom others discard’
August 10 marks the feast day of one of the great deacons of the Church, St. Lawrence: As deacon in
‘What we lose when we livestream church’
Some thoughtful reflections from Collin Hansen, editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition, from today's New York Times: The body of Christ,
Shock: Priest murdered in France
Details: France’s Interior Minister announced on Monday that a Catholic priest has been murdered in western France. Gérald Darmanin wrote on his
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/9/21
SC priest placed on leave after lawsuit (AP) A Catholic priest in South Carolina has been placed on leave after
Colorado bishops back conscientious objections to vaccines
Details: The Catholic bishops in Colorado have emphasized the need to respect those with conscientious objections to the COVID-19 vaccines
Life is a marathon: Homily for August 8, 2021, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Every one of us has had that “Elijah moment,” like the one we encounter
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/6/21
Baltimore's first Catholic school in 60 years dedicated (WBAL) Mother Mary Lange Catholic School, the first new Catholic school built
Britney Spears, Catholic?
A friend caught this post on Instagram and passed it along. It caught fire on social media Thursday night, and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/5/21
Bioethicist calls for religious exemptions for vaccine (CNA) As workplaces have begun to require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, some Catholic
Seminary teacher pleads guilty to stalking Buffalo reporter
Details: A Hamburg man who taught at Christ the King Seminary has admitted harassing and intimidating a WKBW news reporter
A message from a friend who is dying: ‘Death is not a disaster’
I got an email yesterday from a woman whose annulment I facilitated a few years back. She's left Brooklyn and
To all priests today: ‘Thank you’
Today marks the feast of St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests, and I am reminded of some remarks
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/4/21
Two Catholic universities merging (Daily Breeze) Marymount California University, a 53-year-old private Catholic college in Rancho Palos Verdes, could see
Are COVID church closings coming? Groups brace for a legal fight
"If any governments try to go down the path of closing worship again, this time around we have the benefit
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/3/21
Parents withdraw kids from Colorado Catholic school over uniform issue (KDVR) An email defending a dress code at a local
Archdiocese of New York: Priests may not grant religious exemptions for vaccines
“Pope Francis has made it very clear that it is morally acceptable to take any of the vaccines and said
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/2/21
House's refusal to include Hyde Amendment in spending bills called "injustice" (CNS) The refusal by the U.S. House to include
Albany bishop on sex abuse: ‘The advice we received was well-intended but flawed, and I deeply regret that we followed it.’
From The Albany Times-Union: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany engaged in a decades-long cover-up of chronic child sexual abuse
Vocations all in the family: 4 priests, 1 seminarian, 1 deacon
From The Tablet in Brooklyn: Father Vincent Chirichella has many friends who are priests that he considers part of his
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/30/21
Global Catholic Climate Movement gets a new name (Vatican News) “To inspire and mobilize the Catholic community to care for
Report: McCarrick charged for assaulting teenage boy in 1970’s
Details: Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after a Vatican investigation confirmed he had sexually molested adults as well
Simone Biles: ‘Don’t waste God’s gift that he gave you’
Photo: by Danilo Borges /ME /Brasil2016 Creative Commons license From Zac Davis in America magazine this week, reflecting on Simone
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/29/21
Plaintiffs in lawsuit propose replacing Bible with "Book of Faith" (AP) The plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the display
Weightless in a collar: Deacon experiences zero gravity
From CNS: Deacon Gary Nosacek doesn’t hesitate when he gets to take his ministry outside the walls of the church.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/28/21
Cardinal in Vatican trial: My conscience is "tranquil" (AP) A fraud and embezzlement trial over alleged mismanagement of the Holy
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/27/21
Church turns pastoral care center into COVID ward (Reuters) The Catholic Church has converted a pastoral centre in Jakarta into
Two new Daughters of St. Paul — and a deacon dad, too
This is something wonderful. Over the weekend, two young women professed their first vows with the Daughters of St. Paul.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/26/21
Vatican reveals it owns more than 5,000 properties (The Guardian) The Vatican has released information on its real estate holdings for
Gathering the fragments: Homily for July 25, 2021, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He may be one of the most important Catholic saints from New York that you’ve never heard of. His name
So, what happens if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade?
Now that one state has brought an argument to the Supreme Court, asking for a reversal of Roe v. Wade,
‘The end never justifies the means, even if they are digital and seem credible because of technology’
For some context and analysis on the recent bombshell by The Pillar, CNA interviewed Dr. William J. Thorn, associate professor
The Pillar: Newark archdiocese investigating app use
“It is not acceptable for any member of the clergy to use any app or website in a way that
Mississippi asks SCOTUS to overturn Roe v. Wade
From The New York Times: Calling Roe v. Wade “egregiously wrong,” Mississippi’s attorney general urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to do
New Hampshire bishop accused
Details: The bishop of the Diocese of Manchester has been named in a civil lawsuit that alleges sexual abuse of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/22/21
Pew survey: most U.S. Catholics support death penalty (CNA) One recent survey shows a majority of U.S. Catholics supporting use
The traveling deacon: Greetings from Graymoor
Greetings from the Hudson Valley and Graymoor, home of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. I'm leading a retreat here
Biden town hall at Catholic university sparks criticism
From Reuters: U.S. President Joe Biden's planned town hall meeting at a Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday has
USCCB General Secretary resigns over allegations of ‘improper behavior”
From CNA: Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill, the general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, resigned from his post on
WATCH: Video shows attack on statues at Queens church
I posted about this over the weekend: the shocking and brazen attack on religious statues at a Catholic church a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/20/21
Pope names new bishop for Reno (Vatican News) Pope Francis has named Bishop Daniel Henry Mueggenborg as the new Bishop
Diocese responds after politician announces he was denied Communion
“In terms of the diocese, we regret the decision of Senator Cervantes to politicize this issue." Details from CNA: After
Pope Francis and ‘weaponization of the faith’
"The common term for Pope Francis in both the communion debate and the Latin Mass may be his allergy to
Hate hits close to home: Vandal destroys statues at parish in Queens
“It is heartbreaking, but sadly it is becoming more and more common these days." This happened sometime early Saturday at
‘The Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world…’
Worth re-reading this weekend, from Ecclesia de Eucharista, by Pope St. John Paul II: When I think of the Eucharist,
The shepherd who doesn’t walk way: Homily for July 18, 2021, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday, we’re hearing a lot in the scriptures about shepherds and sheep. Speaking for myself, I don’t run into
Churches create special prayers in response to fatal mass shootings
From The Washington Post: When there are mass shootings, like this week in Chicago, or the previous week in Toledo
UPDATED: What are people saying about the pope’s letter on the Latin Mass?
Here's a roundup of early reaction and some analysis to today's big news. I'll add to this as the day
Pope Francis issues motu proprio regarding Latin Mass; local bishops to regulate use
"It belongs to the diocesan bishop, as moderator, promoter, and guardian of the whole liturgical life of the particular Church
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/16/21
Pope issues new norms for 1962 Missal (Vatican News) After consulting the bishops throughout the world, Pope Francis has decided
California prepares to dedicate shrine to Our Lady of La Vang
It's happening Saturday in the Diocese of Orange, at Christ Cathedral: The Our Lady of La Vang Shrine at the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/15/21
Italian cops bust fake cardinals scam (Crux) A group of con men who dressed up as cardinals to swindle victims
‘St. Kateri is the saint of all who are scarred, ashamed, shunned…’
From a homily on St. Kateri Takekwitha, on the day she was canonized in 2012. I began by mentioning the
Michigan court dismisses lawsuit over funeral homily
Some may remember this story from a couple years back, about a family that was upset at the homily delivered
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/14/21
Pope Francis released from hospital (Vatican News) The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has confirmed that
Citizens, not the state, will enforce new Texas abortion law
From The New York Times: People across the country may soon be able to sue abortion clinics, doctors and anyone
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/13/21
Grosz becomes highest ranking Church leader in Buffalo to be accused (The Buffalo News) Retired Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Grosz,
Former Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo accused of abuse, steps aside
The press release from the diocese: The Diocese of Buffalo has been notified of a pending action brought pursuant to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/12/21
Vatican: Pope to remain hospitalized for a few more days (Vatican News) The Holy See released a bulletin about the
WATCH: Pope leads Angelus from hospital balcony
From CNA: In his first public appearance since having an intestinal surgery, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus from the balcony
UPDATE: Bishop writes to parishioners about retired monsignor who got married
"We did not passively accept the idea of him leaving the priesthood, we supported him in his struggle and remained
Forecast: sunny with a chance of grace, as weatherman enters seminary
How cool is this? (H/T to FOB Josh Mansfield for sending this my way!) Over the past two years, WKBN
Father Altman’s ‘goodbye letter’ to his flock
Father James Altman posted this statement on Twitter Friday night (click to enlarge and read the whole letter): LATEST
Statement from the Diocese of La Crosse on Father James Altman
From website of the Diocese of La Crosse: Statement Regarding Father James Altman Bishop William Patrick Callahan and his diocesan representatives
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/9/21
Pope will lead Sunday Angelus from hospital (CNA) Pope Francis will lead the Angelus from his hospital room on Sunday
Bishop issues decree: ‘Father Altman is no longer allowed to preach’ or celebrate Mass publicly
From The Diocese of La Crosse (via Rocco Palmo): Father Altman responded: This has been a long time coming. From
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/8/21
Pope continues recovery, expresses closeness to hospitalized children (Vatican News) Pope Francis is recovering well after intestinal surgery he underwent
‘Sermongate’ and the problem of pulpit plagiarism
A little problem rears its ugly head in the Protestant world: The similarities in the sermons are unmistakable. “I don’t
‘The Boys in Red Hats’: Story behind Covington Catholic video is focus of new documentary
Details: A new documentary film premiering later this month focuses on the encounter in Washington, D.C. between students from Covington
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/7/21
Holy See: Pope continues 'regular, satisfactory' recovery (Vatican News) The Holy See's press office released a bulletin Wednesday stating, "The
The deacon ‘who never gave up’
Well done, good and faithful servant. From Angelus: There were hugs when they came to say goodbye — for now
UPDATE: In TV interview, retired monsignor explains decision to marry
"Because of our age, because of our health, because in particular, we love each other, we decided to move the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/6/21
Pope continues his recovery (Vatican News) Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni said on Tuesday that the post-operative recovery
The battle against COVID-19 goes on
A number of people have asked me about Bishop Jacob Mar Barnabas of India, whom I mentioned in my homily
UPDATE: Pope Francis recovering from surgery, ‘alert and breathing spontaneously’
From CNA: Pope Francis is expected to spend the next week in hospital as he recovers from intestinal surgery, according
Shock: Retiring monsignor announces plans to marry — UPDATED
Details: The Rev. Monsignor Howard Lincoln, who celebrated his final mass at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert last week after
BREAKING: Pope Francis to undergo colon surgery
From The New York Times: The Vatican announced on Sunday that Pope Francis had been admitted to a hospital in
St. John Paul: ‘Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed…’
"The ultimate test of your greatness is in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and
‘Two allegations against the late bishop appear to be true…’
Details: The Catholic Diocese of Lansing determined allegations against the late Bishop James Sullivan, who is accused of sexually abusing
Remembering ‘The Voice of Holy Week,’ Greg Stein
A legendary lector in my parish, Greg Stein, died unexpectedly this week. This is the homily I preached for his
In Canada, calls for Catholics to boycott Sunday Mass
From the CBC: Percy Miller stopped during his walk in downtown Saskatoon on Friday morning to look at the signs,
‘A group of transgender people came to the Vatican at the invitation of Pope Francis…’
“The church is a part of the people, whoever they are. For us they have value." True Christian charity at
Vatican joins with World Medical Association to combat vaccine hesitancy
Details: The Vatican’s bioethics academy and the World Medical Association called Friday for an all-out effort to combat vaccine hesitancy
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/2/21
Vatican seeks all-out effort for vaccine (AP) The Vatican’s bioethics academy and the World Medical Association called Friday for an
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/1/21
Canadian Indigenous group says more graves found (AP) A Canadian Indigenous group said Wednesday a search using ground-penetrating radar has
Bishop Barron on abortion and Democrats: ‘What is there to dialogue about?’
This was published as an op-ed in The New York Post: The Catholic bishops of the United States are facing
Halo there! The history of a symbol that swept the world
Some intriguing history here, via the BBC: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism and Greek mythology are usually regarded as utterly distinct
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Denver
From Denver Catholic: On June 26, 19 men answered the call to serve the people of God as permanent deacons
Will the millions who stopped going to church during the pandemic return?
From the AP: With millions of people having stayed home from places of worship during the coronavirus pandemic, struggling congregations
‘Only a free Church is a credible Church…’
Pope Francis's words today during his homily for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul is worth your time: Dear
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Springfield
Brand new Deacon Michael Halbrook sent me this happy news. Bishop Thomas Paprocki celebrated the ordination last Saturday at the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/29/21
Miami parish: 10 members still missing after building collapse (CNS) It is an understatement to say the people and staff
WATCH: ABC News reports on faith in the midst of Florida tragedy
A grateful h/t to my friend Tony Rossi who sent this my way. Two points of note: Here we see
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/28/21
Letter from Pope Francis express support for James Martin's LGBTQ ministry (National Catholic Register) In a personal letter sent to
Poll: Americans’ opinions of Pope Francis rebound
From Pew: Pope Francis’ popularity dropped in the United States a few years ago amid a sex abuse crisis in the U.S.
‘Thank you for your pastoral zeal’: The pope’s message to Father James Martin
Details, from The New York Times: A leader in the Roman Catholic Church’s effort to reach out to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics
Thief steals $10,000 monstrance from Bronx church
From The New York Daily News: A sticky-fingered sinner raided a Bronx Catholic church and made off with a solid
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Washington
From the YouTube channel of the Archdiocese of Washington: With praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Archdiocese of Washington
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for New York
Details: Seven men were ordained as permanent deacons for the archdiocese June 19 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Mass of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/25/21
Hundreds of unmarked graves found at residential school in Canada (BBC) An indigenous nation in Canada says it has found
Deacon assists at Mass with his 102-year old great uncle
From Florida Catholic: Something old and something new. No, it was not a wedding. It was May 23, the first
Wow: a 96-year-old soprano sings ‘Panis Angelicus’
Details: At age 96, Italian verismo soprano Magda Olivero still had one of opera’s most remarkable voices. Footage of Olivero singing Franck’s ‘Panis Angelicus’
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/24/21
Iowa AG report details 'overwhelming' abuse by Catholic clergy (The Gazette) Citing “overwhelming” incidents of abuse and "extensive" cover-up that
For every wife of a deacon or priest, this one’s for you
I stumbled on this yesterday and it's beautiful: a scene showing an encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter's wife from
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/23/21
Pope: Evangelization requires us to follow unexpected paths (Vatican News) Pope Francis began a new cycle of catechesis at the
Ad multos annos: One of the first deacons in the U.S. marks 50 years
Members of the first class of permanent deacons and their wives stand outside the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Worcester
From the diocesan website: Family and friends celebrated with the three husbands and fathers whom Bishop McManus ordained permanent deacons
WATCH: St. Thomas More’s final moments in ‘A Man for All Seasons’
This is the great saint's feast day. His story remains a stirring and challenging call to conscience for all of
Two Catholic churches torched in Canada
From The Vancouver Sun: Two Catholic churches on Indigenous land in the southern Okanagan were destroyed by fire early Monday,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/22/21
White House: Biden's faith is not 'political' (POLITICO) White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that President Joe
Did the bishops’ vote signal a ‘referendum’ on Biden?
Maybe not, says John Allen in Crux: In a seemingly dramatic decision this week, three-quarters of America’s bishops voted to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/21/21
Catholic bishops advance controversial communion plan (The New York Times) The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States, flouting a
Full text: Pope Francis’s address to Permanent Deacons of Rome
"It is sad to see a bishop and a priest showing off, but it is even sadder to see a
For Father’s Day: the things we carry
We inevitably carry parts of our fathers with us wherever we go. Pictured here is an Elgin pocket watch that
Jersey Boy
I'm headed to a parish in Edison, New Jersey this afternoon, where I'll be preaching a short men's retreat on
WSJ: China may lift all birth restrictions by 2025
Details: Chinese officials are drawing up plans to further loosen birth restrictions and transition toward policies that explicitly encourage childbirth,
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Philadelphia
Details from Catholic Philly: Nine men were ordained to the permanent diaconate Saturday, June 12 on what Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/18/21
Pope Francis champions workers' right to unionize (AP) Pope Francis is championing the right of all workers to unionize, as
BREAKING: SCOTUS backs Catholic Social Services in religious freedom case
From The New York Times: The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that Philadelphia may not bar a Catholic agency that refused
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/17/21
Rift on Communion policy as US bishops begin meeting (AP) Divisions flared quickly on Wednesday as U.S. Catholic bishops opened
Nuncio: ‘Holy Communion is not merely a thing to be received but Christ Himself, a Person to be encountered’
Powerful, beautiful words today from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, speaking to the USCCB's virtual meeting:
NY Times: Why American women are delaying motherhood
This article paints a rosy picture of women having more freedom, more opportunities, more choices. They can do things previous
Boehner on Biden: ‘He’s a good Catholic’
From NCR: In his new memoir, On the House, chronicling his 40 years in public service, former Speaker of the House John
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/16/21
Pope: Hope comes from noticing God in small things (CNS) For those who learn to look carefully, the world is
Father follows son into Holy Orders as a deacon
“We have ‘Father-Father’ quality time, and I’m ‘Father-Son,’ while he’s ‘Deacon-Dad.’” Here's a beautiful Father's Day story for you, via
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/15/21
Vatican warns bishops: Don't deny Biden communion over abortion (The New York Times) The Vatican has warned conservative American bishops
The Biden-Francis meeting that wasn’t
Evidently, Catholic News Agency's reporting on this non-event left something to be desired. (See the NCR update below.) Details from
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/14/21
What will the bishops be considering when they meet? (CNA) While some activists claim that the U.S. bishops will be
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Gary
Details: On Friday, June 4, Michael Cummings volunteered on the serving line at SS. Monica & Luke Soup Kitchen. The
Court clears way for mock nativity display in Texas
From CNA: After a six-year court battle, a secular group will be permitted to install a “Bill of Rights Nativity
RIP: Deacon Joe Alvarez dies at 102
From his online obit, a brief summary of the remarkable life of Deacon Joseph Ventura Alvarez, from San Jose, California,
Deacon candidates live on the streets as part of their formation
From the Knights of Columbus magazine Columbia: No food. No money. No phone. A group of 26 men — including
Saints alive: Check out this creative way to evangelize
From the Catholic Star Herald in the Diocese of Camden: For three Wednesday evenings this summer, beginning next week, the
For the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart: ‘You are his hands’
"It is sometimes thought that devotion to the Sacred Heart can be rather individualistic — nothing but a personal relationship
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/11/21
Vatican imposes term limits for leaders of ecclesial movements (CNA) The Vatican issued a decree Friday setting limits on the
Read: Letter from Pope Francis rejecting Cardinal Marx’s resignation
The text from the Holy See, translated from Spanish: Dear brother, First of all thank you for your courage. It is
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/10/21
Pope Francis rejects Cardinal Marx's resignation (Vatican News) Pope Francis turned down the resignation of Cardinal Reinhard Marx as Archbishop
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Erie
Details: “I did recognize a deep sense of peace. Just that God was with me.” So said newly ordained Deacon
Must-read: The socialite who became a Carmelite
What a life! From The Chicago Sun-Times: All members of the Discalced Carmelite order of nuns leave worldly things behind
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/9/21
Retired nun to plead guilty to embezzling more than $835K(KTLA) A retired nun who worked as a principal of a
‘Lord, shed upon our darkened souls the brilliant light of your wisdom…’
Today marks the feast of the great deacon, St. Ephrem. (Read more about him here.) Part of a sermon of
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Sioux City
A grateful diaconal bow to my friend, the shiny new DEACON David Le Mar, who sent these images from last
The ministry of asking questions
This is superb, via Blake Glosson in The Gospel Coalition: Think about people who make you feel loved. What about
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/8/21
Supporters raise $640k for Father Altman (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) The Rev. James Altman calls himself “a lowly priest” serving a
Pope to young priests: ‘The superman priests end up badly, all of them’
“The priest is a man who, in the light of the Gospel, spreads the taste of God around him and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/7/21
Pope voices 'pain' over deaths in Canada (AP) Pope Francis on Sunday expressed his pain over the discovery in Canada
Pope Francis: ‘The church must be a large room’
From his message on Corpus Christi: Pope Francis said Sunday that we need to “enlarge our hearts” to truly appreciate
Ordination update: 18 new deacons for San Antonio
H/T to Roger Macias, Jr., for sending this my way! The new deacons were ordained Saturday by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller:
Eucharistic adoration growing in popularity among young Catholics
Just in time for Corpus Christi comes this piece in America: Eucharistic adoration—a practice with roots in the medieval church—is
Survey: Most Americans favor the death penalty
From Pew: The use of the death penalty is gradually disappearing in the United States. Last year, in part because
‘Behold the Lamb of God’: Homily for June 6, 2021, Corpus Christi
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to take what I still consider the trip of a lifetime: I
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/4/21
Cardinal Marx offers resignation (Reuters) One of Roman Catholicism’s most influential liberal figures, Germany’s Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has offered to
BREAKING: Cardinal Marx offers to resign
From Reuters: One of Roman Catholicism's most influential liberal figures, Germany's Cardinal Reinhard Marx, has offered to resign as archbishop
On parish mergers: “What has been ‘normal’ is not working”
A fascinating discussion here: Word on Fire's Bobby Angel interviews Father Jonathan Meyer of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. His background:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/3/21
Pope appoints new nuncio to Israel and Cyprus (Vatican News) On the day the Vatican celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus
At the name of Jesus: Valedictorian will be able to mention her faith after all
Some news out of Michigan: A Michigan high school valedictorian will be allowed to reference her Christian faith in her
Snapshot: Portrait of the Permanent Diaconate
Details: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has shared the results of
Has the pope just closed the door on women deacons in Germany?
From Ed Condon in The Pillar: On Tuesday morning, Pope Francis promulgated a revised Book VI of the Code of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/2/21
Why could Boris Johnson marry in a Catholic church? (The New York Times) The question bubbling in Catholic circles: How
Canon law revised to criminalize abuse of adults
From AP: Pope Francis has changed church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by priests who abuse
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/1/21
Ex-priest dies just before facing charges in killing of altar boy (The New York Times) On May 21, prosecutors and
Survey: Religiosity helped people during COVID pandemic
From CNS: The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on participation in religious services just as it did on workplaces, but
Crisis magazine: Charges against Father Rutler dropped
On Friday, Crisis magazine posted the following tweet: So far, there has been no official statement or comment from Father
Ordination update: 10 new deacons for Brooklyn
A great day in Brooklyn! Details: Serving God is a tradition in Michael Chirichella’s family — there are five priests in
Heroic priest who survived El Salvador violence could not survive COVID
From CNS: A swath of shrink wrap held the priest’s cassock tight to the coffin as the four men, in
‘It all comes down to Trinity’: homily thoughts for Trinity Sunday
From an early homily of mine (2008) on Trinity Sunday... + Periodically, people ask me, “What is your favorite part
Letter to a new deacon
I first posted this almost a decade ago, on my Patheos blog, but I stumbled across it today while doing
Pope Francis orders apostolic visitation of Cologne archdiocese
Details: Pope Francis has ordered an apostolic visitation of Germany’s Cologne archdiocese amid fierce criticism of its handling of abuse
The word Biden won’t say
"He's very, very Catholic, but when it comes to being political, he’s much more pragmatic than Catholic.” The New York
Pope Francis names successor for Cardinal Sarah in liturgy office
From NCR: Pope Francis on May 27 named a relatively low-profile British prelate to replace Cardinal Robert Sarah as the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/27/21
Low-key British archbishop will succeed Cardinal Sarah in liturgy office (NCR) Pope Francis on May 27 named a relatively low-profile
‘I was terrified’: Oakland bishop reveals he was robbed at gunpoint
Details: A Catholic bishop used his time on the pulpit Sunday to tell his Oakland parishioners that he was robbed
A question of Communion: What’s on the bishops’ agenda next month
Details from CNS: After receiving an unprecedented letter from 67 bishops appealing for a delay in a discussion during the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/26/21
U.S. bishops expected to vote on communion question (The Washington Post) U.S. Catholic bishops next month are expected to take
Diocese of La Crosse statement on Father James Altman
The following was released late Monday and posted on the diocesan website: Diocesan Statement Regarding Father James Altman Fr. James
‘The priest becomes a bridge between man and God…’
I stumbled on this the other day. In this season of ordinations (and ordination anniversaries), it's a beautiful reminder of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/25/21
Pope Francis hints at changes in Roman curia (CNA) Multiple sources have told CNA that Pope Francis told the Italian
Archdiocese of Chicago reinstates Father Michael Pfleger
From CNN: The Rev. Michael Pfleger, the senior pastor of the St. Sabina parish in Chicago, will be reinstated to
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Green Bay
Packin' em in! Details, from the Diocese of Green Bay's Facebook page (and The Compass): Seven men were ordained to
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Sioux Falls
I just received this email from Deacon Roger Heidt: On Saturday, May 15, 2021, Bishop Donald DeGrood ordained 5 men
Bishop asks Father Altman to resign; priest vows fight — UPDATED
The controversial priest made the announcement during his homily yesterday: The leader of the Diocese of La Crosse has asked
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/24/21
San Bernardino priests unable to return to U.S. from India (Orange County Register) Two priests from the Diocese of San
May 24, 1986
A Prayer for My Marriage Lord, as I go about my ministry and seek to live out this beautiful vocation,
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Buffalo
And New York's ordination season keeps rolling along! From the Diocese of Buffalo Facebook page comes the happy news that
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Albany
The press release: Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger will ordain four permanent deacons and one transitional deacon for the Diocese of
Pope Francis: ‘We are called to become paracletes’
"Let us remember that closeness, compassion and tenderness are God’s 'trademark,' always. The Paraclete is telling the Church that today
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Rockville Centre
Bishop John Barres ordained the men Saturday at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. The diocesan Facebook page has some
Rejoice! Our choir returns, with a perfect hymn for this moment
After 14 long months, members of our parish choir will be back in the loft this Sunday, singing! With COVID
‘It never entered my imagination that the last five years would be like this…’
Mike Lewis shares his sorrow and memories following the death of his sister — a beautiful, heart-wrenching essay about love
Biden skips Notre Dame commencement, citing scheduling conflict
Details: The University of Notre Dame's 2021 commencement is set for Sunday, but President Biden will reportedly be absent from the event.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/20/21
Catholic priest among those kidnapped in Nigeria (CNA) A Catholic priest serving in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna archdiocese is among 11
Texas governor signs bill effectively banning most abortions in his state
Details: Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Wednesday legislation that prohibits abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, effectively banning most abortions
‘The reasons my kids aren’t Catholic…’
Here's something to provoke thought and prayer, from the blog Catholic-Conversations. This mother, Claire, describes herself: I'm a Catholic "lifer."
A Prayer for Newly Ordained Deacons
Fourteen years ago, May 19, 2007, I was one of those walking into the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual
You will be found: first trailer for movie of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’
Those of us who fell in love with this musical, its music and its message can look forward to the
The bookstore is open
The great web designer John Flynn at Kickstart Media is making some small updates and improvements to The Bench —
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/18/21
Hong Kong's new bishop wants plurality respected (AP) Hong Kong’s incoming Roman Catholic bishop Stephen Chow called for respect for
Photo: A bishop receives a blessing from a deacon
Here's something you don't see very often. H/T to my Facebook friend John Rudd, who sent this my way. A
Bishop Stika: ‘I’ve got nothing to hide’
An exclusive, from The Pillar: Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, sidelined an investigator appointed to scrutinize allegations of sexual
BREAKING: Supreme Court to hear major abortion case challenging Roe v. Wade
From The New York Times: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear a case from Mississippi challenging Roe v.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/17/21
Pope Francis laments children's deaths in Israel-Gaza conflict (CNA) Pope Francis made an impassioned appeal Sunday for an end to
Ordination update: After battling COVID, a ‘junior deacon’ for Rockford
Deacon Robert Collins shared this happy news: Meet the newest Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Rockford: Deacon Stu Dobson.
Lord, have mercy: COVID is killing four priests a day in India
"This initial list is very alarming as we have only some 30,000 Catholic priests and if four die daily, it
‘What we’ve lost in rejecting the Sabbath’
A friend just called this to my attention: an essay that appeared in The Wall Street Journal last week, adapted
Well, look who’s in The New York Times!
"The concept is to intentionally think about your own death every day, as a means of appreciating the present and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/14/21
Pelosi on Communion: 'I can use my own judgment' (Fox News) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed Catholic bishops who do not believe she
Pelosi on Communion debate: ‘I can make my own judgment on that’
Details: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday said she was “pleased” with the Vatican’s recent letter to U.S. bishops
40 years ago today
On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in St. Peter's Square: The Pope was shot and wounded
Shock: Seminarian killed in New York City hit-and-run
Details: A seminarian studying to be a priest was killed while crossing the street in New York City earlier this
Looking at the skies? Look around instead: Homily for The Ascension of the Lord
Working in the church, I’ve met some amazing men and women. There are even some I would call living saints.
North Carolina senate approves ‘born alive’ abortion measure
From the AP: North Carolina’s Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would require doctors to provide the same duty of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/12/21
Catholic victims shot by British troops in 1971 were 'entirely innocent' (CNS) A coroner in Northern Ireland has ruled that
Indiana court dismisses lawsuit of ex-high school teacher fired over same-sex marriage
From CNS: An Indiana trial court May 7 dismissed the lawsuit of a former Catholic high school teacher in Indianapolis
Pope Francis establishes new lay Ministry of Catechist
From CNA: Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter Tuesday formally instituting the new lay ministry of catechist. The Vatican released
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/11/21
Pope Francis establishes new lay ministry: catechist (CNA) Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter Tuesday formally instituting the new lay
Cardinal at CDF cautions U.S. bishops on politicians and Communion
'The discussion would best be framed within the broad context of worthiness for the reception of holy Communion on the
‘It’s time to come home, to be who we were meant to be’
Bishops and pastors, take note. My friend Bishop Frank Caggiano from the Diocese of Bridgeport posted the video below on
‘Catholic schools are losing students at a record rate’
Details, from The Wall Street Journal: Catholic schools across the country are struggling to keep the doors open, after a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/10/21
Italian judge killed by mafia on the road to sainthood (Reuters) Italian judge Rosario Livatino, who was killed by the
Ordination update: 22 new deacons for Chicago
The press release, from the Archdiocese: Twenty-two permanent and transitional Catholic deacons will be ordained at 10 a.m. and 2
Happy Mother’s Day, from Fulton Sheen
"In a mother two of the great spiritual laws are united into one: love of neighbor and co-operation with God’s
Bloom where you’re planted: the beautiful ‘flower ministry’ at a parish in Canada
This is wonderful, via B.C. Catholic: When Jane Lee uprooted her life in Hong Kong to move to Vancouver two
Survey: 59% of Americans say abortion should be legal
From Pew: Today, a 59% majority of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/7/21
Catholic official praises move to waive vaccine patents (CNS) The Biden administration’s May 5 announcement that it supports waiving intellectual
Ramadan in a Catholic church?
“This pandemic has taught us a lot. Pain and difficulties open doors.” Sort of. It's happening in Spain: At sunset,
RIP, Bob Abernethy of ‘Religion & Ethics Newsweekly’
He hosted one of the best and most enduring television programs on religion, and employed some superb former network news
Pope Francis on inclusion and an ever wider ‘we’
Details: Setting the scene for the message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis explained that in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/6/21
Pope Francis to issue motu proprio on ministry of catechists (CNA) Pope Francis will issue an apostolic letter next week
Mark Wahlberg’s next film: the story of Father Stuart Long, co-starring Mel Gibson
The Catholic actor has been getting attention lately for his dramatic weight gain — and it's reportedly for a film
The deacon who’s fighting child sex abuse in France
From La Croix (subscription required): François Debelle sits behind his desk with outstretched hands, palms face-up. "Christianity does not solve
Rise up: Deacons, here’s another great online retreat for you
This comes from my friend Silas Henderson — Deacon Silas Henderson! — with the Jordan Ministry Team, and it's another
Facing death, priest turns farewell into a teachable moment for seminarians
“In case I die, I have a few words for the future: It’s a good future.” From The Catholic News
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/5/21
Catholic leaders praise Biden decision to raise refugee cap (Crux) After President Joe Biden raised the refugee admissions cap to
Pope pens message to altar servers: ‘Don’t fall into mediocrity’
It strikes me that the counsel he offers here could be applied to all who serve at the altar —including
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/4/21
Costa Rica priest sings public health message (AP) A Roman Catholic priest better known for his outreach to the poor
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 5/3/21
"The optics are bad on this": Bishop Stika accepted accused deacon for ministry (The Pillar) The Bishop of Knoxville accepted
The new owner of the church? A former altar boy
From Akron: The pews are empty but the old church is full of memories. Joe Breiding’s footsteps echoed as he
Archbishop Cordileone releases pastoral letter on abortion, Catholics in public life and Communion
From CNA: The Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore J. Cordileone, released on May 1, 2021 a pastoral letter about the worthiness required
Pope adds new invocations to the Litany of St. Joseph
This was just announced today, on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker: On the 150 th anniversary of the proclamation
On the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker: A Prayer for the Unemployed
Share this with someone you know who may need it: Dear Saint Joseph, you were yourself once faced with the
Joe Biden gets a new bishop — UPDATED
The Vatican today announced two new bishops for dioceses in the United States. From the Vatican bulletin: Resignation and appointment
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/29/21
India's COVID deaths soar past 200,000 (Vatican News) India’s death toll from Covid-19 crossed the grim landmark of 200,000 cases
Bishops plan to vote on tough statement about Biden and communion
"How can he say he’s a devout Catholic and he’s doing these things that are contrary to the church’s teaching?”
Pope ousts leadership of diocese in Ecuador
This is something exceptional, via AP: Pope Francis responded Wednesday to reports of poor governance and moral failings in the
It’s here: ‘A Deacon Prays’
I'm pleased to share this happy news: my new book of devotions and prayers, "A Deacon Prays," is finally in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/28/21
Biden White House dismisses concerns about fetal tissue research (National Review) White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Tuesday dismissed Catholic
Priest reportedly labels COVID a ‘hoax,’ suggests those who receive vaccine are ‘guinea pigs’
Details: A local priest whose public condemnation of Democrats as “Godless hypocrites” sparked both outcry and defense last fall has now
Pope praying for Bishop-elect who was attacked by gunmen
Details: Unknown armed men have shot and wounded the Bishop-elect of South Sudan’s Rumbek Catholic Diocese. The Italian-born Fr. Christian
Catholicism in the trailer for Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’
This is going to be something to see. Last night, during the Oscars, the first trailer for Steven Spielberg's "West
The nun who has become one of Europe’s outspoken vaccine skeptics
“It’s always important that criticism is possible, to have dissenting voices." From The New York Times: Sister Teresa Forcades came
How the pope will mark his name-day — UPDATED
From the Vatican: The Office of the Papal Almoner released a statement on Thursday connecting the feast of St. George—Jorge
Vatican dedicates May to global rosary ‘marathon’ to fight COVID
Details: The Vatican has announced a rosary initiative dedicating the month of May to prayer for an end to the
New commemorative Euro honors ‘First Irish-Catholic President’
The press release: 60 years ago, John Fitzgerald Kennedy did what many said couldn't be done: be sworn in as President of the
Listen: My conversation with Bishop Frank Caggiano
Thanks to the bishop and the good folks of the Diocese of Bridgeport — I'm looking at you, John Grosso
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/21/21
Catholic leaders react to Chauvin verdict (America) “The verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin is a sobering moment for
Who are the ‘nones’? They’re more diverse than you may think.
A new survey offers fresh insight into this group of religiously unaffiliated Americans: Only 60 percent of Americans who consider
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/20/21
Church urges Biden to accept more refugees (Business Insider) Bishop Mario Dorsonville, head of the US Conference on Catholic Bishops'
When a host fell on the floor during Mass …
Scott Hahn posted this on Facebook today, from the page of Allan F. Wright, who describes what happened when a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/19/21
Descendants challenge Jesuits on slave deal (The New York Times) Last month, the Jesuit conference of priests announced its plan
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/16/21
Poland health leader not concerned about church objections to vaccine (AP) Poland’s top vaccination official said Thursday he did not
Defiance: German Catholic leaders support planned ‘blessing service’ for same-sex couples
Details: Continuing to openly challenge the Vatican, several Catholic leaders in Germany are openly supporting the blessing of same-sex couples,
‘My diaconal vocation is never far from my thoughts…’
I'm delighted to see my friends Deacon Ernie Hart and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers appearing in the pages of Our Sunday
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/15/21
Brooklyn's Kieran Harrington to head Pontifical Mission Societies (The Tablet) Msgr. Kieran Harrington of the Diocese of Brooklyn has been
CDF will not pursue case against Father Perrone; Detroit announces ‘disciplinary process’
The following statement was posted on the Archdiocese of Detroit website Tuesday: Close to two years ago, the Archdiocese of
Timothy Schmalz statue to be part of COVID-19 memorial
Details: In an announcement that marked the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercy Health — Youngstown and the Mercy
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/13/21
Head of New York's Regis High School fired (The New York Times) Regis High School, one of the most prominent
Head of New York’s Regis High School fired over sexual misconduct charges
From The New York Times: Regis High School, one of the most prominent Catholic schools in the country, said it
Douthat: The intelligentsia needs to find God
From The New York Times: Even if there is a resilience in American religion — especially in evangelical Christianity, still
A Catholic wedding like no other
This is one they'll be telling their children about. From Florida Catholic: They’re dedicated deputies and disciples of Jesus Christ
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/9/21
Catholic nuns face loss, pain (AP) These were women who held the hands of the dying and who raised the
Should U.S. dioceses be merged?
J.D. Flynn counts the number of sees becoming vacant, and offers a compelling argument over at The Pillar: The unique
Alabama will no longer require ‘so help me God’ in voter registration
Details: The Freedom From Religion Foundation has voluntarily dropped its federal lawsuit against Alabama after the state amended its voter registration form
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/8/21
Pope Francis names new bishop of Duluth (USCCB) Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Daniel J. Felton as Bishop of Duluth.
‘It’s time to get back to Mass!’
New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan weighs in: One of our fine pastors gave me this incident. He stopped at the
‘Hear, Holy Mother’ and other hymns inspired by COVID
From Religion Unplugged: Rae Whitney has written more than 500 hymns in her 94 years, songs full of praise and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/7/21
Theologian Hans Küng dies (The New York Times) Hans Küng, a Roman Catholic theologian and priest whose brilliantly disputatious, lucidly
Something beautiful for this season: ‘Like a River in My Soul’
They gave us goosebumps with "Let There Be Peace on Earth" at Christmastime, and here they are again. The sensationally
Gänswein: Benedict did not expect to live this long
“When he resigned in the spring of 2013, it seemed to him and to me—I can confess it here—that he
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 4/6/21
A winning streak for religion at SCOTUS (The New York Times) “For many today, religious liberty is not a cherished
An Easter gift for us all: A stirring rendition of a great hymn
This is wonderful. I'm a little late posting this — it was a busy deacon day — but I think
Biden’s taped Easter message cites Gospel of John and Pope Francis
This brief video was released Sunday, featuring President Biden and the First Lady. Beyond the usual warm wishes, it also
WATCH: Police shut down ‘unlawful’ Good Friday service over COVID
From Reuters: A Roman Catholic church in London said on Saturday it would complain to the police after officers shut down
A Prayer Before Chanting the Exsultet
Father of wonder and miracles: This is the night. Tonight, your Church announces the scattering of darkness, the hope of
For Holy Saturday: ‘The Holy Virgin in Old Age’
A haunting image from one of my favorite artists, James Tissot. About the artist: Tissot was a French painter and illustrator.
Cross purposes: Seminary installs solar farm in shape of a cross
Details: From their plane windows, people traveling to and from Chicago may notice the shape of a cross in a
‘The Way of the Cross is part of everyone’s story’
The life of a deacon: Thursday night, as I was putting on my coat after the Mass of the Lord's
Pope celebrates Holy Thursday Mass with cardinal he fired
From Crux: In a surprise move, Pope Francis on Holy Thursday celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper – one
The greatest becomes the least: Homily for April 1, 2021, Mass of the Lord’s Supper
If you head up to Westchester, to the town of Hawthorn, you’ll find a cemetery where there are buried a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/31/21
Pew survey looks at Catholic views on Biden and Communion (Pew Research) Among U.S. Catholic adults overall, 67% say Biden
Pope’s advice to priests: ‘We need to have the look of tenderness’
From Pope Francis's remarks to the Mexican Pontifical College yesterday: Above all, we need to have the look of tenderness with which
Gallup: Catholic church membership plummets
Details: The percentage of Catholics who say they are a “member” of a church has dropped by nearly 20 points
Nike sues over ‘Satan shoes,’ made with human blood
It doesn't seem to be much more than a twisted publicity stunt, but it's hard to brush it off when
Cardinal Schönborn: Vatican ruling on same-sex blessings undermined by ‘communications error’
“I wasn’t happy -- neither about the timing nor about the way in which communication was being made." From CNA:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/30/21
Report: Catholic membership has dropped 20% since 2000 (CNA) The percentage of Catholics who say they are a “member” of
Funeral for Officer Eric Talley, slain in Boulder mass shooting
Details from CNA: A funeral Mass was held Monday in Denver for Officer Eric Talley, a Catholic father of seven
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/29/21
California woman sentenced to prison for threats made toward Catholic school (AP) A California woman who threatened to bomb a
Terror: Indonesian Catholic cathedral attacked on Palm Sunday
From The New York Times: An explosion shook a Roman Catholic cathedral compound in the eastern Indonesian city of Makassar
Boom: Number of permanent deacons worldwide continues to grow
This comes from the Vatican, via CNS: The number of Catholics and permanent deacons in the world has shown steady
Faith and science: Life at a Trappist monastery during the pandemic
This popped up on the PBS NewsHour last night: a compelling look at life at one of my favorite places,
One parish’s story: ‘The pandemic really crushed this community’
From the In My Backyard Desk, here's a powerful and painful reminder of the toll the pandemic has taken in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/26/21
New Staten Island Ferry boat to be named for Dorothy Day (AMNY) A new Staten Island ferry boat will
A beloved priest’s death ignites awareness about COVID prevention
From RNS: As Luz Gallegos hosted a workshop March 18 informing agricultural workers about the COVID-19 vaccine, she held up
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/25/21
Pope Francis adds abuse survivor to papal commission (NCR) Pope Francis has added a Chilean clergy abuse survivor known for
‘How can this be?’: The defiantly countercultural message of The Annunciation
From the vault: The Annunciation is wildly, defiantly countercultural. It is rebellious. It is a challenge that is offered –
On Mary: Mother? Yes. Co-redemptrix? No.
'There are no co-redeemers with Christ. He is the only one." Pope Francis had a few words today on Mary's
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/24/21
Pope cuts salaries of Cardinals due to COVID (Vatican News) “A sustainable economic future requires today, among other decisions, adopting
Meet the Oklahoma church lady who dresses up for virtual services
This may be my favorite story of the month — maybe of the whole pandemic. God love her. From The
On the officer killed in Boulder: ‘He believed in Jesus Christ’ — UPDATED
Details about the life of Officer Eric Talley are beginning to trickle in. H was fatally shot by the gunman
‘There was light’: Words of hope from a young priest
"I’ve also seen light shining brightly in many rediscovering their faith: Notes detailing how a family learned to pray together
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/23/21
Cardinal Gregory: 'Healing of America's soul' needed to end racism (CNS) In a major address on confronting the sin of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/22/21
Pope: witness to Jesus in a life of service (Vatican News) Addressing the faithful via a live broadcast from the
Bishop: How St. Joseph helped me cope with depression, pandemic
"There are a few days in the lunar cycle when it’s impossible to see the moon with the naked eye.
Who are The Hillbilly Thomists? Watch and find out.
These guys are remarkable. When are they going to win a Grammy?? From their website: The Hillbilly Thomists are a
We are all part of God’s plan: Homily for March 21, 2021, 5th Sunday of Lent — UPDATED with video
In 2019, the New York Times did something remarkable and unexpected: it ran a series of stories about people joining
Are Catholics still participating in Mass during the pandemic?
From CARA: At CARA, we utilize our surveys and Google search term trends to estimate weekly Mass attendance. Mass attendance
Jesuit priest who celebrated Biden inauguration Mass under investigation
From AP: The Jesuit priest who presided over an inaugural Mass for President Joe Biden is under investigation for unspecified
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/19/21
Report: Cologne Catholic Church failed in handling sex abuse claims (The New York Times) A Roman Catholic archbishop in Germany
‘A lot of what we need to know can be learned from St. Joseph’
In the middle of Lent, the Church introduces a new figure into our journey: St. Joseph. This week, in a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/18/21
Ireland celebrates 'virtual' St. Patrick's Day (Vatican News) Down through the years, St Patrick’s Day celebrations have been known for
Legacy: When dad is a deacon
My pastor is one. The bishop of Richmond is one. And the saint we remember today is one. Each one
Hero: Priest who ministered to COVID patients dies of the disease at 50
Reading this news, I was reminded of St. Damien of Molokai. From Aleteia: Robert Ramirez Mayorga was 50 years old
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/17/21
Shrine to Blessed Stanley Rother comes closer to completion (KFOR) A beloved Oklahoma priest who was killed in Guatemala is
Defiance: Despite Vatican, some priests say they will continue to bless same-sex couples
From Reuters: A dissident band of Roman Catholic priests leading a disobedience campaign against the Vatican said on Tuesday they
Everything old is new again: Israel reveals newly discovered Dead Sea Scrolls
From The New York Times: Israeli researchers unveiled on Tuesday dozens of newly discovered Dead Sea Scroll fragments containing biblical
More on the Vatican’s statement about same-sex blessings
The issue, it seems, is Germany. From The Pillar: The statement from the CDF comes just days after several senior
Harry Connick, Jr’s new album of Christian and Catholic classics
“My dad is my spiritual hero. His faith is stronger than almost anyone I’ve ever met." Anyone who attended the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/16/21
Pope requests study of congregation before naming new prefect (CNS) Before Pope Francis names a new prefect for the Congregation
Jesuits pledge $100 million to benefit descendants of slaves
From The New York Times: In one of the largest efforts by an institution to atone for slavery, a prominent
A lesson in ministry — and in life — from ‘The Walking Dead’
There have been a few times over the years when "The Walking Dead" has revealed surprising spiritual and even religious
Vatican: no blessing of same-sex unions
"The Church does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex..." From
To life: Meet the the young star of all those Shriners Hospital commercials
Here's a great pro-life story, about Alec Cabacungan, probably one of the most familiar faces on American television. He's the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/15/21
Pope commemorates 500 years of Christianity in Philippines (Vatican News) Pope Francis on Sunday joined the Church in the Philippines
Seminarian describes how his vocation was influenced by his deacon grandfather
"I heard a voice saying, 'I wanted him to show you how to be a father, because I want you
A bishop’s message on vaccines: ‘It’s not a sin’
Details: The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yakima stood in a courtyard at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic on
Could we soon have a common date for Easter?
This idea is back in the news — and it may come as early as 2025: The president of the
‘Stupendous’: You won’t believe your eyes. Really.
This video has become a sensation, and with good reason. From Reuters: A single-take video shot with a drone flying
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/12/21
Pope to give Knock Shrine new status (CNA) Pope Francis will officially designate Knock Shrine in Ireland as an international
Call me what you want, just don’t call me late for dinner
A few thoughts on formality, informality, and clerical titles from Deacon James H. Toner in Crisis: In the past few
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/11/21
Parishes facing a precarious post-pandemic world (NCR) A survey commissioned last fall by the Catholic Extension, which works to support Catholic
A new home or a big wedding: Why is that even a difficult choice?
A new reality series evidently thinks this is the stuff of high drama: It’s a topic sure to grind any
Eternal rest: Scranton’s Rev. Scott Pilarz dies after battle with ALS
Details: Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J. ’H15, President of The University of Scranton, passed away Wednesday, March 10, in Scranton
Chi-Town shutdown: Chicago merging more parishes
From the Chicago Tribune: Several South Side and south suburban Catholic parishes will consolidate this summer, the Archdiocese of Chicago
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/10/21
Marking the first anniversary of pope's lockdown Masses (Vatican News) On 9 March 2020, Pope Francis started to broadcast and
‘Shoot me instead’: Myanmar nun confronts police
"I knelt down... begging them not to shoot and torture the children, but to shoot me and kill me instead."
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/9/21
Pope defends Iraq trip (The New York Times) Pope Francis, lamenting that he felt like he was in “prison” under
Biden releases statement on pope’s trip to Iraq
From The White House: Iraq is a country steeped in religious and ethnic diversity. It’s also home to one of the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/8/21
Pope bids farewell to Iraq as historic visit comes to an end (Vatican News) Pope Francis on Monday left Iraq,
There are ‘strong moral reasons’ to take the vaccines: A statement from pro-life Catholic scholars
This news dropped Friday, and it deserves wider attention. As CNA reported: A statement by pro-life, Catholic scholars published Friday
‘Sometimes, the impossible happens’
Here’s something unexpected: Rachel Maddow discussing the pope’s trip to Iraq — and a future saint of the Church, Father Emil
Why that meeting with the ayatollah matters
A good analysis from Christopher Lamb in The Tablet in the U.K.: Pope Francis’ historic meeting with Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani
In Iraq: A Prayer for the Children of Abraham
A beautiful gift to the world, delivered at the birthplace of Abraham in Ur on Saturday. As Vatican News notes:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/5/21
Pope makes history, begins Apostolic Journey to Iraq (CNN) Pope Francis has landed in Iraq for a historic tour of the war-ravaged
Concern that the pope’s visit to Iraq could become a ‘superspreader’ COVID event
From The New York Times: Pope Francis has said that he has canceled trips during the pandemic because “in conscience I
Tobin joins Cupich on Vatican’s Congregation of Bishops
Details: Pope Francis March 4 named Newark Cardinal Joseph Tobin as a member of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, making
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/4/21
$20 million lawsuit filed against Catholic school for 'blackface' photo (NBC News) Two California students and their parents are suing
Veni Sancte Spiritus: Check out the beautiful white doves of the National Cathedral
My friend Deacon Clayton Nickel in the Archdiocese of Washington sent this my way. I wish I could see it
USCCB responds to concerns about morality of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
"We affirm again that being vaccinated can be an act of charity that serves the common good." This statement was
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/3/21
Pope asks for prayers ahead of historic trip to Iraq (Vatican News) Pope Francis addressed the faithful on Wednesday morning
Want to boost your brain? Read the Bible
Turns out the Good Book is good for you: Reading the Bible has had a positive effect on people’s “mental
Archdiocese: newest COVID vaccine ‘morally compromised’
Details: The Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans urged Catholics on Friday against taking a vaccine for COVID-19 manufactured by Johnson
‘Never retire’: Meet San Diego’s 102-year-old deacon
From The Southern Cross: Deacon Albert Graff, who turned 102 Jan. 23, explains the secret to his longevity in two
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 3/1/21
Chicago parish to withhold $100,000 in monthly assessments until Pfleger probe ends (Chicago Sun-Times) In a bid to put pressure
Days before papal trip, nuncio in Iraq diagnosed with COVID
Details: The apostolic nunciature in Iraq reported on Sunday, Feb. 28 that the Nuncio Mitja Leskovar, has tested positive for
Where God is revealed: Homily for February 28, 2021, 2nd Sunday of Lent
When I was six years old, my parents packed up the station wagon – a 1965 tan Plymouth Fury —
Take comfort: Even the pope suffers from ‘neurotic anxiety’ and has seen a therapist
Some details of a new interview with Pope Francis, via America: Pope Francis expects to die “as pope, either in
Bishop Strickland endorses $22 million Catholic institute, community for east Texas
This is an ambitious undertaking. National Catholic Register has the details: A grand oratory, seven Catholic institutes, a retreat center,
A deacon author more people should know: Clarence Enzler
Looking for some light and guidance during the desert days of Lent? Meet a deacon more people should know: Clarence
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/26/21
Did Biden HHS nominee sue Catholic charity over contraceptives? (The Sacramento Bee) Republicans trying to sink California Attorney General Xavier
‘Heretical’: Religious leaders condemn use of religion at 1/6 insurrection
Details: More than 500 evangelical pastors and other faith leaders have signed an open letter decrying “radicalized Christian nationalism,” arguing
Historic church, California’s oldest cathedral, may close
Details: A 167-year-old San Francisco church is reaching out to the community for financial support following a drop in its
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/25/21
Bishops: Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith (CNS) If the House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, its
Authorities charge man at Capitol riot after identifying him through his Knights of Columbus jacket
Here's a glimpse at one way the feds are putting together the puzzle pieces of 1/6 and identifying members of
Martin Gugino, activist shoved by Buffalo police, sues
Details: A man whose skull was fractured after he was shoved to the ground by police officers at a protest
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/24/21
Supreme Court to hear challenges to abortion rules (NPR) The U.S. Supreme Court said it will hear a set of
Ordination update: 23 new deacons for Galveston-Houston
It happened last Saturday at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo ordained 23 men to the Order
Jake Tapper and Cardinal Gregory pray during live interview on CNN
I can't recall seeing something like this on live television: a news anchor asking a Catholic clergyman for a prayer.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/23/21
Biden's HHS nominee supported assisted suicide (CNA) President Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) received
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/22/21
California bishop banned a priest — but that didn't keep him from ministering in Chicago (Chicago Sun-Times) While ministering in
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Arlington
“In these days both in our nation and in our commonwealth, you need to bow in service to the unborn,
Ancestor of Princess Diana and Winston Churchill moves closer to sainthood
From Reuters: Pope Francis has put a 19th century English Catholic priest who was a distant relative of Britain’s Prince
Ordination update: A brother becomes a deacon
A joyful ad multos annos to my friend Silas Henderson, whom many of you may know from the Jordan Ministry
Pope accepts Cardinal Sarah’s resignation from Divine Worship congregation
Details: Pope Francis on Saturday accepted the resignation of Cardinal Robert Sarah as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship
You know not the day nor the hour: NYC bride suddenly a widow
“He was starting to get closer to religion, closer to God. It’s like he knew this was coming.” Heartbreaking: At
Just in time for Lent: Behold, the ‘Fish Fry Pizza’
Yes, this is a thing. It's currently on the menu at a pizza place in Milwaukee, which announces: "Fish Fry"
Alex Trebek’s wardrobe donated to men who are homeless or leaving jail
This is wonderful: When beloved Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek lost his battle to pancreatic cancer last November, he left behind more than
Take and read: Pope Francis’s message to L.A. Religious Ed Congress
"You young people, be the poets of a new human beauty, a new fraternal and friendly beauty!" The Holy Father
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/19/21
Vatican projects deficit due to COVID (AP) The Vatican said Friday it expects a deficit of nearly 50 million euros
WATCH: Meet the woman who runs her parish
"I do believe this was a response to a call from God." Her name is Elizabeth Simcoe. This exceptionally good
Vatican warns its employees: refuse COVID vaccine and you could lose your job
Details: The Vatican has effectively made Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for its employees, warning those who decline to receive the shot
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/18/21
Pope Francis: for Lent, ask if life is centered on God or oneself (CNS) Lent is a time to reconsider
Vatican issues guidelines for Holy Week 2021
Details: The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued guidelines on Wednesday for the celebration
‘If you love, you want to give yourself’: Homily for Ash Wednesday 2021
At the beginning of her classic memoir, “The Long Loneliness,” Dorothy Day writes about what it is like to go
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/16/21
Catholic priests increasingly use defamation lawsuits to fight false abuse allegations (USA TODAY) As clergy abuse lawsuits proliferate across the
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Charleston
From The Catholic Miscellany: Fifteen men started a new life of ministry and service to the Church as they were
Cardinal Gregory discusses his experience with racism
"As long as I was formally dressed, I’m treated with great respect and affection. But if I take off my
USCCB disbands working group on Biden
Details: Less than three months after the formation of a controversial working group to deal with President Joe Biden, the
Catholic Kevin James and ‘family-friendly comedy that can transcend all’
The star best known for "The King of Queens" has a new show debuting this month on Netflix, and talks
Biden signs order re-establishing White House faith office
Details: President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Sunday (Feb. 14) reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and
For Valentine’s Day: The seasons of marriage
Happy Valentine's Day "When our pastor preaches about marriage, he likes to talk about the seasons of life – the
‘The priests died in quick succession’: One young priest confronts COVID and tries to save his diocese
A glimpse into the life of one young priest in Mexico, via The Los Angeles Times: The priests of Nezahualcóyotl
‘The other side of the pandemic’: life in a Catholic nursing home after everyone has been vaccinated
From The New York Times: The day had finally arrived. After nearly a year in lockdown for the residents of
Grand jury will not indict Buffalo police officers who shoved Catholic activist
Details: Martin Gugino took the long view when he heard a grand jury declined to indict two Buffalo police officers
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/12/21
Iraqi Catholics call pope's upcoming visit "a miracle" (CNS) The largest Syriac Catholic congregation in the world is preparing physically
Missionary priest nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
From CNA: A Catholic missionary priest in Madagascar known for serving the poor living on a landfill has been nominated
For Ash Wednesday: Do it yourself?
That's one way they're marking the beginning of Lent in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie in Canada: While our
Remembering Tom Konchalski, a giant in every sense
"His positive spirit was the lifeforce that bound together a complex system of players, coaches, fans, media, scouts and so
That Jeep ad: ‘Seeing the cross every now and then might be just what is needed, even if it is from a car ad’
It comes from filmmaker Manny Marquez at Word on Fire, who takes note of all the hand-wringing and garment-rending over
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/10/21
Bishop who called for council to discuss women priests resigns (CNA) Pope Francis on Monday accepted the resignation of a
Detroit archbishop announces end of dispensation, urges flock to ‘come home to hope’ in March
From Detroit Catholic: Citing the “essential and central nature of the Eucharistic Sacrifice” in the life of the Church, Archbishop
Europe’s oldest person, 116-year-old nun, survives COVID — UPDATED
Here's something remarkable: a French religious sister who is 116 years old — believed to be the second-oldest woman in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/9/21
Catholic schools in U.S. hit by unprecedented enrollment drop (AP) Enrollment in Roman Catholic schools in the United States dropped
Kansas bishop under investigation for alleged child sex abuse
Details: Kansas’ top law enforcement agency is investigating an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against Roman Catholic Bishop
Mexico census finds Catholics dwindling, Evangelicals growing
"Mothers and fathers search in the Word of God for values such as fidelity in marriage, harmony, love of children,
Liturgy alert: ‘One God’ is about to become just ‘God’
Clergy, prepare to buy a bottle of Wite-Out and get to work. This change takes effect on Ash Wednesday. The
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/8/21
Expert: AP report misrepresents Church finances (CNA) A Feb. 4 investigative story from the Associated Press inaccurately portrays “the Roman
‘I wish you didn’t have to hear all that’: Confession pops up in a Super Bowl ad
I certainly didn't expect this: a brief cameo by a penitent and a confessional in a commercial for M&Ms during
NFL star’s goal: ‘Our primary mission has always been to be a walking billboard for Christ’
We need more of this. From The Christian Post: When it comes to their private and personal lives, Saints’ Linebacker
Report: New Hampshire priest sues Michael Voris
From the New Hampshire Reporter: Judicial Vicar Rev. George de Laire filed a federal lawsuit against the far-right news outlet
California prayin’: new guidelines issued for indoor church services
From AP: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office on Saturday issued revised guidelines for indoor church services after the Supreme Court
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Atlanta
They were ordained today by Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer. They are: Orlando Caicedo Mora John Campbell Dr. Henry Obilo Ohaya David
Praying the ‘7 Sorrows of St. Joseph’
This is a real find: a devotion that may be new to a lot of us — it is to
Historic: Pope appoints first woman as Under-Secretary of Synod of Bishops
Rocco put it this way: She becomes the "1st woman to hold a bishop-level Curia post." From Vatican News: Pope
Carl Anderson to retire; Knights of Columbus board elects new Supreme Knight
A significant announcement from the K of C: The Knights of Columbus Board of Directors elected Patrick E. Kelly as
Orthodox Church under fire after baby dies after baptism
Those who have seen these rituals on YouTube know they can be extreme. Details: The Orthodox Church in Romania is facing growing
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/5/21
Nebraska priest denies he performed exorcism at Capitol on 1/6 (The Hill) Fulton told his congregation that he had left the Capitol
Remembering George McDonald, an example of the power of Catholic education
At his Catholic elementary and middle school, George ate breakfast with the priests; he later credited them with his upbringing
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/4/21
AP: Catholic dioceses amassed U.S. aid while sitting on billions (AP) As the pandemic began to unfold, scores of Catholic
Deacon forgives teens who attacked him
It happened in Memphis several days ago: A 73-year-old clergyman who was attacked and carjacked outside his Orange Mound church
Getting ready for a different kind of Ash Wednesday
The Vatican issued new guidelines for the distribution of ashes during the pandemic — you can read about them here
ABC News: Catholics clash over Biden’s faith — UPDATE
The story: On his quest to heal a divided America, Joe Biden may first have to confront bitter division over his presidency
Setting the world a-Blaise
Today is when Catholics traditionally have our throats blessed. But this year, it may be a different experience. There's this,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/3/21
As Poland's Church embraces politics, Catholics depart (Reuters) Young adults in many countries are becoming less religious, according to research
Pope Francis to deliver message at opening of L.A. Religious Ed Congress
This may be a papal first. Details: The Holy Father Pope Francis will deliver a message at the opening ceremony
Pope adds new memorials to the Church calendar
Get ready to update your breviary. From Vatican News: The Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/2/21
Pope salutes CNS on its 100th birthday (CNS) Pope Francis praised Catholic News Service for its work in supporting the
Urban lectio: Seize the snow day
The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 2/1/21
Archbishop criticizes Biden's abortion stance (CNS) The head of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities called President Joe Biden’s
Happy birthday, Thomas Merton
He was born on January 31, 1915. Some lectio for this moment: “It is only the infinite mercy and love
Pope establishes annual day to honor grandparents, the elderly
From Reuters: Pope Francis on Sunday instituted a “World day for Grandparents and the Elderly” in the Roman Catholic Church
Nebraska priest at 1/6 rally performed exorcism at Capitol
From the Omaha World-Herald: A Nebraska priest who was in Washington, D.C., at a Jan. 6 rally in support of
‘What have you to do with us, Jesus?’: Homily for January 31, 2021, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” What a question! And what a challenge. These are the
Pope Francis on Vatican II: ‘The Council is the Magisterium of the Church’
"Either you are with the Church and therefore you follow the Council, or you interpret it in your own way,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/29/21
Cardinal says pope will meet Shiite leader in Iraq (CNS) Cardinal Louis Sako, the Baghdad-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic
Bishops: ‘It is grievous that one of President Biden’s first acts promotes the destruction of human lives’
From the USCCB today: Today, President Joe Biden signed an executive order allowing U.S. taxpayer funds to be sent to
Wisconsin bishop speaks out against clergy being ‘overtly political’
"Get off social media and get in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Stop watching so much news and start reading
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/28/21
Pew: One third of Catholics say faith was strengthened during pandemic (NCR) More than a third of U.S. Catholics say
‘He devoted his life to trying to make the world a better place’: Street in Queens co-named for a deacon
From the In My Backyard Desk (h/t to Deacon John Giglio), some news about one of my deacon classmates who
‘It irritates me a little when I hear Christians recite verses from the Bible like parrots…’
Pope Francis, from today's General Audience: Through prayer a new incarnation of the Word takes place. And we are the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/27/21
Pope Francis attends funeral of his personal doctor (Vatican News) Pope Francis on Tuesday attended the funeral of his personal
Vatican clears retired bishop of abuse charges, but issues rebuke for ‘flagrant lack of prudence’
Details: The Vatican’s doctrinal congregation has exonerated retired Bishop Joseph Hart of Cheyenne over numerous accusations of the sexual abuse
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/26/21
Cardinal celebrates funeral of homeless man who died near the Vatican (Vatican News) The Papal Almoner, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski pays
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/25/21
In L.A., Catholic cemeteries to offer contactless options (LA Daily News) The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has announced that its
Biden attends first Mass as president
From CNN: President Joe Biden attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighborhood, his first time attending Sunday
Shock: Surge in student suicides during the pandemic
This is something more parents need to be aware of, via The New York Times: The reminders of pandemic-driven suffering
Ross Douthat on ‘Joe Biden’s Catholic moment’
The conservative Catholic columnist for The New York Times has some thoughts on how the new president represents and defines
U.S. bishops call Biden statement on Roe v. Wade ‘deeply disturbing and tragic’
President Biden and Vice President Harris issued a statement on Friday, commemorating the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, noting,
‘The Gospels as news stories’: Pope Francis’s Message for World Communications Day
The Holy Father released his annual message for the day as is customary — on January 24, the feast of
WATCH: Pro-abortion protest disrupts Mass at cathedral
From The Columbus Dispatch: About eight reproductive rights activists stormed into St. Joseph Cathedral Downtown on Friday morning during its Respect Life Mass. The
Hank Aaron’s Catholicism
Hank Aaron was known to frequently read Thomas a Kempis' 'The Imitation of Christ,' which he kept in his locker.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/22/21
Former Vatican banker convicted of money laundering, embezzlement (The New York Times) A Vatican court on Thursday convicted a former
Cesar Chavez finds a place in the White House
Many people yesterday noticed the bust of the late Latino activist Cesar Chavez behind Joe Biden's desk in the Oval
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/21/21
Cardinal Cupich criticizes USCCB statement on Biden (CNA) Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, used Twitter to issue a scathing
Pope Francis sends message to President Biden
The text: The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President of the United States of America The White House Washington, DC On
Take and read: The homily Joe Biden heard at Mass this morning
From Religion News Service, here's part of the homily delivered by Father Kevin O'Brien, president of Santa Clara University, at
A prayer for today: St. John Paul’s Prayer to Mary for America in 1979
"At a time when the struggle between good and evil, between evangelical love and the prince of darkness and father
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/20/21
Biden readies sweeping rollback of Trump-era abortion restrictions (NBC News) President-elect Joe Biden is poised to roll back several of
Cardinal Wilton Gregory’s prayer at the COVID-19 Memorial Service
"Our sorrow unites us to one another as a single people with compassionate hearts." From the Catholic Standard, newspaper of
Religious events surround the Inaugural — including morning Mass on Wednesday
From The Washington Post: The Rev. William J. Barber II, a fiery North Carolina preacher and anti-poverty crusader, will deliver
‘Quo vadis, America?’
"Setting aside timidity and fear of giving offense, the Catholic Church should serve as a conscience for the nation." Russell
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/19/21
Catholic priest in Nigeria kidnapped, killed (CNA) The body of a Catholic priest was discovered in Nigeria on Saturday, a
Cardinal Gregory to deliver invocation at COVID memorial service Tuesday
From The Catholic Standard: Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, will deliver the Invocation at a Jan. 19 memorial
Look who got his own MLK Atlanta Hawks jersey …
Details: Pope Francis now has his own special edition Atlanta Hawks basketball jersey, celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
Deacon on latest execution: ‘We are better than this’
From CNS: The Supreme Court Jan. 14 cleared the path for the federal government to execute Corey Johnson after denying
Fixing what is broken: Homily for January 17, 2021, 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Of all the stunning images we have seen over the last 10 days, there is one picture that stands out
Wherein Fr. Z announces ‘it is time to make some moves’ — UPDATED
One of the most familiar clerical initials in Catholic blogging, Fr. Z — John Zuhlsdorf — had some important news
North Dakota bill would compel priests to violate seal of confession in abuse cases
"It would infringe upon a person’s privacy and religious counseling and confession, not just for Catholics, but for everyone.” From
Buffalo’s new bishop: ‘I pledge to listen, to comfort, to understand…’
H/T to Greg Tucker, Communications Director of the Diocese of Buffalo, who sent this my way. Buffalo today got a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/15/21
New bishop: healing a top priority in Buffalo (CNS) Nobody said it was going to be easy in being placed
Reversal: University will not honor Father Frank Pavone
"We are very sorry for the misunderstandings and objections this situation caused." One week after announcing plans to give the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/14/21
Francis and Benedict receive COVID vaccine (Vatican News) The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in the Vatican which began on Wednesday
Bishop welcomes change on instituted acolytes and lectors, plans to implement it ‘as soon as possible’
To my knowledge, this is the first bishop who has announced plans to move forward with the modifications to canon
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/13/21
Irish Catholic Church issues apology survivors of Church-run homes (Reuters) The head of the Irish Catholic Church unreservedly apologized to
Retired firefighter, set to be ordained a deacon this year, dies from COVID
"Ruben's happiest times were praising God, doing God's work and anything having to do with church." Details from the El
Vatican issues guidelines for Ash Wednesday 2021
It sounds like those big blotches on the brow are going to be absent this year, according to this report:
Diners, drive-ins, dives — and a deacon!
This is pretty great, from Alexandra Greeley in the National Catholic Register: A resident of Boise, Idaho, Chef Lou Aaron
How the House’s new chaplain ministered to others as the Capitol was attacked
This opens a window into a side of Wednesday's events we haven't heard before, telling how the newly installed chaplain
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/12/21
Xavier University announces first female president (AP) A Catholic university in Cincinnati will appoint the first woman to lead the
From Capitol Hill, the ‘American Novena’
This was mentioned on social media yesterday: a novena from St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Washington, DC, on Second Street
Yes, lay people are already being installed as instituted Lectors and Acolytes
A few people, including some clergy, have expressed dismay or even shock that men (and soon, women) who are not
Father Frank Pavone to be honored in Rome for ‘service in promotion of a culture of life’
The announcement: The Faculty of Bioethics of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum will grant the Una vita per la vita (A
In motu proprio, Pope establishes that ministries of Lector and Acolyte are open to women
The roles were once considered “minor orders” in the tradition of the Church Details from Vatican News: With a Motu
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/11/21
Pope calls coronavirus vaccine an ethical obligation (The New York Times) Pope Francis said he would be vaccinated against the
‘O God, forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be…’
"O thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being. We
In Angelus, Pope appeals for Americans to protect democracy
From Vatican News: Pope Francis extended his “loving greeting” to the people of the United States of America whom, he
Pope offers first comments on U.S. Capitol assault
From Vatican News: Pope Francis says the unfolding of events on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 6 January “came
Jesuit priest to deliver invocation at Biden inaugural
From CNS: Jesuit Father Leo O'Donovan, former president of Georgetown University, will deliver the invocation at the presidential inauguration of
Did you hear about Gwen Stefani’s annulment?
“Gwen’s religion has always been extremely important to her, and Blake is completely supportive of this.” Welcome to a special
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/7/21
Statement of Cardinal Gregory on Capitol protests (Archdiocese of Washington) Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, issued the following statement
Nancy Pelosi invokes Feast of Epiphany in statement on ‘this instigation of violence’ at Capitol
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the following message to her colleagues, indicating that they will return to work later tonight:
Pray for our country, pray for peace
O God, Creator of the universe, who extends your paternal concern over every creature and guides the events of history
The Deacon’s Mic: When a deacon’s daughter dies by suicide
For this new edition of The Deacon's Mic, I'm honored to talk with Deacon Ed Shoener, from the Diocese of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/6/21
Father Pfleger removed from Chicago parish over 40-year old sex abuse allegation (Chicago Tribune) The longtime pastor of the city’s
Chicago’s Father Michael Pfleger accused
The renowned and controversial pastor of St. Sabina's in Chicago has stepped aside while an investigation goes forward. The following
Deacons, check out this workshop: ‘Fratelli Tutti and the Ministry of Service’
From my friends at the Jordan Ministry Team (who sponsored last year's online events with Deacon Bill Ditewig and, later
As a Jesuit retires, House of Representatives names first female chaplain
From CNS: With the year-end announcement that Jesuit Father Pat Conroy would be retiring as chaplain of the House of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/5/21
Woman pleads guilty to making bomb threats against Catholic school (NBC4) A California woman pleaded guilty to threatening to bomb
Gloria Purvis: ‘I will never, ever have regrets ‘ for talking about race
"We as believers should be turning to the dignity of the human person and teach what the church says about
When it comes to religion, the new Congress looks different from America
From Pew: When it comes to religious affiliation, the 117th U.S. Congress looks similar to the previous Congress but quite
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 1/4/21
Plunging enrollment hits L.A. Catholic schools (The Los Angeles Times) Although many Catholic schools long have struggled with dropping enrollment,
WATCH: Opening prayer for Congress on January 3 concludes ‘Amen and awomen’
Watch for yourself, as "guest chaplain" — and ordained minister — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo) offers the opening prayer this
Pope Francis and the art of listening
At the Vatican News website, Alessandro Gisotti offers an important and fascinating look at how Pope Francis communicates by listening:
‘Chalking the door’: continue this wonderful Epiphany tradition
If you haven't done it, this is a good year to begin. We need all the blessings we can get!
Boom: Catholics rise to prominence in Congress
From Roll Call: Six decades after John F. Kennedy became the first Roman Catholic president, his political ascent still reverberates
Worth your time: Pope Francis’s beautiful homily for January 1
"We are in this world not to die, but to give life. The holy Mother of God teaches us that
‘What’s going on at EWTN?’
That's the question a few people have asked me in emails and text messages, as stories like this one have
It opened with the pope and closed with a Christmas carol: how CBS covered the news on Christmas Eve 1984
How have things changed in the last 36 years? I stumbled on this YouTube video the other night: the full
Pope will miss liturgies due to ‘painful sciatica’
Pray for him! From CNS: Pope Francis will not preside over the traditional end-of-the-year prayer service nor the New Year’s
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/31/20
Bridgeport's Bishop Caggiano diagnosed with COVID-19 (Diocese of Bridgeport) The Diocese of Bridgeport announced today that Bishop Frank J. Caggiano
Ordination update: 21 new deacons for Seattle
From Northwest Catholic: Reflecting some of the diversity of the church in Western Washington, 21 men born in Mexico, India,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/30/20
Head of German bishops calls for changes in Church (CNS) In a wide-ranging interview, the head of the German bishops'
Catholic resolutions for 2021
My latest in Our Sunday Visitor: If you absolutely love 2020 and don’t want it to end, you can stop
What does the new archbishop of Dublin have to say about deacons? A lot.
A grateful diaconal bow to my friend and brother deacon, Jim Hoegemeier, from Madison, Wisconsin, who unearthed this gem and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/29/20
Federal appeals court blocks Cuomo's restrictions on religious gatherings (CNA) Handing an important religious freedom victory to houses of worship
Trump issues proclamation on anniversary of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom
From The White House website, the statement reads in part: Thomas Becket’s death serves as a powerful and timeless reminder
Great moments in journalism: A truly classic obituary
Something sublime, from The New York Times. The lede graph alone is priceless: Reginald Foster, a former plumber’s apprentice from
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/28/20
Pope Francis announces a year dedicated to the family (CNA) Pope Francis announced Sunday a special year dedicated to the
Remembering a Maryland deacon who died of COVID-19
Many months after his death, I read the following in The Baltimore Sun, as the paper remembered some of the
A casualty of 2020: Sunday Mass obligation
Will people ever come back? Father Raymond de Souza has some less-than-consoling thoughts in the National Catholic Register: For many
Listening to the quiet one: Homily for December 27, 2020, Feast of the Holy Family
This year, on the Feast of the Holy Family, “family” is different. How we see each other, how we relate
A deacon’s prayer to St. Stephen
Brave St. Stephen, You proclaimed your faith in Christ Jesus to an angry and disbelieving world, yet you did not
A Christmas homily like no other
It was probably the best Christmas homily I’d experienced in years, and it didn’t come from the pulpit. It came
Love among the ruins: Christmas music returns to Notre-Dame
Making music in hard hats and utility suits? A sign of resilience and hope, this seems an apt metaphor for
‘You can’t meet God over Zoom’
In The New York Times this morning, Esau McCaulley writes about why virtual church services are just not enough. He
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/24/20
Judge dismisses suit by Covington Catholic students (Courthouse News) Defamation and harassment claims brought by students at Kentucky’s Covington Catholic
The last day of Advent: Anticipating the next chapter
Probably the most memorable Christmas Eve I can recall was the night 36 years ago when I proposed to the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/23/20
D.C., Archdiocese of Washington settle suit about COVID capacity (WTOP) D.C. and the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington have settled a lawsuit
Biden quotes murdered Jesuit priest Alfred Delp at news conference
The president-elect spoke of the difficulties the country will be facing in the months ahead as we continue to battle
‘Pray for peace, people everywhere’: The surprising story behind ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’
It turns out this popular and enduring Christmas anthem has very contemporary roots: the Cuban Missile Crisis. Details: According to The
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/22/20
Vatican: OK to get COVID vaccine from cell lines derived from abortion (AP) The Vatican on Monday declared that it
Vatican CDF: COVID-19 vaccines are ‘morally acceptable’
From the Vatican this morning: “It is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/21/20
Pope: Consumerism has stolen Christmas (CNA) Pope Francis advised Catholics on Sunday not to waste time complaining about coronavirus restrictions,
Elizabeth, Mary, and the first lesson of Christianity: take it on the road
A few years ago, I saw an ad on the subway for Cole Haan shoes that was a little out
Grab a tissue: here’s 2020’s best Christmas ad
It comes from the Dutch, but it speaks to us beautifully in any language — especially after the year we've
‘This is Advent…’
Advent should admonish us to discover in each brother or sister that we greet, in each friend whose hand we
About that Nativity Scene at the Vatican …
Over at Where Peter Is, Pedro Gabriel had a chat with art historian Dr. Lucia Arbace, who recently wrote an
Latin Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19, is quarantined
Details: Two weeks after his inauguration as Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pizzaballa has been infected with the Covid-19 virus.
‘Don’t call me Doctor or Señor Diácono’
Some enlightening — and challenging — food for thought from my friend Deacon John Donaghy in Honduras: I have read
Ordination update: 1 new deacon for Tulsa
From the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma Facebook page: On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [December 12],
Joy to the world: For the first time, Iraq will celebrate Christmas as official holiday
From Vatican News: Christmas will be different from now on in Iraq. This year, not only are the country’s Christians
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/18/20
New bishop for Greensburg (Vatican) The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Larry J. Kulick, of the clergy of the same
Losing faith: Catholic Poles show growing disapproval of Church
From AFP: Devout Catholic Poles are losing their faith in the Church, a survey published on Thursday (Dec 17) suggested,
The music goes on: Homily for the funeral of Brenda Meyer
This is the homily I preached at the funeral of my mother-in-law at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Rockville, Maryland
Vatican allows priests to celebrate four Masses for Christmas, feast days
Can you say "burnout"? From CNS: The Vatican decreed that priests can celebrate as many as four Masses on several
Pope issues message for World Day of Peace
"The diakonia of the Church’s origins, enlivened over the centuries by the active charity of many luminous witnesses to the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/17/20
Bishop Kevin Vann tests positive for COVID (OC Register) Bishop Kevin Vann, who leads the Diocese of Orange, tested positive
Having an ‘extraordinary life’ — and an extraordinary Advent
The good people at Catholic Review in Baltimore invited me on their local radio show to chat about my new
Brenda
I'm in Maryland this week for the funeral of my mother-in-law, Brenda Thorpe Meyer, who entered eternal life on December
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/16/20
Which Catholic church will Biden attend in D.C.? (NCR) As the nation's second Catholic president, as part of a faith
‘Receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines is an act of charity toward the other members of our community’
As Americans start to receive the vaccine for COVID-19, The USCCB issued the following statement on Monday: On December 14,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/15/20
Study: parishes that offered online Masses doing better financially (The Washington Post) The coronavirus shutdown is affecting giving to Catholic
After Electoral College count, Biden cites Prayer of St. Francis
Our Catholic president-elect offered the country this reference at the end of his speech Monday night, with a nod to
Italian bishops permit general absolution during Christmas
It will be interesting to see if this idea is adopted elsewhere. From CNA: Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/14/20
Biden's faith will be on display, as the first publicly churchgoing president in decades (CNN) For Biden, who next month
Great Christmas gift: ‘Homilists for the Homeless’ returns with another collection
Several years ago, Deacon Jim Knipper of the Diocese of Trenton had a great idea: collect homilies and reflections from
Rejoice: the message of Bambinelli Sunday
My homily from this Sunday in 2018 — with a big assist from a saint: On this Sunday 40 years
NY Times: In France, ‘Church is the only show in town’
Write Laura Capelle in The New York Times has published a "Critic's Notebook" that begins with this premise: "Where can
Prayer request: South Carolina priest dies by suicide on Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Heartbreaking: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston announced the death of a Georgetown County priest. Reverend Michel Bineen Mukad died
Vatican: Communion on tongue may be suspended during pandemic
I first noticed this yesterday, in a Facebook post from Knoxville's Bishop Stika. Now Mike Lewis at Where Peter Is
Our Lady of Guadalupe: ‘Mary is not merely a passive agent in the Incarnation… ‘
My CNEWA colleague Father Elias Mallon just posted these insights on the feast the Church celebrates on Saturday: The month
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/11/20
Federal executions pit Trump administration against Catholic Church (NPR) In a statement on the resumption of federal executions after a 17-year
‘A blatant act of hate’: Anne Frank memorial in Idaho vandalized with swastikas
From CNN: A memorial dedicated to Anne Frank was desecrated with stickers showing swastikas. The Anne Frank Memorial in Boise,
The Nativity of 2020: Mary and Joseph wearing masks?
I guess this is A Thing this year. Someone on Facebook posted the image above, which evidently depicts the Nativity
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/10/20
Pell says Church needs guidelines about status of former popes (Reuters) Cardinal George Pell, a leading Roman Catholic conservative, said
From a deacon’s wife: ‘I am appealing to you with great humility and hope that a donor can be found’
Friends, please take a moment to read this urgent message on Facebook from Debbie Buttino Dalessandro, the wife of Deacon
‘Biden goes to church. Quietly. Calmly.’
An interesting observation from Robin Givhan in The Washington Post: Joe Biden goes to church. He goes on Sundays, but
Pope Francis’ Prayer to St. Joseph
This was released Monday and appears at the conclusion of Patris Corde ("With a Father's Heart"), the Holy Father's Apostolic
Louisiana priests who died during an epidemic are on the path to sainthood
Important and timely news out of Louisiana, via Crux: Five Louisiana priests that sacrificed their lives to care for the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/9/20
Polish priest apologizes for defending disgraced priest (AP) A popular Polish priest apologized Tuesday for a sermon in which he
Pope Francis proclaims a year dedicated to St. Joseph
“St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/8/20
Families, schools file lawsuit on Michigan's COVID restrictions (WDIV) Catholic families and schools in the Diocese of Lansing have filed
Mary, the window that lets in the light
"Mary, who was empty of all egotism, free from all sin, was a pure as the glass of a very
Historic: Pope Francis to visit Iraq in March
This is huge. From CNS: Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, Pope Francis is set to begin international
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/7/20
Manila bans children going out in public (UCANews.com) Authorities in the Philippine capital Manila have banned children from going out
Only 50 people attend Bethlehem tree lighting
Like many places around the world, Bethlehem has been changed this year because of COVID-19: The Palestinian Health Ministry has
Preparing the way of the Lord — digitally
"The best way we can prepare for Christ’s coming is by making the only space we can gather in as
Ordination update: 15 new deacons for Victoria
Details: On Nov. 21, the largest class of deacons in the history of the Catholic Diocese of Victoria was ordained.
Man arrested for firebombing Catholic Church of All Nations at Gethsemane
“We Christians are persecuted all over the world, but we continue to pray and forgive, which is a tenet of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/4/20
SCOTUS sides with California churches (CNS) The Supreme Court Dec. 3 said federal judges should take another look at pandemic
‘St. Nicholas, thank you so very much for being with us … ‘
A few years back, the good people up at Catholic TV in Boston — including an old Friend of the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/3/20
Pope establishes Worldwide Prayer Network as papal institution (Vatican News) The Vatican announced on Thursday that Pope Francis has established
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/2/20
76 Franciscan nuns test positive for COVID at German convent (AP) Seventy-six Catholic nuns have tested positive for COVID-19 after
UPDATE: ‘Father Rutler’s case is in the hands of the District Attorney’
Christopher White at NCR offers more details on the accusations against Father George Rutler: [Alleged victim Ashley Gonzalez] declined NCR's
Dolly Parton: ‘God is my co-writer…’
This is just great, from Tony Rossi, who interviewed Dolly for his podcast at The Christophers: Dolly grew up in
A new bishop for Buffalo
Big news this morning: The Holy Father has appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo (USA), HE Mgr. Michael William
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 12/1/20
Washington auxiliary named new bishop of Buffalo (Diocese of Buffalo) Washington, D.C. Auxiliary Bishop Michael William Fisher has been appointed
Fishermen ‘mending their nets’? It’s no throwaway line
It's all so ordinary, isn't it? Fishermen are plying their trade. Fathers and sons are just trying to eke out
Are you already sick of ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’?
Advent has just started, and if your parish kicked off Sunday with that classic hymn of the season — which,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/30/20
Pittsburgh announces more parish mergers (TribLive) Forty parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will merge into 14 new groupings in
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Scranton
From the Diocese of Scranton website: Bishop Joseph C. Bambera will preside as ordaining prelate and principal celebrant on Saturday,
Behold: 13 new cardinals
"The scarlet of a Cardinal’s robes, which is the color of blood, can, for a worldly spirit, become the color
A carol for our times: ‘We three kings are six feet apart…’
I'm sure there will be others in the weeks ahead, but here's one to kick off your season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otdwRAtuZVY Music
‘It is hard to notice God at work in the dark’: Homily for November 29, 2020, First Sunday of Advent
It started before Halloween. Unexpectedly, plastic wreaths appeared on doors and in windows. Then lights went up. Bushes and shrubs
EWTN’s Father George Rutler accused
From News 12 in New York City: A prestigious New York City priest has been accused by a Bronx woman
U.S. expands methods of execution to include firing squad, electrocution
"It's a pretty gruesome way to go out." From The New York Times: The Justice Department has created new regulations
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/27/20
Cuomo: SCOTUS decision was "the court making a statement" (CNN) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that a Supreme
SCOTUS blocks Cuomo’s COVID restrictions on religious worship
This is a big win from the Diocese of Brooklyn — and shows the impact of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/26/20
SCOTUS rules restrictions on religious services because of COVID violate First Amendment (The New York Times) The Supreme Court late
Gratitude in a time of plague: the story behind ‘Now Thank We All Our God’
If you attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day, you may hear this hymn. The story behind it is a story for
Remembering Caroline Knestout: wife of deacon, mother of a bishop and a priest
She entered eternal life several weeks ago, but the family only recently had a memorial Mass for her. Attention must
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/25/20
Archbishop Gregory: I won't deny communion to Biden (CNS) While some Catholics believe Biden should not be allowed to receive
Boy, do we need this now: ‘Let there be peace on earth…’
Want one more thing to be thankful for this Thursday? Here. This familiar anthem gets a beautiful new rendition, thanks
‘You can’t write this stuff’: the story of a pint of beer and a $3,000 tip
We need to be reminded of this kind of generosity and good will, especially now. From Cleveland: One customer made
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/24/20
Historic Guadalupe pilgrimage cancelled over COVID (AP) Mexico’s Roman Catholic Church announced the cancellation Monday of what’s considered the world’s
U.S. bishops’ memo: Catholics can take COVID-19 vaccines
Details: Days after some Catholic bishops shared misinformation on social media about Covid-19 vaccines that may soon hit the market,
‘Crisis of faith’: New York Attorney General sues Diocese of Buffalo
From The New York Times: The New York attorney general, Letitia James, on Monday accused the Roman Catholic Diocese of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/23/20
Pope: Living the Gospel can change the world (Vatican News) “It is when Christianity takes root in the Gospel that
Biden attends Mass, offers support for people going to church during pandemic
Details: President-elect Joe Biden went to Saturday night Mass in Wilmington and expressed his support for Americans continuing to worship
Seeing the King: Homily for November 22, 2020, Solemnity of Christ the King
The other day, The Washington Post had a short piece describing some of the holiday traditions of New York City
What does the Catholic Church teach about vaccines derived from abortion?
This video raised a few eyebrows this week. It comes from Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno: The bishop
The Deacon’s Mic: How should you celebrate Thanksgiving this year?
I posted this earlier on my Patreon page, but thought it deserved a wider audience. My friend, microbiologist Dr. Gerard
Something else for deacons to do this Christmas …
Behold! Notice the angel's stole? You see that a lot in ancient art (but you see it less often in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/20/20
Fresno bishop: don't jump on the "vaccine bandwagon" (The Los Angeles Times) Citing ethical concerns about the use of embryonic
Cardinal sues magazine, claiming it ruined his chances of becoming pope
No, it's not from the Babylon Bee or The Onion. From The AP: The Vatican cardinal sacked by Pope Francis
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/19/20
Deacon recovering after attack outside church (MLive.com) A deacon at a Kalamazoo church is recovering after being attacked and stabbed
Two churches hit by apparent arson attacks in Washington state
Details: Two church buildings— one Baptist, one Catholic— were damaged by fires in apparent arson attacks Sunday morning in Brewster,
In Europe, bracing for Christmas services at home
CNS has this report on what is happening in Germany and Switzerland: Lutheran and Catholic churches in Switzerland and Germany
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/18/20
Bishops establish working group to deal with Biden conflicts (CNS) Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit will head up a
Welcome to 2020: deacon information sessions by Zoom
“The diaconate is one piece to open the door. We can’t cower inside the church to defend ourselves … we
A bishop’s confession: ‘I couldn’t fix myself’
Bishop James Conley offered a candid assessment of his own mental health recently, and spoke with CNA about what prompted
CNA: Vatican investigating California bishop over handling of sex abuse cases
Details: The Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops has ordered an investigation into Bishop Oscar Cantu’s handling of allegations of clerical sexual
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/17/20
Priest from Pittsburgh appointed bishop of Youngstown (Vatican News) The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Youngstown (USA) the
Dorothy Day’s granddaughter sentenced to prison for protest
Martha Hennessy, fifth from left, was sentenced to 10 months in prison. (photo: RNS/Kings Bay Plowshare 7) From RNS: Martha
SCOTUS looks at coronavirus and closed churches
From The New York Times: In recent months, churches in California and Nevada asked the Supreme Court to lift government restrictions on attendance
Pope Francis: ‘Good servants are those who takes risks’
From Sunday's homily, wisdom from the Holy Father that sheds light on the spirit of diakonia: Service is our work
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/16/20
In a moment of turmoil, U.S. bishops meet virtually (AP) Catholic bishops of the United States open a national meeting
French Catholics protest, demand churches re-open for Mass
Details: Catholics held an open air Mass in the western French city of Nantes on Sunday to protest against COVID-19
Abuse accusations against Boy Scouts of America ‘far eclipse’ those filed in Catholic Church cases
“I knew there were a lot of cases. I never contemplated it would be a number close to this.” This
Sainted too soon? John Paul II’s legacy, after the McCarrick Report
A lot of people have been talking about it — and late Saturday, The New York Times offered this: At
Bishop resumes duties after medical leave for mental health issues
From CNA: Bishop James Conley announced that he is resuming full pastoral care of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, following
What does it mean to be a priest? This.
I think we need this now. From the Knights of Columbus comes this profile of a priest, offering consolation and
Ordination update: 1 new deacon for Gallup
I got an email earlier today from Deacon Timoteo Lujan, director of the diaconate and diaconate formation for the Diocese
Diocese of Brooklyn takes religious freedom case against Cuomo to SCOTUS
“We remain committed to reopening our churches, safely, and to vindicate our First Amendment rights." From the In My Backyard
Pope Francis calls Biden to congratulate him on election — UPDATED
“The president-elect thanked His Holiness for extending blessings and congratulations." Details: Pope Francis called President-elect Joe Biden early Nov. 12
Great moments in journalism: something fishy
Ladies and gentlemen, this is why God made copy editors. This is from 2017, but it never grows old. H/T
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/12/20
Pope renews commitment to fight abuse (CNS) After the Vatican released its extensive report on Theodore E. McCarrick, Pope Francis
Can we cease our hostilities for Veterans Day?
Wisdom, attend! From Karen Farris in The Christian Post: Hopefully this week will bring a pause in the political skirmishes
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/11/20
Five takeaways from the McCarrick Report (The New York Times) On Tuesday the Vatican released a massive report investigating how
Who knew? Joe Biden’s extended Jewish family
From The Jewish Chronicle: For a staunch Roman Catholic, President –Elect Joe Biden has a remarkably Jewish family. All three of his
Finally: Vatican releases McCarrick Report
It's titled: "REPORT ON THE HOLY SEE’S INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND DECISION-MAKING RELATED TO FORMER CARDINAL THEODORE EDGAR MCCARRICK (1930 TO
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/10/20
The McCarrick Report is released (The New York Times) The Vatican on Tuesday released a highly anticipated report investigating how the
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Phoenix
It happened Saturday: Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted conferred the Sacrament of Holy Orders on 12 men. From his homily: Our
Now for something completely different: ‘Preaching with the Sciences’
I posted about this over on my Patreon page a few weeks back, but wanted the wider world to know
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/9/20
Catholic church in Chicago defaced with graffiti (NBC 5) A Catholic Church in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood has seen two straight
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Birmingham, England
Details from across the pond: John Garvey, Dirk Hermans and Dominic Kerr were ordained by the Archbishop of Birmingham, Bernard
Bishop blesses ‘Memorial to the Unborn Child’
Details from The Catholic World Report: Bishop Donald J. Hying of the Diocese of Madison blessed the newly installed pro-life
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Corpus Christi
From the diocese's Facebook page: t is with joy that on November 7, 2020, thirteen men will be ordained to
AP: Catholic vote split almost evenly between Trump and Biden
Details: President Donald Trump won support from about 8 in 10 white evangelical Christian voters in his race for reelection,
‘We congratulate Mr. Biden…’: USCCB statement on election
Notably absent here is any mention of Biden’s record on abortion. From the USCCB website Saturday afternoon, this is the statement
‘We have to dialogue’: What Pope Francis had to say about this moment
The news today has not exactly been a source of harmony and communion, especially on social media. With so much
Paul Shanley, priest at center of Boston scandal, dies at 89
From AP: A former Catholic street priest who played a pivotal role in the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for New York
“The doorkeeper. The one who becomes the face of the Church to God’s people because of your experience, because of
More of this, please: French Muslims gather to protect cathedral
Details: As a French-born Muslim, Elyazid Benferhat’s stomach turned when he heard about a deadly Islamic extremist attack on a
Confirmed: McCarrick report to be released next week
Details: The Vatican said on Friday that its long-awaited report into disgraced ex-U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick will be released on
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/6/20
Nuns send Trump letter urging him to 'count the votes' (RNS) Nearly 2,000 nuns have signed a letter addressed to
Election rioters damage Catholic church in downtown Portland
Details: A Catholic church in downtown Portland, Oregon — known for helping the area’s poor — suffered shattered windows during
Reports: McCarrick report to be released this month
Sources are telling news outlets it will likely be released before the annual U.S. bishops meeting, slated to begin November
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/5/20
SCOTUS appears to lean toward Catholic agency in LGBTQ dispute (Reuters) Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices Wednesday appeared sympathetic to
Voters weighed in on two abortion measures
Details via CNN: Voters in two states weighed in on abortion rights on Election Day. Louisiana voters decided to amend
Feeling anxious today? ‘Prayer drives away all fears’
A few words about prayer from the Holy Father: "When we speak with God, we do not do so in
Dolan: SCOTUS needs to reject anti-Catholic bigotry
Cardinal Timothy Dolan weighs in in the pages of USA TODAY about a case going before the Supreme Court Wednesday:
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/4/20
Biden attends church on Election Day (Politico) Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden began Election Day by going to church with
RNS: Religion and voting trends to look for on election day
Some interesting things to watch out for in the hours ahead — including the trend of Catholic voters: Trump’s coalition
Beautiful: a Litany for Election Day
Looking for a way to pass the time while standing in line at your polling place? Here's something beautiful. From
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/3/20
Patriarch: 'Our martyrs are the torches of faith' (CNS) Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the massacre by Islamic militants at
UPDATE: Excommunicated priest, Father Leatherby, returned to the lay state
You may remember the stories from last summer about the excommunication of Father Jeremy Leatherby. Now, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto
‘Unite Our Nation’: Hundreds of parishes join for adoration on Election Day
“That just speaks to the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit." This is remarkable and, I think, unprecedented: By midday
‘The stones cannot cry out their horror’: Bishops ‘cleanse’ basilica in Nice
From CNS: French bishops conducted a “penitential rite of reparation” inside a church in which three people were murdered in
Vatican explains pope’s comments on civil unions
From CNA: The Vatican’s Secretary of State has asked papal representatives to share with bishops some clarifications regarding comments on
Muslim response to the attack in Nice: ‘We condemn this barbaric act’
The Diocese of Nice has posted statements on its website responding to last week's horrific attack in the basilica in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 11/2/20
Two more men arrested in connection with church attack in Nice (The New York Times) The French authorities said on
‘Anguish’: England’s Catholic Church criticizes ban on public worship
From the BBC: The Catholic Church in England has strongly criticized the government's new lockdown, saying banning communal worship is
Becoming ‘blessed’: Homily for November 1, 2020, Solemnity of All Saints
This weekend, we lose an hour and turn back the clock. I think a lot of us would like to
Archbishop Gregory suggests ways to celebrate his becoming cardinal
He offered a beautiful suggestion below — tied perfectly to last Sunday's Gospel. "Love the Lord and each other. Pray
‘Father McGivney shows us the way forward…’
With the celebrated founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael McGivney, scheduled for beatification this weekend, Carl Anderson, CEO
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/30/20
Catholic school sues Michigan to drop 'unreasonable' mask mandate (MLive.com) Michigan’s mask mandate in schools prevents students from getting a
Honoring the lost: Marking All Souls Day in a time of pandemic
From CNS: The feast of All Souls’ Day, when Catholics remember and pray for the dead, has weighted significance this
Pope Francis: ‘He joins in prayer with the suffering people families’ in Nice
From Vatican News: Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and offered prayers for the Church in France following the tragic murders
BREAKING: At least three killed in suspected terror attack in France basilica
"The woman who was inside the church has been decapitated." From CNN: At least three people have been killed in
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/29/20
Pope to celebrate private Mass for All Souls (CNS) Due to restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis
Nuns, priests and friars take up the ‘Jerusalema Dance Challenge’
I'm so square and out of touch, I didn't realize this was A Thing. But here's an explanation of the
‘Poll chaplains’: a ministry for deacons?
This is a great idea, and could be a great missionary field for deacons — though the story doesn't mention
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/28/20
Louisiana voters will decide whether to amend constitution to exclude 'right to abortion' (CNA)Voters in Louisiana will decide Nov. 3
Shouldn’t the U.S. have a Latino cardinal?
Why, yes. J.D. Long-Garcia explains why: By some estimates, 40 to 45 percent of Catholics in the United States are
Bishop calls for lifting COVID-19 restrictions for Christmas
"Think of the hope and happiness that would give. A moment of joy in the midst of so much despair."
The mask-less pope in the age of COVID
This is a problem — and it is an issue that's been getting renewed scrutiny, and someone at the Vatican
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/27/20
CNA: Pope's Christmas liturgies to take place without the public (CNA) Pope Francis' Christmas liturgies at the Vatican will be
SCOTUS to review petition on case that challenges Roe v. Wade
From CBS News: UPDATE: The Supreme Court on Monday announced it would consider Mississippi's petition during a conference on Friday.
Pope stresses role of women in the Church: ‘To go to Mary’s school is to go to the school of faith and life’
The good people at Zenit have posted a translation of the pope's remarks Friday to the docents and students of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/26/20
The rise of Wilton Gregory, America's first African-American cardinal (The New York Times)He has been a national figure since 2002,
All in the family: two sons of deacons are ordained deacons in Camden
This is something wonderful, in a preview of last weekend's ordination in the Catholic Star-Herald newspaper: Fathers and sons can
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for Camden
From the Diocese of Camden Facebook page: [Saturday], Bishop Dennis Sullivan ordained 12 men to the Permanent Diaconate before their
Pope announces 13 new Cardinals, including Archbishop Wilton Gregory
With this move, Archbishop Gregory will become the first African American cardinal from the United States. From CNA: Pope Francis
Love your neighbor: Homily for October 25, 2020, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
He may be one of the greatest heroes of World War II that nobody has heard of. His name was
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Providence
I just love being able to write that headline. A grateful diaconal bow to my friend Brian Fraga, who posted
Former spiritual director for alleged visionaries at Medjugorje excommunicated
This is extraordinary: A laicized priest who had been the spiritual director to six people who said they experienced visions
RNS: President Trump now identifies as ‘non-denominational Christian’
"During the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, I tuned into several virtual church services and know that millions of Americans did the
Let us pray: Vatican extends time to obtain indulgences in praying for the souls in purgatory
From CNS: Plenary or full indulgences traditionally obtained during the first week of November for the souls of the faithful
Announcing a new book: ‘Preaching Hope’
I'm pleased to announce something altogether new for me: an eBook. (A huge h/t to my friend Jeff Miller for
Report: Nails linked to Christ’s crucifixion have small bone fragments
Make of this what you will — color me skeptical — but this "bombshell" news item caught my eye: Nails
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/23/20
'Split' Catholic voters try to find dialogue amid rancor (CNS) "We see, basically, Catholics are split like Solomon’s baby between
CNA: Pope’s remarks on civil unions were ‘heavily edited’
Here's another wrinkle involving those controversial comments that Pope Francis apparently made in the new documentary "Francesco." Details: While filmmaker
Savings lives, saving vocations: helping priests who are battling addiction
From the In My Backyard Desk: here's a really good glimpse at a problem many priests don't like to talk
‘Totally false’: Archbishop Gomez slams report that he said he plans to vote for Biden
This is pretty unusual, via CNA: Archbishop Jose Gomez has rebuked an online claim that he plans to vote for
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/22/20
What did Pope Francis say? Here's an explainer (CNA) Some activists and media reports have suggested that Pope Francis has
Pope Francis calls for civil union laws for same-sex couples — UPDATED
“Homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They’re children of God and have a right to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/21/20
Statue of Mary vandalized in Brooklyn (WABC) A Virgin Mary statue was found vandalized outside of a church in Brooklyn.
‘Catholics’ views on abortion are not always aligned with their church…’
As the Senate prepares to vote on the Amy Coney Barrett nomination to the Supreme Court, the people at the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/20/20
A question of life and death looms for Amy Coney Barrett (The New York Times) Judge Barrett could find herself
WATCH: Churches burn, crowds cheer
This is a stunning video from Santiago, Chile, over the weekend: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS2S0sSx_yw CNA has details: The Archbishop of Santiago de
In New York, Cuomo’s crackdown angers Catholics
Some days back, I wrote about the COVID spike in my corner of Queens, and the response of New York
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/19/20
Archbishop performs exorcism at site where Serra statue was toppled (AP) The archbishop of San Francisco performed a short exorcism
Pray this novena for our church and our bishops
Here's something new and, I think, remarkable. My longtime Facebook friend Josh Mansfield has created this website: Perpetual Novena for
Well done, good and faithful servant: remembering Deacon Francis Head
The world lost a good man this week: Deacon Francis Head, who died in hospice after a battle with congestive
Repaying God: Homily for October 18, 2020, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Father Eduardo Tamer This week, the plot thickens. In Matthew’s Gospel, as Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem — and
Judge denies request to exempt Catholic churches from NY COVID limits
From Reuters: A federal judge on Friday rejected a request from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn to void New
This was bound to happen sooner or later, wasn’t it?
It happened in Cleveland: Twenty minutes after a "homeless Jesus" sculpture was installed on the grounds of St. Barnabas Episcopal
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/16/20
Pope Francis: Family is the 'first and essential place of education (CNA) Pope Francis said Thursday that, among other global
Oklahoma deacon dies of COVID-19
From The Oklahoman: A member of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City clergy community has died of COVID-19. Clyde Grover, a
‘Why is a highly educated, professionally successful, Catholic mother of a large family so threatening?’
Jennifer Frey, a woman with a similar background to Amy Coney Barrett, has a few challenging ideas on what she's
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/15/20
Catholics pray, protest at site of destroyed Serra statue (CNA) Catholics in California rallied in a peaceful demonstration Tuesday evening
How will the post-pandemic church pay the bills?
Good question. RNS looks for some answers and got some ideas from Protestant pastors: The conversation among many church leaders
Meet Springfield’s new ‘YouTube’ bishop from Washington, DC
This was a happy surprise this morning around the Kandra household: he's the pastor at a parish near my in-laws'
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/14/20
Priest from Washington to be new bishop of Springfield (Vatican Bulletin) The Holy Father has appointed Rev. William D. Byrne,
Amy Coney Barrett: ‘We knew our faith would be caricatured, our family would be attacked’
President Trump's nominee to be the next justice on the Supreme Court alluded to her faith during today's hearing. From
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Boise
A grateful diaconal bow to Tom Kilbourne, who sent me this news today: On Saturday, October 10, 2020, five men
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Rapid City
This news appeared on the diocesan Facebook page: Congratulations to the three new Permanent Deacons in the Diocese of Rapid
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/13/20
Thousands pray at Fatima for end to pandemic (Reuters) Standing in circles marked to keep social distance, thousands of faithful
New York City unveils its statue of Mother Cabrini
From The New York Times: When the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last year that a new project,
Glad for plaid: a look at a booming school uniform business in Brooklyn
Something new and altogether different, from The New Yorker: At the Bensonhurst outpost of Flynn O’Hara, a school-uniform store, the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/12/20
Detroit chapel declared a shrine (The Detroit News) A Detroit-area chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary and her appearance to
Columbus Day’s deep Catholic roots
Fewer places are observing the holiday — which we will mark on Monday, October 12 — but a couple years
Judge rules against Brooklyn Diocese; Cuomo worship restrictions will go into effect
From The Tablet: A federal judge denied a request made by the Diocese of Brooklyn for a temporary restraining order
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Boston
Photo: Gregory L. Tracy From The Boston Pilot (h/t to Deacon Matt Porter!): Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley ordained eight men
Imagine you were born in 1900
My mother-in-law sent this to me today. The author/editor is unknown, but this video has been making the rounds for
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/9/20
St. Louis archbishop reaffirms that abortion is 'preeminent moral issue' in election (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski has joined
Diocese of Brooklyn sues New York over COVID-19 Mass restrictions
"This religious community will be denied its most fundamental right — the free exercise of religion — for no legitimate
Shared Communion? Despite Vatican objections, German churches plan to keep discussing it
From CNS: The German Catholic bishops’ conference and the council of the Evangelical Church in Germany plan to continue their
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/8/20
Notre Dame's President Jenkins faces angry campus (The New York Times) All the humility in the world might not have
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Toronto
Some news from the north: The Archdiocese of Toronto celebrated the ordination of seven new permanent deacons at St. Michael’s
Timely advice: ways to keep partisan politics out of your parish
Thomas Reese, S.J., now writing for Religion News Service (RNS), offers some advice, from his own perspective: Other than hiding
Pope on pandemic: ‘It is impossible to emerge from a crisis the same as before’
"There are so many saints next door." The pope has granted another interview — this one, to the director of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/7/20
Biden doubles down on abortion law pledge (CNA) Former vice president Joe Biden, the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, repeated
‘The Deacon’s Mic’: meet my pastor, the bishop
Continuing my Zoom experiment of something I'm calling "The Deacon's Mic," (which began last month with my pilot episode, featuring
The Supreme Court’s next big abortion ruling
It may be coming soon. Details from CBS News: In the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, millions of
Hey, I wrote a book!
Behold: further proof that God continues to work miracles. I'm happy to announce the publication today of "The Busy Person's
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Orlando — with 1 more coming soon!
Some happy news from the diocese of the Happiest Place on Earth: 14 new deacons were ordained by Bishop John
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/6/20
Bishops say 'Rosary for America' is imperative for a country in crisis (CNS) Invoking Mary’s intercession for the U.S. together
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/5/20
Analysis: the message of new encyclical is no one is saved alone (Vatican News) The path Pope Francis indicates is
A message from Father Scalia: ‘My actions…have distracted from the work of the Gospel’
The son of Antonin Scalia, Father Paul Scalia, attended the event at the White House announcing Amy Coney Barrett's nomination
Pope’s new encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’ released
"It is my desire that by acknowledging the dignity of each human person, we can contribute to the rebirth of
Pioneer: meet one of the earliest permanent deacons in the United States
From The Catholic Spirit in the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis: In August 1969, 10 men from across the U.S. began
Prayers for healing to Mary, Health of the Sick
This seems a good moment for all of us to pause and pray. For the President, the First Lady, and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/2/20
Trump, Biden appeal to Catholic voters at Al Smith Dinner (AP) President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Rockford
Bishop David Malloy ordained 13 men to the diaconate last Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Rockford. You
Diocese of Rockville Centre files for bankruptcy
From the In My Backyard Desk, an announcement on the diocesan website Thursday morning: The Diocese of Rockville Centre (“DRVC”
AP: People of Praise removes references to Amy Coney Barrett on its website
From the AP: A religious organization tied to Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, sought to erase all
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 10/1/20
Rebuffed by Vatican, Pompeo assails China (The New York Times) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently published a sharp letter
The Deacon’s Shelf: looking for some good reading? Here are a few ideas.
I've been a busy deacon the last few weeks, but with my desk finally clear (more or less), I have
In a first, the historic Al Smith Dinner goes virtual
Things will be different for this election year staple, per the AP: President Donald Trump is expected to be in
Pope issues Apostolic Letter on St. Jerome, ‘the library of Christ’
From Vatican News: St Jerome bequeathed to the Church “devotion to the Sacred Scripture, a ‘living and tender love’ for
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/30/20
'Come and See' theme for World Communications Day (Vatican News) The theme for the 2021 World Day of Social Communications
On Amy Coney Barrett: ‘Liberals have nothing to fear’
This is worth your time: a thoughtful look at Trump's pick for the Supreme Court. It was written by O.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/29/20
Barrett nomination turns spotlight on Notre Dame Law School (CNS) If Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme
‘He passed away doing what he loved: celebrating the Eucharist’
Heartbreaking news from Simi Valley, California: After being brought into this world against the odds, losing his father at 8
Ordination update: 4 new deacons for Burlington
A grateful diaconal bow to Deacon Phil Lawson for passing this along! The news, from Vermont Catholic: Burlington Bishop Christopher
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/28/20
How conservative Catholics became supreme on GOP's court (CNN) President Donald Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett continues the GOP's remarkable
Urban lectio: ‘St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…’
Tuesday, September 29 marks the feast of the angels Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. During these often troubled and difficult
Persecution watch: California cathedral vandalized with swastikas, ‘white power’ graffiti
From CNA: A Catholic cathedral in California was defaced overnight, with swastikas, an upside-down cross, and other messages spray-painted on
Ordination update: 27 new deacons for Chicago
The world's largest Catholic diaconate — counting more than 500 active deacons — just got a little bigger. The press
What do colleagues think of Amy Coney Barrett? ‘She’s mind-blowingly intelligent’
Another side of the soon-to-be nominee for the Supreme Court, from the local paper: “If she’s being considered by a
Florida pastor urges prayer, forgiveness after man tried to burn down Catholic church
From CNA: Police are searching for a man who broke into a Catholic church in Florida on Friday and tried
The next justice on the Supreme Court could be the daughter of a deacon
I posted this item two years ago, but today seems a good time to revisit it: This comes from an
We’re all in this together: Homily for September 27, 2020, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Earlier this month, Lane Unhjem was working the fields of his farm in North Dakota. He was driving a combine,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/25/20
Powerful Vatican cardinal resigns amid scandal (AP) The powerful head of the Vatican’s saint-making office, Cardinal Angelo Becciu, resigned suddenly
Bransfield: ‘I do not wish to do battle with my successor’
From CNA: Retired West Virginia Bishop Michael Bransfield told CNA Thursday that he is retired, wants to stay retired, and
BREAKING: Retired Archbishop John Myers of Newark has died
Details: Catholic Archbishop John J. Myers has died at age 79. Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Diocese of Peoria announced
Cardinal Tagle recovers from coronavirus
Details: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the head of the Vatican’s evangelization congregation, has recovered from the coronavirus, the Philippine bishops’ news service
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for Rockville Centre
A grateful diaconal bow to my friend Father Michael Duffy (he's the bearded one in the back row), rector of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/24/20
President Trump promises to sign order protecting babies born alive (CNS) President Donald Trump said Sept. 23 he would sign
‘The pope’s favorite nun’ named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People
Details: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/23/20
In battleground states, Catholics are pivotal swing vote (AP) For decades, Roman Catholic voters have been a pivotal swing vote
In new video, Father Altman stands by his message denouncing Catholic Democrats
Details: In a new video, Father James Altman of La Crosse said he stands by his messages from a past video that Catholic
Vatican reaffirms euthanasia as an intrinsic evil
Details from CNA: In a new document released Tuesday, the Vatican’s doctrinal office reaffirmed the Church’s perennial teaching on the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/22/20
Vatican releases letter condemning euthanasia (Vatican News) On Tuesday, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith announced the publication
EWTN poll: Biden leads Trump among Catholics, but Trump ahead among ‘most observant’
From The Hill: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden holds a 12-point lead over President Trump among likely voters who identify as Catholic, according to
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/21/20
Church begins canonization process for Father Gabriel Richard (The Detroit News) The Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit has started
‘We Are Essential; Free the Mass’: WATCH San Francisco Catholics march
Details: Led by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, hundreds of Catholics marched in San Francisco Sunday, demanding city health
Another Catholic for the Supreme Court?
Photo: Tom Tracy/Florida Catholic President Trump announced Saturday that his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Buffalo
This image (and more) can be found at the Facebook page for Buffalo Deacons. They were ordained Saturday at Buffalo's
‘Let us not become the evil we despise’: Archdiocese calls for group to withdraw award to AG Barr
This is quite extraordinary: the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, led by Archbishop John Wester, has issued a very public rebuke
Pastor invites men to volunteer for firearms training for the ‘physical defense of the parish’
It's happening in South Bend, Indiana. From NCR: The pastor of a church in what was once the city's Polish
Ordination update: 1 new deacon for Palm Beach
The story, from Deacon Deacon Martin Serraes, Episcopal Delegate for Permanent Deacons: Bishop Gerald Barbarito ordained Deacon Michael McDonald (second
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/18/20
Amarillo disavows statements by Father Pavone (CNA) The Diocese of Amarillo has spoken out about election-related comments from Fr. Frank
Diocese of Amarillo issues statement on Father Frank Pavone
From the diocese's website: Recently Father Frank Pavone has posted a variety of messages and statements in regard to the
WATCH: My conversation with Deacon Bill Ditewig
Here's something new and different: a little experiment I'm calling "The Deacon's Mic." You could consider this the pilot episode
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/17/20
Address of bishop to seminarians: include everyone in your ministry (Chicago Catholic) "We have a great pastoral challenge before us.
Variety: Netflix cancellations surge in ‘Cuties’ backlash
This is pretty remarkable: A campaign waged against Netflix over “Cuties” and the film’s sexualized portrayal of children produced a surge in
Jolt: Another priest discovers he was invalidly baptized
And once again, the one performing the invalid baptism was a deacon. From CNA: In the second known instance in
Growth ministry in Texas: Disaster Spiritual Care
An excellent and creative idea! From CNS: When people see their homes destroyed by flood or other disaster that forces
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/16/20
In pastoral letter, bishop urges effective communication of the Gospel (Catholic Herald) At a time when all people are yearning
Boom: diocese opens $20 million seminary
From The Charlotte Observer: With a blessing and the sprinkling of Holy Water, Charlotte Catholic Bishop Peter Jugis on Tuesday
‘God so loved the world that he also gave us Mary’: Homily for Our Lady of Sorrows
Today's feast also happens to be the feast of my parish, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. Here's part of a
Great moments in journalism: a photo caption for the ages
Eagle-eyed reader Paul Stockell noticed this, from a story about the installation of the new bishop of Cleveland in the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/15/20
SF Catholics plan processions to 'free the Mass' (CNA) The Archbishop of San Francisco has called Catholics to participate in
New law in Australia requires priests to break seal of confession or face jail
Details: A new law requires priests in the state of Queensland to break the seal of confession to report child
‘Love never fails’: Homily at the memorial Mass for a man who died too young
Bobby Heyer died last month at the age of 24. Bobby was an altar server at our parish for several
‘O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree…’
Today marks the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. What better time to crank up the volume and hear
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/14/20
Archbishop urges people to return to Mass, says it is a grave sin to miss it (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Milwaukee
Ordination update: 35 new deacons for Harrisburg
Bishop Ronald Gainer ordained a YUGE class on Saturday at Holy Name of Jesus Parish. The new deacons, from the
‘Come back to Mass!’
What's your parish doing to encourage people to come back? One place in South Carolina has taken to social media
How is the pandemic affecting clergy?
As the months of the pandemic have dragged on, we've heard a lot of stories about how people are coping,
Cardinal Tagle tests positive for COVID-19
Details, from NCR: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the head of the Vatican's powerful evangelization office and a close collaborator of
‘We are being lied to’: Priest in homily calls COVID-19 man-made, part of a conspiracy
Pray for this priest and his flock. Details: A Minnesota Catholic priest said in a homily Sunday that COVID-19 was
In a first, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal is named a bishop
Via CNA: Pope Francis Friday appointed three auxiliary bishops to the Archdiocese of Chicago, including one of the founders of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/11/20
Pope names new auxiliaries for Chicago (Vatican News) Pope Francis appointed Fathers Jeffrey Glob, Kevin Birmingham, and Robert J Lombardo,
Father Altman: ‘This might be the last livestream of the holy sacrifice of the Mass I can give’
The priest who has provoked considerable attention on social media made that announcement at the end of Mass on Thursday.
Bishop issues statement on ‘fraternal correction’ of Father James Altman
UPDATE: Father Altman made a statement about his circumstances at the end of Mass Thursday. Watch it here. Many are
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/10/20
Tabernacle stolen from Canadian cathedral (CNA) The Bishop of St. Catharines, Ontario is pleading for thieves to return the consecrated
History: Royal Australian Navy welcomes its first permanent deacon
From Down Under, and The Catholic Weekly in Australia: The Royal Australian Navy welcomed its first permanent deacon with the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/9/20
Navy says Catholic Masses on bases will continue (San Diego Union-Tribune) Roman Catholic services will continue on board Southern California
UPDATE: Navy changes course, says Catholic Masses on bases will continue
From The San Diego Union-Tribune: Roman Catholic services will continue on board Southern California Naval bases at least for the
‘It is difficult to fathom’: More on Navy’s decision to cancel priest contracts
BREAKING: Late Tuesday, the U.S. Navy announced Roman Catholic services will continue on board Southern California Naval bases at least
Traveling mercies, Charlie Wilson
I was saddened to learn over the weekend that another CBS News legend had passed: the great Charlie "Mongo" Wilson.
Pope Francis praises dialogue in new collection of conversations with ‘pious agnostic’
Details from CNA: A book publishing conversations between Pope Francis and Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food organization,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/8/20
Pope greets athletes promoting human dignity (Vatican News) Pope Francis greeted athletes taking part in the “We Run Together” initiative,
Urban lectio for Labor Day: ‘God has created me to do Him some definite service’
"God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has
Shock: Bishop-elect of Duluth resigns over abuse allegation
From CNA: Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Bishop-elect of Duluth, Minnesota, Michel J. Mulloy, after an accusation
WATCH: In powerful video, archbishop whose own father was murdered argues against the death penalty
From CNA: In 1948, Fred Naumann was the assistant manager of a St. Louis liquor store. One night, a week
Navy ends Catholic Masses at bases
We all know there's a shortage of priestly vocations — but some places are feeling the effects more dramatically than
Ordination update: 1 new priest, 13 new deacons for Albany
From The Albany Times Union: Charles Onyeneke was ordained into the priesthood during a ceremony Saturday at Albany’s Cathedral of
Report: Growing number of Catholic schools are shutting down forever
And the pandemic continues to take a toll: In more than four decades of coaching girls’ basketball at Lebanon Catholic
Pope Francis prepares a new encyclical, to be signed October 3
From CNS: Pope Francis will travel to Assisi Oct. 3 to sign an encyclical on the social, political and economic
Trump to give Presidential Medal of Freedom to Notre Dame’s Lou Holtz
Via The Washington Post: President Trump announced during a news briefing that former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz, who
Pope Francis reveals why he said ‘no’ to married priests
From The Tablet in the UK: Pope Francis decided against giving the green light to married priests after the Amazon
Meet America’s new needy
“Just because I have a car doesn’t mean I have enough money to buy food.” A sobering piece of news
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/4/20
Benedict surpasses record of oldest pope (Rome Reports) As of Sept. 4, Benedict XVI becomes the oldest pope in history.
‘If I lock myself in my room fearing the virus, my ordination as a missionary priest is useless’
You may remember this story from April, about a priest in the U.S. peddling from house to house to visit
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/3/20
Pope announces day of prayer, fasting for Lebanon (CNS) Pope Francis has asked Catholics and all people of goodwill to
Here’s something you don’t see every day: Confirmation using the Extraordinary Form
Fr. Z. posted pictures on his blog and his Latin Mass Society site, noting: His Excellency Most Reverend Donald J.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/2/20
Another Catholic newspaper stops publication (The Buffalo News) The Western New York Catholic newspaper, which chronicles the Diocese of Buffalo,
Deacon presides at roadside funeral services: ‘This is a traumatic way to say goodbye’
"As the church we have to be here to help people and accompany them in their grief.” From CNS: Deacon
Whatever happened to Martin Gugino?
You may remember him as the elderly man who was injured during a protest in Buffalo back in June. Now
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 9/1/20
Border guards stop Catholic archbishop at border of Belarus (CNA) Border guards blocked a Catholic archbishop from returning to Belarus
You’re invited: join me for a deacon webinar on preaching
Brother Silas Henderson, from the Jordan Ministry Team, has generously asked me to do a little something on that little
The sacraments have left the building: how some churches are coping with COVID
An interesting slice of Catholic life, via Religion News Service: Catholic churches in California have been resuming baptism, First Communion
Ordination update: 22 new deacons for St. Louis
That's a big class! Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! I haven't been able to find details yet about
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/31/20
Unsealed archives gives fresh look at Pope Pius and the holocaust (The New York Times) In an article published in The Atlantic on
Two brothers, both bishops: meet the Parkes
“In the history of the Catholic Church in the United States, we are the 11th combination of brothers that are
‘The priest must forego engagement in forms of active politics…in order to remain the man of all’
This was recently brought to my attention, and it is worth reading: a timely excerpt from "The Directory for the
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Cleveland
From the Diocese of Cleveland website: Five years of preparation -- a year of aspirancy and four years of education
Ordination update: 4 more deacons for San Bernardino
Last week, I posted on the ordinations in San Bernardino. Now, an update, from Rich Herbst: The Diocese of San
How’d they do that? Recreating Fatima for ‘Fatima’
An interesting behind-the-scenes piece from, of all places, Variety: Director Marco Pontecorvo shot his film “Fátima” entirely on location in Portugal, not
Chalice desecrated by ISIS on display in Spain
"This chalice was used by the jihadists for target practice." From CNA: As part of an effort to remember and
A message for our time: ‘God loves each of us as if there were only one of us’
"Never doubt this, whatever may happen to you in life: at every moment, you are infinitely loved." — Pope Francis
After delay, Albany announces ordinations: 1 priest, 13 deacons in September
The press release just landed in my in-box: Ordination to the priesthood and diaconate for the Roman Catholic Diocese of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/28/20
Weekly public General Audiences with pope to resume (Vatican News) The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household announced on Wednesday that
Meet me in St. Louis: the new Archbishop Mitch Rozanski, son of Baltimore
This is a nice profile of the new archbishop of St. Louis, Mitchell Rozanski, from the Catholic Review of Baltimore:
Makers of sacramental wine, altar bread suffering during pandemic
Here's a struggling industry that hasn't gotten much attention during the pandemic, but attention must be paid. From CNS: With
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/27/20
Germany: over 1,400 youths accuse Catholic orders of sex abuse (DW) As the German Catholic Church seeks to acknowledge decades
Who can a Catholic vote for?
"Stop telling fellow Catholics they’re committing a mortal sin if they vote for So-and-so." — Michelle Arnold With election season
Maryland bishops issue letter marking 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote
This is something rare — and it's a little news from my home state — wherein a conference of bishops
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/26/20
Abby Johnson describes reality of abortion at convention (Politico) Abby Johnson, who quit her job running a Planned Parenthood clinic
‘We admit our error’: OCP issues apology for missal cover depicting Mormon icon
This development caused quite a stir yesterday: a leading Catholic music publisher evidently used a painting depicting a leading symbol
Catholic doctors write: ‘Guidelines to celebrate Mass safely are working’
Three Catholic doctors, including Deacon Timothy Flanigan, authored this piece, published online on the site Real Clear Science: Catholic churches
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/25/20
Suspect who punched woman at Mass identified (AP) Police say they have identified a suspect but charges have been deferred
WATCH: Cardinal Dolan’s prayer for the Republican National Convention
These are the words that opened the gathering Monday night, delivered from New York City. A moment of grace that
The new ‘Fatima’ movie: seeing is believing
My first thought when I saw the Virgin Mary was: "She's barefoot. And walking in mud." And for that reason
The critics of Pope Francis: ‘Adding more confusion to an already chaotic time’
My friend Deacon Bill Ditewig adds his voice — and what he has to say is worth hearing: No one
UPDATE: Who’s that on the cover of the OCP missal?
UPDATE: OCP has posted an explanation of this image on social media, which I've added at the end. The image
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/24/20
Woman attacks lector during Mass at Philadelphia cathedral (NBC Philadelphia) An investigation is underway after a suspect was caught on
VIDEO: Woman attacks lector during Mass at Philadelphia cathedral
The story, from NBC in Philadelphia: An investigation is underway after a suspect was caught on live video punching a
Must-read of the day: how to argue like a Christian
Anyone who spends any amount of time online needs to read this. Now. From Tom Hoopes at Aleteia: We who
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for San Bernardino — so far
I got this email late Saturday, from Rich Herbst in the bishop's office in San Bernardino: The Diocese of San
‘Strange and painful’: Detroit priest talks about the baptism that wasn’t
From the Archdiocese of Detroit, a new video featuring the priest at the center of a sacramental storm: Fr. Matthew
Alert: Detroit warns of possibly invalid baptisms performed by a deacon
This is an extraordinary letter from Archbishop Vigneron, posted on the Archdiocese of Detroit website: Dear brothers and sisters in
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Paterson
Kudos to Brooklyn's own, Bishop Kevin Sweeney, who today ordained his first batch of deacons at his new perch in
The courage to speak: Homily for August 23, 2020, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
I don’t think anyone expected that the most powerful speech at the Democratic Convention last week would be delivered by
Public prayer at a convention: ‘The divine demand for human action’
Rabbi Lauren Berkin delivered one of the prayers at the end of the Democratic National Convention Thursday night, just ahead
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/21/20
'Terrified' Catholic school teachers in Chicago call for online teaching (Chicago Sun-Times) A group representing hundreds of teachers and parents
UPDATE: Bodies of missing Detroit priest, parishioner found
Details from The Detroit Free Press: The body of the Rev. Stephen Rooney, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in
When ‘sorry’ seems to be the hardest word: On apologies and Acts of Contrition
Earlier today, I posted the news that the disgraced former bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, Michael J. Bransfield, had written a letter
Diocese releases details of how Bransfield must make ‘personal amends,’ publishes his letter of apology
From the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston website Thursday morning, a letter from Bishop Mark Brennan: I wish to announce to the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/20/20
Pandemic creates unique challenges for deaf Catholics (Chicago Catholic) COVID-19 has forced people all over the world to adapt to
Ordination update: 12 new deacons for San Antonio
Photos from the Archdiocese of San Antonio Facebook page — and details (thank you!) from Deacon Roger Macias: Archbishop Gustavo
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/19/20
More new bishops than priests to be ordained in Ireland (The Independent) More new bishops will be ordained in Ireland
Cardinal Dolan to pray at GOP convention
Details: Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York will offer a prayer at the opening of the Republican National Convention next
Beat the clock: Santa Fe issues five-minute limit on homilies — and it comes with a threat
Do you think the people in the pews are complaining? From CNA: Priests in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe have
Ordination update: 9 new deacons for San Francisco
From Catholic San Francisco: Mary’s Magnificat highlights the revolutionary changes that Christianity brings into the world and outlines the path
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/18/20
Catholic community honoring priest still missing from boating accident (WTVG) Many hearts are heavy for Catholics in Monroe County after
Death of Brooklyn priest believed to be a suicide
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, of the Archdiocese of Military Services, announced the news to priests in a letter on Monday: As
Prayers needed: for Detroit priest, parishioner missing after boating accident
Details: Police are searching for a former Monroe priest and another man after their boat carrying nearly 15 passengers capsized
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for Baton Rouge
A grateful diaconal bow to Paul Counce, for alerting me to this! From The Catholic Commentator: The new deacons are:
The Forgotten Ones: When a sister leaves religious life
"This was the most heartbreaking thing I was ever asked to do in my years of religious life." A part
VIDEO: After winning defamation suit, Detroit’s Father Perrone speaks out
From the Detroit Free Press: Father Eduard Perrone says he's been vindicated in a sex abuse case against him, and
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/17/20
Cincinnati cathedral becomes a basilica (CNA) The Archdiocese of Cincinnati announced Saturday that Pope Francis has granted the title of
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Rochester
Photo: Jeff Witherow | Catholic Courier “I’m not doing this for me. I am saying, ‘Yes, Lord, I will serve
VIDEO UPDATE from Msgr. Charles Pope: ‘My Journey Through COVID’
The Washington pastor who has been battling COVID-19 has posted a new video with an update on his condition, expressing
‘Lord, help me’: Homily for August 16, 2020, 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
If you were looking for just three words that summed up these times in which we live, they are here
CDC: one in four young adults has recently contemplated suicide
"It’s a reminder of who God is and what we are not. We have to trust in his providence to
Just another seminarian in Rome: Oscar Romero in 1942
The photo above was taken around the time of young Oscar Romero's ordination. He was born on this date in
Report: SC Catholic teachers required to sign COVID-19 waiver
"It's this or no job..." Details: Some S.C. teachers working at private Catholic schools returning to in-person instruction this month
Check this out: The Bench is getting a little bigger
Some exciting news: I'm launching a Patreon page to support The Deacon's Bench and give readers a few extra perks.
The man Maximilian Kolbe replaced at Auschwitz
Since today is the great saint's feast, here's something from the vault from 2015. The story of his martyrdom is
When a ‘Family Pastoral Service Team’ runs a parish
Not so very long ago, something like this would have been unthinkable, especially in a place like Italy. But this
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/14/20
The annual Assumption tradition: blessing the sea (CNA) For hundreds of years, Catholic parishes in coastal cities have participated in
Lives well-lived: some of the sisters who have died of COVID-19
Here's something rare for the secular press: profiles of six religious sisters who died from complications of COVID-19, from The
California church defies COVID-19 restrictions — and takes its case to court
"We open the doors because that's what we are." From CNN: To hear Pastor John MacArthur tell it, all Grace
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/13/20
Catholics react to Kamala Harris as Biden running mate (CNA) Catholics and pro-life organizations offered a range of reactions to
Mourning from afar: Grief ministry during a time of social distancing
How one diocese is doing it, from Catholic San Francisco: As people enter a fifth month of social distancing during
UPDATE: What led to the excommunication of Father Leatherby?
The Sacramento Bee has more background this morning about the excommunication of Father Jeremy Leatherby: Leatherby was suspended in 2016
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/12/20
Harris brings Baptist, interfaith roots to Dem ticket (AP) Kamala Harris, tapped on Tuesday as Joe Biden’s running mate, attended
Back to church: Sioux Falls become first diocese in U.S. to reinstate Sunday obligation
From CNA: Some Catholics in South Dakota will once again be obligated to go to Sunday Mass, after the Diocese of
Whatever happened to West Virginia’s disgraced ex-Bishop Bransfield?
The Washington Post's Michelle Boorstein decided to try and find out: More than a year after Pope Francis ordered ousted
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/11/20
Pope baptizes twins after surgery to separate them (CNS) Their heads encased in white bandages covering the wounds where they
Bishop: ‘Why I established a Personal Parish for Black Catholics’
"We're responding to the special needs of Black Catholics in our area." You may recall when this story out of
Divine inspiration: How one church in New Orleans is enforcing social distancing
This is great: from Redeemer Presbyterian Church, via Facebook:
On St. Lawrence: ‘He performed the office of deacon; it was there that he shed his own blood for the name of Christ’
Martyrdom of St. Lawrence by Mattia Preti is in the Co-Cathedral of Valletta. Image by Lawrence OP / Creative Commons
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/10/20
Future of many Catholic schools in doubt (AP) As the new academic year arrives, school systems across the United States
Urban lectio: ‘Let’s be flexible while being deeply rooted’
Tree in Queens, New York, felled by Tropical Storm Isaias. "Trees look strong compared with the wild reeds in the
Los Angeles ordains new priests in historic outdoor ceremony
From The LA Daily News: Los Angles Archbishop José Gomez ordained eight new priests on Saturday, Aug. 8 in the
Sacramento priest excommunicated ‘by his own volition’ — UPDATED
It is extraordinary for a bishop to make a statement like this about one of his priests. From The Sacramento
Walking on water: Homily for August 9, 2020, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Gospel reminded me of a trip I made back in January to Minnesota. Believe it or not, the weather
Survey: Americans oppose religious exemptions from COVID restrictions
From Pew: A new Pew Research Center survey finds that U.S. adults overwhelmingly say houses of worship should be required
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/7/20
Trump claims Biden is 'against God' (CBS News) President Trump claimed Thursday that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden --
‘A pure soul’: Grieving the sudden death of a young Catholic, the son of a priest
Isaac Scharbach is shown in prayer while attending Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington, Maryland. (Courtesy Mount St. Joseph/Catholic
CDF affirms once again: Changing the formula makes baptism invalid
"Modifying the form of the celebration of a Sacrament is a wound inflicted upon the ecclesial communion..." The Vatican has
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/6/20
Cardinal: 'The Church has a great duty' following Beirut blast (CNA)“Beirut is a devastated city. A catastrophe struck there because
NY Times: How families are finding God, grace, faith outside of church during pandemic
The paper looks at a number of religious traditions and finds we're all in the same boat: One of the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/5/20
Pope Francis prays for Lebanon (CNS) After a massive fire triggered a deadly explosion in Beirut, Pope Francis called for
Stunning video: A Catholic church is rocked by an explosion in Beirut
This was during a televised liturgy Tuesday in Lebanon. Just watch below. Social media reports that the priest, incredibly, was
Billy Graham statue to replace that of white supremacist in U.S. Capitol
From RNS: A life-sized statue of the Rev. Billy Graham will be installed in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall collection sometime next
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/4/20
Masses canceled in Manila as COVID surges (UCANews.com) A Manila bishop has canceled all Masses and liturgical celebrations in 44
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Green Bay
Photo: Sam Lucero/The Compass From the Facebook page of The Compass: Bishop David Ricken ordained eight men to the diaconate
Great moments in journalism UPDATED: The Washington Post bungles Catholic Communion
In a story Sunday about Msgr. Charles Pope — the Washington, D.C. pastor battling COVID — Rebecca Tan of The
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 8/3/20
John Hume, Irish Catholic Nobel Peace Prize laureate, dies (Reuters) John Hume, a Roman Catholic architect of Northern Ireland's Good
Urban lectio: ‘You have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow’
"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year
UPDATE: Health warning issued to Msgr. Pope’s parishioners exposed to COVID-19
Last week, I posted the news that Msgr. Charles Pope had tested positive for COVID-19 and was under quarantine. His
Loaves and fishes … and sharing?
Once again, this weekend we encounter the Gospel describing the miracle of the loaves and fishes: how thousands were fed
‘Terrorism’: Crucifix in Managua cathedral attacked
From Vatican News: Cardinal Leopoldo José Brenes, Archbishop of Managua, has described an attack on the city’s Catholic cathedral as
Diocese suspends payments to sex abuse victims, citing COVID-19
From The Philadelphia Inquirer: Citing financial losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden said Friday
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/31/20
Closure of Catholic schools is 'devastating' (NPR) Catholic schools in urban neighborhoods, often seen as an attractive option by low
What John Lewis carried: ‘The Seven Storey Mountain’ by Thomas Merton
"I think he figured that if Thomas Merton could find his way and keep his faith and believe in the
Prayer request: For Msgr. Charles Pope, who has tested positive for COVID-19
Many of you know Msgr. Charles Pope from his writings in the National Catholic Register and elsewhere. Thursday morning, a
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/30/20
San Francisco priest tells flock: COVID is real, but news reports are 'largely unreal' (SFist.com) This week we learned of
Florida diocese will require parents to sign a COVID waiver when kids go back to school
From The Tampa Bay Times: As students prepare to return to classes, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg stands ready
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/29/20
Amid racism charges against Flannery O'Connor, Loyola University Maryland renames hall (Catholic Review) Thirteen years after he named a new
‘Trump’s ambassador to Catholics’: Kimberly Guilfoyle
“I couldn’t be more proud as a devout Catholic myself to be able to spread the message and the word
A bishop on his deacons: ‘Blessings to you, and you are very important to me’
This follows the ordination over the weekend in Madison, Wisconsin: a wonderful and vocation-affirming message from Bishop Donald Hying, posted
Ordination update: 3 new deacons for Madison
From my friend Deacon Jim Hoegemeier: On Sunday, July 26, for the first time since 2004, multiple men (20 ordained
A COVID-19 wedding calculator?
Well, yes. With the news that some members of a "covert" Catholic wedding in San Francisco now have COVID-19, maybe
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/28/20
San Francisco won't take action against archdiocese for hosting wedding (San Francisco Chronicle) It appears San Francisco officials won’t take
Notre Dame withdraws from hosting first presidential debate
From CNN: The University of Notre Dame announced Monday it will withdraw from hosting the first presidential debate in September
Catch this webinar: ‘Making Cyber Space Sacred Space’
This looks like something a lot of people will want to take part in — and with my good
Urban Lectio: ‘We are the times’
“Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good.
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/27/20
Church volunteer confesses to arson at Nantes cathedral (AP) French authorities detained and charged a repentant church volunteer Sunday after
Senator: He will only support SCOTUS nominee who says Roe v. Wade was ‘wrongly decided’
Photo: by Natureofthought/Wikipedia/Creative Commons From The Washington Post: Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said
‘God loves all simple things…’
In the early 1970s Leonard Bernstein composed a dramatic oratorio, Mass, for the inauguration of the Kennedy Center for the Performing
R.I.P. Regis Francis Xavier Philbin, Catholic
Photo: Catholic New York The celebrated talk show host died this week at the age of 88. And from the
‘He goes and sells all that he has’: Homily for July 26, 2020, 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
How much are you willing to give up for God? That’s really the question this Sunday — whether we realize
City of Ventura removes statue of St. Junipero Serra
Photo by Marianne Muegenburg Cothern/Flickr/Creative Commons One of those supporting the move was the city's public works director, Deacon Phil
Father Frank Pavone resigns as advisor to Trump reelection campaign
“I’ve been requested by the competent ecclesiastical authority not to have an official title/position on the advisory boards. So, as
‘Modernist ruin’: Former Catholic seminary in Scotland given away after years of decay
Photo of seminary chapel. (by Maccoinnich~commonswiki, Wikipedia/Creative Commons) Some news for devotees of ugly architecture, from the BBC: The ownership
SCOTUS rejects church’s challenge to shutdown restrictions
From The New York Times: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request from a church in Nevada to block enforcement of
Gallup looks at ‘Joe Biden and the Catholic Factor’
Photo: by Phil Roeder/Creative Commons license The polling giant has some interesting analysis today from one of its scientists, Frank
WATCH: Reunion of little girl and her parents after ‘accidental exile’ caused by the pandemic
This slays me. This little girl was visiting her grandmother in Ukraine when Israel sealed its borders, due to COVID-19.
Deacons find innovative ways to serve during the pandemic
Check this out, from Denver Catholic: Our eyes may be used to the men who assist the priest during the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/24/20
Attacks on Catholic statues seen as 'signs of society in need of healing' (CNS) A wave of recent attacks on
‘An act of self-harm’: Historic cathedral in Vietnam being demolished
From The New York Times: The historic Bui Chu Cathedral in Vietnam, a 135-year-old church considered by many an architectural
Can you get the coronavirus through holy water?
This video popped up on social media the other day, touting a "contactless" holy water dispenser, presumably helping to protect
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/23/20
Lawsuit: McCarrick ran beach house 'sex ring' (NJ.com) In a lawsuit, they charged other priests served as “procurers” to bring
Ordination update: 20 new deacons for Kansas City
Photo: Jenny Frazee/The Leaven From The Leaven: Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said he is hoping that with the ordination of
Ordination update: 22 new deacons for Newark
It happened on July 11, the Feast of St. Benedict. In an unusual move, Cardinal Joseph Tobin ordained the men
Mary Magdalene’s witness: ‘Here’s what I can tell you: I was one way. And now I am completely different.’
Today marks the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. I was reminded of this beautiful scene in "The Chosen," when Nicodemus
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/22/20
Catholic, Orthodox churches to observe day of mourning for Hagia Sophia (CNA) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Tuesday
Lord, have mercy: Michigan convent loses 13 sisters to coronavirus
From CNN, via the Global Sisters Report: Coronavirus spread so quickly through a convent in Michigan that it claimed the
California county may remove St. Junipero Serra from official seal
From CNA: The Ventura County seal’s left side is dominated by an image of Serra, with a mission church in
Are they wearing masks at your parish?
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay This story out of Minnesota suggests the practice is far from uniform: Mask-wearing is
Planned Parenthood to remove Sanger’s name from NYC clinic
From The New York Times: Planned Parenthood of Greater New York will remove the name of Margaret Sanger, a founder
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/21/20
Catholic cathedral in Syria that survived missile attacks reopens (CNA) A Catholic cathedral that was repeatedly struck by missiles amid
New Vatican document discusses role of deacons in parishes — UPDATED
This piece of news got some attention Monday morning: The Vatican reiterated July 20 that Catholic parishes should normally be
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/20/20
Statue of Jesus beheaded in Florida church (AP) Someone beheaded a statue of Jesus Christ in the courtyard of a
Urban lectio: Love is possible
Sticker posted on a scaffolding in Queens. "Some people ask how it is possible to speak of good news when
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Tulsa
From the diocesan Facebook page: On July 18, 2020 at Holy Family Cathedral, Bishop David Konderla ordained seven men into
Philadelphia deacon blends spreadsheets, sacraments, service
Photo: Sarah Webb/CatholicPhilly.com A nice profile of a newly ordained deacon from CatholicPhilly.com: A longtime archdiocesan staffer, newly ordained as
Wheat among weeds: Homily for July 19, 2020, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Note: At my parish this summer, we're dealing with a hot hall, loud fans and uncomfortable folding chairs, plus masks
Fire breaks out at historic Nantes cathedral; arson suspected
From CNN: An arson investigation has being launched into a fire that broke out in a cathedral in the western
‘Unconstitutional abuse of power’: Churches sue California’s governor over ban on singing
From RNS: Three evangelical churches in California have sued Gov. Gavin Newsom for banning singing and chanting in places of
Auf Wiedersehen: German archdiocese plans to cut parishes from 1,000 to 40
Some jaw-dropping news, from CNA: A German archdiocese is pressing ahead with plans to dramatically reduce the number of its
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/17/20
Auxiliary / Vicar General of Chicago named bishop of Joliet (Vatican) The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Ronald A. Hicks,
Jonathan Morris is engaged
Details from The Daily Mail: Fox News priest Jonathan Morris is engaged to be married, DailyMail.com can reveal. The Fox
Scorsese on life in lockdown: ‘It focused me on the essentials of my life’
The acclaimed film director spoke recently with Antonio Spadaro, S.J., for La Civiltà Cattolica about his experience over the last
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/16/20
A new bishop for Cleveland (Vatican News) The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Edward C. Malesic of the Diocese of
History: Archdiocese of Los Angeles gets its first basilica
From Angelus: When Father Tom Elewaut saw the name on his phone’s caller ID the night of June 30, the
We need this: some encouraging news on COVID-19 research
From Bloomberg, a profile of researcher Sarah Gilbert, who is making tremendous strides with the Oxford vaccine: At the end
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/15/20
Study: lead poisoning from Notre Dame fire worse than first thought (CNS) When the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris went
Where did the Payroll Protection Program money go? One priest explains.
An important read, from CNS: By some estimates, thousands of individual churches, schools, food pantries and other social service programs
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/14/20
Archbishop recovers from COVID, dies of strokes (CNS) A leading Bangladeshi archbishop died just weeks after apparently recovering from COVID-19,
So this is a thing now: clergy face masks
Look what I found on Etsy. Details: Masks are reversible and made with a black cotton/polyester blend outer layer (with
As COVID cases surge, California bans indoor church services, closes gyms, restaurants and more
Details: Bars and inside restaurant dining are banned throughout California, while indoor religious services, gyms and hair and nail salons
Panel rules charges against Detroit’s Father Perrone are ‘false and defamatory’
Some big news from The Macomb Daily: A Macomb County Sheriff’s detective’s claim that a suspended Detroit Catholic priest sexually
A message to a devastated mission: ‘Let us bear every hardship for the love of You and the salvation of souls’
From Angelus News, here is part of Archbishop Gomez's homily to the people of the San Gabriel Mission, after fire
Urban lectio: Devotion
These women were praying Sunday morning after Mass in the "Mary Garden" outside my parish in Queens. Several weeks ago,
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/13/20
Man charged in arson attack on Florida Catholic church (AP) A man accused of setting a Florida church on fire
Meet the TV news anchor who became a priest
Wait. What?! From CNA: This Sunday, a Catholic priest will embark on a 320-mile, 5-day bike ride to recruit young
‘It truly is a loss for all of our history here in California’
An investigation is under way to determine what caused the fire that destroyed much of the San Gabriel Mission yesterday.
‘Shocking’: Far fewer persecuted Christians being admitted to U.S.
From The Washington Post: The number of Christian refugees admitted to the United States after fleeing persecution in their native
‘Heartbreaking’: fire destroys historic San Gabriel Mission
From The Los Angeles Times: A massive fire ripped through the 249-year-old San Gabriel Mission early Saturday, destroying the roof
Need a smile? Here. You’re welcome.
From those clever people at Anheuser-Busch, here's a rare new Budweiser commercial that is not debuting during the Super Bowl
Bishops respond to AP report on Paycheck Protection Program
St. Lawrence giving the wealth to the poor (by Palma Il Giovane, 1582). This item from the Associated Press got
Erdogan signs order allowing Muslim prayers in Hagia Sophia
It seems inevitable that this cherished landmark — originally a Byzantine Christian cathedral — will now become a mosque. From
A priest writes about ‘the unchurching of Catholics’ — and what to do about it
This is a sobering read, but one well worth your time, from my friend and former blog neighbor Msgr. Eric
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/10/20
Notre Dame spire to be restored to original design (BBC) The spire of Notre Dame cathedral, which was destroyed in
More COVID-19 casualties: 20 New York City Catholic schools to close
The announcement: The Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of New York today announced 20 Catholic schools
‘What I missed most about being quarantined was serving at Mass as a deacon’
From The Hawaii Catholic Herald, Deacon Fred Carahasen describes an experience I think many deacons will recognize: Coming out of
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/9/20
How SCOTUS ruling could affect cases of teachers fired from Catholic school over same-sex marriage (IndyStar) The ruling could hurt
NY Times: ‘New outbreaks of coronavirus are surging through churches’
Details: Weeks after President Trump demanded that America’s shuttered houses of worship be allowed to reopen, new outbreaks of the
‘Friends, Catholics must stop tearing each other apart online…’
This latest video from Bishop Robert Barron says something we all need to hear right now: We should be outraged
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/8/20
Supreme Court rulings side with religious employers (The New York Times) The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Trump administration
Must-read: Dr. Fauci’s boss on the pandemic, vaccines and faith
A grateful diaconal bow to my friend Father Dan Pacholec, who posted this on Facebook. From New York magazine, here's
Sister who died of COVID-19 reportedly first nun in India to be cremated
Heartbreaking, via UCA News: Ashes of the first Indian Catholic nun to be cremated were interred in her congregation’s cemetery
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/7/20
Faith leaders ask Congress to increase overseas pandemic aid (CNS) Three dozen faith-based organizations, including Catholic Relief Services, have asked
We started having public Masses again. Here’s what happened.
After nearly four months, we resumed public Masses at my parish this weekend, and what a blessing it was. It
A few saintly deacons you may not have heard about
My friend Kevin di Camillo draws our attention to a few of them in the National Catholic Register: St. Ephrem
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/6/20
Serra statue destroyed at state capital (The Sacramento Bee) A statue of Junipero Serra, the Franciscan priest who helped to
The faith of Hamilton — and ‘Hamilton’
Like a lot of people with a pulse, I saw "Hamilton" this weekend. (Spoiler alert: everything you've heard is true.
The song goes on: Homily for July 5, 2020, 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Note: This weekend, my parish resumes Sunday Masses for the first time in almost four months. The other day PBS
A cardinal’s homily at an ordination: ‘Don’t expect it to be easy’
Last weekend, Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ ordained 18 men — 2 priests and 18 deacons — from all around the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/3/20
California bans singing in churches (Sacramento Bee) Updated COVID-19 guidelines issued Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health require
Archdiocese of San Francisco ordered to halt indoor public Masses
Details from CNA: The Archdiocese of San Francisco is pledging to comply with the city and county public health orders
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/2/20
Tucson suspends public worship among COVID-19 surge (KOLD) the Diocese of Tucson once again suspended public worship in response to
What happened to Father Thomas Haake?
Some of you may have seen this on social media: @TaylorRMarshall please pray for Fr. Thomas Haake, he was
‘Junípero sought to defend the dignity of the native community…’
For today, the Feast of St. Junípero Serra, here's a flashback from five years ago: "The Church, the holy People
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 7/1/20
Georg Ratzinger, Benedict's brother, dies at 96 (Vatican News) Georg Ratzinger, the older brother of the Pope emeritus, has died,
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Las Cruces
A grateful diaconal bow to shiny new Deacon John Eric Munson, who sent me this happy news: Ten men were
USCCB releases annual survey on the permanent diaconate
Some must-read material on deacons from the U.S. bishops this week: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on
Gun show at Catholic parish draws protest in Wisconsin
Details, via NCR: A retired Catholic school teacher is protesting how a small Catholic church in rural Wisconsin has been
Quote of the day: Pope Francis’s message to the Catholic Press Association
This is something remarkable: a message from the Holy Father to members of the Catholic Press Association, beginning a "virtual
SCOTUS opens door to funding religious schools
From CNN: In a ruling that will open the door to more public funding for religious education, the Supreme Court
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/30/20
Catholic high school investigating videos of students using racial slurs (The Hartford Courant) Two students at East Catholic High School
Urban Lectio: street evangelization
For the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, a prayer for all the evangelizers in our world, however they do
BREAKING: SCOTUS strikes down law on abortion restrictions
This is the story people will be talking about today. From The New York Times: The Supreme Court on Monday
Pope Francis: ‘They did not complain about Peter; they prayed for him…’
From the pope's homily for today, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul: It is pointless, even tedious, for Christians
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/29/20
Thieves steal chalices, crucifixes from New Orleans church (NOLA.com) Someone stole chalices, crucifixes and other religious objects from St. Francis
‘He’s gonna come down’: Clash over statue of St. Louis
From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Tensions flared Saturday atop Art Hill in Forest Park over the symbolism behind a statue
Priest asked grads to take off masks to sing. Now one of them has COVID.
From The Miami Herald: During the Belen Jesuit Preparatory School’s graduation mass June 15, school president Fr. Guillermo M. García-Tuñón
Atheist, husband, father — and now, a Catholic priest
A remarkable journey: check out this profile of Deacon Peter Okahima, who will — as of Saturday June 27 —
Taking up your cross: Homily for June 28, 2020, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Nobody ever said it would be easy. Last Sunday, you’ll remember, Jesus told his disciples to expect to be hated
‘Letter to a New Catholic’: A Black deacon’s thoughts on race, liturgy and the American church
Over the last few days, there's been some interesting reaction to this post about Pittsburgh creating a "personal parish" for
‘O say, can you see…’: A rendition of the National Anthem you have to see
Just in time for Independence Day, here's one of the simplest, purest, most heartfelt and most welcome renditions of the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/26/20
Miami archbishop: churches safe, despite COVID-19 spike (Vatican News) “The priests were still offering the people of God the essential
Bishops: clergy sex abuse claims tripled in 2019
From AP: U.S. Roman Catholic bishops said Thursday that the church tallied 4,434 sex abuse allegations against clergy in the
Survey: 43% of U.S. Catholics consider life ‘sacred’; most Americans do not believe life has intrinsic value
This is pretty astonishing, via Christian Post: Around six in 10 Americans do not believe that human life is inherently
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/25/20
Vatican releases new directory for catechesis (Vatican News) The long-awaited updated Directory for Catechesis was released in the Vatican on
Ordination update: 19 new deacons for Colorado Springs
They were ordained by Bishop Michael Sheridan on June 20 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church. You can read profiles of
Ordination update: 6 new deacons for La Crosse
Happy news, from the diocesan website: On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 10 a.m., Mr. Arturo Vigueras Estrada, Mr. Michael
Serra statue removed from San Luis Obispo Mission
From The San Luis Obispo Tribune: The Catholic Church abruptly removed a long-standing statue of Junípero Serra from the San
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/24/20
Update on condition of 75-year-old protestor Martin Gugino (NBC New York) The 75-year-old New York protester who fractured his skull when
Cross and graves vandalized at Catholic college cemetery
From CNA: A man has been arrested and charged with vandalism and assault after swastikas were painted on the graves
Trump threatens arrest, 10-year prison term for vandalism
From Newsweek: President Donald Trump warned protesters they face 10 years in prison after targeting a statue of Andrew Jackson, while the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/23/20
New Catholic bishop arrives in Alabama during pandemic (AL.com) Bishop Steven J. Raica has moved from Michigan to Alabama and
Beautiful: under COVID-19 lockdown, a priest visits Manila’s slums to minister to the poor
This may be the last thing anyone expected to see in The New York Times on Monday, but here it
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/22/20
Archbishop issues statement on Serra statue: 'What is happening to our society?' (Archdiocese of San Francisco) What is happening to
From police officer to deacon to priest
A great vocation story, from NJ.com: As a Jersey City policeman for 25 years, Stephen Sansevere answered many calls. But
For Father’s Day: Prayer to St. Joseph
St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported
Deacon ordination postponed after candidate tests positive for COVID-19
From the Archdiocese of Newark: Please be advised that the ordination of 23 permanent deacons scheduled for Saturday, June 27,
Back to church in Brooklyn: Diocese announces plans to resume public Masses
It's taken a long time, but it's finally happening. The press release: The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn,
WATCH: Protesters topple statue of St. Junipero Serra
This happened in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQNHplU0kig The story from The Mercury News: Statues of Fr. Junipero Serra,
Pittsburgh establishes personal parish for Black Catholics
The announcement from the diocese: As a follow-up to a listening session on February 23, 2020, Bishop David Zubik is
Pope declares religious sister brutally killed in satanic ritual to be a martyr
I was unfamiliar with her, but this is a story more people should know. From CNA: Pope Francis declared Friday
His eye is on the sparrow: Homily for June 21, 2020, 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In 1905, a Canadian-American writer by the name of Civilla Martin was traveling with her husband through Elmira, New York
Hero: priest donates kidney to help young mother
Great story, from The Criterion: Like many parents, Rebeca Barcenas had this one overwhelming prayer that she continually shared with
WATCH: A ‘virtual’ Stations of the Cross about racism
This is a remarkable undertaking: Bishops from throughout the state of California will release a video today reenacting the Stations
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/19/20
New bishop named for Duluth (Vatican Media) Pope Francis on Friday appointed Father Michel Mulloy as the new Bishop of
RIP, Jean Kennedy Smith
The last surviving sibling of JFK has passed. From The New York Times: Jean Kennedy Smith, a sister of the
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/18/20
Shock: tabernacle stolen from North Carolina church (The Watauga Democrat) According to Boone Police, an unknown suspect or suspects entered
Is this the best TV commercial ever?
This has been around for a few years, but I didn't see it until today. It is an instant classic.
READ: Columbus Catholic School president responds to name change petition
Following up on this development from the other day, David J. Eaton has published the following in a local paper
On raising a future saint: ‘I was not the ideal model of a Catholic mother’
Here's something to give all of hope: an interview with the mother of Carlo Acutis, who will be beatified this
The church bulletin: Catholic headlines for 6/17/20
I'm trying something new: a morning roundup of Catholic news and commentary that may not be on everybody's radar. Take
Petition to change name of Columbus Catholic Schools
UPDATE: The school's president has responded to the petition. Read more here. Details: An online petition is calling for Columbus Catholic Schools
‘Cannonball killer’: West Virginia sees surge in COVID-19 cases linked to churches
From Yahoo news: Less than a month after President Trump urged churches to reopen, West Virginia has reported a significant number
Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Philadelphia
From archdiocese's Facebook page, a posting by Archbishop Nelson Perez: This morning [Saturday June 13] at the Cathedral Basilica of
‘We are a community, nourished by the body and blood of Christ’
From Pope Francis' Angelus address for Corpus Christi: First, the Apostle states that: “The cup of blessing that we bless,
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Pittsburgh
From the Diocese of Pittsburgh Facebook page: Today [Saturday, June 13] eight men were ordained to the permanent diaconate at
The lesson of Corpus Christi from the life of Father Walter Ciszek
“Do this in remembrance of me.” There you have it: six words that changed the world. They come to us
The world has lost a great priest: Father John Jay Hughes
Somehow, I missed this news when it broke earlier this week. Another redwood in the forest has fallen. Dawn Eden
Amazing: two brothers ordained priests on the same day
How often does that happen?! From CNA: Peyton and Connor Plessala are brothers from Mobile, Alabama. They’re 18 months— one
Now I’ve seen everything: deacon face masks
Yes, indeed. On sale now from The Deacon Store. Details: Two-layer cloth face mask made in breathable Poly/Cotton Blend Fabric,
A priest reflects: ‘One month ago today I was ordained a Catholic priest…’
My friend Father Sean Smith posted this on his Facebook page yesterday: One month ago today I was ordained a
Springfield’s Bishop Mitch Rozanski to St. Louis
A little news this morning about a native Marylander, from the Vatican: The Holy Father accepted the renunciation of the
The story behind Monday’s Catholic rally in Washington
Mark Zimmerman from the Catholic Standard has the story, which corrects a number of inaccuracies floating around social media: After
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Lexington
It happened Saturday at the Cathedral of Christ the King: Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. ordained six new permanent deacons
Urban Lectio: Sign of Solidarity
The sign above appeared at the Black Lives Matter rally in Forest Hills, Queens on Saturday. + "Let the Church
‘Cry Out With Joy’: Words of encouragement during troubled times
Behold, a blessed gift for Trinity Sunday: several of the leaders of song from my parish, under the musical direction
Vatican to launch ‘Catholic Netflix’
This is different, from Crux: In a move to keep pace with the rapidly developing digital culture, top Vatican officials
‘Racism inflicts more wounds on the Body of Christ’
This seems a good time to repost this...from a homily I first delivered in 2017. "If you’ve never heard this
Bare feet, full hearts: Watch as Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are ordained in Newark
H/T to my friends at Aleteia who posted this yesterday. It appears to have taken place last weekend, timed
Urban Lectio: Praying for a ‘world emancipated from violence’
New York City is different these days. These pictures were taken three blocks from my living room in Queens. During
China: To reopen churches, priests must ‘preach on patriotism’
From CNS: Catholics are upset about a directive from China's communist government asking priests to "preach on patriotism" as a
Ordination update: 14 new deacons for Savannah; one who attended diagnosed with COVID-19
From Southern Cross: The high school coach tried to stop himself from crying but the tears made their way down
Another possible casualty of COVID-19: retreat centers
From Catholic San Francisco: The coronavirus pandemic has dealt severe financial blows to Bay Area retreat centers, putting some of
Pope Francis speaks out on racism and ‘the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd’
From his General Audience Wednesday: Dear brothers and sisters in the United States, I have witnessed with great concern the
Minneapolis parish becomes sanctuary during riots
From CNA: When protests following the death of George Floyd turned violent Thursday night, a small Catholic parish in Minneapolis
UPDATED: Archbishop Gregory issues statement on Trump visit to shrine
You may have heard by now that President Trump is visiting the St. John Paul II Shrine in Washington Tuesday.
St. John Paul’s message for our time: ‘On my knees, I beg you to turn away from the paths of violence’
"Peace cannot be established by violence, peace can never flourish in a climate of terror, intimidation and death. It is
The Daughters of St. Paul bookstore was looted — and their response is classic
It happened in Chicago over the weekend. Windows were shattered and the bookstore was looted. This post on Twitter tells
On Pentecost: ‘Celebrate this day of days’ and the gifts that keep on giving
"This morning, you may not see tongues of fire fall. But pray for the light – and for the heat.
Urban Lectio: Hunger
The photo above shows part of the line outside an emergency food pantry run by a synagogue in Queens, New
Did you use to pretend they were communion wafers?
It's a Catholic Thing for Catholic kids, I know: using Necco wafers as hosts for play or for practice. Well
BREAKING: Maryland county to drop ban on Eucharist
Here's a welcome update to this story that I posted this morning. Details, via the Archdiocese of Baltimore: In an
Survivor: meet the New Orleans deacon who nearly died from COVID-19
A great profile from NOLA.com: For the most intimate moments of his parishioners' lives, Deacon Uriel Durr has been there
Banned: ‘There shall be no consumption of food or beverage of any kind during religious services’
3:30 pm ET UPDATE: The county announced it will rescind the order. Read about it here. Shocking news from my
‘Sharing resources’: Pittsburgh to merge 60 parishes into 15
From KDKA: The Catholic Diocese Of Pittsburgh announced more than 60 parishes will merge into 15 on July 1. These
Pope approves miracle, clearing way to beatify founder of Knights of Columbus
From Vatican News: Pope Francis on Wednesday advanced the causes for canonization of twelve holy men and women, authorizing the
WATCH: Doorbell camera captures Amazon driver praying for sick child
Here's something you don't see every often on the nightly news. NBC News broadcast this report last night, telling the
Ordination update: 11 new deacons for Lafayette
Wonderful news — and boy, do we need it now. A reader dropped me a note to let me know
Powerful weapon: Pope to pray rosary with Marian shrines, asking for help in pandemic
From Vatican News: The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization announces that Pope Francis is to join Marian sanctuaries
Bishop appoints woman to succeed episcopal vicar
Details from the U.K.'s The Tablet: Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian
Nobody puts Baby in a corner — or Jesus in a baggie
That famous line from "Dirty Dancing" came to mind when I saw these latest pictures. First, the image above has
‘God bless y’all’: Blessing the boats in Louisiana
A Louisiana tradition continued this weekend. As a local report put it: A Catholic deacon and pastor continued their tradition
A Memorial Day prayer: ‘We come together on common ground’
This Sunday I had the privilege of offering the invocation once again at the local American Legion Memorial Day celebration
Church of the Holy Sepulchre reopens in Jerusalem
Good news, via CNA: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is reopening this weekend, after being closed in
Masks are mandatory: Brooklyn announces reopening plans
The press release: The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn, is pleased to announce that churches in the Diocese
The room where it happened: Homily for May 24, 2020, 7th Sunday of Easter
The scripture this Sunday takes us to what has been called “the most important room in all of Christendom” —
‘In America, we need more prayer, not less’: Trump calls on governors to let houses of worship reopen
Details: President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration is issuing guidance deeming places of worship "essential" during the coronavirus
‘Faith Forward’: New York City begins planning to reopen churches
But a precise date is still unknown. From Currents in Brooklyn: Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Bishop Nicholas
Yes, the new Word on Fire Bible is really that good
Social media has been buzzing about this new Bible for several days, and I finally got my hands on it
Defiance: Despite state order, Minnesota Catholic churches to reopen
'We can worship in a way that reflects both the love of God and the love of our neighbors.' From
How a Queens priest who survived COVID-19 ministers to his flock
Here's a really good piece in The New York Times — kudos to photojournalist James Estrin! — about Brooklyn's own
Missionaries at home: Homily for May 21, 2020, The Ascension of the Lord
The other day I read the remarkable story of a man by the name of Oliver Blanchette. Oliver Blanchette was
Reopened Catholic church in Houston closes after 3 priests are diagnosed with COVID-19
Details: A Catholic church in the Houston area is closed again after three priests tested positive for COVID-19. According to
Children make First Communion in Ireland — but from home
Wha—? Details from RTE: A group of children have made their First Holy Communion virtually today - from the comfort
Want to love your neighbor? Wear a mask.
My friend Dr. Barbara Golder offers some sane advice here, via Catholic News Agency: Although some people have raised objections
‘If you are a deacon, you don’t need clericals; other people need you in clericals.’
As happens from time to time, there was a discussion recently on a diaconate Facebook page about deacons wearing the
Pope Benedict: John Paul deserves to be called ‘The Great’
The pope emeritus raised the issue in a letter to mark the 100th anniversary of his predecessor's birth. From Crux:
A young Brooklyn priest at the pandemic epicenter: ‘The Lord put me in this parish for a reason’
The AP this week posted a heart-rending story about a young priest in my diocese coping with the death of
Dear Abbey: Norbertines selling site in California
Here's a real estate listing you don't hear about every day, as reported in the Orange County Register: So what’s
Is this the future of the Church?
Elizabeth Scalia offers a glimpse into the not-too-distant future, in her blog at Word on Fire: If the given value
The friar on the frontlines in New York City
In New York City, the number of COVID-19 cases now stretches past 185,000, with more than 20,000 deaths. In my
A landmark easily overlooked in Rome
When we visited Rome in 2016, I was surprised at how many people just walked by this spot and didn't
A note about that ‘Be Not Afraid’ video
Well, this was unexpected. A lot of you have seen and shared that video for 'Be Not Afraid' that was
‘It has been the journey of a lifetime’: a husband, father and deacon becomes a priest
In less than 48 hours, on Saturday May 9th, my friend Deacon Sean Smith will be ordained a priest, to
Must-see video: Pope Francis prays for deacons
The Holy Father offers a special prayer intention every month — and for May, he asks the world to pray
COVID-19 fallout: Diocese of Phoenix cuts staff, discontinues newspaper
From the diocesan website: The suspension of public Masses, the closing of schools and the limiting of public gatherings has
Look who’s a big fan of Padre Pio: Joe Piscopo
Who knew? My friends at the St. Pio Foundation released this news Monday: In a newly released video, famed entertainer Joe
He came to New York to help in the pandemic, and died of COVID-19
A true American hero: On the same day that New York City’s 911 dispatchers fielded a volume of calls not seen
Man charged with killing Nigerian seminarian says he killed him for preaching the Gospel
A couple months back, I posted the story of the kidnapping and murder of a seminarian in Nigeria. Now, the
If you aren’t able to go to confession this Saturday, here’s another idea
Spend some time watching movies with confession scenes. From my friend Deacon Steven Greydanus: From the earliest days of the
Following the Shepherd: Homily for May 3, 2020, 4th Sunday of Easter
Of all the heroes that have emerged from this pandemic, one of the most surprising is a young man from
‘We will not be able to resume church life as we knew it before…’
My bishop released the following letter to the people of Brooklyn and Queens this afternoon: To the Faithful of the
Join in prayer: consecrating our country to Mary on May 1
The bishops of the United States and Canada will consecrate their countries to Mary this afternoon, May 1, at 3
From robes to scrubs: Dominican seminarian returns to medicine during pandemic
Pray for this young man and those he serves. As the Dominican website notes: Bro Chris Gault OP is a
RIP: Ray Repp, composer of ‘Allelu,’ ‘Hear, O Lord’
Boy, these songs bring me back to my youth. Long before "guitar Masses" were a certifiable thing, and a staple
Listen: Interview with Phyllis Zagano on women in the Church
My friend Mike Lewis over at Where Peter Is interviewed Dr. Phyllis Zagano for his podcast Peter's Field Hospital. She
Peddling faith: priest bicycles to parishioners’ homes to offer blessings
I remain inspired by the ingenuity and selflessness of our clergy during these challenging times. The Gospel will not be
‘Things will get better’: The real life ‘Rudy’ has a message for high school students on lockdown
The Notre Dame football legend made a special video for students at his Illinois high school: World-famous Joliet Catholic High School
‘While the Church must be political, it should not be partisan’
From Deacon Walter Ayres, director of the Diocese of Albany’s Commission on Peace and Justice, in The Evangelist newspaper: The
Honoring the other Pope John Paul
Pope Francis is creating a foundation named in honor of Pope John Paul I: The Rescript, dated 17 February, says
During pandemic, priest visits isolated parishioners to bless their homes
Need some good news? Here you go. From Ireland, the story of a man ministering to his flock the best
Shock: COVID-19 devastating Maryknoll community in New York
From WABC-TV in New York: A religious community in Westchester County has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Three
Ordination update: a deacon for the Amazon makes history
This item and the accompanying pictures appeared on the Facebook page for REPAM, the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network: On March 15,
Online workshop: ‘Spirituality of the Diaconate in a Time of Crisis’
My friend Silas Henderson of the Salvatorians contacted me Saturday with some great news: I wanted to let you know
Looking for a Catholic therapist?
This popped up on my Facebook feed Saturday. During these challenging times, more of us are facing stresses and strains
COVID shock: Father comes off ventilator to learn his wife and son have died
Pray for this family: Twenty-year-old Luis Tapiru II became one of the youngest casualties of COVID-19 in the Chicago area
What do you miss?
It's weird and disorienting, isn't it, this time we're living through? But it's also a good opportunity, I think, to
Seeing Christ in every moment: Cardinal Nichols’ homily for healthcare workers
This beautiful homily was delivered Thursday, April 23 by Cardinal Vincent Nichols at the Mass for healthcare workers, carers, the
‘It has rocked us’: Daughter remembers her deacon father who died from COVID-19
A heartbreaking story out of Yorkshire, England: The daughter of a “gentle family man” and devoted church deacon has paid
‘I see your light in the dark’: Watch Alicia Keys’ anthem for our age, ‘Good Job’
The singer-songwriter offered this tribute to America's essential workers Thursday night during a CNN Town Hall. Just watch. (Look for
Georgia’s bishops announce continued suspension of public liturgies
Georgia's governor is beginning to re-open the state — but the bishops have decided that won't include churches. They wrote
Michigan Catholics find a haven during the pandemic at Marian grotto
It's rare to see a report like this in the secular media. But a local TV station in Michigan has
A deacon’s advice for coping during COVID-19 lockdown
Words of wisdom from a deacon in Chicago, via Chicago Catholic: For more than a month, everyone in Illinois has
And now, Texas: four Catholic schools to close in Galveston-Houston
The pandemic continues to take a toll on Catholic education. Following the recent news about the Diocese of Camden, now
Father Frank Pavone’s next move
CNA's Matt Hadro has the scoop: Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, says he will serve in
Wow: Franciscan University to cover 100% of tuition costs for new students this fall
This is remarkable, and may be unique among private universities in the United States. The press release: In response to
World Youth Day, World Meeting of Families both postponed
More casualties of the pandemic: Pope Francis has decided to postpone by one year World Youth Day and the World
Pandemic tip: What can you do about a face mask and foggy glasses?
I've had this problem. If you wear glasses, you know what I'm talking about. Breathing inevitably sends air up into
Pope Francis on Divine Mercy Sunday: ‘We too have experienced our frailty’
From the pope's beautiful homily this morning: Dear brothers and sisters, in the time of trial that we are presently
COVID-19 gives rise to diaconal ministry: spiritual listener
This initiative was launched last week by deacons in San Bernardino, and is staffed by deacons (and sometimes their wives
Greek Easter: ‘For us to continue being together, this year we stay apart’
Our Eastern siblings will celebrate Easter this weekend, and Greece is doing everything it can to ban crowds. From The
Harry Connick, Jr. pays tribute to Catholic priest who died from COVID-19
Beautiful, via Staten Island Live: Before he was a celebrity crooner, Harry Connick Jr. received friendship, encouragement – and a
‘Sobering and painful’: New Jersey diocese to close five Catholic schools
The Diocese of Camden made the announcement Friday on its website: The decision to close the schools is difficult. Years
Something unusual: a diaconate ordination during Lent in a time of pandemic
Here's something you don't see often. Details from New Liturgical Movement: On Holy Wednesday, April 8, His Excellency Roger Foys,
COVID-19 delay: some ordinations being postponed
There have been rumblings about this over the last couple weeks, and this seems to confirm what I've been hearing.
What are nuns doing during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain? See for yourself.
Ladies and gentlemen: holy hoops! As the note on YouTube puts it: Check-out these nuns hooping at a monastery in
Video of the year: Andrea Bocelli’s ‘Amazing Grace’ really is amazing
He has just released the official video of the hymn that concluded his historic concert at Milan's Duomo on Easter
New Mexico diocese becomes first in U.S. to resume public Masses
Details: The Bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico, has lifted a diocesan ban on the public celebration of Mass, issued
Is this the world’s smallest Catholic church?
It claims to be the smallest active Catholic church on earth. Check this out: When you think of Texas, you
A Queens hospital chaplain at the epicenter of the pandemic
From The Queens Chronicle comes this personal glimpse into the life of a hospital chaplain today, featuring my friend the
New York gets a call from Pope Francis
This item appeared this afternoon on the Archdiocese of New York website: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, released
LISTEN: ‘Shelter Me,’ pandemic hymn composed by Rev. Michael Joncas
CNS has the backstory: With churches under lockdown and parishioners and clergy unable to gather in person, Catholics connecting online
Richmond pastor removed over blog posts
Catholics in the Diocese of Richmond found this news in the local paper, the Martinsville Bulletin: Father Mark White has
Urban lectio: ‘We will reopen soon’
Walking through a world where so many places have been closed, shuttered, locked up and boarded up, I was struck
How a prayer became a blockbuster: behind Andrea Bocelli’s Easter concert
The singer had said he wanted to do it as a kind of prayer with and for the world on
Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue transformed into a doctor for Easter
Using light projections, organizers for this event made the iconic Jesus statue in Rio an M.D. — and then projected
Champion athlete who cares for COVID-19 patients baptized at Easter
A great story with some good news during these troubled times, via Reuters: Akos Vanek, a former triathlon World Cup
‘This is Resurrection day!’
I think we could use this right about now, a little Easter chaser at the end of the feast. I've
Pandemic casualties: Catholic magazines to cease print publication
The closing of parishes and schools in the last few weeks is having a ripple effect — including this sad
Spreading ‘the contagion of hope’: The pope’s extraordinary message for these extraordinary times
In a dramatic and somber setting — a nearly empty St. Peter's Basilica on Easter morning — the Holy Father
Sacramental shift: COVID-19 has changed the anointing of the sick
The Los Angeles Times this weekend looks at how one of the cherished sacraments of the Catholic Church —
‘Do not be afraid’: Homily for Easter Vigil, April 11, 2020
A couple years ago in Kosovo, in what used to be Serbia, the diocese dedicated the first cathedral in the
‘I don’t know if we can keep up the pace’: hunger hits San Antonio
This report gives a dramatic glimpse of people lined up to get help from a local food bank in San
‘I believe in the strength of praying together’: Andrea Bocelli’s Easter gift to the world
Details: As church-goers across the globe are ordered to stay indoors and practice social distancing, Andrea Bocelli made an announcement
First responders: Chicago creates special cadre of priests to minister to COVID-19 patients
This deserves more attention — and should be emulated everywhere. From The Chicago Tribune: As the medical crisis deepened, religious
Vatican announces new commission to study women deacons
This popped up on the Vatican bulletin Wednesday. Unlike the previous commission, this one actually includes two deacons — both
New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine to become field hospital
Extraordinary news, from The Washington Post: The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, one of the largest
Heartbreak hits home: First Brooklyn deacon dies of COVID-19
The Diocese of Brooklyn has lost another clergyman. This news has been circulating on Facebook this morning: Deacon Jamie "Jimmy"
Pope Francis: ‘People are born to serve God’
He offered a pointed message to the faithful during his Mass this morning—and it will resonate, I think, with deacons.
A call to America’s bishops in a time of pandemic: ‘This should be their finest hour’
My friend Dr. Gerard Nadal, a microbiologist in New York City, has some thoughts on how the church is
BREAKING: Cardinal Pell to be freed after conviction overturned
From CNN: Cardinal George Pell will be immediately freed from prison after Australia's High Court unanimously overturned his conviction on
Cardinal on holding church services during pandemic: ‘Absolutely irresponsible’
Toronto's Cardinal Thomas Collins was interviewed by Canada's CTV Sunday. The interview touched on a wide range of topics, from
COVID-19: New York City weighs ‘temporary’ burials
That's one proposal: Temporary burials are being planned in the city as the death rate nears 2,500 and funeral homes
Sister from Mother Teresa’s order dies from COVID-19, after serving the sick
This story broke over the weekend. From Catholic World News: COVID-19 has caused the death of a 73-year-old Sister of
Let there be lights: one diocese’s beautiful proposal for Easter
From the Facebook page of the Diocese of Owensboro: Though it is not possible for Catholics of our diocese to
New York City at 7 p.m.: cheering our heroes
This is becoming a nightly ritual in New York City, and it's just plain wonderful. At 7 p.m. every night,
One priest’s message to his parish: the palms are waiting for you
From a Facebook post by Father Chas Canoy in the Diocese of Lansing: I miss y’all! Holy Week without you,
A deacon with COVID-19: ‘It was a week ago that the first symptoms hit me…’
You need to read this, from my friend Deacon Steven Greydanus in the National Catholic Register, who describes learning he
From OSV: Selfless service and the diaconate
From the good people at Our Sunday Visitor, here's a terrific piece by Brian Fraga on deacons (and it features
Heartbreak: another Brooklyn priest dies from COVID-19
From Fr. Sean Manson's Facebook page: Please pray for the repose of the soul of my brother priest Fr. Gioacchino
When a parish furloughs its staff
I fear there will more where this came from. As reported by The Los Angeles Times: After Catholic schools and churches
A blessing before battle for healthcare workers
From the Diocese of Lansing: On Tuesday, March 31, Father Mark Rutherford responded to a request from healthcare professionals in
‘These are our palms’: Homily for April 5, 2020, Palm Sunday
A few weeks ago, we began Lent by hearing Christ tell us to pray behind closed doors: “Go to your
‘Pastors ought to be doing everything they can…to not put people at risk’
In The Washington Post, Sarah Pulliam Bailey has interviewed Francis Collins, NIH director, about the challenges of getting people of
Crackdown: Philadelphia closes basilica after people continue to show up for Mass
From the Inquirer: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced Thursday that it will close the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter
This is beautiful: Praying a special rosary in times of quarantine
When I visited Minnesota a few weeks back, I had the privilege of spending some time with a group of
Let us pray: Pope approves new ‘Mass in Time of Pandemic’
This will be of great value and comfort to many, I'm sure. From America: Pope Francis has approved two new
Trappists offer free handmade caskets for victims of COVID-19
The monks at New Mellaray, Iowa have been making these beautiful caskets for years, and now they are offering an
And now, a word from your host
That would be me. I've been putting off doing this for a while, but this week changed everything. Over the
Looking for a livestreamed Divine Liturgy? Look no further
The other day I posted on Michael Bayer's great new resource, With Your Spirit, a searchable database for livestreamed
WATCH: A British family goes all ‘Les Miz’ under quarantine and it’s priceless
The pandemic is bringing out the hidden creative talents of a lot of people — remember this? — and here's
COVID-19 Holy Week in Brooklyn: No Palms, No People, New Good Friday intercession
From the Diocese of Brooklyn, new guidelines for the days ahead: GUIDELINES FOR HOLY WEEK 2020 IN THE DIOCESE OF
Can a deacon serving Mass abstain from Holy Communion?
My friend Deacon Bill Ditewig unpacks that question and others that are suddenly an issue during the pandemic: The only
Prayer request: Long Island deacon has died from coronavirus
The first permanent deacon known to die of the virus was a Franciscan friar in Washington, D.C., John-Sebastian Laird-Hammond. Now,
A beautiful idea for Palm Sunday
How can we publicly acknowledge this important day on our calendar when so many of us will be behind closed
If you are still wondering why churches are closed, consider this
Sobering news from The Chicago Tribune: Forty-three people who attended a March 15 service at The Life Church of
Looking for a livestreamed Mass? Look no further.
The endlessly enterprising Michael Bayer in Chicago has spearheaded this effort, and it's a superb resource. It's called With Your
Amid COVID-19 restrictions, Uganda priest arrested for publicly celebrating Mass
This is the first I've heard of something this extreme: Police in Mpigi District on Sunday arrested Fr Deogratius Kiibi
RIP: Maria Mercader of CBS News, another COVID-19 victim
This breaks my heart: CBS News is mourning the loss of Maria Mercader, a network veteran who covered breaking news
WATCH: A video from quarantine that will have you howling — and dancing!
How did I miss THIS?? I'm still laughing and sobbing. This is a kick-in-the-pants, side-splitting thing of joy. From CNS:
‘Master, the one you love is ill’: Homily for March 29, 2020, 5th Sunday of Lent
“Master, the one you love is ill.” At this particular moment, few lines of scripture cut to the heart like
‘A Prayer in Discouragement’: Words a lot of us need right now
This popped up on my Twitter feed, and comes from my friend Father Eugene Ritz, from the Diocese of Allentown.
Brooklyn pastor becomes first Catholic priest in U.S. to die from COVID-19
The news began circulating last night. CNA reports he is the first Catholic priest in the U.S. known to have
‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’: The powerful message of the pope’s blessing
I suspect those of us who watched it unfold live, on our TVs or our cell phones or computers, will
Empty pews, shattered plans: how COVID-19 is affecting weddings
An often-overlooked casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic gets some attention by Brian Fraga in Our Sunday Visitor: Erin Mongold always
One unexpected result of COVID-19: Christians, Jews, Muslims pray together in Jerusalem
There are no atheists in foxholes — and we are all children of Abraham, united in prayer, in a moment
Shock: First Catholic bishop dies of COVID-19
From the Vatican: Italian missionary and Apostolic Vicar to Ethiopia’s Gambella Vicariate, Bishop Angelo Moreschi, SDB, died on Wednesday, 25
Deacon on lockdown: ‘Even in times of quarantine and solitude, we have much to give the world’
The Deacon magazine asked me for some thoughts on the present crisis. My conclusion: Even in times of quarantine and
Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed
A statement from the Latin Patriarchate: Following the evolvement of the situation in the Holy Land, we the Heads of
‘Everything will be OK’: Community spreads a message of hope
This is just great: There's a timely message of hope sitting on Ashford Dunwoody road in Dekalb County. The iconic
‘It’s apocalyptic’: Inside a city hospital two miles from my home
I was reminded again Wednesday that COVID-19 is here in Queens, right down the road from me, and it's a
COVID-19 fallout: Some Canadian dioceses begin laying off staff, priests
It's happening in Quebec: As the Quebec government tightens measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and allows only essential
‘How can this be?’: a message from The Annunciation for all of us now
I stumbled on this today, from a homily of mine from several years back. I realized that it tells me
Here’s something I didn’t expect to see in The New York Times
An op-ed piece on Mary and the Annunciation? An excerpt, by Matthew J. Milliner, an art historian at Wheaton College,
WATCH: A Eucharistic procession at 10,000 feet
This remarkable video from last weekend shows Father Mark Rutherford of the Diocese of Lansing leading a Eucharistic Procession on
My quarantine addiction: ‘Dinner with the Gaffigans’
Honestly, this is the last thing I expected to like. An unscripted show about people eating dinner? Shot on a
Ireland to be consecrated to Mary on March 25 ‘for protection from COVID-19’
From Crux: On March 25, the Catholic Church in Ireland will be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary “for
RIP: Father Giuseppe Beradelli, priest with coronavirus who gave his respirator to a young patient
I'm sure I'm not the only one who read this and was reminded of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Details: An Italian
‘Suspending Masses was an act of charity’
A doctor weighs in, from the Archdiocese of Boston: If you knew that going to Mass this Sunday meant that
Despite health warnings, New York couple goes ahead with wedding
New York, of course, is Ground Zero for the virus in the United States, and the entire state is effectively
Archbishop Aymond announces he has coronavirus
Details: The Archbishop of New Orleans has tested positive for coronavirus. He is the first U.S. bishop known to have
From a parishioner: ‘Yesterday, I received the news that I have Covid 19…’
This morning, the virus hit close to home. A woman in our parish at Queens — a young mother of
Shock: Pittsburgh shuts down Catholic newspaper, terminates staff
I have to wonder if this will happening in other dioceses soon, too. Details: The historic Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper —
‘Lent is, in truth, a quarantine’
Some great insight into the times we're living in now — plus a little history — from my friend Deacon
Urban Lectio: Be Safe
I spotted this sign on the door of a bagel shop near my home. If any two words define this
Pope announces extraordinary blessing to be offered to the world March 27
From Vatican News: Pope Francis on Sunday called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality
Praying a Spiritual Communion
My friend Father Deacon Daniel Dozier posted this on Facebook a short time, and it’s beautiful: a spiritual communion prayer
Washington, DC’s first coronavirus death is a Franciscan friar who was a deacon
Lord have mercy: A member of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America is the first person to
Vatican decree: ‘The Triduum cannot be transferred to another time’
From CNS: While conferences and meetings can be postponed for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, the liturgies of Holy
Cardinal Burke issues message on combatting coronavirus
Cardinal Raymond Burke has posted a lengthy message on coping with this crisis, both physically and spiritually — and, despite
Brooklyn Update: Two priests test positive for coronavirus
From the diocesan website: One priest with a confirmed case of coronavirus is from Sacred Heart of Jesus in Glendale,
Some good news: Father John Hollowell is on the mend
Many will remember that he was diagnosed with a brain tumor a few weeks back. Well, a website has been
UPDATE: In Brooklyn, no weddings or funerals; dispensation from Lenten abstinence
The latest from the chancery reads, in part: CHURCHES: NEW MANDATES! Because of the ongoing danger of groups gathering and
In Fort Worth, bishop permits distribution of communion after private Masses
I'm not aware of other dioceses doing this. It comes from a new directive by Bishop Michael Olson: The Eucharist
Lessons for Catholics today from an underground church
Here's a timely and, I think, inspiring reminder for us all from Aleteia's John Burger, who says we can draw
WATCH: At the end of a week like this one, we needed this
We need a little hope right now. So crank up the volume — and grab a Kleenex. This is something
And now in Massachusetts: ‘Drive-in Adoration’
From my friend, the unbelievably inventive Father Dan Pacholec at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Westfield,
Wow: Washington’s Lieutenant Governor leaving politics to join the Jesuits
Cyrus Habib made the announcement — where else? — in America magazine: Earlier today, I announced that I will not be
REMINDER: Pray with the pope today
Pope Francis is going to be praying the rosary today and he invites us to join him: At this time
Join the world in ‘Adoration from Afar’
A parish in Severna Park, Maryland is setting up virtual perpetual adoration online and is seeking people to sign up:
Christ with us: displaying solidarity on Rio’s iconic statue
The landmark Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro is closed to the public: Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the
Ukrainian Catholic Church in U.S. suspends all public liturgies
The statement, dated March 19: Dear clergy, religious, and faithful! Responding to the outbreak of the global pandemic virus COVID-19,
‘If I get corona, I get corona. I’m not gonna let it stop me from partying.’
Behold, America's future. From CBS News, covering spring break in Miami. https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1240371160078000128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1240371160078000128&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fcoronavirus-florida-beaches-ignore-social-distancing%2F
Report: Regular ‘apparitions’ in Medjugorje ending
When I saw this pop up on my Twitter feed, I was going to post something on it, but got
Looking for a loophole so you can go to Mass in the pandemic? Don’t.
Masses are being canceled; churches are being closed. What's a faithful Catholic to do? Simple: Stay faithful. Be obedient. Don't
Couple leaves $9,400 tip ‘to pay your guys over the next few weeks’
Details: The staff at a popular Houston restaurant got a $9,400 tip from some regular customers who wanted to help
‘Thank you on behalf of the world’
This video popped up on social media yesterday, and it says something a lot of us are thinking. Take a
Something wonderful: Deacon sees his son ordained bishop
We need a little good news now, don't we? This is awesome: A permanent deacon in New Zealand experienced a
Yes, this is a thing: ‘Drive-through confessions’ during pandemic
From the website of St. Edward the Confessor in Bowie, Maryland comes this message from Father Scott Holmer, the pastor:
In quarantined Italy, priest says Mass to a congregation of selfies
A deacon reader sent this story to me this morning, and it's certainly different: With all public events and religious
Brooklyn Update: No public Holy Week liturgies; Easter sacraments postponed
Those are among the guidelines from the Vicar General this morning, whose letter to pastors reads, in part: Reconciliation Monday,
BREAKING: After Mass cancellations, bishops order churches to be closed
I got word of this from a priest friend in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he says the bishop tonight has ordered
There’s one thing every Catholic should do during this crisis (besides pray)
Within the last 24 hours, I've spoken to two men who run large Catholic parishes in my diocese and they
National Catholic Prayer Breakfast cancelled
Sad, but not surprising: As the global coronavirus pandemic continues to lead to a cancellation of events, organizers of the
‘The Mass has power whether we are able to be there in person or not’
Here's an excellent reflection for our times. It comes from Sam Sawyer, S.J., who had the odd experience of watching
Washington priest diagnosed with coronavirus
Details: A priest in the Diocese of Yakima, Washington, is the first U.S. priest known to be diagnosed with COVID-19,
There goes Holy Week: CDC recommends no gatherings with 50 people or more for eight weeks
Details: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that no mass gatherings with 50 people or more —
Worth a thousand words
Behold, Sunday's front page of The New York Post.
Catholics are canceling Masses. But what are other religions doing?
That question has been raised by a few people on social media, usually with a sense of dismay and anger:
And now, Brooklyn: my diocese cancels all public Masses, starting Monday
The statement says: "Given the continuing and growing concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bishop DiMarzio has determined
Shock: Pope’s Holy Week liturgies to be closed to public
From CNA: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis’ liturgies for Holy Week and Easter, which usually include the presence
A diocese cancelled Masses. Read the message one pastor posted on the door of his church.
From my friend Father Dan Pacholec in Westfield, Massachusetts: Thank you for stopping by the church today - your
‘We shine our best in the darkness’: Homily for March 15, 2020, 3rd Sunday of Lent
Amid all the videos and images of these last few days, there was one that stands out. It was first
BREAKING: Archdiocese of New York cancels all Masses
This impacts one of the largest dioceses in the United States, with close to three million Catholics. From the Archdiocese
Stuck at home? Pray online as the ‘domestic church’
The present crisis has forced more people to stay in and stay at home — and some, in fact, are
MUST-READ: A bishop’s thoughtful, compassionate letter on the coronavirus pandemic
I've read a lot of statements and letters from bishops and their press offices over the last 24 hours or
A prayer for our time: ‘Gain for our world the protection of your holy angels…’
The following reflection was issued today by Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles, the president of the USCCB: With the
From Diocese of Brooklyn: ‘Our primary duty is to keep the faithful safe and healthy’
From the In My Backyard Desk...the following statement was released Friday morning by the Diocese of Brooklyn: CHURCHES &
Papal almoner defies decree, opens church: ‘Home should always be open to its children’
From Crux: Just a day after Cardinal Angelo De Donatis announced the unprecedented decision to close all the churches in
In most extreme move yet, Little Rock cancels all public Masses through Easter
Holy Week will be radically different this year in at least one American diocese. According to a statement released late
Portland archbishop offers Mass dispensation, but urges ‘creative’ solutions
From the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon website: The celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of
Historic: Colorado passes bill to replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day
Via CNN: Colorado passed legislation Tuesday to replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day because bill sponsors say it doesn't represent
The words we need right now
Having followed the unfolding news of the last 24 hours, I think we need a message like this — right
BREAKING: Archdiocese of Seattle suspends all public Masses
Archbishop Paul Etienne released a video late today, announcing the news: "I'm going to ask that all our parishes, effective
Archbishop distances church from ‘Catholics for Trump’ rally
The White House made some news yesterday, announcing a "Catholics for Trump" rally to be held in Wisconsin. Today, Archbishop
Deacon doctor on coronavirus: ‘Jesus carries our cross with us’
I've posted about Deacon Timothy Flanigan in the past, and now he's in the news once again, talking about the
Pope asks prisoners to compose this year’s Way of the Cross
Details: In a letter to the people of the Veneto region of Italy – an area particularly hard hit by
BREAKING: St. Peter’s Square closed to tourists
The most famous Catholic public space in the world is now no longer open to the public. From Vatican News:
Must-read: How Catholic Philadelphia responded to the influenza epidemic of 1918
Here's an important and stirring reminder of the pandemic that claimed 50 million lives around the world a century ago.
‘There’s no way in heck I will not come to Mass to receive my Lord’
A Texas Catholic parish is coping with the news that one of its parishioners has tested positive for the coronavirus:
Urban lectio: Work in progress
When I was in high school, I had an English teacher by the name of Mrs. Comberiatti. One day, she
First D.C. coronavirus case is Episcopal priest
From The Washington Post: The first confirmed case of coronavirus in the District is the rector of Christ Church Georgetown,
How’s this for a transfiguration? A church renovation in Michigan
From Liturgical Arts Journal: We turn today to the parish of St. Stephen's in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While the parish
When was the last time you saw a movie trailer that began with a prayer?
The opening words in the trailer for "Greyhound" are surprising because they are so rich with something you don't often
Confronting the coronavirus in the Diocese of Brooklyn
These directives were posted on my parish website. They seem to be in line with a lot of other
Vatican announces next synod for 2022: ‘For a synodal Church’
Details: In a formal declaration released on Saturday morning, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops,
Rise and do not be afraid: Homily for March 8, 2020, 2nd Sunday of Lent
How is your Lent going? Less than two weeks ago, we marched out into the world with ashes on our
From Portland: ‘A parish cannot ban reception of Holy Communion on the tongue’
This is somewhat unusual — and it just may be the only statement of its kind issued so far in
Ben Affleck talks about his Christian faith and the need for redemption
Surprising candor from the Academy Award-winning star, via Beliefnet: While promoting his new film, “The Way Back,” Oscar-winner Ben Affleck
Vatican reports its first case of the coronavirus
Details: The Vatican has reported its first case of coronavirus today - days after Pope Francis tested negative for the virus. The discovery takes
Schumer: ‘I shouldn’t have used the words I used’
The senator is expressing regret for yesterday's fiasco. Details: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed regret on Thursday for comments
BREAKING: Parishes and churches face health restrictions around Bethlehem
A letter from the Latin Patriarchate: To all the Faithful, Priests and Religious of the pastoral region of Bethlehem Dear
March miracle: Gabby Maldonado has been found
I received a text early this morning: she was picked up on a street in Queens late last night. Details:
Gabby’s mother: ‘We just want you home. Please, come home.’
UPDATE on 3/5: She has been found! Read more. NET, the cable station for the Diocese of Brooklyn, Wednesday night
‘Inappropriate, dangerous’: Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Schumer for ‘threatening statements’
From CNN: Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement rebuking Chuck Schumer for comments the Senate minority leader made
UPDATE on Gabby Maldonado, missing altar server
UPDATE on 3/5: She has been found. Read more. Many of you know the story from Tuesday's blog post, of
Urgent prayer request: for a missing child, an altar server at my parish
Note: UPDATE at bottom of post. Last Friday night, she was one of a dozen or so altar servers who
Prayers requested for Rhode Island Catholic school hit by coronavirus
Details from Rhode Island Catholic: The principal of the Catholic high school where Rhode Island’s first presumptive cases of coronavirus
Chris Matthews on growing up Catholic: ‘We lived in a totally Catholic world’
The MSNBC pundit is in the news today, after his surprising final appearance on "Hardball" last night. He was never
Shock: Pastor, 42, dies unexpectedly from a stroke
This popped up on Facebook Monday: Father Marcin Zahuta, pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Columbia, passed away
Coronavirus fear: Is a shared communion cup hazardous to your health?
With the coronavirus in the headlines, and parishes taking some steps to prevent the spread of germs, is the chalice
On women deacons: ‘We need to put more attention on the ministries women can already exercise’
The Very Rev. Mark Morozowich, Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America,
Armed man dies after shooting at Catholic church
Details: An armed man who entered a Southern California church in between Masses died on Sunday after an officer-involved shooting,
Urban Lectio: Love is possible
Note: Picking up on a suggestion made many months ago to me by that great deacon, evangelist, author and intentional
Catholics and the coronavirus: Italians face empty churches, televised Masses
How the faithful are coping in northern Italy, via The New York Times: In an effort to prevent the spread
Rev. Ernesto Cardenal dies, priest publicly reprimanded by John Paul II
From The New York Times: The Rev. Ernesto Cardenal, one of Latin America’s most admired poets and priests, who defied
How are churches bracing for the coronavirus?
It varies from place to place, though it appears many churches, for starters, are suspending handshakes, the distribution of
UPDATE on boy with autism: ‘There was never to be denial of Communion to this child’
The pastor of the parish involved in the controversy that made national headlines has posted the following statement on the
Building something beautiful for God in South Carolina
I was pleased to see this story in The Miscellany, the newspaper for the Diocese of Charleston, describing the groundbreaking
Batter up: Where did the tradition of the fish fry begin?
I have to admit, having spent most of my life in New York City, around these parts a soup supper
Need a laugh? Here.
My sister sent this to be with a note: "This reminded me of you on so many levels!" Oh yeah.
Archbishop tells priests: Don’t vote on Super Tuesday
Details: On the eve of Ash Wednesday, St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda wrote to his priests with a rather
Parents say church is denying First Communion to their son because he has autism
Details: What was supposed to be a blessed time for the family of eight-year-old Anthony LaCugna has turned into upset
Body of evidence: hearse with a corpse stolen from outside church
Details: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced late Wednesday that a casket with a corpse inside was taken as
There’s something about ashes
Once again, my parish on Wednesday was packed. It was the annual Ash Wednesday crush of believers. We offered a
SCOTUS to rule on faith-based adoption and foster care
This news didn't get much attention on Monday. But it could be a very big deal: On Monday, the Supreme
What about eating plant-based burgers during Lent?
Details: With many Catholics abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, it appears plant-based burgers might not be
Pittsburgh survey finds broad interest in, support for permanent deacons
From Pittsburgh Catholic: Nearly a quarter of age-eligible men are open to becoming a permanent deacon in the Diocese of
In wake of virus, several Italian dioceses cancel Masses; could this happen soon in the U.S.?
Details: Several Catholic dioceses in northern Italy have suspended Mass and other activities this week to help contain the spread
Poll: 18% of U.S. Catholics say they accept ‘all Church teachings’
From Real Clear Politics: More than half the Roman Catholics in this country accept “all” or “most” of the church’s
Be all you can be: Homily for February 26, 2020, Ash Wednesday
In 1980, one of the biggest and most powerful organizations in the world decided to launch an advertising campaign. A
WATCH: Deacon is attacked during Mass in Florida
It happened Saturday in Pompano Beach: A 28-year-old man appeared in Broward court on Monday after he was accused of
At Kobe Bryant memorial, Jimmy Kimmel cites Catholic faith and asks guests to share Sign of Peace
Speaking at the public memorial service today at Los Angeles's Staples Center, the late night talk show host was obviously
This year’s commencement speaker at Notre Dame: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
From Notre Dame's press office: Patriarch Bartholomew, Orthodox Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, will deliver the principal address and
Clapping at Mass? Check out this Mardi Gras Mass
This comes from a few years ago, but it is something to see. This is Mardi Gras Mass at Holy
Walking ‘The Way’ to marriage
Here's something you don't hear about every day. From CNS: It’s sometimes said that life is a journey. For Karla
Archbishop criticizes applause at Mass: ‘Who would have clapped at Calvary?’
From Zenit: A church official has called for “abstinence” from inappropriate clapping at Mass, saying that the Eucharist is a
Loving our enemies: Homily for 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the vault, my homily for this Sunday from 2017: If you wanted to find the most challenging, most difficult,
A second bishop speaks out about that James Martin story
From NCR: A second bishop has spoken up to counter allegations that Pope Francis expressed displeasure with Jesuit Fr. James
Women deacons and the Orthodox Church?
I read this a few days back and have been meaning to post it, but life kept getting in the
Report: Jean Vanier had ‘manipulative sexual relationships’ with several women
This is beyond shocking: Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche, the world’s foremost network of communities for intellectually disabled people, has
About that James Martin story and the use of unnamed sources
Like a lot of people, I've been following the controversy surrounding Catholic News Agency's reporting on U.S. bishops who
Beautiful: ‘God has given me this capacity to love. Love is the best way to give people hope.’
I discovered this on my Facebook feed this morning and just love it. What these folks are doing is beautiful:
Last words before execution: ‘I’m just grateful to be a servant of God’
It happened yesterday in Tennessee. Details: The state of Tennessee executed Nicholas Todd Sutton by electrocution Thursday. "I’m just grateful
Bishops in Philippines: don’t touch the cross this Good Friday
Blame the coronavirus. Details from CNS: Amid continuing concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, Catholics in the Philippines have
Two sons of deacons collaborate on 12-part series about Fulton Sheen
From The Catholic Post in Peoria: Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be introduced to a whole new generation if Sean
Hey, Chicago! Come by and say hello!
If you have nothing better to do on a cold winter's night, drop by the Galway Arms Irish Bar and
Answered prayer: how a priest got to sing at a Josh Groban concert
“I really want the world to know that, as priests, we are human and we can relate. We have gifts
Colorado moves to replace Columbus Day with Cabrini Day
Could this start a trend? Details: As has been an annual tradition now in the Colorado Legislature, lawmakers have proposed
How Philadelphia’s new archbishop launched a deacon’s vocation
Beautiful: When Archbishop Nelson Perez was installed during a Feb. 18 Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and
Pop-themed Mass draws college students at Loyola in Baltimore
This is fascinating stuff — and I was pleased and impressed to see that one of the students involved in
My advice for Lent: ‘Giving up begins with giving’
The good people at Ave Maria Press invited me to chat about my new book of Lenten devotions on their
Pope mandates a year of missionary service for priests joining Vatican diplomatic corps
From CNS: Pope Francis, adopting a suggestion made at the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, has decided that every
Love it or list it: Former Catholic church for sale for $39,900
Details: Be a savvy savior and bring life to an old church in Northern New York. Convert it into a
Wow: Plain Catholic church in Ohio gets an extreme makeover
This is impressive, from Liturgical Arts Journal, describing the transformation of the church of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
An altar server’s prayer
I'm visiting the midwest this week — preaching at Masses in Minnesota, and meeting with donors in Chicago and Wisconsin.
Becoming a priest in 2020: ‘It’s a challenge to be the priest that other priests weren’t’
From the Charlotte News and Observer: The seminarians walk along a hallway lined with photos of classes of priests who
Next Synod of Bishops coming in 2022
From Vatican Media: The next ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has been scheduled for "for autumn 2022",
‘Every fragment is a treasure, and God won’t let it be tossed aside.’
On today's Gospel: For me, it all comes down to the fragments. Every time I encounter the Gospel about the
‘This is a place for mothers to come to mourn the loss of their children’
Details via CNN: A mass burial was held in Indiana on Wednesday for the more than 2,400 fetal remains
Hong Kong cancelling Masses in wake of coronavirus
From CNS: The threat of spreading the coronavirus has forced Catholic officials in Hong Kong to suspend all church programs
Three little words for today: You are loved
Maybe you know someone who needs to hear this today, Valentine's Day. Maybe you need to hear it yourself. In
Catholic on quarantined cruise ship: ‘Without faith, I don’t think I would last this long’
Details from The B.C. Catholic: The morning routine hasn’t changed for Marichu and Ding Camales-Torrijos since they and all other
Prayer request: for Father John Hollowell, diagnosed with a brain tumor
Many of you may know him from his social media presence. He made this announcement today: As you are aware,
R.I. bishop responds to controversy over priest’s comments on abortion and pedophilia
"I urge all parties to refrain from unhelpful, inflammatory rhetoric." You'll remember that a pastor in Rhode Island last weekend
Bernie Sanders and his Catholic wife Jane: the White House’s first interfaith couple?
I first posted on this four years ago, but it may be worth revisiting, now that Bernie Sanders is suddenly
AP: More U.S. companies offering faith-based support for workers
An interesting phenomenon in our increasingly secularized age. From AP: It has become standard practice for U.S. corporations to assure
You’ve got mail — from me!
Want to subscribe to The Deacon's Bench? No problem! You can now have every new post from The Deacon's Bench
Pope’s Amazon document is silent on married priests
You can read the full text here. But an overview, from CNN: Last year, Pope Francis called for "bold
‘Our priests are suffering’
Father Michael Rennier, a former Anglican who is now a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, shares some of
Diocese issues pastoral guide on gender identity: ‘All forms of discrimination must be resisted’
Not so very long ago, this would not even have crossed the radar screen for dioceses and Catholic institutions in
Thousands of aborted fetal remains to be buried Wednesday
On the Attorney General's calendar in Indiana: The 2,411 aborted fetal remains recently discovered in Illinois on the property of
Something new: get every new post of The Bench delivered to your inbox
I'm pleased to announce a new and improved way of subscribing to The Deacon's Bench. On every blog post, in
What can a pastor do when no one comes to Mass?
One California priest is fighting to save his rural parish: Since his appointment as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in
Priest who published list of pro-abortion lawmakers: ‘Pedophilia doesn’t kill anyone’
You may remember this story from a few days back: The Rev. Richard Bucci marked the anniversary of the landmark
Praying for journalists in the Prayers of the Faithful — and doing it badly
I got an email last night from a former colleague, a producer at CBS News: Hi Greg. I thought you
Only the lonely: The life of a priest today in Ireland
A glimpse at the life of some priests in a country that was once a great source of vocations, via
A perfect anthem for this Sunday: ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine’
I'm in South Carolina this weekend, where I just finished leading a retreat for some 250 people, deacons and their
Cardinal Sarah: ‘By attacking celibacy, you are attacking the Church’
Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register interviewed Cardinal Robert Sarah this week, ahead of the English translation of his
Priceless: big deacon, little deacon
This was sent to me by a Ukrainian Catholic priest. The original posting says: Presumably, the deacon in this video
On the road and in the air
My wife and I are headed to the airport shortly, bound for South Carolina, where I'll be leading a retreat
Ordination update: 8 new deacons for Atlanta
From The Georgia Bulletin: “I’m Deacon Jim,” said Deacon James Grebe as he greeted well-wishers at the Cathedral of Christ
Ordination update: 5 new deacons for Salt Lake City
From Intermountain Catholic: Deacons, priests and Bishop Oscar A. Solis processed into the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Jan. 31
Further proof that I have a face for radio
The good people at Catholic TV in Boston recently invited me on their show "This is the Day" to talk
Archbishop calls for John Paul II to be named co-patron of Europe, Doctor of the Church
Details: Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, head of the Polish Episcopal Conference, is calling for St. John Paul II to be
Vatican says Ganswein is not on leave of absence
Via CNS: The Vatican downplayed the absence of Archbishop Georg Ganswein from several papal audiences after an article claimed he
Pope Francis met with woman who grabbed him in St. Peter’s Square
From CNA: Pope Francis in January met and shook hands with the woman at whom he lost his patience after
‘End of an era’: Diocese of Buffalo to close Christ the King seminary
The press release: Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Buffalo, announces that the Board of Trustees
Persecution watch: China cracks down on Christian funerals
Details: Christian funerals have been banned in some areas of China as the communist government begins to enforce a set of
Requiem: In Rome basilica, homeless pray for those who died in the streets
This didn't get much attention. But attention must be paid. From CNA: Hundreds of homeless people and volunteers prayed together
‘Lifting an infant before the altar is an act of thanksgiving’
I confess, this is a tradition I hadn't heard about until today. But it strikes me as something unexpectedly beautiful
On Notre Dame: ‘A Marian warning of our society’s lack of faith’
A celebrated architect weighs in on the deeper meaning of last year's horrific fire. From Canadian Catholic News: When flames
Homily from funeral of Father Evan Harkins: ‘How could he have died like this?’
By now you know the tragic story of this young priest's suicide. Bishop James Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas
R.I. pastor: ‘The following members of the legislature may NOT receive Holy Communion…’
Details: The Rev. Richard Bucci marked the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision by issuing a flier listing
Biden’s pitch to Catholics in Iowa
From Politico: By text message, mailers, house parties — even hand-written letters from nuns — Biden is tapping his Irish
UPDATE: Kidnapped seminarian killed
You may remember this story from last month. A tragic update: One of four Nigerian seminarians kidnapped last month has
See for yourself: the pro-life ad they can’t show during the Super Bowl
Details: This year’s Super Bowl should have no shortage of controversial ads, including spots featuring President Trump, Michael R. Bloomberg
RIP: Catholic author Mary Higgins Clark
The celebrated best-selling writer — and prominent Catholic — has died: Mary Higgins Clark, a fixture on best-seller lists for
Fathers facing fire: meet the chaplains supporting firefighters in Australia
Inspiring news: Three Sydney priests have swapped clericals for camouflage to join the 3,000 Australian Defence Force reservists providing support
Resurrection: Catholic cathedral to rise on site of former prison
It's happening in Rwanda, according to CNS: The Catholic Church in Rwanda is set construct a new cathedral in the
Breathing with two lungs: Maronites and Roman Catholics form partnership at St. Louis parish
This is something exceptional, via Facebook: Last night, Archbishop Robert Carlson met with the parishioners of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Priest apologizes for homily calling Islam ‘greatest threat in the world’
Among other things, the homily also called for a halt to Muslim immigration to the United States. Details: A
Newark’s retired Archbishop Myers ‘in serious decline,’ moving to Illinois
A statement from the Cardinal Joseph Tobin: Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The physical and mental health of the
Can a deacon baptize during Mass?
Here's an interesting exchange from Zenit recently, answered by Father Edward McNamara. He was asked by a deacon about whether
Archbishop urges priests to only give communion in hand to fight virus
This comes from the Philippines: Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma is urging priests to offer the communion by the hand instead
‘Pray for Father Harkins’: young priest takes his own life
This is heartbreaking. The statement from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph: We were notified this morning when he did
What’s the secret behind the success of Catholic schools?
An answer from Kathleen Porter-Magee, the superintendent of Partnership Schools in New York City: Our secret sauce is a holistic
Missal that inspired Francis of Assisi goes on display for first time in 40 years
Fascinating stuff, from The Catholic Review in Baltimore: More than eight centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi and two
Praying for Kobe Bryant
Yesterday afternoon, a priest asked an interesting question on social media: for the Sunday evening Mass, should he add
Visiting a Florida jewel: Our Lady of the Rosary
What does a vibrant, thriving, joy-filled parish look like? Behold, Our Lady of the Rosary in Land o'Lakes, Florida, in
Look who covered the March for Life: The New York Times
Near the top of the page on its web edition: Demonstrators flooded the National Mall on Friday morning in anticipation
Vice President Pence meets with the Pope
From CNS: After Pope Francis and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence met privately for nearly an hour at the Vatican,
AP: Victims say NFL team allegedly helped archdiocese conceal sex abuse
A bombshell in New Orleans: The New Orleans Saints are going to court to keep the public from seeing hundreds
Pope Francis: ‘Man is a narrative being. We are hungry for stories.’
As is his custom, the Holy Father today, the Feast of St. Francis de Sales (patron of writers and journalists),
NFP? There’s an app for that
And two Catholic colleges are leading the way: Natural family planning has been having a bit of a moment. Natural
Bishop Perez cited for work supporting Muslims facing Islamaphobia
Author Jordan Denari Duffner pointed out on Twitter some of the significant work Bishop Nelson Perez — soon to be
Rocco: Perez to succeed Chaput in Philly
This is big, from Whispers in the Loggia: Per three Whispers ops, Pope Francis is set to name Nelson Perez – the
Historic: Trump to become first president to attend March for Life
From Catholic News Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump will address the national March for Life in person on Friday, making
‘People with dementia are still capable of responding to God’
This strikes me as an important effort to minister to a population that is, for one reason or another,
Mass in the 1920s
Here's a fascinating glimpse at what it was like to attend Mass in the 1920s. Msgr. Charles Pope has reprinted
Surviving the news in 2020
The good people at Our Sunday Visitor asked me for a few thoughts about surviving this election year, when we
UPDATE: One of 4 kidnapped seminarians released
Details: A Nigerian seminarian who was abducted this month was freed by his kidnappers after 10 days in captivity. Three
‘Forgiveness set my heart free’
This is making the rounds on social media, and it demands to be seen: an extraordinary tale of faith
‘The diaconate is about more than humble service’
This is superb: a very good unpacking of what the diaconate means, from Christopher Ruddy in Commonweal: Today, in an
New film about Dorothy Day to debut on PBS
This looks like appointment television: She's been called uncompromising. Prophetic. A peacemaker. No wonder documentary filmmaker Martin Doblmeier admits to
‘My desk is a magnet for all negativity in the diocese’
What's it like to be a bishop in the United States? A new study provides a rare glimpse: Catholic bishops
BREAKING: Episcopal bishop will not be consecrated in Richmond Catholic church
Many will remember this item from a couple days ago. Now an update, via CNA: The Episcopal Diocese of Southern
Louisville’s Archbishop Kurtz says he is cancer-free
Wonderful news: Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz announced Wednesday he's cancer-free following a five-month treatment plan. In a new video posted on Kurtz's blog Wednesday, the
Watch: You’ve never seen ‘The Prayer’ performed like THIS
Prepare for goosebumps: Any singer will tell you, it’s not easy to take on Celine Dion or Andrea Bocelli. But
WOW: DEACON RECREATES SISTINE CHAPEL
This is remarkable, via The Guardian: It’s Michelangelo’s masterpiece all right, superbly replicated by the Sussex church’s deacon, Gary Bevans.
Trump: ‘We’re announcing historic steps to protect the First Amendment right to pray in public schools’
From CNN: The Trump administration on Thursday announced it is updating federal guidance for prayer in public schools and other
Let’s talk about celibacy and deacons
Periodically, I get emails from permanent deacons around the country who, for one reason or another, are celibate. "Do you
‘Act of charity’: Episcopal bishop to be consecrated in Catholic church
It is happening in Richmond. The story, from CNA: Bishop Barry Knestout of the Diocese of Richmond has issued a
Great moments in journalism: abortion clinic tries a ‘Hail Mary move’
From The Boston Globe: Women’s Health Services, which has provided abortion and family planning services in Greater Boston for
Watch: Man desecrates altar in Brooklyn
Details: The Diocese of Brooklyn has responded to an act of vandalism at a parish this past Sunday, and released a
Prayer request: seminarians kidnapped
It happened in Nigeria: The names of four seminarians kidnapped in Nigeria by armed intruders last week have been released
World’s youngest Catholic bishop consecrated
Others in the past have been younger. But at this moment, he holds the title. Wow: The world’s youngest Catholic
They’re praying for you. Please pray for them.
This morning, I had the great privilege of meeting these five remarkable women, part of the congregation of the Poor
Ordination update: 7 new deacons for Marquette
Here's the first photo. From left to right they are: Bill McKnight, Martin Thompson, Bob Berbohm, Jerimiah Mason, Bishop
Welcome to the bench!
Hello! I'm so glad you're here. After a longer-than-expected hiatus, I'm pleased to unveil the new home of The Deacon's
Quote of the day: Pope Francis on celibacy
A timely reminder, from Andrea Tornielli: It is worth remembering that Pope Francis has also expressed himself several times
Catholic ethicists on the Soleimani Killing
NCR has pooled some interesting commentary and reaction from a variety of Catholic ethicists, who look at how the killing
two popes, two oscar nominations
Maybe you missed the live announcement on TV this morning, but papal observers will want to note: the two men
Flu season. You know what that means.
It's the season of the disappearing cup. This past weekend, we didn't give out the Precious Blood at the parish
Taking apart Christmas
I'm visiting scenic (and, yes, cold) Minnesota this week, speaking at a couple of parishes and meeting with benefactors for
Bishop Scharfenberger speaks out
The bishop of Albany — now also overseeing Buffalo — gave a wide-ranging interview to The Albany Times Union
Homily for January 12, 2020: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
I'll be on the road this weekend, but here's something from the vault, c. 2013: At home, I have a
California woman charged with threatening to bomb, burn Catholic school in D.C.
From The Washington Post: A California woman has been charged with allegedly leaving voice-mail messages threatening to bomb, burn and
Let There Be Light: Homily for Epiphany
My wife and I went to see “Little Women” over the Christmas holidays. It’s well done — and it captures