This is an odd story:

WYD overstayers on the run

280 pilgrims from last year’s World Youth Day are still illegally in Australia, The Daily Telegraph reported, but the number represents less than 0.3 percent of the number who had arrived for the event.

The newspaper said that of 110,000 people who came to Sydney for World Youth Day last year, 550 did not go home. Federal immigration authorities have caught and expelled about half of those but 280 pilgrims are still on the run, it added.

I really enjoyed Denver when I went for WYD 1993, and I’d love to return, but I don’t think I would have thought to not go home after it was over. Maybe these people really liked the kangaroos…

Yesterday Archbishop Wuerl celebrated Mass at my parish for the installation of our new pastor, Fr. Thomas LaHood. The Mass was beautiful and the installation was quite moving, as Fr. LaHood made a profession of faith in front of the congregation to be faithful to the teachings of the Church, and to give a full submission of intellect and will to the teachings of the Pope and the college of bishops. I’m also sure that Archbishop Wuerl gave a wonderful homily. Of course, I couldn’t tell you a thing he said because my 2-month old daughter spent the entire homily screaming as loud as she could. And that wasn’t even the most embarrassing to happen to me during the Mass.

Here’s what happened. Near the beginning of Mass, my daughter started getting fussy. Maybe the incense was bothering her. Maybe she was just excited to see the bishop process in. But whatever the reason, I saw a meltdown might be about to happen. So I took her out and fortunately I was able to settle her down pretty quickly. In a little bit my wife came out and offered to take her and nurse her. I confidently told her that she was fine and that I’d take care of her. Famous last words.

As soon as my wife went back into the church, my daughter began screaming like the world was coming to an end (and to a two-month-old nursing baby, the sight of your mother walking away is the end of the world). I tried every trick in my dad-playbook – the rocking, the football-hold, the walking outside – none of it worked. She cried and cried and cried. I was stuck outside, able to barely see the Archbishop through two sets of windows.

Finally, at the end of the homily, she fell asleep. So I went back into the church and found my seat in the 2nd row. Soon the Liturgy of the Eucharist began, and at the epiclesis the altar server rang the bells. Well, I guess my daughter wasn’t completely asleep, or else she was really struck by the descent of the Holy Spirit, because as soon as the bells rang, she began to scream again. Here I was, sitting in the 2nd row at the moment of consecration with the bishop celebrating to our packed congregation, and my baby is louder than a 747 taking off. I didn’t want to walk out in the middle of the consecration, so I tried to calm her for a few moments. But as soon as the consecration was completed, I ran out of there like Usain Bolt with a bear chasing him.

Needless to say, the moral of the story is: if the mother of a child asks to take him or her from you, there is only one correct answer: yes, dear.

When I first read this headline at Francis Beckwith’s blog:

C.S. Lewis Believed in Purgatory

I thought it said “C.S. Lewis Believed to be in Purgatory”. Then I thought, “Boy, Beckwith’s back in the Church less than two years and he’s already determining who is in purgatory. The nerve of some reverts…”

As I blogged previously, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, one of the seven “initiators” (they don’t like to be called founders) of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, is celebrating his 50th anniversary as a priest this year. There are plans for a big celebration:

LOCAL CATHOLICS TO HONOR FATHER BENEDICT GROESCHEL WITH 50th ANNIVERSARY MASS

Celebration Will Highlight Infuential Clergyman’s Life and Priesthood

NUTLEY, New Jersey — Laypeople, church officials, friars and Catholic leaders will celebrate the anniversary of one of the church’s most visible and respected priests on Oct. 18 with a special mass and public celebration marking 50 years of Father Benedict Groeschel’s priesthood.

Father Benedict is perhaps best known both within and outside the Catholic community as a prolific author, the host of the popular Sunday Night Live with Father Benedict Groeschel program, and an outspoken activist who has championed civil rights and the teachings of the Catholic church. He’s also an internationally known speaker, a psychologist, a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and co-founder and chairman of Good Counsel Homes. Good Counsel, a Hoboken-based non-profit that provides homes and long-term support for new and expectant mothers and their babies, is honored to plan Father Benedict’s 50th Anniversary mass.

While Father Benedict is known internationally through his writings and weekly program on EWTN — the world’s largest religious media network — his priesthood has been distinguished by a dedication to the poor and disadvantaged, work he has carried out through his involvement with Catholic-based charities. In addition to his role as co-founder and chairman of Good Counsel Homes, Father Benedict is involved with several other Catholic charities focused on providing education, shelter and youth programs.

“Tens of thousands of people have benefited from his writing and through his media communication,” said Archbishop John J. Meyers of Newark. “But I feel confident he is most grateful to the Lord not only for the gift of priesthood, but also for the fact that both he himself and his brothers in the community have reached out to God’s lowly ones. What a joy to work with him to serve our brothers and sisters who often find themselves in such difficult circumstances.”

Christopher Bell, who co-founded Good Counsel with Father Benedict, remembers a conversation in 1985 that inspired the two men to found the charity, which has since provided homes, nourishment, life skills training, and transitional support for more than 5,200 women and babies.

“When I shared with him my frustration over the scarcity of the housing and support services for homeless expectant mothers, Father Benedict challenged me to do something about it,” Bell recalled. “I couldn’t do this alone. He volunteered to help before I even voiced my concern.”

Bell described Father Benedict as one of the nation’s most beloved priests, “truly an American Mother Teresa, with total concern for serving Jesus Christ.”

“Father Benedict has helped hundreds of thousands of people, from the most humble to people constantly in the public spotlight,” Bell said. “He always does it with great dignity and personal humility.”

The 50th Anniversary mass will be celebrated on Sunday, October 18 at Holy Family Church in Nutley, New Jersey. Among the guests are concelebrants Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Apostic Nuncio to the United Nations and Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, as well as diocesan leaders, members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and lay leaders of Catholic charities and projects Father Benedict has contributed to.

The Mass is open to the public, and media organizations are invited to attend. In addition, friends of Father Benedict who are unable to attend the mass can send their greetings and congratulations on his 50th anniversary through a special Tribute Journal.

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For more information on the celebration, or to schedule an interview with one of Good Counsel’s founders, call Nik Bonopartis at 914-815-5369 or James Schaffer at 203-912-2802.

On the Feast of the Assumption this past Saturday, my family was discussing heaven at the dinner table. My kids, specifically, were discussing what they would want to do in heaven. A few examples:

• “I would want to climb a tree sooo high, and then when I got to the top, I would jump into God’s palace.”

• “I would want to be in a house filled with books and just read.” (A child clearly after her father’s heart).

• “I would play in a baseball game, and St. Peter would be the cleanup hitter for my team.” (At this point, my 6-year-old son went into a long discussion of playing a team from hell and crushing them).

• “I would take a hike in the forest for miles and miles and miles.” (Okay, I admit, this was mine).

Today is the 48th birthday of President Obama. It seems like as good as time as any to remind us of Paul’s advice:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4

I’ve found over the years that there are many advantages to having a really smart wife. For one, if you are writing a book, she can be the editor who makes your sentences actually make sense. For another, if you get a comment on your blog completely in Russian, she can translate it (she was, after all, a Russian Studies major) and tell you that it is an advertisement for a male enhancement product.

Lucky me.

Although I would never haven chosen to do something like this at my own wedding (and those who have witnessed my Elaine-like dancing abilities are grateful), I couldn’t help but smile at the joyfulness of this unique wedding processional:

H/T: Aggie Catholics

Okay, this is creepy. Illuminati creepy. A group of former world leaders, led by Nelson Mandela, has formed an organization called “The Elders”. Their mission, according to their website:

The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.

So how do these great leaders put these apparently laudable goals into practice? By demanding that religious groups such as the Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics start ordaining women. The author of the article advocating such a position is none other than former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

I don’t know about you, but as soon as I hear of a group called “The Elders” which consists of powerful world-wide political figures trying to “help” the world, my Anti-Christ Alert System – developed during my years as an Evangelical – starts going off like a five-alarm fire. I have pictures of a new one-world religion dancing in my head, led by someone telling us we must abandon Christianity in order to save the world. And frankly, after perusing their website, nothing I read really defuses that alarm.

The idea for this group partially originated with the musician Peter Gabriel. Coincidentally (or maybe not), last night I was playing his album “So” and my daughter said to me, “Oh, don’t play that, we all think his music is creepy.” Kinda like his ideas for helping the world.

Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and get as many ‘decisions’ for me as you can.”

Matthew 28:18-19, Campus Crusade for Christ edition

I recently had the following conversation with my son:

Peter: “Dad, Maria and I just made some bracelets. Do you know what they say?”

Me: “No, what do they say?”

Peter: “One says, ‘Go Nats’ for the Nationals.”

Me: “That’s a good one.”

Peter: “Another says ‘Go Reds’.”

Me: “Even better.”

Peter: “Do you know what the last one says?”

Me: “No, what?”

Peter: “Yankees stink.”

Me: “That’s my boy!”

(For those curious as to the title of this post, click here).

Last night Catholic blogger and author Mark Shea gave a talk at our parish on “How I Got This Way,” which included his conversion story as well as some teaching about how the Catholic Church contains the fullness of truth, and thus comes under attack from every angle by those who accept only bits and pieces of the truth.

I organized this event and talked my pastor into having Mark speak here. But I have to admit, I was a bit nervous beforehand. I knew that Mark was a great writer and that he was informative, funny and devoted to the Church on his blog. But I had never heard him speak or met him personally, so I had no idea if he would be any good speaking to a crowd. I had images in my head of some introverted geek who mumbled and said “um…” a lot. Fortunately, my fears were completely unfounded: Mark is a great speaker – even more funny in person than on his blog – and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a Catholic speaker. I had numerous people approach me after his talk to thank me for bringing him to the parish.

I also got to spend some time with Mark and found him to be a great, down-to-earth, guy. It appears that what you see on the blog is really who he is in “real life.”

Mark Shea and me

In a few hours I leave to pick up über-blogger and Catholic author Mark Shea at the airport. He will be speaking at my parish (St. John Neumann in Gaithersburg, MD) tonight at 7pm. His topic will be: “How I Got This Way: From suburban pagan to college Evangelical to adult Catholic.” If you live in the area (i.e. Montgomery County, MD & DC), please make an effort to attend!

If you can’t make it, or if you want to get in the mood for tonight, listen to an interview of Mark with Carl Olsen at Ignatius Press here.

Blogging has been a bit light as I have been fighting off a virus. But a few thoughts to ponder:

• Interleague play in baseball is from the devil. What man has kept asunder, Major League Baseball should not join.
• Boromir is my favorite character in all of literature.
• If the Year of the Priest started last Friday, but the Year of St. Paul doesn’t end until next Monday, does that mean we age two years this week? Will this cause some type of Star Trek space-time continuum problem?
• iPhone users can vote for their favorite Bible verses. What is next? Simon Cowell insulting the Book of Numbers?

Also: don’t forget to vote in the Catholic New Media Awards! Voting closes next week!

I just ran across a story about my alma mater, Miami University (the one in Ohio, not the University of Miami in Florida), being sued for not allowing a Christian preacher to preach on the grounds of the campus. They have been in a legal battle for five years and now the university has settled with the preacher and will allow preaching on their campus.

The fact that Miami tried to stop this man from preaching is completely in keeping with what I remember of the university from when I was there in the early 90′s. It was mostly political correctness run amuck. When I was there, we put up a “cemetery of the innocents” in remembrance of all the children killed by abortion and the campus went bonkers. The student government was mostly about trying to control what everyone said and thought. I’m glad to see they were brought down a peg.

A little quibble: the linked story says that Miami is named after “the Miami River valley in southwestern Ohio.” This is not correct: Miami is named after the Miami Indian Tribe, which lived in the area until being forced to move to Oklahoma. Because of this, the mascot used to be the “Redskins” until it was politically incorrect to have such a name. It is now the RedHawks, although simply “Reds” after Soviet Russia might be more appropriate.