Lots of news this weekend on Vatican Insider (as there always seems to be!), and also a special guest on the interview segment, Fr. Christopher Pearson – pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in London. We’ve been friends for over a dozen years, as you will hear in the amusing start of our conversation, and Fr. Christopher was in Rome to concelebrate at the January 5 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Lots of news this weekend on Vatican Insider (as there always seems to be!), and also a special guest on the interview segment, Fr. Christopher Pearson – pastor of Most Precious Blood parish in London. We’ve been friends for over a dozen years, as you will hear in the amusing start of our conversation, and Fr. Christopher was in Rome to concelebrate at the January 5 funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
What links us is one of Pope Benedict’s major achievements – the creation in 2009 of the Personal Ordinariate, a canonical structure within the Catholic Church established to enable “groups of Anglicans” to join the Catholic Church while preserving elements of their liturgical and spiritual patrimony. Fr. Chris was an Anglican pastor for 15 years and talks about his becoming a Catholic priest. He highlights Benedict’s great desire for Christian Unity, citing the Ordinariate as one example of how that can be achieved.
(Best Of) Not having much time to prepare a full “Vatican Insider” with news and a new interview, we’ve put together a “Best Of Vatican Insider” and this weekend you can listen to Dallas Jenkins, producer, and Neal Harmon, founder of Angel Studios that made the film. As you know, “The Chosen” is full into season three!
Welcome to Vatican Insider on this Christmas and New Year’s weekend. After all, don’t forget that it is still the Christmas season! In what is usually the interview segment after the News, I have prepared what I hope is a fascinating Christmas story, a Special in which I bring you to Italy to learn how the Vatican and Rome and Italians celebrate Christmas and New Year’s. Christmastide is as wonderful here as you can imagine, and I think you’ll want to invite family members, especially children, to sit around and listen!
December 10th was the feast day of the Holy House of Loreto, my very favorite shrine in Italy that I’ve visited several times, and this seems like the perfect season to tell a special story about Mary’s house, the house in which she grew up.
I will tell you that, according to tradition, this Marian shrine is the home in which Mary lived, in which the Angel Gabriel appeared to her, announcing she would become the Mother of God, and the home she shared with Jesus and Joseph. It was transported to this Italian hill town overlooking the Adriatic on the night of December 10, 1294.
Tune in and you will learn exactly how it was transported to Italy!
As I prepared this Special, I felt myself leaning against the stone walls of this holy house – as I’ve done on every visit – praying to Mary, running my hands over the stones as I imagined she and Jesus and Joseph did countless times! Rarely have I been so induced to pray, so recollected in prayer, so sensing the presence of the Holy Family as I have in this holy home!
I hope you sense the awesomeness of this home as I tell its story!
My guests this week in the interview segment of Vatican Insider are two of my dearest friends, two priests, two brothers, native Chicagoans, who were both in Rome at the same time: Msgr. Michael Boland, a consultant to Catholic Charities USA following 30 magnificent years as head of Catholic Charities in the archdiocese of Chicago, and his brother Fr. Jeremiah Boland, pastor of a parish I know and love, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, Illinois.
Fr. Jerry, a priest for 40 years, was in Rome on sabbatical at the North American College’s Institute of Continuing Theological Education at the same time that Msgr. Michael, a priest for 35 years, had to attend some meetings.
They are two of my most cherished friends and, as I note in our conversation, there are two things that bind us in friendship: celebration of Mass and meals! I know you will hear that friendship when we talk!
“Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” So goes one of St. Francis’ most popular sayings. But wait – he never said it! And while the saying can be well-intentioned, it’s not even faithful to what Christ taught about evangelization. We’ll talk with Trent Horn about other popular misquotes from the saints. Then Al looks at the sacrifice of a priest who gave his life saving others during the Pearl Harbor attacks. We’ll also look at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who died on December 5, 1791.
In the second hour we see that In reading the New Testament, it quickly becomes obvious that the events occurred in a world that is much different from ours today. What were the attitudes and values of the people at the time? How was it influenced by the Greeks, Romans and other cultures? And how does the universal message of the New Testament apply to that audience and to ours? We talk with NT Wright.
As you may already know, the Vatican websites have been up and down for several days, and are down, in fact, as I write this column. vaticannews.va is down but vatican.va is up, although the English language site has not been updated since November 30.
A Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said Wednesday that the Holy See had taken down its main vatican.va website amid an apparent attempt to hack the site. Without expanding on what caused the problem, he said, “Technical investigations are ongoing due to abnormal attempts to access the site.” Numerous users online, in fact, noted that the site was unavailable as of Tuesday morning. The sites have been up and down since Wednesday afternoon, with many attempts producing “404” error messages.
The link you see below has nothing to do with what I normally bring you daily in this column but the World Cup is on, and it’s hard to ignore stories related to this global event that, every four years, mesmerizes most of the world’s population for a month!
I saw a story today that I found to be very interesting – all about the traditional Arab headgear that is taking the games by storm. It quotes one Swiss fan as saying he has “been surprised by how indulgent Qataris — and others from across North Africa and the Middle East — have been when it comes to foreigners adopting and appropriating local customs and clothing, something that is generally seen as disrespectful in Europe and North America.”
Being an American who lives in Europe, it was that soccer fan’s statement that drew my attention. I think you’ll enjoy this piece and perhaps even learn something new. It’s the World Cup’s Hot Accessory. But Should Fans Wear It? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
VATICAN INSIDER: SERVANT OF GOD JOSEPH DUTTON: HAWAII’S THIRD SAINT?
This week, in what is normally the interview segment, I’ve prepared a Special Report on Joseph Dutton. The past two weeks, you heard Fr. John Paul Kimes of Notre Dame University, which has a lar
Join me this weekend on Vatican Insider for Part II of my off-the-cuff interview with Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame and member of the Historical Commission for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Dutton, a layman was companion, caregiver and friend for 44 years, alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope, to the victims of leprosy on Kalaupapa, a peninsula of the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
Father John Paul and I spoke after a recent event in Honolulu for this cause of canonization, a gala, fund-raising luncheon that brought together just under 500 people from several Hawaiian islands. He gave an over-the-top keynote address at that event! This took place during a week in Hawaii in which I was also sworn in as an official member of the Historical Commission, a huge honor!
Father Kimes, a riveting storyteller, tells us about the link between Notre Dame University and Joseph Dutton and explains what he has learned of Dutton by researching the university archives on this Servant of God. You’ll love every minute of our conversation!
Fr. John Paul had arrived in Honolulu the night before the luncheon and had to get to the airport almost immediately afterwards for his return flight so finding time – and a place! – to have this conversation was a real blessing, almost a miracle.
The only available space, in fact, was in a small hallway off the main hallway not far from the room where our luncheon was. A table and two unoccupied chairs seemed to be waiting just for us. Not an acoustically perfect setting, however, so you’ll hear some faint background conversation as people walk by in the main hall but Father John Paul is such a great storyteller that you may not even note it!
What an exciting guest I have this weekend and next on Vatican Insider! I feature an off-the-cuff interview with Fr. John Paul Kimes, Canon law professor at the university of Notre Dame and member of the Historical Commission for the cause of canonization of Servant of God Joseph Dutton. Dutton, a layman was companion, caregiver and friend for 44 years, alongside Sts. Damien and Marianne Cope, to the victims of leprosy on Kalaupapa, a peninsula of the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
Father John Paul and I spoke after a recent event in Honolulu for this cause of canonization, a gala, fund-raising luncheon that brought together just under 500 people from several Hawaiian islands. He gave an over-the-top keynote address at that event! This took place during a week in Hawaii in which I was also sworn in as a member of the Historical Commission, a huge honor!
Father Kimes, a riveting storyteller, tells us about the link between Notre Dame University and Joseph Dutton and explains what he has learned of Dutton by researching the university archives on this Servant of God. You’ll love every minute of our conversation!
Fr. John Paul had arrived in Honolulu the night before the luncheon and had to get to the airport almost immediately afterwards for his return flight so finding time – and a place! – to have this conversation was a real blessing, almost a miracle.
The only available space, in fact, was in a small hallway off the main hallway not far from the room where our luncheon was. A table and two unoccupied chairs seemed to be waiting just for us. Not an acoustically perfect setting, however, so you’ll hear some faint background conversation as people walk by in the main hall but Father John Paul is such a great storyteller that you may not even note it!
Welcome to another, new edition of Vatican Insider. My very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist, returns this weekend for Part II of our conversation.
In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and care (IADC) that he now directs.
Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!
You are in for a real treat this weekend and next with my very special guest in the interview segment – Fr. Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit, theologian and psychologist. In 2012 at Rome’s Jesuit-run Gregorian University, he founded and was president of the Center For Child Protection. In April 2021 that became the Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care (IADC) that he now directs.Father Zollner is a licensed psychotherapist and is regarded as one of the leading ecclesiastical experts in the field of safeguarding from sexual abuse, especially in the Catholic Church. We talk about the Institute, also known as the Safeguarding Institute, the courses and degrees it offers and how dioceses around the world are adopting similar programs. Don’t miss a word of this conversation!
As you may be aware, as I wrote yesterday in this very spot, there has been much consternation in Catholic circles – hierarchy and faithful – about Pope Francis’ recent nomination of a pro-abortion member to the Pontifical Academy for Life. I have prepared a Special for the interview segment of “Vatican Insider,” on this nomination and related issues.
I look at how the academy has changed from its original makeup and focus under its founder, Pope St. John Paul, when it was re-tooled by Pope Francis, and how Francis also re-instituted his predecessor’s John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family to the point where it is unrecognizable for original members.
I ask: Why would a Pope appoint as an academician someone who is pro-abortion. Abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. The academy is FOR life. Now, people are asking: Is it truly the Pontifical Academy for Life?
The bottom line of my piece is: What are we to make of the remarkable dichotomy between the Church’s Magisterium and Pope Francis’ pronouncements on protecting and defending all life from conception to natural death and the appointment of people to Church institutes and academies who do not defend and protect that life?
So tune in this weekend for that analysis.
Tune in this week to the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” when I present Part II of my conversation with a long-time friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago’s well-known St. John Cantius Church. As I wrote last week, we met serendipitously during my recent vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony on September 24 for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius. His story intertwines with the history of the church where, over 30 years, he enriched liturgy and music, brought many devotions back to life and founded a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. And, very importantly, helped the parish grow from 75 members to over 2,000!
My guest this week in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” is a longtime friend, Fr. Frank Phillips, former pastor for 30 years at Chicago’s well-known St. John Cantius Church. After a number of years, we met serendipitously over my vacation at a pre-investiture ceremony for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre that was held at St. John Cantius.
I’ve always been intrigued by the rich history of this parish and you will be too as you hear Fr. Frank talk of his 30 years here, of his love of reverent and beautiful liturgy, of his founding of a religious community, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, and so much more.
Thanks to Fr. Frank’s dedication, inspiration, as well as decades of both material and spiritual renewal, the current pastor, Fr. Josh Caswell and his staff offer many liturgies during the week, including morning, afternoon and evening prayers, vespers and high and low Masses in both Latin and English.
Astonishingly enough, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius today work in 3 parishes in 2 dioceses in Illinois, offering 57 public Masses weekly and hearing more than 700 confessions each week! Yes, you read that right!
First called the Society of St. John Cantius by Cardinal George, the name was later changed to the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The reference is to St. John of Kenty, Poland!
This week, in the interview segment of Vatican Insider, I bring you a fascinating conversation I had with Alvaro Pereira and Fr. Robert White as they tell us more about the amazing program they work for and with, Food for the Poor – how and when it was founded, how FFTP works to help the poor, not just through providing food but through building homes, teaching people how to earn a living and much more! Some astonishing numbers will leave you speechless. The more you hear, the more you’ll want to become involved!