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The Deacon's Bench

We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001. One of my most haunting memories, though, is the morning after. It was impossible to get out of Manhattan—or get in. Subways and trains had stopped. There were no cabs. I had to work late for CBS, and ended up walking several blocks through a…

If you’re looking for more reasons to give up something for Lent, a sociology professor is throwing in her two cents. And, speaking of money, it’s all about the economy, stupid: A University of New Hampshire professor claims that Lent can help Catholics make some of the more difficult financial adjustments necessitated by the slowing…

This news won’t be surprising to those of us who have been following this sort of thing. But it’s still worrisome. From the BBC: Newly published statistics showed that the number of men and women belonging to religious orders fell by 10% to just under a million between 2005 and 2006. During the pontificate of…

I checked in at Cardinal Sean’s blog late today, and was stunned to read the news of the death of a newly ordained priest: This week it was quite a shock for all of us that a young priest ordained last May, Father Daniel Kennedy, died suddenly of a heart attack in his brother’s home.…

A deacon has performed a valuable service for his parish community, offering a workshop in Faithful Citizenship for those who will be voting in the Super Tuesday primary. This, from the Catholic Explorer in Illinois: With the Feb 5 primary election in Illinois rapidly approaching, Henry Histic of St. Scholastica Parish in Woodridge said he…

Weird — and wonderful. Take a look at what happens when a couple hundred creative souls decide to just STOP and FREEZE in position in Grand Central Station. A frozen h/t to The Anchoress.

Here’s a little news nugget that made me go “Huh?” And then “Wow.” From the Boston Globe, a story about evangelical Protestants who are embracing, of all things, monasticism: S.G. Preston is a Knight of Prayer. Each morning at his Vancouver, Wash., home, he wakes up and prays one of the 50-odd psalms he has…

Just in time for Mardi Gras, here’s a little holy mirth from the other side of the pond: The men and women in white face-paint and polka-dot bow-ties sang hymns and said prayers as one of their number rode a unicycle down the aisle of an austere east London church. The group was gathered for…

Times Square, New York City. February 3, 2008. Photo: by Patrick Andrade, New York Times.

Among other things, I write a weekly column for the bulletin at my parish in Queens, New York. From time to time, I’ll post it here, as well. Below is the column for this week. I confess: I’m a sucker for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” I’m deeply touched by the sad stories of people whose…
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