What is your good news?

Have any good news for us today?

I was able to spend some time with friends in KC, MO, meet with Bp. Finn, and help a priest friend by taking one of his four Sunday Masses.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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50 Comments

  1. Ellen says:

    We have a new pastor and assistant pastor and they are both great! They don’t do a Latin Mass (yet), but they have brought back the bells at the Consecration. Brick by Brick.

  2. After a long 1 1/2 years of unemployment from my career work, I’ve done some part time work, I recently landed a job. And my wife will be able to stay home with the kids!

  3. kab63 says:

    It’s 66 degrees this morning in Las Vegas and we slept for the second night in a row without the a/c!

    Congratulations, Michael Maedoc. Your news is wonderful. After staying home and homeschooling for many years I officially today have 2 sons attending college.

  4. Luke says:

    My wife and I found a small group of the faithful that we can share deeply our love of God with. What a treasure! Thank you, Lord.

  5. Yesterday was the opening Mass and Rite of Inscription at the seminary and formal dinner with the new CUA president. Today is my first day of classes at seminary. First is Philosophy of Human Nature.

  6. lmgilbert says:

    My wife and I just returned from a jaunt down gorgeous Route 101 to Coos Bay, Oregon. On our way back we went to Mass yesterday at St. Anthony’s in Waldport, a small church where everything was done by the numbers.

    Not only that, the pastor, Fr. Steckler, S.J. is the very FIRST pastor I have ever encountered who has realized how to exploit the possibilities of the Sunday bulletin to instruct his people in the faith.

    For example, he had a long commentary on the Apocalypse by Oecumensis lifted from WDTPRS.

    He had several other well written articles from orthodox sources addressing fidelity to the magisterium, lateness at Mass, the moral impilcations of the health bill beyond the pro-abortion aspects. He had a book review of the Essential Belloc.

    In other words, he is feeding his flock with well-written truth on many subjects from many authors. Plus he had a neat cartoon from the secular press.

    It was three pages of exciting non-fluff, in contradistinction to every other bulletin I have EVER seen in my life.

  7. lmgilbert says:

    Also, in a few hours I start a new job. The wonderful, almost stupefying thing is that I was able to find a job at all in this economy…at age 67.

    Like many other seniors I am in semi-retirement- in other words working. Social security doesn’t cut it and looks very fragile in any case

    This is a job in medical transportation. I need my wits about me at all times for my own safety and that of the handicapped people I will be working with.

    Please say a prayer, would you, that it goes well.

  8. AnAmericanMother says:

    Congratulations, Imgilbert! and prayers, of course. I’m sure once you settle in it will be o.k. My daughter just started work at the GA Aquarium, and I told her the same thing — she said it helped when she was standing in fisherman’s waders in the middle of a salt water pool feeding chopped-up squid to rather insistent and hungry stingrays! (she says they try to climb up your legs, and if you ignore them they splash water at you).

    One of our parochial vicars has started the same practice as Fr. Steckler, on a smaller scale – he gets a whole page of the bulletin to hold forth on various issues – he’s using it well. Always something interesting and instructive in the “Credo” column. This week of course it was St. Augustine and St. Monica.

  9. I brewed 5 gallons of English brown ale yesterday. As it will be ready to drink by (soon-to-be) Bl. Cardinal Newman’s new feast day of October 9, I’m calling it Lead, Kindly Dark brown ale.

  10. Joan M says:

    Yesterday’s issue of The Catholic News, diocesan newspaper for Trinidad & Tobago (there is only one diocese – the Archdiocese of Port of Spain) had, for the Archbishop’s Intention for September: that all of God’s People will be open to the year-long period of catechesis on the changes in the liturgy, which are scheduled to be implemented of the First Sunday of Advent in 2011.”

    I look forward to the catechesis and the changes.

  11. AnAmericanMother says:

    And perhaps the best news this week — we attended an EF Mass at St. Francis de Sales, Mableton. Splendid – just splendid. Beautiful and inspiring liturgy, excellent homily, lovely chant and polyphonic music well sung by a small but skilled choir (a Viadana Mass setting!), alert and attentive congregation. The new rector is also making things hum — many parish activities and special events in the bulletin.

    Most importantly, the suspicion towards visitors that I noted on our last visit (in 2004) seems to have dissipated completely. My friend who is a parish member introduced us to many other parishioners (including the music director, who knows his onions!) at coffee, everyone was very cordial, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

  12. Fr Matthew says:

    One of our rather elderly permanent deacons fell ill during Mass yesterday and had to be taken to the hospital. There were two of us priests on hand and we gave him all the spiritual assistance possible, so if anything happened he was ready to go. Now it turns out that he will be OK and just needs to take it easy. It was a blessing to be able to be there for him in a moment of need, after his many years of service to the Church, and it’s a blessing that we will still have him around for a while longer, although he won’t be able to serve on the altar as often!

  13. asperges says:

    Today is August Bank Holiday in the UK and it is not pouring with rain, but sunny!

  14. irishgirl says:

    This is rather late, but-I went to a seminary of traditional priests in the Catskills of New York two weeks ago for a Mass and ceremonies of Minor Orders (Exorcist and Acolyte), Reception of the Cassock and Renewal of Vows. Very impressive. And it happened on my birthday, too-pretty cool present!

    Then, on the following Tuesday, the traditional Sisters who are affiliated with the seminary of traditonal priests had their first ‘graduation’ ceremony for their Juniorate College. I was able to attend the ceremony, though I wasn’t really ‘invited’ in a formal sense-felt like a gatecrasher! But it was a lovely ceremony….and I had a big grin on my face when the Bishop who founded both the priests’ and the Sisters’ communities mentioned St. Joan of Arc in his commencement speech! He has a strong devotion to St. Joan-as do I!

    I had a wonderful time at both events-in spite of the torrential rain which fell during two days of my five-day visit!

  15. Hans says:

    My second year, of four, of formation, and the first year of candidacy, to become a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Chicago began yesterday with Mass at Mundelein.

  16. JaneC says:

    Our parochial vicar is coming to bless our house next Sunday evening. We are so happy to have our first house, and a good priest to bless it for us!

  17. Andy Milam says:

    Starting next Sunday, XV post Pent. We are starting a schola to chant the propers of the EF. Previously, an organist and cantor had only been singing the ordinaries, as there was a lack of intrest in chanting. Through several conversations, and some very good fortune on the part of the parishoners at St. Anthony’s we will start with psalm tones, then move to the Liber as our compatibility becomes more evident.

    The youngest chanter is 10, the oldest is mid 50s!!!! A good day for the EF, in Des Moines.

  18. Fuquay Steve says:

    Signed up for my first Adoration hour – I’m a little anxious, usually I visit for a short while, now ….

  19. jmgarciajr says:

    I start teaching another year of CCD (Confirmation) in a couple of weeks, my eldest made the Jr. High (and YES, they still call it a Jr. High!) golf team, the entrepreneurial venture I embarked upon when the Great Recession left me no other option but that and fervent — and often feverish — prayer, if starting to lumber to life.

    AMDG!

  20. FranzJosf says:

    Just returned from two weeks on the Maine Coast, where I visited many of my ‘summer’ friends. A heartwarming time. Currently in NYC, visiting other friends, where it is sunny and clear. I’m very blest that the rhytm of my year always includes time with family and old friends in August. (Having dinner with one of Fr. Rutler’s converts this week.)

  21. DBuote says:

    Back to seminary this evening.

  22. aleighanne says:

    Received plans for two book signings next month in Oklahoma for my book launch and received last minute invite to fill in at an academic conference (Of course I am scrambling to write my paper lol). No job yet but hopeful and praying (over 8 months now).

  23. lucy says:

    We are having a special Mass today for our young friend, Nathaniel, who is suffering from cancer at age 4. It’s such a blessing to have a wonderful priest take time out of his day off and do this for us! God bless Fr. Sotelo!

  24. SuzieQ says:

    My almost 3 year old niece, who has thus far refused to utter a word (not even ‘mama’ or ‘daddy’), said “bye bye” this weekend!

  25. Peggy R says:

    I taught my first CCD (PSR here) class this week to 11-12 year olds. The kids had lots of questions and seemed very engaged. They were pretty well informed too. I had fun asking them what “Incarnation” meant as we went through a vocabulary list. I think they won’t forget now. I studied the text and had ideas of how to expand/explain with biblical/saint examples. I also prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide me and give me the right words to share the Gospel and teach the Faith to these kids. It went very well, I thought.

  26. jul says:

    I signed up for a Catholic Scripture Study on Exodus at a parish about an hour away. The time works out so I can drop my kids at school, go to Mass and then make it there.
    Also, my daughter, her husband and their 13 month old visited for the weekend. I was blessed to be able to spend two stretches of time with them earlier this year while my daughter had emergency surgery and then a second scheduled surgery. Thanks be to God she has recovered well, though now she must get by with only about a foot of large intestine.

  27. Brian Day says:

    I came home from the hospital Saturday evening after almost two weeks. Thanks be to God.

    What a packed two weeks. After going in the ER for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, the doctors admitting me because my blood counts were low (I have cancer and this is common). I received the blood, but then the fever spiked to 104°f. The ice bath was not fun, but fortunately the fever broke in about six hours.
    So it was a few days to get the infection under control. I have a new cancer doctor and he is a go-getter. While I was in the hospital he had my orthopedic doctor insert rods and pins in both femurs to stabilize the leg and hip areas to prevent any hip fractures (a real possibility and a very bad thing if it did happen). The surgery went well except that on the left leg one of the incisions had a small bleeder. So the doctor had to go back in and fix the bleeding.
    The cancer doctor also wanted to start a new cancer treatment so I got to stay a couple of extra days for that.
    But now I’m home. The recovery is going slowly but it is so much more enjoyable being home with family and friends.

  28. nbSPSSOD says:

    I got moved into the seminary today. First year, pre-theology. Please pray for me!!

  29. yatzer says:

    My sister’s tests after melanoma surgery showed clear margins. I don’t understand that exactly, but I understand it is very good, so I’m happy!

  30. SpokaneTrad says:

    Imgilbert: Isn’t Steck the best?? He was my absolute favorite instructor in college. I was just reading through several of ST. Anthony’s bulletins recently wishing that the parish bulletins of the two churches I regularly attend in Spokane were half so informative.

  31. capchoirgirl says:

    Four days (well really 3 1/2) until my first visit to Summit!!!!

  32. Torpedo1 says:

    I have a job interview tomorrow, I’m moving back to the place I call home in one week, my friend’s son is being baptised on Sunday and this Friday I get to go to the State Fair with my aunt. Yay! roasted corn, the dog barn, the Ag building, fried green tomatoes, chocolate covered water mellon, the dary building… I could go on, but I’m too excited! Pray for me and this job though, I’m so sick of being unemploied. also, pray for the man who is courting me, he’s looking for a job as well and we could use all the prayers we can get. Thanks everyone

  33. Paul from Cork says:

    My nephew just scraped into his first choice programme in his university of choice! Thanks be to God; he’s a nice kid but not a natural student. Now that he’s in the door, his future is much brighter.

  34. irishgirl says:

    Another piece of good news! A week or two ago, I came across a blog called ‘Mystics of the Catholic Church’, a blog run by a man from Connecticut. I was able to comment about a couple of his articles, giving him info about some of the mystics he had-and didn’t have-on the blog.

    Well, he was so impressed by the info I gave on one mystic I knew (Blessed Dina Belanger, a nun from Quebec City, Canada) that he asked me to submit for him an article for the blog! Whoa-I haven’t done a big project like this in a long time!

    So now I’m ‘slogging’ through it, writing everything by hand [ouch]. Luckily I don’t have a deadline to submit it-he told me to take my time! I’m about halfway through it-in a way, I’m glad that Blessed Dina didn’t live a long time [smile]. She died at 32 years of age, on September 4, 1929.

  35. Sacristymaiden says:

    #1 I’m starting classes tomorrow at Wyoming Catholic College!
    #2 The college just finished the new cafeteria in time for Convocation.
    #3 One of my brothers was recently enrolled in St. Gregory’s Academy!

  36. Boanerges says:

    Our diocese is turning away from it’s progressive past and beginning to embrace orthodoxy. I’ve been asked to share the role of Our Lady in salvation history with our RCIA group, third year running. The Rosary is making a comeback and her Immaculate Heart will triumph!

  37. RichardT says:

    Four Sunday Masses? That’s one over-worked priest. Well done Father for lightening his load a little.

    Is it even allowed? Quadrinating? I guess so if one of the four is actually Saturday evening, but even so it’s a lot of work. Time to pray for more vocations!

  38. Jack Hughes says:

    Attending Vocations weekend with the Fathers of Mercy in October

    Serving the first regular Latin Mass in my home parish on Sunday

    Attending the Beatification Mass of Card. Newman next month

    Had wonderful ‘Day with Mary’ at Downside Abbey last Saturday; deepend my love for Our Lady and Our Lord and a priest from the Fansiscants of the Immaculate invited me down to Cornwall to ‘come and see’ -put it this way I think I can pretty much chose the congregation I want to enter !!

    @capchoirgirl – great news !!! hope you like them and they like you !!

    @C

  39. I love these threads. People are ALIVE!

    You suffer, you triumph.

    Grace and God’s plan abound.

  40. Jack Hughes says:

    I’ve got some good news for you to Father!!, I can’t speak for other people but your blog has definately been a major source of encouragement, inspiration and factor in my desire to try my vocation!!

  41. Not far from here, there is a lawyer who has become a priest. YEAY GOD!!!

  42. And as I look in the mirror, I see another lawyer who answered His call to vocation just weeks ago. YEAY GOD

  43. prairie says:

    You were in my backyard! I am finally reading St. Augustine’s “On Free Choice of the Will”.

  44. Elizabeth D says:

    Jesus loves me (and no one can tell me I cannot vow my life to Him in singleheartedness) even though I have been repeatedly told I am unfit for various vocations I have tried to inquire into, and will probably be told so again about pretty much the only remaining one. Those who have vocations, be grateful and be faithful.

    Irishgirl, every Saint was a mystic, because this term ultimately refers not to visions and revelations (minor, and oft misleading phenomena) but to the action of God in the soul, most importantly infusing grace and virtue. And many visionaries and locutionaries one hears of are not so much. It is a shame that people think “mysticism” is visions and locutions. Let them read St John of the Cross, called “the Mystical Doctor”, who thought otherwise.

  45. Elizabeth D: Dear, the call to be a saint is even greater than any other vocation; to be a “martyr” is the ultimate in witness to the Lord and the Church…but don’t believe (even if you are told…priests CAN be wrong here!) that the Lord has rejected you or consigns you to some kind of “second place”. You HAVE a vocation; how you live this out is another matter…just keep seeking, praying, and know that the Lord loves you and will reveal to you the path you must take to love and serve Him in this life in order to be happy with Him forever in the next.
    My prayers and blessing.

  46. Mashenka says:

    A very dear friend took me with her to the Divine Liturgy at her newly-planted mission church, a very exciting parish packed with friendly people. The biggest joy of all was to see that that parish, though their church builting is already too small to hold them all, has more children than adults!

  47. Revixit says:

    One local parish is continuing the monthly Latin Novus Ordo begun this summer.
    I am hopeful that this will lead to a monthly EF in this parish, then perhaps to a weekly EF. Brick by brick.

    Another local parish has a new pastor and I’m told he is available to hear confessions all day one day a week and that he visits the homebound himself, to hear their confessions and take Holy Communion to them. That’s at least two wheelbarrow loads of bricks per week.

  48. lux_perpetua says:

    elizabeth:

    i’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’ve been rejected from vocational inquiries based on your disability. if so, i hear you sister! i’ll be sure to keep you in my prayers. it’s hard to know when such things come from our Crosses which we must embrace lovingly, and which ones come from misguided and outdated thinking about our true capacities to serve the Church. I would suggest finding a relevant saint [mine would be St. Lucy/Raphael, obviously] and pray for guidance.

    My good news is that, through prayer, the lord has continued to strengthen my courage with regards to standing up for life. I now finally feel comfortable going to pray outside of clinics by myself and am no longer terrified by the fear of being recognized by the numerous coworkers, school peers, etc who work nearby. bit by bit, i become less afraid to hide my Catholicism from those who knew me “before”. trust me, this is good news indeed and something which clearly could only be accomplished via the Holy Spirit! pray for me!

  49. irishgirl says:

    Elizabeth D-yes, exactly! You hit it on the head with regards to mystics!

    nazareth priest-what kind words you gave her! Bless you! (I always like your ‘tell it like it is’ posts! YEAY!)

  50. Elizabeth D says:

    nazareth priest, I was very consoled by your words, have read them a number of times and thanked God with tears.

    lux_petpetua, that is true that my repeated rejections are disability related.

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