Luke Mandato

As the ball drops and the champagne bottles pop, Catholics can easily find themselves in a post-Christmas rut, unsure of how to make the most out of a time which has become something of a secular limbo as the new year is ushered in with little to no thought.

From the penalty boxes of NHL arenas to parish halls, infamous hockey tough-guy and Stanley Cup champion Chris Nilan will join parishioners of St. John Brébeuf in LaSalle, Que., Jan. 9 for an evening of fellowship and fundraising towards the church’s roof fund.

Twenty-five years removed from launching its flagship Rise Up conference, Catholic Christian Outreach continues to draw impressive numbers of young adults to the annual event, many still hungry for the life-changing New Year's gathering and encounter with Jesus.

Toronto's St. Jerome’s Catholic School is supporting its students in doing the down-to-earth, common charity that shines brightest during the Christmas season.

In the purest form of parish unity and compassion during a season known for it, Ajax, Ont.’s St. Francis de Sales’ annual Advent and Christmas Carol Concert united five choirs in harmonious celebration, raising funds for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and encouraging hundreds to keep Christmas with them throughout the year.

Even in the Archdiocese of Toronto’s oldest parish, the spirit of Christmas brings a renewed spirit to family and strangers alike each year, thanks in large part to music remaining the soul of holiday worship over more than two centuries.

While some may have believed last year’s record couldn’t be topped, the Ontario Knights of Columbus are on pace to surpass their own mark this winter as councils push toward 20,000 brand-new winter coats for children in need.

The single word “ours” has become the quiet heartbeat behind everything the Catholic Children’s Aid Foundation is doing this Christmas through initiatives that are making sure children and families are looked after in more ways than one.

It’s been over a quarter-century of dedicated service for Ganesh Subramaniam, who has spent the last 26 years making sure every dollar raised for Catholic Charities reaches the needy. Now, the organization’s long-standing finance manager has made the decision to retire, but not from caring.

With a few weeks to go, ShareLife finds itself 86 per cent of the way to its $14.5 million parish campaign goal.