Tuesday, June 8, 2004

New Auxiliaries for Philadephia

From the Vatican Information Service:



The Holy Father appointed:



- Msgr. Joseph Robert Cistone, vicar of the diocese of Philadelphia, U.S.A., as auxiliary bishop of same diocese (area 5,652, population 3,861,648, Catholics 1,494,883, priests 1,083, permanent deacons 212, religious 569), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1949 in Philadelphia and was ordained a priest in 1975.



- Msgr. Joseph Patrick McFadden, pastor of St. Joseph in Downingtown, U.S.A., as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in 1947 in Philadelphia, U.S.A. and was ordained a priest in 1981.




Monday, June 7, 2004

BEA Session I Attended #2

On pitching a book to a publisher, or the public:









Key thing to remember, "You are on a mission!"

BEA Session I Attended #1

On creating a buzz about your book. Since many authors visit this site, here is a book by one of the presenters:







Update on Arizona's Defiant Priests

In the piece it mentions all but two have removed their names, but only one is being punished? Perhaps the other is the religious brother?



From Bishop Olmsted Suspends Priest for Refusing to Remove Name from Gay Document:



"Following Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted's April order that nine priests and one religious brother remove their names from a document by an activist organization for homosexual clergy, all have complied except for Fr. Andre Boulanger. Last week bishop Olmsted suspended Fr. Boulanger from priestly ministry.



The document, No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice, stated 'Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a choice, and not a sin. We affirm that GLBT persons are distinctive, holy, and precious gifts to all who struggle to become the family of God.'



Within two weeks of bishop Olmsted's order, eight of the ten had removed their names; last week, the ninth, but Fr. Boulanger defiantly persisted in his stand.



A suspension means a priest may not celebrate Mass, preach or hear confessions. Olmsted told Fr. Boulanger his suspension stands 'until such time as I have assurance from you that you do indeed believe and teach what the Church teaches about the call to holiness for homosexual persons,' according to an Arizona Republic article."

Sunday, June 6, 2004

Lessons for Life from Father Groeschel

There Are No Accidents: In All Things Trust in God

Pope Offering His Life to God Till the End

From The Tallahassee Democrat:

"'It's wonderful to be able to offer oneself until the end for the cause of the Kingdom of God,' he told the rally, describing that as his testimony after nearly 60 years as a priest.



The 84-year-old John Paul has Parkinson's disease and crippling hip and knee ailments, but he has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions that he step down."

Thursday, June 3, 2004

Negative Take on Pope's Health

From the Fort Wayne New Sentinel:



Returning Wednesday from a 12-day trip to the Vatican, Bishop John D'Arcy acknowledged he noticed a difference in the health of Pope John Paul II since he had last seen him in 1998.

For the bishop, this fourth trip to the Holy City was one marked with realism and emotion.



"I said to myself, 'That's probably the last time I'll see him alive,"' D'Arcy said. "It was emotional. But I'm just glad my time as bishop overlapped with him."



D'Arcy, bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, made the "ad limina" visit, as is expected of bishops every five years, health permitting. No visits were taken during 2000.



For D'Arcy, this trip wasn't like the others.