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 Why
isn't there a patron saint
of veterans?
The ranks of
the saints are filled with men and women who risked their lives in
battle. So why don't military veterans have a patron of their own?
In the parish church of my
youth, my family often sat under a stained glass window that depicted a
poor man lying on the ground with his hand out to the Roman officer
towering over him. Oddly, the soldier was cutting his own cloak in two.
It was a long time before I learned that the Roman was St. Martin of
Tours, a patron saint of soldiers. My dad was a World War II veteran
for whom veterans were a lifelong cause. He joined a veterans'
organization soon after he got out of the service. Besides just seeking
camaraderie, he had a genuine interest in veteran affairs, and he rose
through the ranks until he became the organization's national leader in
the late 1960s. This involvement continued for another three decades,
into his retirement. Dad was also a devout Catholic, but I'm not sure how
much his two convictions--faith and veterans--mixed. Read
more.
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 Remembering those who have gone before
us
Nothing can compel us to practice hope, that most fragile
of virtues. We can only be inspired.
A table in my living room
has become a kind of shrine. On it rest photos of people special to me:
my grandmother, my parents, my best friend. All have passed away.
My grandmother passed away after 84 full years of life. The others died
far too soon in my reckoning: my mother at age 64, my dear friend at only
59. Their deaths leave an emptiness that fits this season of longer
nights and colder days. And yet their images bear a fullness as well. The
memories they trigger also contain a yearning expressed in the hope that
their absence is not the final word. The shrine is an act of hope that my
loved ones are not gone forever. Read
more.
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 Is it OK to
be a cafeteria Catholic?
Evangelization
requires real dialogue in the
church--as well as an open door to those on imperfect journeys of faith.
Today, the accusation of
being a "cafeteria Catholic" is flung around with the same
zealousness as the term "heretic" was at one time. Passionate
traditionalists troll online discussion boards and blogs seeking to
attack women and men who do not give their full assent to each and every
teaching of the Catholic Church. These gatekeepers of orthodoxy believe
it is for the glory of God and the good of the church that all
questioners and doubters be denounced and told in no uncertain terms that
if they don't like it they can--and should--leave. I have no desire
to be part of the smaller, purer church envisioned by these doctrinal
police. The church must keep its doors open for all of us who are on an
imperfect, bumpy and often messy journey toward holiness. Read
more.
What do you think about
cafeteria Catholics? Take our survey.
Don't miss this opportunity to voice your opinion!
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 Better
Know A Parish: Immaculate Conception Parish, Malden, Massachusetts
We know that
every parish is unique. Whether it's an engaging pastor, thriving
ministries, or unique architecture, we want to give you the chance to
share what makes your parish special.
Immaculate Conception is
the friendliest parish around. The staff and clergy make efforts to meet
and greet everyone and make all feel like VIPs. The music at IC offers
everything from High Mass choral music and chant to kid- and
youth-friendly choirs, with the gifts of the parishioners being put to
use in leading musical prayer. The parish has a charism for teaching and
learning, and faith formation for the entire parish is at the forefront. Read
more.
Want to have your parish
featured as part of our Better Know A Parish series? Click
here for more details. To see a list of our previously
featured parishes, click
here.
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Pope Francis suggests no-cost annulments in
divorce cases
The Synod on the Family has opened dialogue on annulments.
Will the pontiff keep the ball rolling?
Pope Francis raised the
prospect of no-cost marriage annulments on November 5 after
revealing he had dismissed a church official for selling
annulments for thousands of dollars, which he called a "public
scandal." The pontiff made the shocking disclosure as he was
addressing canon lawyers at the Vatican for a course on marriage
dissolution conducted by the Roman Rota, the church's highest
court. "We have to be careful that the procedure does not
become some kind of business," the pope said. "I had to
dismiss a person from a tribunal some time ago who said: 'Give me $10,000
and I'll take care of both the civil and ecclesiastical procedures.'
Please, not this!"
Read
more.
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 Tweedy's
father/son pairing delivers powerful debut with 'Sukierae'
Tweedy (dBpm Records, 2014)
Sukierae is
an exciting and intriguing album for a number of reasons, not the least
of which is the composition of the band. The band name
"Tweedy," which might initially conjure the notion of a solo
album, instead cleverly identifies a familial reality. Tweedy is that
most rare entity, a father and son rock band: Jeff Tweedy takes his usual
position as lead singer and guitar player while his son Spencer plays the
drums. Even the most dedicated Jeff Tweedy fan may have to admit that
young Spencer's drumming steals the show at times. Read
more.
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