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The Deacon's Bench

Some members of the media got a preview of the site at Ground Zero, slated to open in two years: Never has a dusty, ear-splitting construction site – the museum is scheduled to open on Sept. 11, 2012 – appeared more peaceful, haunting or heartbreaking: “My knees get wobbly, it takes my breath away,” said…

Before he heads to Birmingham for the beatification of John Henry Newman next month, the deacon miraculously healed by Newman’s intercession is speaking out: Deacon Jack Sullivan got up from his seat next to Bishop David Zubik at the front of St. Paul Cathedral and walked to the pulpit to deliver the homily during Thursday…

It happened in California: Four teachers and seven other workers at a Southern California religious school have been fired because of differences in biblical interpretation and incompatible beliefs. Most of the dismissed workers were Roman Catholics whose beliefs conflicted with those of Corona’s conservative evangelical Crossroads Christian Schools, which last year lost its autonomy and…

August 11 is the feast of a familiar saint, Clare of Assisi.  I know her well.  We have a beautiful engraving of St. Clare hanging in the small chapel of the NET, where I work, and visitors are often surprised when I explain that she’s the patron saint of television. They stare at me blankly…

“I’m not sure if the marketing world took it from Jesus, but there are some basic principles that apply like: People buy from people they like. When you evangelize, you don’t want to come around with a stick and beat it into people. It just doesn’t work.” — U.S.-born Lithuanian Bishop-designate Gintaras Grusas, quoted here.…

How about sell ’em on eBay? One church set out to do that — but then came up with a better idea.  Check this out, below.  You can read more about it here.

Some interesting findings — and troubling ones, too — in this report: A name like Maria or Jose isn’t a solid clue anymore that the person who answers to it will worship in a Catholic church on Sundays. An Associated Press-Univision poll finds that younger Latinos, as well as those who speak more English than…

St. Lawrence by Deacon Lawrence Klimecki Today marks the feast of a patron for deacons, St. Lawrence, guardian of the treasures of the Church. St. Ambrose reports that when Deacon Lawrence was ordered by the prefect to turn over the Church’s wealth, he spent three days rounding up the city’s poor, the crippled, the blind…

Meet a couple in their 70’s who are spending their golden years in an unlikely place. From the Hartford, Ct. Catholic Transcript: What started as a penance after confession has blossomed into long-term labor of love for a husband and wife who hope others will join their efforts. “To whom much is given, much is…

Well, it’s been a while since MCPF Stephen Colbert appeared on The Bench, but I’m delighted to bring him back for a special salute to my Boston siblings in Electronic Evangelization, Catholic TV. Take it away, Steve. The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Pope’s Baseball Cap & CatholicTV www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full…
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