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April 2014

April 16, 2014

Must-see: special Mass for kids with autism

An former colleague from my days at CBS sent this my way: a brief video...

April 16, 2014

On the Holy Thursday foot washing: “It didn’t exclude women until 1955…”

Some interesting history on this controversial rite, from David Gibson at Religion News Service, via...

April 13, 2014

The Passion: who reads what?

After reading the post about Elizabeth Scalia's forgettable Palm Sunday, a couple folks on Facebook...

April 13, 2014

A Palm Sunday to forget

This sounds just awful. From the vault, Elizabeth Scalia's reflections on last year's Palm Sunday...

April 12, 2014

Deacon, on a mission from God

The third Blues Brother has been discovered. Palm Sunday vigil Mass at Our Lady Queen...

April 08, 2014

CARA study shows unhappiness with new missal

From my conversations with clergy around the country, this result isn't all that surprising. But...

March 2014

March 31, 2014

More on the Holy Thursday washing of the feet

Further evidence that it's a big Church. The Diocese of San Jose has posted the...

March 30, 2014

Wisconsin bishop enforces ban on washing feet of women on Holy Thursday

It's unusual to see something like this in a secular paper, but a reader spotted...

March 19, 2014

A liturgical practicum for deacons?

I spotted this notice on an Orthodox website, and thought something like this might benefit...

March 05, 2014

“Remember you are dust…”

The scene this morning at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los...

February 2014

February 20, 2014

Canadian archbishop issues decree banning eulogies

Details: Ottawa Catholics are no longer able to give eulogies for lost loved ones during...

February 11, 2014

Want to understand the Mass? There’s an app for that.

Miami is promoting an app that helps everyone to understand the Mass better: Called "Mass Explained,"...

February 02, 2014

A kiss from the East: offering the “sign of peace” in the Divine Liturgy

If you want a deeper appreciation of what it means to exchange the "sign of...

January 2014

January 22, 2014

And now the “Les Mis Mass”

From our Church of England siblings in the Diocese of York in the U.K. comes...

January 20, 2014

“How to Build an Awesome Altar Serving Program in 10 Easy Steps”

People who visit The Bench regularly know that I never tire of gushing about my...

January 17, 2014

One direction:ad orientem or versus populum?

Deacon Bill Ditewig offers some history and some insight into Catholic theology surrounding which direction...

January 05, 2014

How I spent Epiphany Sunday

I spent part of the day with these guys: Our 11:30 Mass included the presentation...

December 2013

December 29, 2013

Extreme makeover: Church of England may do away with vestments

Bad idea: Never mind the cassocks – vicars could soon be conducting services in shell-suits,...

December 29, 2013

Visiting a church in Maryland

This marked a rare Sunday when I was away from my parish in Queens. For...

December 27, 2013

Report: Pope Francis to invite people to daily Mass next year

Details: From the new year a handful of Romans will be invited to celebrate morning...

December 26, 2013

Topless woman disrupts Christmas Mass in Germany

Okay. And this helps her cause...how?? Details: An activist of FEMEN women’s movement staged a...

December 15, 2013

Looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite clergyman/nerd?

How about a "ceremonial tablet cover"? The description: New for the iPad. Now you can...

December 13, 2013

This Sunday, we rejoice. But why do we wear rose? Why not another color?

A lot of people have wondered. Last weekend, when someone asked about it, my pastor...

December 04, 2013

Where the Extraordinary Form isn’t so extraordinary: South Carolina

A look at one parish that has made the traditional Latin Mass an integral part...

November 2013

November 22, 2013

Altar servers: “Apostles who help make Jesus present”

From The Catholic Standard in Washington: Altar servers play an important role in the Church's...

November 13, 2013

Coping with copes

From an Anglican satiric blog, "The Low Churchman's Guide to the Solemn High Mass": Most...

November 12, 2013

Cardinal says Francis has no intention of restricting access to Latin Mass

Details: The former prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy has told a traditionalist group...

November 09, 2013

A “Tango Mass”?

Yes, there is such a thing. An Argentine composer introduced it a number of years...

November 04, 2013

Behold, a “Circus Mass,” complete with clowns and belly dancers—UPDATED

Really? REALLY? Two first impressions: It's German. And you would be hard-pressed to find anyone...

November 03, 2013

Want to nurture young Catholics? Here. Try this.

We installed new altar servers at my parish this morning: 38 kids, the largest class...