Vita Mea

Twitter me this

Fr. Dennis — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:37:52 +0000

I gave in. I Twitter.

Matt Maher and John Angotti Concert in Memphis

Fr. Dennis — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Nationally-known Catholic worship and recording artists Matt Maher and John Angotti will perform an all-ages concert on Thursday, September 17, at 7pm, at Minglewood Hall for the benefit of the BluesStreak Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children attending the Jubilee Schools.

Tickets are just $15. Join Christians from across to enjoy music from two of the Church’s finest. See Fr. Dennis for tickets, or go to BlueStreakEvents.com!

New Evangelization on the Final Frontier?

Fr. Dennis — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:31:02 +0000

I know I liked the Star Trek films and television programs, but I’m pretty certain that THIS priest is a bigger fan than I am.

Does he like Star Trek too much? Or is he simply following through on JP2’s call for a New Evangelization?

Prison Ministry Today

Fr. Dennis — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:33:16 +0000

I’ll be traveling to Mason, TN, today to the Federal Detention Center there. I’ll have Mass twice there, once on the men’s side of the prison, and once on the women’s side of the prison. There’s no way to have just one Mass for both sides since they’re not allowed to be in the same space together. Which means two Masses every time I go out there. And because I have a parish Mass, that makes three Masses for the day.

I’m sure there is a Canon Lawyer somewhere reading this saying, “But that exceeds the number of Masses allowed for you on a weekday.” I’m not sure how things can be any other way, though.

The purpose of the law is to prevent priests from getting burned out. Mass is the center of our life, and there is a real danger that if a priest is put in a situation of having to do too many Masses in a day that he may not appreciate the Mass, or even grow to resent it.

Of course, canon 1752 reminds us that that the salvation of souls is the supreme law of the Church.

I’m just grateful I’m only put in this position once a month. I hate taking my Mass kit through the security checkpoint.

Guess Who Has an Advance Release of Matt Maher’s Latest CD

Fr. Dennis — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:20:26 +0000

That’s right. Me.

Matt Maher’s latest CD, “Alive Again,” goes on sale on September 22. I got an advance copy from a friend who is working with a group that is bringing Matt to Memphis on September 17.

See BlueStreakEvents.com for details about the concert, and go to Matt’s site to hear the lead single from the “Alive Again” CD.

Bathroom Renovation

Fr. Dennis — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:47:45 +0000

The bathrooms in the rectory are being renovated. They are ripping out all the old fixtures and bath tubs. We are getting stand up showers and new, easier to maintain fixtures. My bathroom, being very old, was in the worst shape. Many of the tiles were broken and the sub-flooring was in bad shape. So everything has had to come out.

Right now, there is dust everywhere. And I’m keeping the bathroom door closed because of a ripe odor.

There aren’t any “before” pictures, but here are the “during” pictures.

New Titles for Old Favorites

Fr. Dennis — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:51:12 +0000

Rumor is that 5 or 6 priests in Memphis may have received the title “Monsignor.” I won’t name them until I see their names in the West Tennessee Catholic, but the names I have heard are all guys who each have 30+ years of priesthood.

Congratulations to the newly honored!

Funny Priest Story

Fr. Dennis — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:38:54 +0000

A priest of our diocese tells the story of a priest he knows who, back in the 1970’s, was in Rome attending a workshop or a class (something non-specific). Back in those days, banners were the big thing. People would make huge banners out of burlap with images of the Holy Spirit or fire or water, with big cut out and glued on letters that spelled things like “Alleluia” on them.

The priest in question is at this workshop, and as they are planning to make a banner of some kind, he wants to know where he can go to get the most popular of all banner materials: felt.

So he asks, “Does anyone know where I go in Rome to get felt?”

The answer scandalized him:

“If you want to get felt, board a crowded #64 bus going downtown during rush hour.”

If Solomon Were a 21st Century Ob-Gyn

Fr. Dennis — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:11:39 +0000

This was forwarded to me by someone who works for our Diocese.

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said, “Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old and I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together.”

So the doctor said, “Ok, and what do you want me to do?”

She said, “I want you to end my pregnancy, and I’m counting on your help with this.”

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to her, “I think I have a better solution for your problem. It’s less dangerous for you too.”

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued, “You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let’s kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we’re going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.”

The lady was horrified and said, “No doctor! How terrible! It’s a crime to kill a child!”

“I agree,” the doctor replied. “But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.”

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

May the Soul of George Tiller…

Fr. Dennis — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:12:27 +0000

…and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

If ever someone needed the prayers of the saints…