Browse › 2007 › February

February 2007

February 2

Wheels in motion to celebration unity week centennial

February 2, 2007

interfaithlogo [images/stories/toronto/interfaithlogo.jpg]TORONTO - The Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement finished off the 99th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by launching a web site dedicated to helping the whole church get ready for the 100th anniversary of the annual week.

‘Weapon of rights’ aimed at religions

February 2, 2007

OTTAWA - A prominent Canadian public intellectual has set off alarm bells for suggesting the Catholic Church and other religions that don’t comply with so-called Canadian values should lose their charitable tax status.

KAIROS to dig deeper into plight of poor

February 2, 2007

TORONTO - How a community teaches a man to fish is the question Michael Polanyi wants churchgoers and low-income people to start discussing.

OBITUARY: Fr. Corkery served parishes across three provinces

February 2, 2007

TORONTO - Redemptorist Father John Francis Corkery, in his 65th year of religious life, passed away in Toronto Jan. 23. He was 88.

On being green

February 2, 2007

It’s fascinating to watch how we’ve all become so busy being green. Blame it on our weird winter, or the ever-increasing traffic gridlock in our cities, but Canadians are finally beginning to join the world in their concern about environmental destruction.

Liturgy of the Hours a treasure in our midst

February 2, 2007

Among the initiatives of the Second Vatican Council aimed at making the church’s ancient rites more accessible to God’s people, the reforms and translations of the Mass have been the most successful, as well as the most controversial. Less successful, however, have been the attempts to bring the Liturgy of the Hours — the church’s majestic daily prayer — out of the cloister and the priest’s study and into the daily life of Christians.

February 5

Cardinal’s Dinner beneficiaries

February 5, 2007

Editor’s note: The following charities were the recipients of the proceeds from this past year’s Cardinal’s Dinner, held Nov. 9, 2006, at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto. In total, $173,000 was raised for the various charities.

Near death experience gives new life

February 5, 2007

I could feel the undertow of the Pacific Ocean pull me further into the waters as I attempted to yell out to my friends for help and tried to catch a glimpse of someone on shore. I couldn’t help but ponder whether these moments would be my last. With barely time to say a prayer, I was being toppled over by huge waves which moved my body in every direction. Minutes later, as if by the hand of God, a wave pushed me close enough to shore so that I could grasp hold of the ground again. A near-death experience was not how I expected my Peruvian mission trip to end.

Hip hop priest comes back to Toronto

February 5, 2007

Fr. Stan Fortuna [images/stories/arts/Fr. Stan Fortuna.jpg]TORONTO - The rapping friar from the Bronx returns to Toronto to perform at the You Are the Light of the World Rally on Feb. 28 at the Ricoh Coliseum.

The Heralds spread the gospel loud and proud

February 5, 2007

heralds [images/stories/ysn/heralds.jpg]TORONTO - The Three Musketeers, Swiss Guards, medieval knights — members of the Heralds of the Gospel have heard it all. When they wear their scapular in public they can’t go anywhere without attracting attention.

New book offers glimpse into John Paul’s secret life

February 5, 2007

ROME - Pope John Paul II consulted with top aides about possibly resigning in 2000 and set up a “specific procedure” for papal resignation, says a new book by the late pope’s former secretary.

Regis lecture series focuses on media

February 5, 2007

TORONTO - Regis College will offer its annual series of Lenten lectures starting March 2 under the theme Media and Spirituality.

ShareLife golf tourney goes June 13

February 5, 2007

TORONTO - A new venue, expanded course and great memories await golfers attending the 12th annual ShareLife Golf Tournament on June 13.

The God of life has final say

February 5, 2007

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Feb. 11 (Jeremiah 17:5-8; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20; Luke 6:17, 20-26) Is trust in other people such a bad thing? Couldn’t our world use a bit more trust and less suspicion and cynicism? At first glance, the passage from Jeremiah seems to defy common sense. But if we read carefully, it is clear that trust is not the real issue. It is this: what is the source of your inspiration, power and strength?

A conversation with Archbishop Collins

February 5, 2007

Editor’s note: A few days before officially being installed as chief shepherd of Toronto, Archbishop Thomas Collins sat down with The Catholic Register to talk about what it means to be a bishop and how the local diocesan church relates to its many parts. Below are some excerpts from that interview.

Archbishop Collins Coat of Arms

February 5, 2007

The motto “Deum Adora” (Worship God) is taken from the Book of Revelation 22: 9. When St. John seeks to worship the angel who has shown him the great visions of the book, the angel rebukes him: “Worship God.” It is God who claims our adoration and loyalty, in worship and in action. St. Thomas More expressed this when in his last words before martyrdom he said: “I die the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” Our priorities in life must be clear and determined by our adoration of the Lord. The shield with a gold cross on a red background is based on that of St. Peter’s Seminary. The Alpha and Omega recall the Book of Revelation 22:13, where Jesus says: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” The open Bible and the chalice represent the two great ways in which we experience Jesus in the church, in word and sacrament.

Christians, Jews united

February 5, 2007

Toronto - Just a couple of weeks after announcing his retirement as archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic confessed his love to a gathering of about 50 at Holy Blossom Temple.

Chief shepherds helped forge Catholic Toronto

February 5, 2007

Since its founding as a diocese on Dec. 17, 1841, Toronto has had 12 chief shepherds. Below are short profiles of the 10 archbishops/bishops who preceded Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic. Much of this information was supplied by the Archives of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

February 8

Province takes over Dufferin-Peel board

February 8, 2007

Dufferin-Peel [images/stories/schoolB_logos/Dufferin-Peel.gif]MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Government-appointed overseer Norbert Hartmann announced Feb. 5 that he is seizing control of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.

Rights groups fight refugee deal

February 8, 2007

TORONTO - The United States human rights record and its war on terror are on trial in a Federal Court in Toronto. The Canadian Council of Churches, Amnesty International, the Canadian Council for Refugees and an anonymous Colombian in a Nebraska jail are trying to persuade a judge to suspend Canadian co-operation with the United States on handling of refugees.