Advent allows us to focus on the hope and promise of new life in Christ. Here, Iraqi refugees re-enact the Nativity.

Advent is the time to wake from our hypnotic sleep

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The Advent season in its liturgical observance is devoted to the coming of God at the end of history when Jesus shall reign as king.

Spiritual life has seasons, too, for us to ponder and prepare, writes Fr. Frank Freitas

The beauty of being in-between

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The geese are flying. The leaves are changing. The nights are cooler. The days are growing shorter. Fall is here.

A suffering Christian knows their pain draws them closer to Jesus who suffered an excruciating death for us.

Pain, suffering draw us closer to the one who suffered for us

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It is all but impossible to discuss the multi-dimensional aspects of assisted suicide and euthanasia without a discussion of suffering. Suffering is the underlying factor around which the discussion on euthanasia ultimately takes place.

Church is no longer a ’Church of the poor,’ says Indian theologian

Church is no longer a ’Church of the poor,’ says Indian theologian

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COCHIN, India – One of the prominent female Catholic theologians in India said the Church has lost its identity as “Church of the poor.”

We are stewards, not owners, of creation

We are stewards, not owners, of creation

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MONTREAL – Mankind was created to take care of creation, not to own it, the archbishop of Manila told a Montreal audience April 6.

Catholic-Jewish relations continue to improve under Pope Francis. Here he stands with Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove at an interreligious ceremony held last September at the the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York.

United as God’s chosen

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For the past 50 years, beginning with the 1965 Vatican II decree Nostra aetate, Catholic-Jewish dialogue has steadily improved to the point that today the relationship between Catholics and Jews has never been stronger.

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Toronto

‘One faith, one destiny, one journey together’

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TORONTO - The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will culminate next month with a final liturgy uniting Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians at the Chaldean Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in the northwest corner of Toronto.

To Africans, homosexuality a mystery to be understood

To Africans, homosexuality a mystery to be understood

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In light of the debates at the Synod on the Family in Rome, it is relevant to reflect on marriage from an African Christian perspective at a time when many Catholic homosexuals are suffering due to disagreement on their place in the  Church.

K. Albert Little

In the Catholic Church I found solid ground

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This Easter I became a Catholic.

What was a long and sometimes circuitous journey culminated, in a way, at the Easter Vigil as I was confirmed, received into the Church and shared in the eucharistic celebration.

Pope Francis kisses the foot of a disabled person at Our Lady of Providence Centre during Holy Thursday Mass in Rome last year.

Still astonishing good news 2,000 years later

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Through the powerful Scripture readings of the Triduum, and especially the Gospels of the Easter Vigil and Easter morning, we catch glimpses of the profound meaning of the Paschal mystery. How can we give expression to the conquest of death and the harrowing of hell? We must honestly admit to ourselves that we have no words.

Il Spasimo, Jesus carrying the cross, by Raphael, 1516

Who am I on the Via Dolorosa?

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This year on Palm Sunday, we listen attentively to Mark’s Passion story of Jesus’ final days and hours on Earth — a story of striking contrasts. In Mark’s jarring story, we witness the anguish of Jesus who has been totally abandoned by friends and disciples. He is resigned to His fate. He makes no response to Judas when he betrays Him, nor to Pilate during His interrogation. In Mark, Pilate makes no effort to save Him, as the Roman procurator does in the other three Gospels.

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