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The Deacon's Bench

I like what a priest from Brooklyn said about this last week: “I’m not in favor of bringing guns to church.  I’d be afraid that if somebody thought my homily was too long, they’d take out a gun and shoot me.”  Anyway: Louisiana’s Catholic governor just signed a law allowing them to be carried in…

If you saw this memorable video of Mary Anne Marks (Harvard ’10), you couldn’t fail to be impressed.  Not only did she give that speech in Latin (it’s actually an annual custom at Harvard), but she is also  joining the Dominicans in Ann Arbor — something a little unusual for a Harvard grad.  As I’ve…

It’s not a self-help group (not yet, anyway) but the influx of anonymous commenters, who can say anything without really taking responsibility for their words, can pose problems on news sites and, as I’ve discovered, in the blogosphere. CNN takes a look: “It is the ability to remain anonymous that encourages people to say whatever…

With the immigration debate raging in this country — and the Church adding her voice to the chorus — it’s interesting to look at Italy, a predominantly Catholic country where immigration is also a concern. There is a concerted effort in the Catholic Church to look after the foreigner. But things are a little different.…

What’s so great about Cincinnati? Graeter’s. End of discussion. I was a coward, and didn’t try their newest flavor, Blueberry Pie (though some people, I’m told, swear by it.)  I went with my personal fave, Cookies and Cream.  Did I say it was great, er, graet? It was.

Shortly before I was ordained, a priest friend gave me a wonderful book on homiletics: “Preaching Better” by Bishop Ken Untener. At NDICE this weekend, I stumbled upon a collection of the late bishop’s writings, “The Practical Prophet,” and found this choice quote. He was speaking of the priesthood — but I think deacons can…

You probably recall this bizarre video of a mass staged in connection with the World Cup. The priest in the middle of it all has been suspended — and his flock is unhappy: Parishioners of the Church of St Victor in Obdam, a town in the northern Netherlands, are said to be furious at the…

I had a grand time at the NDICE conference in Cincinnati (I’ve finally learned how to spell it) and enjoyed rubbing elbows with my brother deacons from around the country. I’m told about 250 people were there, deacons and their wives, and it was one of the best turnouts they’ve had in years. Among other…

[Note: This homily was delivered last Sunday to about 250 deacons and their wives at the opening liturgy of the annual gathering of the National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education (NDICE) at Xavier University in Cincinnati. I was also privileged to be the keynote speaker later that night. The homily was designed, then, for a…

I’m heading this morning to Cincinnati, to speak at the annual gathering of the NDICE (National Diaconate Institute for Continuing Education) at Xavier University. If you’re there, stop by to say hello! Blogging will be very light until my return on Monday. So I’ll leave you with this classic, from my youth. (Whatever happened to…
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