Wake Up, America!

This is printed directly from an email I received fro Catholic Vote. Wake up Americans, your Constitution is in danger!

Dear Friend of CV,

The United States Senate just voted 51-48 to gut the First Amendment. Moments ago, the Democratic-controlled Senate led by Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada (pictured at the right) refused to restore religious liberty for all Americans, including our Catholic schools, hospitals, and charitable ministries.

The roll call is below.

Senator Roy Blunt’s amendment was offered to stop President Obama’s unprecedented assault on our religious liberty.

Obama’s HHS mandate will soon force every employer, including Catholic hospitals, universities and religious organizations to pay for insurance policies that will offer contraception and abortion drugs for their employees. The new mandate not only attacks our Church, but also threatens the freedom of every insurance company, every business and every American citizen.

Just think: 51 U.S. Senators just voted to affirm the right of our government to force you to pay for morally reprehensible drugs and procedures — including drugs that destroy an innocent human life. And we know this is only the beginning.

What do we do now? The Catholic vote has been the center of attention in this debate. We knew the vote would be close in the Senate, and so we have also been lobbying leaders in the House to answer the Senate with a vote FOR religious liberty.

As of today, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act has 220 co-sponsors and counting. We are now calling on the House to likewise put every Representative on the record with a vote. We are also working with legal experts to help bring new lawsuits to defeat this mandate in the courts. And of course, we MUST vindicate our rights at the ballot box in November.

The facts are plain: we need a new President and a new Senate. And this is entirely possible this year.

Finally, please do not fall for the trap. Do not despair! Pray now that our fellow citizens will have the fortitude to persevere in this fight. We know that every challenge for us is an opportunity to witness to our Faith. What a glorious opportunity we have ahead of us.

No vote by a group of politicians will stop us from serving Our Lord.

Brian Burch President CatholicVote.org

P.S. Here is the roll call on the Senate vote today along with their phone numbers: Senators Who Voted AGAINST Protecting Religious Liberty: Akaka, Daniel K. – (D – HI) (202) 224-6361 Baucus, Max – (D – MT) (202) 224-2651 Begich, Mark – (D – AK) (202) 224-3004 Bennet, Michael F. – (D – CO) (202) 224-5852 Bingaman, Jeff – (D – NM) (202) 224-5521 Blumenthal, Richard – (D – CT) (202) 224-2823 Boxer, Barbara – (D – CA) (202) 224-3553 Brown, Sherrod – (D – OH) (202) 224-2315 Cantwell, Maria – (D – WA) (202) 224-3441 Cardin, Benjamin L. – (D – MD) (202) 224-4524 Carper, Thomas R. – (D – DE) (202) 224-2441 Collins, Susan M. – (R – ME) (202) 224-2523 Conrad, Kent – (D – ND) (202) 224-2043 Coons, Christopher A. – (D – DE) (202) 224-5042 Durbin, Richard J. – (D – IL) (202) 224-2152 Feinstein, Dianne – (D – CA) (202) 224-3841 Franken, Al – (D – MN) (202) 224-5641 Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – (D – NY) (202) 224-4451 Hagan, Kay R. – (D – NC) (202) 224-6342 Harkin, Tom – (D – IA) (202) 224-3254 Inouye, Daniel K. – (D – HI) (202) 224-3934 Johnson, Tim – (D – SD) (202) 224-5842 Kerry, John F. – (D – MA) (202) 224-2742 Klobuchar, Amy – (D – MN) (202) 224-3244 Kohl, Herb – (D – WI) (202) 224-5653 Landrieu, Mary L. – (D – LA) (202) 224-5824 Lautenberg, Frank R. – (D – NJ) (202) 224-3224 Leahy, Patrick J. – (D – VT) (202) 224-4242 Levin, Carl – (D – MI) (202) 224-6221 Lieberman, Joseph I. – (ID – CT) (202) 224-4041 McCaskill, Claire – (D – MO) (202) 224-6154 Menendez, Robert – (D – NJ) (202) 224-4744 Merkley, Jeff – (D – OR) (202) 224-3753 Mikulski, Barbara A. – (D – MD) (202) 224-4654 Murray, Patty – (D – WA) (202) 224-2621 Nelson, Bill – (D – FL) (202) 224-5274 Pryor, Mark L. – (D – AR) (202) 224-2353 Reed, Jack – (D – RI) (202) 224-4642 Reid, Harry – (D – NV) (202) 224-3542 Rockefeller, John D., IV – (D – WV) (202) 224-6472 Sanders, Bernard – (I – VT) (202) 224-5141 Schumer, Charles E. – (D – NY) (202) 224-6542 Shaheen, Jeanne – (D – NH) (202) 224-2841 Stabenow, Debbie – (D – MI) (202) 224-4822 Tester, Jon – (D – MT) (202) 224-2644 Udall, Mark – (D – CO) (202) 224-5941 Udall, Tom – (D – NM) (202) 224-6621 Warner, Mark R. – (D – VA) (202) 224-2023 Webb, Jim – (D – VA) (202) 224-4024 Whitehouse, Sheldon – (D – RI) (202) 224-2921 Wyden, Ron – (D – OR) (202) 224-5244 Senators Who Voted FOR Religious Liberty: Alexander, Lamar – (R – TN) (202) 224-4944 Ayotte, Kelly – (R – NH) (202) 224-3324 Barrasso, John – (R – WY) (202) 224-6441 Blunt, Roy – (R – MO) (202) 224-5721 Boozman, John – (R – AR) (202) 224-4843 Brown, Scott P. – (R – MA) (202) 224-4543 Burr, Richard – (R – NC) (202) 224-3154 Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D – PA) (202) 224-6324 Chambliss, Saxby – (R – GA) (202) 224-3521 Coats, Daniel – (R – IN) (202) 224-5623 Coburn, Tom – (R – OK) (202) 224-5754 Cochran, Thad – (R – MS) (202) 224-5054 Corker, Bob – (R – TN) (202) 224-3344 Cornyn, John – (R – TX) (202) 224-2934 Crapo, Mike – (R – ID) (202) 224-6142 DeMint, Jim – (R – SC) (202) 224-6121 Enzi, Michael B. – (R – WY) (202) 224-3424 Graham, Lindsey – (R – SC) (202) 224-5972 Grassley, Chuck – (R – IA) (202) 224-3744 Hatch, Orrin G. – (R – UT) (202) 224-5251 Heller, Dean – (R – NV) (202) 224-6244 Hoeven, John – (R – ND) (202) 224-2551 Hutchison, Kay Bailey – (R – TX) (202) 224-5922 Inhofe, James M. – (R – OK) (202) 224-4721 Isakson, Johnny – (R – GA) (202) 224-3643 Johanns, Mike – (R – NE) (202) 224-4224 Johnson, Ron – (R – WI) (202) 224-5323 Kyl, Jon – (R – AZ) (202) 224-4521 Lee, Mike – (R – UT) (202) 224-5444 Lugar, Richard G. – (R – IN) (202) 224-4814 Manchin, Joe, III – (D – WV) (202) 224-3954 McCain, John – (R – AZ)(202) 224-2235 McConnell, Mitch – (R – KY) (202) 224-2541 Moran, Jerry – (R – KS) (202) 224-6521 Murkowski, Lisa – (R – AK) (202) 224-6665 Nelson, Ben – (D – NE) (202) 224-6551 Paul, Rand – (R – KY) (202) 224-4343 Portman, Rob – (R – OH) (202) 224-3353 Risch, James E. – (R – ID) (202) 224-2752 Roberts, Pat – (R – KS) (202) 224-4774 Rubio, Marco – (R – FL) (202) 224-3041 Sessions, Jeff – (R – AL) (202) 224-4124 Shelby, Richard C. – (R – AL) (202) 224-5744 Snowe, Olympia J. – (R – ME) (202) 224-5344 Thune, John – (R – SD) (202) 224-2321 Toomey, Patrick J. – (R – PA) (202) 224-4254 Vitter, David – (R – LA) (202) 224-4623 Wicker, Roger F. – (R – MS) (202) 224-6253 NOTE: Senator Mark Kirk – (R – IL) (202) 224-2854 – supports Senator Blunt’s amendment in favor of religious liberty, but was not present for the vote.

Skin Is Amazin’ Stuff

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time B

The Readings

Listen to PodCast  

The Homily

Skin is amazing stuff. It stretches, it shrinks, and it is mostly waterproof. It cools us down and warms us up.

We tan our skin, or we protect it from the Sun, we scrub it, we paint it temporarily with make-up, we color it permanently with inks, we pierce it with metal, we oil it, lotion it and perfume it.

Our skin is important to us.

And when our skin is attacked by disease, we fight back. Diseases of the skin, from dandruff to acne, from psoriasis to cancer, are all a breach of the integrity of our skin.

Restoring the integrity, healing these breaches can be as simple as soap and water or as complicated as surgery.  Whatever the cure, no one doubts the value of restoring and protecting our skin.

In today’s scriptures we are confronted with a specific skin disease… leprosy. Now I have read that in biblical times, leprosy could apply to a great number of skin diseases, and perhaps this is true, but I don’t think we are talking about a bad case of acne here.

Leprosy was and is as much a social disease as it is physical. In the first reading we heard of the laws required of the leper in Jewish society.

Pretty strict stuff designed to keep the leper out and away from those that are considered “clean” or “undefiled”.

Their movements within society were strictly regulated. There were places they could not go, and certainly, no one could come to them. Lepers lived among other lepers, much as they still do today.

In the Old Testament there are only two cases of someone being cured of leprosy. One was a man called Naaman who was healed by God through the ministry of Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-27) and the other was Miriam, Moses’ sister who was healed by God when Moses prayed for her (Num 12:9-15).

Notice both cures are attributed to God.

Last week, we heard of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law. It was a true miracle, and it helped to established Jesus as a prophet in the hearts of the people.

But now Jesus “kicks it up a notch”.

Curing a leper was on the same scale as raising the dead! Only God could do that!

Jesus does not pray to God as Moses did for Miriam. He does not command a particular ritual for the leper like Elisha did of Naaman. He demonstrates that His is the power of God.

Jesus touches Him and says “Be made clean”.  Just as God commanded “Let there be light”, the power of God is in the speaking of the command. Simply put what God says…. Happens…. what God speaks…. is.

God has come among us, God becomes one of us… and that changes everything. The untouchable is touched. His words dispel darkness and disease. How could the healed man keep quiet? How could he keep from singing?

This is how we can understand this event in a literal way.

But there is also an allegorical meaning to this Gospel.

Here, and elsewhere in the Gospels, leprosy represents, sin, death and all that has gone wrong with the human soul…. Inherently good and made in the image of God…. when the soul is clean, nothing is brighter or more beautiful. But tainted by the sore of sin, it becomes covered in leprosy.

Each time I sin, it is as if a new sore appears on my soul.   I dishonor my parents, and a boil is raised. I lie and a cut appears. I cheat someone and my soul receives a pustule.

Now, if this sort of thing happened to our actual skin, how would we react?

We would seek medical attention; we would undergo the tests needed to make a diagnosis and to find a cure. We would follow the course prescribed by our dermatologist; whether that might be a dose of antibiotics or in a more extreme case, we would have the sore cut out of us.

Isn’t it odd how many of us deal with this kind of breech of integrity to our souls. Most of us, including myself, are often more willing to cover it up with some sort of make-up and hope no one really notices.

However as sin increases, the boils burst, the pustule become purulent and the cuts become infected, and so what we need is more make-up, right?  No, we need a cure, or it will only get much, much worse.

We cannot see our own souls, and thank God we can’t see each others, but Jesus sees them and no amount of make-up can hide it from Him. (PAUSE)

In the Gospel today, it says that Jesus is moved with pity upon seeing the leper.

It might make us think that Jesus just feels sorry for the leper, and by extension, feels sorry for us as well.

But the Greek word used to describe “moved with pity” expresses a “bowel-wrenching” reaction.  It is visceral, a blow to the very gut of God.

It is more like a kind of anger than pity more love than sympathy.

It is the same word used to describe how Jesus felt at the tomb of Lazarus, where we read that He wept because He loved his friend.

(PAUSE)

My friends, I believe that this story is meant to help us realize our own disease, our own sin, but more importantly, it should send us running to Jesus, the Divine Physician. It is meant to prompt us to paraphrase the words of the leper:

“Jesus, if you want, you can make me clean”.  “Bless me Father, for I have sinned” …. (PAUSE)

Jesus, moved with love through the priest says: “I absolve you of all your sins” words that can be heard as “Be made clean”

And immediately, the integrity of our souls is restored. The breeches made by sin are healed; it becomes radiant as light and we too feel the joy and freedom of the former leper, and we cannot help but tell of the love and power of Jesus. How can we keep from singing?

Those Catholics Are Ruining Me!

Time and time again, this administration under POTUS Obama has worked against religious freedom as gaurenteed under the US Constitution. He made promises to appease Catholics in the presidental election and in his statements at his regretable appearence at Notre Dame University. There is absolutely no reason to take him at face value when he makes any promises to Catholics, or other religious faiths.

We need to make sure that his conversations with Michelle over dinner every night include the words, “Those Catholics are ruining me”

Dear Bishops, please do not give in to this untrustworthy and somewhat dubious carrot placed before the Church’s nose. It is not enough.

Taken from Nationjal Catholic Register

EWTN Statement on Today’s Obama Announcement

Catholic network does not plan to drop lawsuit against government. Share by THE EDITORS 02/10/2012 Comments (1) Michael Warsaw, President and Chief Executive Officer of EWTN, issued this statement today in reaction to President Obama’s announcement of an “accommodation” to the Health and Human Services rule that all employers cover contraceptives and sterilizations. The network yesterday filed a lawsuit against HHS because the rule violates the religious liberty guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. “I am certainly pleased to see that EWTN’s decision to file suit against the recent contraception mandate of the Department of Health and Human Services may have played some role in forcing the administration to revisit the application of these rules on religious institutions. However, we remain quite skeptical that the changes announced by President Obama will in fact address the concerns raised by EWTN. According to a White House statement, some religious institutions may no longer be required to directly provide insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs; however, this accommodation may not actually apply to EWTN or actually give any relief to the Network and other similar organizations. Like EWTN, many religious institutions self-insure their healthcare plans, meaning that we will still be forced to pay for these services in violation of our religious beliefs. Today’s announcement certainly does not give any hope to countless individual business owners and people of faith who share the concern about being required to provide for these services which they personally find immoral. EWTN is particularly concerned that the proposed rules for non-exempted religious organizations will still not be finalized until later in the coming year. This leaves EWTN and other such organizations very uncertain about what the future may hold with regard to this mandate. We will continue to consult with our legal counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty to determine the implications of this revised approach; however, our legal action against the administration will continue. “

Read more:

Un-Stinkin’-Believable!

A nod to Fr. Z for bringing this to my attention:

Pray for this woman!

Melaney Linton, who will now oversee Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, is determined to further the Life-ending work of Planned Parenthood:

“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with such a sacred duty…I pledge to do everything in my power to fight back against the ideological attacks on Planned Parenthood and women, so that no teen will ever say she didn’t know how she got pregnant, no one will ever be denied basic reproductive health care, and no woman will ever be forced to bear children she cannot adequately support.”

There is just so, so, so much wrong with her entire statement, I am truly in awe that it could all come out of one mouth. The killing of babies,  lying to women, the cover-up of rape, PP considers these to be sacred duties.  Contraception and abortion as “reproductive health care” and the reduction of human life to an economic burden.

I can guarantee that every teen who gets pregnant knows exactly how it happened. They sat on a toilet seat right after a boy sat on it! If you can’t afford a child, or don’t want one, don’t use unisex public bathrooms.

OK, before I get flamed, that was sarcasm. I felt the need to point that out to any trolls who support Planned Parenthood. If they can’t recognize the truth, they certainly won’t recognize sarcasm!

Link to Fr. Z’s blog on this topic

Link to original article

Foooorwaaaard March!

The Obama Administration is clearly not backing down from its HHS mandate that Catholic institutions violate their consciences and fund evil.

Below is a post from the Catholic Register in toto:

UPDATED: Sure enough, Obama NOT looking to compromise

by Steven D. Greydanus Wednesday, February 08, 2012 2:28 PM Comments (25)

Hat tip: The Anchoress.

Update

 
Sure enough, in a press conference this afternoon, press secretary Jay Carney reaffirmed Obama’s commitment to the HHS mandate as it stands, though he declined to comment on whether the president would override a veto promised by Republican leadership.

We are committed, the president is committed, to ensuring that woman have access to contraception without any extra cost, regardless of where they work.

So, there you have it. When Axelrod says “we need to lower our voices,” he doesn’t mean “both sides,” It’s a soft version of “Shut up, he explained.”

Original post

 
“The art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock” is how Will Rogers famously defined diplomacy. Often enough, it’s an apt definition for politics too.

Strangely, some dogs seem to be buying it. A NewsMax story picked up by Fox News solemnly reported, “Obama Signals He May Back Down on Contraception Mandate,” and opened with the lede, “Roman Catholic pressure to get the Obama administration to back down from its insistence that they provide free contraceptives in their healthcare plans appeared to be paying off on Tuesday.”

Really? Is that what Obama is signaling?

The story quotes David Axelrod, a top adviser to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, telling MSNBC’s Morning Joe, “I think we need to lower our voices and get together.”

“Lower our voices.” And whose voices have been raised? Why, the president’s critics—a broad coalition representing a wide range of religious (or non-religious) and political perspectives, all concerned about the administration’s blithe disregard for first amendment protections of religious freedom.

The clamor of critical opinion is loud and growing. It’s been suggested that it could cost Obama reelection. I’m sure Axelrod would like “us” to lower “our” voices—at least until November. Note that this statement didn’t come from the press secretary or a top policy adviser, but an adviser to the president’s reelection campaign.

Axelrod also said:

We have great respect for the work that these institutions do, and we certainly don’t want to abridge anyone’s religious freedoms, so we’re going to look for a way to move forward that both provides women with the preventative care that they need and respects the prerogatives of religious institutions.

Well, that sounds not entirely unpromising, in theory. But then the story goes on:

Axelrod said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had already given churches an exemption to the mandate, against the recommendation of the Institute of Medicine. “The question now is about these extended affiliated institutions … and there are tens of thousands – hundreds of thousands – of women who work in these hospitals and universities who are not Catholic or they may be Catholic and they use birth control. The question is whether they are going to have the same package that every other woman in the country has to the same right and access to basic preventive care.”

Catch that? Just look at how generous Sebelius has already been with churches: It’s not like she’s making the Church pay for contraceptive and abortifacient coverage for employees of actual parishes and dioceses! Even though the Institute of Medicine thought she should! What more do you want?

And the last sentence gives it all away: In the eyes of the administration, coverage for contraception, sterilization and abortifacients is “basic preventive care.” It’s a question of whether all women have the “same rights.”

That’s not something this administration is looking to back down from. Anyone who thinks otherwise is asking for a rock upside the head by year’s end.

What do you think?

Read Original Post and Spike Steven’s stats!

45 Years After Restoration, Permanent Diaconate Soldiers On

The entire post is contained below. So good to see the diaconate in the news.

45 Years After Restoration, Permanent Diaconate Soldiers On

(407) Ministry has grown exponentially since 1967. ‘As long as we have poor to feed, we will need deacons,’ says Chicago official. Share by JIM GRAVES 02/06/2012 Comment Where Do Deacons Come From? is a new book for children by Elizabeth Ficocelli, published just in time for the 45th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate.

The Church is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council this year — and the 45th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the Latin Church. Pope Paul VI released an apostolic letter, Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem in 1967, after a recommendation made by the bishops of the Council.

The permanent diaconate has since had a major impact on the Church in dioceses around the world, as the number of deacons has steadily grown. Also, as time passes, Church leadership is able to reflect on the proper role of the deacon and help the laity come to a proper understanding of it.

The diaconate has its roots in the very early Church. The Book of Acts relates that the first seven deacons, “filled with the Spirit and wisdom,” were ordained by the apostles to assist them in performing corporal works of mercy (Acts 6:1-6). One of them, Stephen, would soon become the Church’s first martyr. Deacons preached, baptized and served the Church community (Acts 7; 8:4-13). St. Paul discussed the particular qualifications a man should have to be selected as a deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13). The early Fathers of the Church, such as Sts. Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyons, made references to the work of deacons.

 But the diaconate declined after the year 400, and, by 800, it became in the Latin Church merely a transitional step toward the priesthood. (In the Eastern churches, conversely, the permanent diaconate was retained.)

In the 20th century, a desire to restore the permanent diaconate arose, leading the bishops of the Second Vatican Council to declare, “It will be possible in the future to restore the diaconate as a proper and permanent rank of the hierarchy” (Lumen Gentium, 29).

Confusion The deacon receives the first of three degrees or levels of the sacrament of holy orders — deacon, priest, bishop — and is hence a member of the clergy. He cannot celebrate Mass or hear sacramental confessions, however.

His traditional roles include baptizing, officiating at weddings and funerals, distributing Communion during Mass or bringing Communion to the sick and dying, reading from the sacred Scriptures at Mass and devoting himself to apostolic works.

Those served by deacons include the poor, sick, imprisoned, lonely and abandoned and others otherwise in need. The number of permanent deacons in the U.S. has grown steadily since 1967. In 1975, 898 men were permanent deacons.

In 1985, the number had risen to 7,204. A 2010 study released by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) reported that there are 17,000 permanent deacons in the U.S., or about half of all the permanent deacons in the world.

Most deacons are married, and wives are invited to participate in the work of their deacon husbands, such as through praying with them or joining in their efforts to help those in need.

Yet, as with any new initiative in the Church, confusion can arise among the rank-and-file as to the proper role of the permanent deacon.

With the deacon preaching the homily at Sunday Mass, for example, he can appear to supersede or eclipse the priest as celebrant of the Mass, with the priest viewed as merely there to consecrate the Host and Precious Blood.

In an effort to clarify the role of the permanent diaconate in his Diocese of Marquette, Mich., Bishop Alexander Sample released a 19-page letter, “The Deacon: Icon of Jesus Christ the Servant,” in 2011.

Media coverage of the letter focused on one piece of the document: The deacon should not preach the homily at Mass “on a routine or scheduled basis.”

Bishop Sample was disappointed that this was the focus of so many news stories. “That was a small piece in a lengthy document,” he said. “The focus of my letter is that the deacon is called to service. He is to configure himself to Christ as Christ the Servant.” Into the World

The bishop noted that the deacon does receive the sacrament of holy orders but is not ordained to the priesthood. Rather, he is called to service as “a humble aid to the ministry of priests and the bishop.”

Although the deacon can assist in the liturgy, “this is not his essential identity and role.” Bishop Sample said his letter was “fruit” of a study conducted by a committee, which included deacons.

Deacon Thomas Dubois, executive director of the National Association of Diaconate Directors, believes that the rapid growth of the permanent diaconate in the U.S. is a “work of the Holy Spirit.” He remarked, “The irony is that the Second Vatican Council fathers thought the diaconate would grow the fastest in third-world countries.”

 A strength of the diaconate, he said, is that the deacon leaves Sunday Mass “to go into the world and the workplace as an active person of faith.” Dubois noted that his neighbors in Lexington, Ohio, know him as “Deacon Tom” and view him as a representative of the Church. Ordained in 2002, he has devoted much of his diaconate work to prison ministry at Ohio’s Mansfield Correctional Institution. Inside the prison, Dubois counsels inmates, prays with them, instructs them in the tenets of the faith and otherwise is a friend to them. He remarked, “They’re appreciative of my efforts and say it makes a difference in their lives. In an environment where they’re cut off from their families and possibly an embarrassment to them, we treat them like human beings.”

Dubois believes being a deacon has given him the education and formation he needs to better minister to prisoners.  Additionally, as a deacon, he is more closely identified with the work of the Church. 

Many view deacons as “mini priests,” he said, with priests having the ability to do many more things.  That’s not an accurate view, he said.  The “fullness of holy orders” comes through the bishop, and he “disseminates his ministry through the priests and deacons.”

Dubois continued, “We’re not competing. Deacons are not trying to be priests. We’re working in a complementary way with them.”

Deacon Gerald DuPont, director of the diaconate for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Texas, believes the restored diaconate to be a “tremendous value” to the nation’s Catholic parishes and institutions.  The formation of deacons has “evolved and been refined” since 1967, he said, particularly with the release of instructions on the diaconate from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1983 and 2004, and from the Vatican in 1998. Since being ordained a deacon in 1990, DuPont has worked in prison ministry, visited nursing homes, assisted at parishes and, today, teaches classes at St. Mary’s, the archdiocesan seminary in Houston.

With nearly 400 active deacons, the third most in the country (Chicago is first, with 600), DuPont says there is still a need for more.

In fact, the archdiocese recently did a survey of its priests, he said, and there were 183 requests for additional deacons.

He’s always ready to interview prospective candidates who would find the ministry of deacon as satisfying as he does: “I have found great happiness as a deacon. I have also found peace. God wants me to be here.”

Deacon Bob Puhala is director of the Institute for Diaconal Studies for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was ordained by Cardinal Francis George in 1998 and has devoted much of his ministry to formation of prospective deacons.

“The permanent diaconate was an unexpected blessing of the Second Vatican Council,” he said. “No one anticipated that it would make such a big impact on ministry in the U.S.”

 When discussing the diaconate, Puhala said he tries to avoid defining a deacon in terms of what he can do and instead focuses on who he is: “A deacon is ordained to serve the bishop to undertake a ministry that the bishop deems most important to his diocese.”

He says the ministry of the deacon “stands on its own” and should not be viewed in competition with or subordinate to the role of the priest.

He, too, believes there is a need for more deacons. “Until the day when all the hungry are fed, the homeless given shelter and the marginalized brought back into the body of Christ, we’re going to need more deacons.”

His own ministry has been “the most incredible blessing of my life. It’s a privilege and honor to have served.” Register correspondent Jim Graves writes from Newport Beach, California. Read more:

Did Jesus Come to Aboilsh Religion?

This video on YouTube has had over 17,000,000 hits.    That’s huge!

Unfortunately, this young man has his facts all goofed up.  He claims that the reason Jesus came was to abolish religion. Hard to swallow, as Jesus Himself was an ardent follower of a religion.Clever rhyme? …. yes.   Well produced…. you bet.   All flash and no substance.

Here’s one Deacon’s take.

Just a podcast… no slick production, just the facts.

CLICK HERE to hear my podcast.

DCEP#31 “Beholding the Lamb”

The readings for this Sunday can be found here

Listen to Homily

Bulletin for the Week of January 1, 2012

Immaculate Conception

Beginning in January, the CCW (Altar Society) will place a can in the back of the Church to collect money for Food For The Poor.  For many parents throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, there is a grim reality that parents there tell their children that they have nothing to feed them.  Malnutrition can devastate a child’s physical and mental development, and in extreme cases lead to death.  Poverty should not be a death sentence.  The need is real and immediate:  your gift for food for the poor, can literally save a person’s life.  Our responsibility is to care for and nurture those who are struggling for survival.  Your gifts will help supply food, medicine and other vital items necessary to save children’s lives. Every child is precious and every gift is appreciated.  Any amount, even your loose change will be appreciated.  Thank you.

Immaculate Conception Religious Education will begin again in 2012 on Wed. Jan. 18

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Bulletin Briefs for All Parishes

We will be starting the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). If you would like to join the Catholic Church, please call the office or talk to Fr. José or Deacon Bill. Classes will start soon.

I would like to thank everyone for all the wonderful cards and gifts that I received this year. Your generosity and words of kindness is truly a wonderful gift. I am blessed to be pastor of three great parishes and hold you all close to my heart. May the Lord Bless you in the New Year, with health, love and peace. Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year,  Fr. José

I want to thank everyone for their kindness and warmth, not only during this Christmas season, but throughout the year. The opportunity to serve you is a great blessing, but it is made easy among so many good people – Dcn. Bill & Judy

Your 2012 Collection Envelope boxes are available to be picked up at the back of the Church.  If you don’t find one with your name on it, please call the office or let Father know.  New church calendars from the Funeral Homes are also available.  Please thank them for these nice Religious Calendars.

Worldwide  Marriage Encounter-Married Couples:  It has been said that the greatest gift you can give your children is two parents very much in love with each other.  Polish up this gift and put a bow on it at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.  You deserve the best and your children need to see you reaching for it. For more information call Pat & Janelle Benson 308-946-3568 or at pbjbben@yahoo.com Upcoming Dates:  Jan. 27-29 North Platte, Feb. 10-12 Lincoln, April 27-29 Omaha, August 3-5 Schuyler, October 19-21 Grand Island

DCEP#29 “Freedom, Fiat and Fulfillment” 4th Sunday of Advent B

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent, B. The readings can be found here.
I also referenced Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter in the Dignity and Vocation of Women Mulieris Dignitatem
Feedback is always welcome! Dcn. Bill

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