Category Archives: Church News

Update on the Diaconate in the World (and other stats of interest)

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Fides (www.fides.org), the Vatican’s agency on world missions, reported on October 23rd its annual statistics on various aspects of the Church througout the world. Included in this report were interesting data regarding the diaconate. Last year, the number of permanent … Continue reading →

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Pope Benedict on Charity this Gaudete Sunday

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father paid a pastoral visit today to the Roman parish St. Mary of Graces at Casal Boccone. It was established only 26 years ago. During his visit he made this comment: “Un altro punto su cui vorrei insistere … Continue reading →

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Fear Sin More Than Persecution, says Pope Benedict

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Deacon Bob

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Benedict said that the Church should fear the sin of its members more than hatred against Christians. He noted that the Church has suffered persecution throughout its history and since it has … Continue reading →

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Two Martins Appointed Consultors to the Holy Father

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Two days ago, the Holy Father announced several appointments to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. The new members are from various countries – Germany, Poland, Italy, France, Spain, Brazil, Great Britan and the United States. Those … Continue reading →

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Congratulations, Diocese of Fresno!

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father appointed today Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa bishop of Fresno, California. He had been the bishop of El Paso. Bishop Ochoa was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1970 after studying theology at St. … Continue reading →

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Feast of St. Andrew, the First Apostle

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Today, November 30, is the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle. St. Andrew was the first to accept the Lord’s call to be an apostle, and was one of the first men to follow the Lord’s precursor, St. John … Continue reading →

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How Did It Go?

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Well, the first Masses were prayed last night with the new translation. How did it go for you? In La Crescent, things went pretty well, it seems. Your’s truly forgot to intone the “Lord be with you” prior to the … Continue reading →

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Congratulations, Archbishop Sartain

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I read with pleasure this morning that Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle was elected secretary-elect of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Archbishop Sartain was a fellow student at the Gregorian University in Rome in the late 1970s. … Continue reading →

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Marriage: Unique for a Reason

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have launched a new website entitled: Marriage: Unique for a Reason (www.marriageuniqueforareason.org). It is a fabulous place to visit and learn of the Church’s teachings on marriage and its defense as a union of … Continue reading →

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The Church Thrives Where Persecution Reigns

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com) reports this morning on an official with the Vietnamese bishop’s conference, who foresees a confident future for the Church in Vietnam. He cites “flourishing” priestly vocations as one reason for this hope. They have over … Continue reading →

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Benedict XVI in Benin

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father begins a three-day apostolic visit to the West African country of Benin today. He is doing so to mark 150 years of Christianity in that country and to present a document entitled Africae Munus on the Church’s future … Continue reading →

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New Optional Memorials for Bl. John Paul II and Bl. Marianne Cope, OSF

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The US bishops at their annual meeting yesterday decided by a large margin to add two optional memorials to the Church calendar for the United States. October 22 will be the date for Blessed Pope John Paul II. That date … Continue reading →

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New Nuncio for the United States

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father recently named Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Vigano, age 70, replaces Archbishop Pietro Sambi who recently died from complications from surgery. The nuncio is a Vatican representative to the American bishops and … Continue reading →

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Pope Benedict XVI to the Youth of Germany

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father has been in his homeland of Germany this past week. He spoke to the German Parliament a few days ago, and he also spoke the the youth, to seminarians, to the Orthodox, and others during his time … Continue reading →

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Archbishop Sheen One Step Closer?

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Deacon Bob

  The cause for canonization of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen may be one step closer to completion. On September 16, 2010, James Fulton Engstrom was born, but for the first 61 minutes after birth, he had no heart beat. Just when the … Continue reading →

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Cardinal John Chrysostom Korec

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Deacon Bob

I read yesterday with interest an article in  L’Osservatore Romano (www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_quo/text.html) about Cardinal John Chrysostom Korec from the Czech Republic who celebrated the 6o anniversary of his ordination to the episcopacy. At the time, he was the youngest bishop in … Continue reading →

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Rest in Peace: Memories of Cardinal Noe

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Deacon Bob

Yesterday morning, Cardinal Virgilio Noe died. Most of you are probably unaware of him, as he was always in the background, so to speak, despite being in numerous photographs and videos of Pope Paul VI, John Paul I, and John … Continue reading →

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Congratulations, Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Diocese of Savannah!

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The Holy Father today has announced the new archbishop of Philadelphia, replacing Cardinal Rigali who has retired. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap. is the new archbishop of that See, coming from the diocese of Denver. Archbishop Chaput is well-known … Continue reading →

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Hints of Things to Come?

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Deacon Bob

The National Catholic Register is reporting that in Ireland some lawmakers are trying to pass legislation that would require priests to break the seal of the confessional if a pedophile confesses. Please note that this law has not passed, but … Continue reading →

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Prisoners of the Lord in the Bond of Unity

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Deacon Bob

My thoughts in recent days have been turning back to unity in the Church. With all the distress over John Corapi and the divisions that seem to have developed among some surrounding it all, I can only hope that the fractures … Continue reading →

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