Jeanie Hannaman

By Simon Caldwell, Catholic Herald - The Pope today named a replacement for the American bishop he controversially fired more than a year ago... Francis has appointed Auxiliary Bishop John Kelly of Dallas to succeed Bishop Joseph Strickland as the Bishop of Tyler, Texas... Bishop Strickland, 66, was removed from office by the Pontiff in November last year and Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin given the role of administrator until a replacement was found... Although the reasons for the 2023 apostolic visitation that led to Bishop Strickland’s dismissal were not made public, it is widely believed they related to Strickland’s public opposition to Pope Francis and his pastoral decisions.

By Deacon Dominic Cerrato, Ph.D., Catholic World Report - The question of women’s admission to the diaconate profoundly engages ecclesiology, sacramental theology, and the Church’s fidelity to divine revelation. This issue, which has garnered increased theological attention, especially in light of the Synod on Synodality, is not merely a matter of policy or adaptation to cultural currents but is deeply rooted in the Church’s understanding of her nature and mission. Central to this inquiry is the ecclesial and sacramental identity of the diaconate, an ordained ministry that participates in the hierarchical structure of Holy Orders and serves as a visible sign of Christ the Servant.

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture - You may have heard about the seven “O Antiphons” that close Advent and lead up to Christmas. One is assigned to each day from December 17th through December 23rd. Since all Sundays and Solemnities are celebrated beginning the evening before their calendar dates, and since Christmas is very definitely a Solemnity, there is no Advent O Antiphon on December 24th. Our in-house specialist in the liturgical year, Jennifer Gregory Miller, has been drawing attention to the “O Antiphons” ...