Priest Photographed Giving Last Rites at Traffic Crash

A picture of a lone priest walking along Highway 81 piqued the interest of thousands of Catholics this week.

Drenched with so much rain, the image appears as a Norman Rockwell work of art; the black of his cassock, heavy with water, could be streaks of oil paint. The priest, now identified as Father John Killackey, was stuck in a line of cars along the highway after six vehicles were involved in a crash on Interstate 81 South in East Hanover Township in Lebanon, Pennsylvania on July 8, 2020.

Traffic apparently had come to a stop due to heavy rain. One car, not noticing the stand-still traffic, ran into the stream of cars and the driver was seriously injured. Father Killackey went to work, walking between the cars and semi-trucks, offering help to those suffering. Father Killackey was able to administer last rites to one person, just before the driver died.

We now have learned quite a bit about Father Killackey. A native of Wayne, N.J., he just celebrated his first-year anniversary of entering the priesthood. Serving as assistant priest at the Mater Dei Community in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he is a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

Read the rest here.

Anglican Clergy in the Late Georgian Era

For a somewhat satirical look at the clergy of the Church of England in the late 18th / early 19th centuries go here.

Francis Limits Title of 'Monsignor'

Word via The Deacons Bench that Pope Francis has ended the practice of honoring certain priests of the Latin Church with the title of Monsignor. The move does not appear to be retroactive so those already granted the honor retain it, for now. Henceforth the only title that will be granted to clergy will be "Chaplain to His Holiness" and that only on deserving priests over the age of 65.

Correction: The title may still be granted to those over 65 but unlike in previous years there will no longer be different grades within the title. "Chaplain to His Holiness" was formerly the highest grade and will now be the only one. I have adjusted the blog post title to clarify this.

Pope: Church must not turn priests into 'little monsters'

Pope Francis is calling for a change in the culture of seminaries, saying priests who are taught only to toe the line will become "little monsters."

The pontiff expressed his vision for a more open and joyful religious education system during a three-hour talk with the heads of the orders in November, but his remarks were not published until now in the Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica.

Taking another swipe at clericalism — a term often used to express a very formal, elitist attitude by some priests — Francis said seminaries and "houses of formation" need to keep up with the cultural times.

Read the rest here.

Good Guys Wear Black

An outstanding new website for religious vocations.  Read about it at Byzantine Texas.