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The Deacon's Bench

Could Flannery O’Connor have invented Don Draper?   An astute critic in America magazine suggests the answer is “Yes.”  Rev. Terrance W. Klein draws some intriguing parallels between O’Connor’s Gothic South and the 1960’s-era boardrooms of “Mad Men’s” Madison Ave.:  “Mad Men” employs the same creative device Flannery O’Connor used. It radically resets a character or…

If you want to know how the recession is hitting some charities, this item from the AP lays it out:  For many social-service charities across America, the recession has delivered a staggering one-two punch. Sharp drops in donations and investment income have been coupled by soaring demand for their services. The casualties so far include…

This has been making the rounds for a while, but with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi coming up this weekend, now seems a good time to revisit, reflect, and enjoy.  

When was the last time the United States government paid tribute to a group of Catholic religious?  It happened last week.  Take a look.   

Things are coming along nicely at my new digs.  I just finished hanging the curtains and plugging in the coffee pot.  And now we’re getting really fancy.   If you look to your right, in the upper right corner of the blog, you’ll find the little doohickey for a subscription feed.   Sign up and…

We’re moving right along … Head over to my new address, and there’s a button on the upper right corner for an RSS feed, so you can easily keep up with The Bench.

The Vatican has announced a theme for the next World Communications Day — and it’s all about new media:  For World Communications Day 2010, Pope Benedict XVI has chosen the theme “The priest and pastoral ministry in a digital world: New media at the service of the Word.” As the church celebrates the Year for…

Again, Medjugorje is in the news.  And again, it’s about the local bishop warning the citizens not to believe in the alleged apparitions. From the Catholic News Service:  Confirming young people from the parish in the Bosnian town of Medjugorje, Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno asked them not to behave as if the alleged Marian…

Forget “Praise to the Lord” or even “Gather Us In.” You know the song I’m talking about. Crank up the volume and join in.

I just got back from our parish’s annual fundraiser golf tournament and dinner dance.  And once again, it was confirmed for me that the great musical force that unifies the American Church isn’t Gregorian chant, or classic hymns like “Praise to the Lord” or “Hail Holy Queen” or even “Gather Us In.”  No. It’s “Electric…
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