Register launches a wordy new feature this week

The Catholic Register is launching a new feature this week. Here’s a clue: What’s a 15-letter term for cruciverbalist?

If you answered a person who creates crossword puzzles you are absolutely correct — and can go to Page 26 to try out our new weekly feature, a Catholic crossword puzzle.

The puzzles are designed to be fun and educational but not too difficult so they can be enjoyed by a broad cross section of readers. Each week will offer a different Church-based theme, such as Canadian saints, religious orders or holy days.

- Click here to try out the first crossword. Check back next week for the solution.

Our cruciverbalist is Bob Carson, a 46-year-old Edmonton correctional officer who has a Master’s in English literature and a girlfriend with a Master’s in theology. He has created more than 500 crosswords since 1999 and his work has appeared in the Western Catholic Reporter for 12 years. “I’m honoured to be in The Register,” he said. “I’m hoping it opens up new ideas and themes I can explore in my crosswords.”

He says he is a “crossword addict.”

“I really love The New York Times crossword,” Carson said. “Sometimes I’ll spend hours working on it.”

He finds inspiration for his puzzles from across the Catholic world.

“There’s over a billion Catholics on the planet, so that gives me a lot to work with,” Carson said. “There’s also over 2,000 years of history.

“I’ve done crosswords on religious orders, religious founders, memorial days for saints, miracles in the Bible, etc. I try to change things up by including contemporary material as well, such as Catholic actors, entertainers and movies with Catholic themes.” A former movie reviewer, Carson discovered many years ago that popular culture could mix with faith in a positive way. He tries to infuse that sentiment in his puzzles.

“Designing these puzzles has been a great way for me to learn more about my faith. I hope that readers find the same joy in solving them that I find in designing them.”