Michael Swan

2013: a year of two Popes

December 29, 2013

The past year didn’t really begin March 13. There were signifi-cant events in the life of Canada, the world and the Church in January and February — before Cardinal Jorge Bergolio walked out onto that balcony above St. Peter’s Square and asked us for our prayers. It only seems that our world before Pope Francis is a land far, far away and long, long ago.

Luigi Pautasso the driving force behind Radio Maria in Canada

December 27, 2013

TORONTO - Luigi Pautasso lived to teach, lived his faith and knew his vocation.

Canadian organizers get lesson in unity preparing for unity week

December 24, 2013

TORONTO - When Saskatoon Bishop Don Bolen suggested St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verse 13 as the starting point for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity not everybody on the Canadian writing team jumped on board.

Fr. Ace’s crèche collection carries on family tradition

December 21, 2013

KLEINBURG, ONT. - Fr. Gregory Ace has crèches from more countries than he doesn’t. His collection of 1,300 (or so) Nativity scenes includes examples from 120 countries. He’s got about 80 more to go.

Saskatchewan dioceses to launch diaconate

December 20, 2013

The permanent diaconate is moving west. Two of the four dioceses in Saskatchewan will begin training men to become permanent deacons in 2014 and the other two are mulling it over.

Assumption shifts its focus to chaplaincy

December 19, 2013

One of Canada’s oldest Catholic universities is claiming it has gained a new lease on life by selling its buildings.

Online ‘pastoral conversation’ off to slow start

December 18, 2013

Updated - 12/20/13 Less than 20 per cent of Canadian dioceses are using their web sites to consult the laity in advance of next year’s extraordinary synod on the family.

Turkey’s unity rooted in secularism

December 15, 2013

TORONTO - It may sound strange to Catholics who look at Quebec’s Charter of Values and shake their heads over secularism run amok, but in 2010 the world’s Catholic bishops and Pope Benedict XVI came to the conclusion the only hope for beleaguered Christians in the Middle East is secularism — secularism combined with democracy.

The Good Shepherd at 50

December 15, 2013

TORONTO - For 50 years The Good Shepherd Centre has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, sheltered the homeless, cared for the sick and taken no credit for the lives it has saved.

Palliative care consultancy centred on patient’s need

December 15, 2013

TORONTO - Getting referred to Dr. Irene Ying can be scary for patients. Ying calls herself a palliative care consultant.