Category Archives: Priests and Priesthood

QUAERITUR: Word and Communion services with a deacon permissible?

From a reader: We have a shortage of priests in our diocese in England, not so short that we can’t have Sunday Mass. but occasionally weekday Mass might not be available in a Parish. When are these services of Word … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
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Reason #5 for Summorum Pontificum: vocations to the priesthood

Yet another reason to thank Pope Benedict for Summorum Pontificum: A long-time reader and participant (and donor) sent an alert about the following, with this comment: Interesting that CNS included a segment on Tradition starting at 2:15, featuring one Michael … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , ,
23 Comments

Two notes about the late Card. Martini (R.I.P.)

Carlo Maria Card. Martini, SJ, died.  I have little to say about him.  However, I found in our Catholic blogosphere two comments on his death which are useful. By way of introduction, in early August Card. Martini did an interview … Read More

Posted in Liberals, Priests and Priesthood, The Drill | Tagged , ,
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UK: Confraternity of Catholic Clergy Annual Colloquium 23-24 Oct. Archbp. DiNoia, Fr. Lang, et al.

Here is something for all my priestly friends in the UK. I received this from a clerical friend, whom I hope to see during September: The British Confraternity of Catholic Clergy will hold their second annual colloquium at the Oratory … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged , ,
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Our Catholic future and the war of attrition: an object lesson

It is interesting to compare dioceses for the numbers of their vocations to the priesthood.  Some swanky and tony dioceses have few.  Some fly-over dioceses have many.  What are they doing differently?  Which are the differentiating factors?  Is it something … Read More

Posted in New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The future and our choices, Year of Faith | Tagged , , , ,
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More on priests and formation in both the Extraordinary and the Ordinary Form

This continues a couple different entries (HERE and HERE). From a priest: I am also a young priest (30), and an alumnus of your alma mater. [Neither “alma” nor “mater” in my day, I’m afraid.] Though I have received training … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Benedict XVI, Brick by Brick, Linking Back, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , ,
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FEEDBACK: If a priest cannot say Mass in the Extraordinary Form, is he properly trained?

A young priest took exception to what I wrote the other day about seminarians who are not given training by seminaries for the use of the Extraordinary Form. I am a young priest (age 30). Thank you for demeaning my … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM | Tagged , ,
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Holy Communion services mistaken to be “as good as Mass”

My friend Fr Ray Blake, parish priest in Brighton, has a good analysis of the phenomenon of lay people – lay women – leading Communion services in the absence of priests. Many of us have had the experience of hearing … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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A tribute to Fr. Thwaites

Fr. Sean Finnegan has a fine tribute to the late Fr. Hugh Thwaites, SJ, who died recently.  Here is how Fr. Finnegan’s piece concludes: There are so many of us who owe Fr Hugh so much. I will never forget … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
3 Comments

Winnipeg, the Extraordinary Form, and the New Evangelization

For your Brick by Brick file. On the blog Ibo et Non Redibo I found a report the expanding use of the Extraordinary Form in Winnipeg/St. Boniface, Manitoba and the good work being done by Fr. Jeff Burwell, S.J. Here … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Brick by Brick, Fr. Z KUDOS, Just Too Cool, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The future and our choices | Tagged , , , , , ,
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