A Treasure To Be Shared

Mass in a Connemara Cabin by Aloysius O'Kelly (1883) A young priest recently pointed out to this blogger an essay by Fr. Nick Schneider titled The Fathers We Are Losing: The Crisis at Noon . It highlights a growing trend of priests leaving active ministry between 15 and 25 years after ordination, with some stepping away even sooner. www.hprweb.com/2026/08/the-fathers-we-are-losing/ Summary Fr. Nick Schneider argues that this pattern is not simply burnout or failure, but a midlife developmental crisis that the Church has not yet learned to accompany. Drawing on Maria Montessori, psychology, and Scripture, he explains that human growth unfolds through crises — birth, adolescence, and again at midlife. Around ages 35–50, a person’s early strengths naturally wane while deeper, more mature strengths begin to emerge. For priests, this transition is especially difficult because their external life often remains unchanged: the same parish routines, the same responsibilities, the same expec...

The recent phenomenon of social‑media influencers departing the Catholic priesthood or religious life reveals a deeper tension between the contemplative identity of vocation and the performative pressures of digital culture. At its heart, this trend suggests a collision between two modes of self‑understanding: 1) the ecclesial call to hiddenness, stability, and sacrificial service, and 2) the online demand for visibility, personal branding, and constant audience engagement. One possible cause is the subtle shift in interior motivation that prolonged digital exposure can create. The priest or religious who begins by evangelizing online may gradually find his sense of worth tied to metrics of influence — followers, views, affirmation — rather than the quiet fidelity of pastoral charity or communal prayer. The digital world rewards immediacy and novelty; the Church asks for perseverance, obedience, and the slow work of sanctification. When these two rhythms clash, the vocation can feel s...

Est. 6 minute read time. Anyone who has migrated from the typical diocesan Novus Ordo Mass to a Latin Mass (1962) or to Divine Worship in a community of one the Personal Ordinariates, or has explored an Eastern Catholic liturgy, knows that there are obvious differences in the "feel" between the typical Novus Ordo liturgy and the others. Many, if not most, diocesan liturgies tend to be casual to the point that one could reasonably speculate as to whether or not the priest and congregation realize that they are there to worship God. Other forms of the Mass are typically reverent, solemn, God-centered, and carefully prepared and celebrated. The Novus Ordo Mass, unfortunately, is often reduced to a social gathering with awkward improvisations that distract from a focus on the worship of God. Ritual gestures come across as half-hearted and fail to acknowledge the profound reality of Jesus’ eucharistic gift—his Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Hidden among the weeds... . There are ...

The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus. When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ. | St. John Vianney Give thanks to God for a good pastor, a priest who... . draws attention to the Holy Eucharist, not to himself. helps others to follow Jesus Christ and to keep the Lord's commands (John 14:15-31). encourages respect for the sacred Liturgy. by his passion for truth and his reminders of God's justice and mercy, leaves no doubt that he loves and protects his flock. is forthright and not a flake. speaks in a normal voice during his homilies, not in an overly affected tone, and draws attention to the content of Holy Scripture. offers ways to apply the wisdom of Holy Scripture to daily life. by his reverent actions, helps you purify your own intentions and worship God in spirit and in truth. assigns penances that are clearly intended to help you get to heaven. is a man of prayer. loves God and the Church. is organized and a tireless worker for Christ. is kind an...

Marko Rupnik, "artist", former Jesuit, accused serial abuser. ROME (AP) — The Jesuits said Monday that a famous artist priest is definitively expelled from the religious order for sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women(.) Catholics are saying that Rupnik's "art" should be removed because of his character, or lack thereof. To do that for that reason is a weak argument for removing his mosaics, etc. A better argument for removing his work from churches and other buildings is because his work is of low artistic merit. In other words, his work does not rise to the level of art. Rupnik's works have figures with large eyes. The eyes are solid, opaque, and disturbingly vacant. The eyes of C-3PO convey more feeling than do Rupnik's eyes. Are we meant to find ourselves in those eyes? So much of human warmth and compassion is conveyed through the eyes. What of divine warmth? Again, Rupnik's work falls short of conveying mercy, divine or human....

Let us support our beloved priests by helping them to live the dignity of their office. Provide for their daily needs and for their retirement:  https://ordinariate.net/give-to-rfp Almighty and everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thou dost provide to Thy Holy Church the ministry of presbyters ordained to serve Holy Mass, that Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer may be Present among us in a most sublime manner. Grant to priests every grace to sustain them and to help them fulfill their calling. As Thou didst send an angel to succour Thy Son in the Garden of Gethsemane, provide in Thy mercy solace to Thy sons, our shepherds, and grant to them every blessing in their service. Help us to support our beloved spiritual fathers with our love and care, respect and gratitude. We beseech Thee, Father, grant these requests and all good gifts through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Holy Mary, Mother of Pries...

Bishop Lopes: It is my great pleasure to share with you the news that our Holy Father Pope Francis, has bestowed an honor on one of our priests, Father Timothy P. Perkins, naming him a Chaplain of His Holiness with the title of Monsignor! Of coworkers in the vineyard of the Lord, Monsignor Perkins is the best. I have so often benefited from his wise counsel, his prayerful discernment, and most of all from his friendship. As Vicar General, he stands shoulder to shoulder with me in service to you and in support of our priests and parish communities. https://ordinariate.net/news/ordinariate-vicar-general-named-monsignor Congratulations Monsignor Perkins! Ad multos annos!

Fr. George Rundle Prynne Schneider @LsNews by Paul Smeaton HT/Fr. Hunwicke There is a touching witness from the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church in the 19th century, about the value of the beauty of the liturgy and the zealous administration of the sacraments in the time of the dangerous and highly contagious cholera epidemic in England. The Catholic Church does not recognize these sacraments as valid, but the fact that these ministers placed such importance on pastoral care during an epidemic should be a witness to us now. http://www.ph.ucla.edu/EPI/snow/medhist21_32_42_1977.pdf In 1866 pandemic Cholera attacked Britain for the fourth and final time in an epidemic which struck with extreme ferocity in the East End of London. “The ritual innovations of (which) they were accused were entirely rooted in the desperate pastoral needs they encountered. Sisters of Mercy worked with the clergy of St. Peter’s Plymouth in the cholera epidemics of the late 1840s,...

Say a prayer for our priests, our beloved spiritual fathers who daily offer Divine Worship, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, for us and the whole world! Our priests are stationed on the front lines of a spiritual battle for the well being of souls. Pray the Holy Rosary! Entrust our priests to the care of Our Lady of Walsingham.