Missionary Priests in the Homeland: Our Call to Receive
by Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, and Bishop Richard Henning
International priests have served the Roman Catholic Church in the United States since its inception. With congregations consisting largely of immigrants or Spanish and French speaking Catholics absorbed by the expansion of US territory, it was only natural that the clergy reflected the remarkable mixture of ethnicities in the Church. New communities lacked the ‘home-grown’ vocations of more established communities, and the nascent Church needed to recruit or welcome priests and religious from other countries and cultures. It is for these priests and their missionary zeal that this book came to be.
Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, is Associate Director of the Parresia Project and retired Vice-President of External Affairs and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT.
Dr. Mahfood has worked for almost two decades in US seminaries and theological institutes advancing the work of missionary priests and seminarians from around the globe.
In addition to his work with missionary priests and seminarians in the U.S., Dr. Mahfood has made possible the enrollment at Holy Apostles of five dozen Eritrean priests, religious sisters, and lay ministers in the pursuit of their graduate studies 100% online. He served as Provost of the Sacred Heart Institute in Huntington, NY, from 2012 to 2023. He is presently assisting the Christian Social Services Commission and Diocese of Tabora, Tanzania, in the development of an online educational program of studies. He serves as the senior co-chair of the Faith-Based Online Learning Directors group.
The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, STD is a native of Long Island, New York, where he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in 1992. After pastoral work in English and Spanish at St. Peter of Alcantara Parish, he began graduate studies in biblical theology, earning a Licentiate at the Catholic University of America and a Doctorate at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Bishop Henning served for ten years as a Professor at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. During those years, Bishop Henning partnered with Dr. Sebastian Mahfood to establish and oversee the Parresia Project. This multi-year project provided conferences for clergy personnel and formation leaders and promoted the incorporation of distance learning methodologies into the process of providing orientation to arriving international priests and the communities they serve.
In 2012, Bishop Henning was appointed Director of the Sacred Heart Institute for the Ongoing Formation of the Clergy. While serving as an adjunct Professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, he was also entrusted with the direction of a major retreat house on Long Island at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.
In 2018, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Henning as an auxiliary bishop. In the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Bishop Henning is a regional Vicar as well as Vicar for Pastoral Planning and Parish Evangelization. He is a trustee of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. In the USCCB, he serves on the Doctrine Committee, the Subcommittee on Translation of Scripture Text, and the Subcommittee of National Collections for the Church in Latin America. He was named Bishop of Providence, RI, in 2023.
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The Obligation of Perfect and Perpetual Continence and Married Deacons in the Latin Church
by Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, J.C.D.
Through the reception of diaconate a man becomes a cleric. Canon 277 §1 states: “Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy….” Accordingly, it would seem that clerics have two distinct obligations: sexual continence (no sexual relations) and celibacy (no marriage) with continence presented as the fundamental norm. With the restoration of the permanent diaconate by Paul VI in 1967 and the admission of married men to this order, a fundamental question arises: “Are married deacons, though dispensed from the obligation of celibacy, unless their wife dies, obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence?” This book addresses that question.
A Review of Father Anthony McLaughlin’s The Obligation of Perfect and Perpetual Continence And Married Deacons in the Latin Church by Fr. Peter Stravinskas, The Catholic Response (Nov.-Dec. 2018), p. 60.
Father McLaughlin delves into a history not frequently trod as he demonstrates, rather conclusively, that in the Early Church deacons were held to perfect continence (even if they were married). Indeed, I have always maintained that the consent of wives during the ordination of permanent deacons is a relic of the ancient practice, whereby wives publicly agreed to the future continence of their husbands (and thus, their own). I suspect that not a few permanent deacons will not be thrilled with this work, however, it is an important contribution to the history of this office, with serious implications for how that vocation ought to be lived today.
A Review of Father Anthony McLaughlin’s The Obligation of Perfect and Perpetual Continence And Married Deacons in the Latin Church by Deacon Marty McIndoe
As a Permanent Deacon ordained in 1980, I was intrigued by the title of this work. I knew that perpetual continence meant abstaining from all sexual relations, and nowhere in my training as a deacon was I told that was an obligation. I have been happily married for 49 years, and sexual intimacy has been a very important part of my relationship to my wife. I would find it hard to believe that the Church would ever mandate that a married deacon be continent. If that were the case, I would never have considered becoming a deacon. I do realize that by becoming a married permanent deacon, I was taking on the obligation of celibacy if my wife were to die. I thought hard about that, and felt that hopefully it wouldn’t happen, and if it did, I would have the grace to do what I was obliged to do. I see practical and spiritual reasons for celibacy. I see no practical or even spiritual reasons for continence in a happily married young couple. I was one of the youngest members of my class to be ordained. I was dispensed of the 35-year-old requirement and was ordained at age 33. I have been ordained for almost 38 years, and I absolutely love my ministry as deacon. My wife is a big help in my ministry and I give thanks for the gift that she is to me and to my vocation as a deacon.
I received an advanced e-copy of this book and was asked to read and review it. As soon as I saw the title, I knew that I wanted to. I found this work to be extremely interesting and exceptionally well-researched. The book spends a considerable amount of time looking at how celibacy, chastity and continence developed in the Church from the New Testament times to the present day. It refers back to scriptures, traditions, early church writers, modern theologians, council documents and canon law. It is probably the most thorough writing on celibacy, chastity, and continence that I have ever encountered. If you want to know more about the Church’s development of the concepts of chastity, celibacy and continence, this is the book to read. It also deals with related issues such as marriage and procreation.
After reading this piece, I see that there still exists more clarification needed from the Church on what she did in making permanent married deacons. There is no doubt that ordaining married deacons has been a great benefit to the Church. The fruits of this can be seen in so many places. However, this is a big diversion from the traditional norms of the Church concerning celibacy, chastity, and continence. Having married clergy who are not continent is something quite new, at least on the scale of the current permanent diaconate. Married clergy is not new to the Church, but they have previously been required to be continent. Even the latest canon law is unclear and in at least one place seems to mandate that permanent deacons remain continent. This is not what is presently taught and practiced and apparently not what the Vatican Council seems to have meant in creating the married permanent diaconate. It is an intriguing quandary.
I would certainly recommend that anyone who is interested in looking at the development of celibacy, chastity and continence within the Church read this book. I also believe that permanent deacons would especially be interested in this book. Since considerable amount of time is spent on canon law, I would think that anyone interested in, or studying canon law should read this book.
TESTIMONIALS
“Fr. McLaughlin addresses an often neglected area of ecclesial discipline. Hopefully, good scholarship will encourage further study.” — Most Reverend Joseph E. Strickland, Bishop of Tyler, Texas
“Fr. Anthony’s book is a great help in understanding the commitment being made by those who answer the call to the permanent diaconate. — Fr. Luis Luna, MSA, General Animator of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, J.C.D., a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland,has served Holy Apostles as its Vice Rector and as Professor of Canon Law and Homiletics since 2017.
Fr. McLaughlin was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tyler, TX, in 1997 and most recently served as Vicar General of the diocese and President of Tyler’s Bishop Gorman Catholic School.
He previously served as Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, Judicial Vicar of the diocese, judge of the diocesan tribunal and Defender of the Bond.
During the 2014-2015 academic year, Fr. McLaughlin returned to CUA as assistant professor of Canon Law and director of the Institute on Matrimonial Tribunal Practice.
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The Bereavement Miracles program was designed to play a quintessential role in evangelizing the “spirit of mission” to individuals who are suffering from the death of a loved one by relating eternal realities in a systematic program/approach that integrates understanding of human sorrow to the nature of divine love and renewal. It has twelve steps as follows:
Step One: Due to the loss of a loved one, we admitted that our lives have become unmanageable.
Step Eight: We made a list of all people, places and things that we shared in common and became willing to let go of emotional circumstances and misunderstandings, thereby allowing us to examine our memories with a clear conscience.
Step Ten: We continued to take personal inventory, and when we found ourselves reverting back into self-professed blame and hopelessness, we reached out to others and programs like Bereavement Miracles to discover the Spirit of God’s consoling love in our Mother of unity and hope.
Step Eleven: Through the sharing and caring of the Bereavement Miracles fellowship, we rallied ourselves with God at our side, praying only for “thy will be done.”
Step Twelve: Through God’s healing presence brought about by these twelve steps, we carried a message of hope, joy and encouragement to others, thanking God in worship and praise, seeking to rise in the service of God our Lord to greater perfection.
Fr. John Gatzak and Allison Demers of Crossroad’s Magazine feature Michael Frey’s Bereavement Miracles on ORTV.
TESTIMONIALS
“Because of this program, I now remember my late husband as he truly was. My memories aren’t tainted by misplaced guilt. I have been able to remember my husband with a sense of joy-and actually be happy for him that he is at peace in heaven.” Barbara, Wallingford, CT
“The program was well thought through combining our faith and fellowship. The healing power of the Holy Spirit could truly be felt. The program brought us together in unity and hope and dispelled feelings of guilt.” Monica, Northford, CT
“At first I was skeptical about attending, but after attending I realized I had nothing to be afraid about. It helped me to open up to myself and about my feelings.” Don, Meriden, CT
“After my son’s death by suicide I stopped having faith in God, now I do believe after being in this program.” Anonymous,Meriden, Connecticut
“We just finished our program last evening with a pot-luck before the meeting. It was a lovely and appreciated end. Participants and leaders were helped by the spiritual approach to grieving. They have benefited personally and hope to better help others. We received six questionnaires thus far from the sixteen who completed the program, all positive, and they would recommend the program. We had a very dedicated group of leaders and they are a great blessing to this ministry. Thank you, Mike, for your help too in this very important ministry. We plan to carry on with monthly gatherings until our next program, possibly twice a year.”
Fr. Jim O’Connor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Michael Frey is a graduate of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT. He lives with his wife, Linda, in Meriden, CT, and they have two children, Jillian and James. In the course of his life and his work, he is dedicated to evangelizing the Catholic faith. His Bereavement Miracles program is truly the work of the Holy Spirit.
ABOUT THE COVER IMAGE
The cover image was created by Monica Frey and is entitled “The Seal of Unity and Hope.” Click here for Monica’s description of it.
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How to Flourish in a Fallen World, by Donald DeMarco, engages the reader in an understanding of our common human nature and the problems it faces in a culture that actively pursues, to put it in Saint John Paul II’s terms, a freedom of indifference over a freedom for excellence. Dr. DeMarco’s conclusion is a simple one: “We can flourish in a fallen world by taking advantage of the many gifts that are available to us while living within the truth of our being.” In a world of complex problems, it is refreshing to know that such a simple solution is available to us – we merely have to live the truth in love, and we’ll find that we restore by so doing mankind to his proper state.
DonDeMarcoinhisHowtoFlourishinaFallenWorldprovidesdirectioninhowto navigate through what Benedict XVI once called our “painful between state.” As human beings we aspire to and are born for a more perfect world that only can be fulfilled in the life to come. These heavenly aspirations inspire us, after the example of the saints, to pattern our earthly existence after heavenly realities while being aware of our proclivity to sin and that this world is passing. This book gives the reader intellectual incentives toimprove our earthly existence and, at the same time, helps to temper the reader’s enthusiasm to improve this world by its clear awareness of our fallen state. – Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA, author of Political Science from a Catholic Perspective
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donald DeMarco, author of 28 books, including most recently How to Flourish in a Fallen World and Ten Major Moral Mistakes and How they are Destroying Society, is a Senior Fellow of Human Life International. He is professor emeritus at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario, and an adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. He is a regular columnist for St. Austin Review and has written over a hundred articles for the website Truth and Charity. He is a board member of the NY Social Justice Review for Our Lady of Wisdom College in Ontario, Canada, and Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. In June, 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Bishop Exner Award for “Catholic Excellence in Public Life.”
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Should women be feminine and forget about liberation? Or should they reject femininity as a euphemism for slavery? Women seeking fulfillment, says Chervin, aren’t faced with this either-or, but with the challenge to be both; and faithfulness to God is the key to unfolding this feminine and free personality. Chervin’s insights deserve serious consideration from Christian women – and men.
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Ronda Chervin has a Ph.D. in philosophy from Fordham University and an M.A. in Religious Studies from Notre Dame Apostolic Institute. She is a convert to the Catholic faith from a Jewish but atheistic background. She has been a professor at Loyola Marymount University, St. John’s Seminary of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Our Lady of Corpus Christi, and presently teaches at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Connecticut. More than fifty books of hers have been published by Catholic presses in the area of philosophy and spirituality. Dr. Ronda presents on EWTN and Catholic radio. Her many books include Quotable Saints,Seeking Christ in the Crosses & Joys of Aging, Catholic RealismandVoyage to Insight. This is her first novel.
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Eyewitnesses: Biblical Foundations in Christian Spirituality
– Ed. by Fr. John Horn, S.J.
St. Paul prays with ardent desire that “the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened, that we might know what is the hope of the risen Jesus’ calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance” (Eph 1:18). This book contains glimpses of the riches of God’s glory. Seminarians offer a brief understanding of foundations in Christian Spirituality while reflecting upon selected topics in Fr. Xavier Leon-Du Four’s seminal work entitled Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Through the art of sharing witness stories, the truth and beauty of Jesus’ active loving is unveiled, and we are invited to see with new eyes.
This is a perfect book to prepare for the Synod on Youth, Faith and Vocations. – Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida
These brief reflections on spiritual truth reach beyond the head to the heart, because they are the real witness of those who, like us, seek to drink deeply at the well of Christ’s love. Time spent reflecting on these biblically rooted truths of our faith will allow our hearts to be conformed to the living word, so that we can radiate His love to many. – Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota
As Rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, I am very proud of our students for pulling together to publish this little work. Each topic is quite evidently the fruit of their study and prayer. I believe any reader will be edified and encouraged on their own faith journey by the insights and personal reflections contained in this book. – Msgr. David L. Toups, S.T.D., President-Rector of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida
Eyewitnesses provides a wonderful summary of foundational Biblical themes illustrated through personal examples. The simple format nourishes the reader while inviting the reader’s personal response. – Fr. Rich Gabuzda, Executive Director, Institute of Priestly Formation
The students’ testimonies in first year theology are expressions not only of dogmatic faith but also of personal faith. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter help guide readers to personalize their faith by leading them to a conversion of heart. This is a necessary process of growth in head, heart and hands as taught by Pope Francis. – Fr. Jack Hunthausen, SJ, Spiritual Director and Pastoral Ministry
Eyewitnesses is a most edifying testament to the personal verification of truth that is indispensable for all disciples of Jesus, but especially for those called to serve the unfolding of faith of their brothers and sisters as future priests. I am impressed and encouraged by the unique inspiration that this project represents and by the way in which these reflections manifest authentic encounters with the Risen One whose beauty saves and whose gentleness heals. – Fr. Peter J. Williams, Vice Rector for Formation, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas
These essays and reflective questions lift the veil, revealing the glory of God coming closer as Psalm 42:7 expresses, “deep calls to deep.” May you enter into the deep waters of new life through these Eyewitnesses. – Mrs. Jane Guenther, Director of Catholic Renewal Center, Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri
Eyewitnesses’ reflections enlighten the mind, touch the heart, and encourage the readers to journey in truth, love, beauty, and freedom as joyful witnesses of Christ the Lord. The seminarians’ labor of love will bear much fruit. – Franca Salvo, A.O., Consecrated Apostolic Oblate in the Ministry of Intercession.
DONATION OF ROYALTIES
“Mission Bethlehem” in Wharf Jeremie, Haiti, will be the recipient of all royalties received from book sales. This is a Catholic community of missionaries who live with the poor in the same situation as they live. The missionaries work with those who live on the streets and suffer from various addictions, inviting them into a house of hospitality that provides support to them in their choice to leave their vices. In engaging in this kind of work, the missionary community desires to live as an image of the Holy Family inspired by the love of St. Joseph and Mary with Jesus. Mission Bethlehem also sponsors a school for children, a clinic for those suffering from physical and spiritual malnutrition and an orphanage.
ABOUT THE GENERAL EDITOR
Fr. John Horn, S.J., D. Min., serves at St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary in Florida as a teacher and spiritual director, specializing in the ministry of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.
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Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, is Associate Director of the Parresia Project and retired Vice-President of External Affairs and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at 
Rev. Anthony McLaughlin, J.C.D., a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, has served Holy Apostles as its Vice Rector and as Professor of Canon Law and Homiletics since 2017.
Fr. John Horn, S.J., D. Min., serves at St. Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary in Florida as a teacher and spiritual director, specializing in the ministry of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.