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April 2007

April 17

Social investing explodes

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - More than half a trillion dollars, almost a fifth of Canada’s investment capital, is now invested with one eye on the ethical bottom line.

New MPP seeks meditation room for Queen’s Park

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - It’s unlikely that the Oct. 10 Ontario election will be fought over the issue of prayer and meditation at Queen’s Park. It’s equally unlikely members of the provincial legislature and their staffs will have a room set aside for contemplation and related inactivities before election day.

Some lessons in spiritual life

April 17, 2007

At the beginning of March, Philip Groning’s film Into Great Silence came into a theatre in New York that specializes in foreign films. It was advertised as having a two-week run. But when each of the three daily showings continued to sell out, the theatre owners put “Held Over” up on the marquis. Now, at month’s end, it’s still playing to full houses. The DVD went on sale in Canada April 3.

Wingle to lead the OCCB

April 17, 2007

Ontario’s Catholic bishops have chosen Bishop James Wingle as president of its executive.

BECOMING A PRIEST: ‘Mountain top’ experience at Madonna House leads seminarian to priesthood

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - Zachary Romanowsky heard his call to the priesthood while staying at Madonna House in Combermere, Ont.

Despite life’s struggles, the call kept pulling Llames to the seminary

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - Leo Llames first thought about a vocation to the priesthood when he was 10 years old during elementary school in Tacloban City, Philippines. He was inspired by the life story of St. Maximilian Kolbe and how he died a martyr for the faith, but he pushed those thoughts aside and continued on with life.

Seminarian feels the need to give back to the Lord

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - It was an overwhelming sense of gratitude that caused Giuseppe Scollo to give up his family and life in Sisley, Italy to follow his call to the priesthood.

Gratitude to the Lord feeds the priestly call

April 17, 2007

TORONTO - When Jorge Lopez joined Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Toronto nine years ago he didn’t speak a word of English. Still, he left his family behind in Nicaragua to follow his call to the priesthood.

He is always with us

April 17, 2007

Second Sunday of Easter (Year C) April 15 (Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118; Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31) Many in the crowd were thrilled at what they saw happening in the midst, but still they hung back. Some were afraid of persecution if they joined this strange band of miracle workers, others perhaps did not want to be let down or disappointed.

Some good out of past evil

April 17, 2007

As Britain remembers the 200th anniversary of the legislation abolishing the slave trade this year, calls for reparation have gone forth from Africans on both sides of the Atlantic.

The ‘new creation’

April 17, 2007

As the consensus develops over global warming, the Catholic Church is slowly sifting through its teachings to find wisdom that can help Christians understand their own responsibility for creation.

April 20

Gay issues make Anglican schism a real threat, says Canterbury

April 20, 2007

TORONTO - The Archbishop of Canterbury will meet with the American Episcopalian House of Bishops in September in an effort to prevent a schism between Anglicans in the rich, first world and the Anglican majority in the global south.

Ireland Park will bring immigrant experience to life

April 20, 2007

TORONTO - When Ireland Park opens at the foot of Bathurst Street June 21, the 25-metre-long wall commemorating those who died on Toronto’s waterfront in 1847 will display 663 names. Blank spaces have been left for the 461 whose names have disappeared from the historical record.

April 21

British bishop under fire for ‘naive’ comments

April 21, 2007

LONDON - The head of Great Britain’s military diocese has come under fire from politicians, military leaders and the media after he welcomed Iran’s release of 15 sailors and marines as religiously motivated “good deeds.”

April 22

Counsellors help students deal with death of classmate

April 22, 2007

Mississauga, Ont. - A Tragic Events Response Team (TERT) arrived at St. Alfred’s Catholic School here April 12 to give support to students and teachers in their time of grief for 10-year-old schoolmate, John Pham, who died as a result of a bus accident on Hwy 410 south of Brampton the day before.

Rose of Sharon offers teen mothers a home-away-from-home environment

April 22, 2007

Newmarket, Ont. - Inside the main gathering space of Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers hangs homemade colourful quilts, boxes of infant toys lay on the carpet, all by a well-used rocking chair. The all-female 15-person staff create a home-away-from-home atmosphere for hundreds of teen mothers and their pre- and post-natal children who use the centre’s services.

Become a leader today

April 22, 2007

All my life I have struggled against traditional limitations placed on leaders in the Catholic Church. It was always taken for granted that those who wanted to pursue religious lives were restricted to the traditional roles of priests or nuns, but I know I am meant for the married life, so I never thought of becoming a religious.

April 23

Nova Scotia youth reaches for the stars

April 23, 2007

Imagine getting the chance to study astronomy at the Vatican Observatory. It may seem hard to do, but it isn’t so hard for Nathan Deg, whose dreams have recently become a reality.

New Orleans welcomes Canadian students’ help

April 23, 2007

AJAX, Ont. - Broken doors and smashed windows, rusted paint and water-stained walls are just a few of the images etched into 15-year-old Matthew Provenzano’s memory of what Hurricane Katrina left in her wake.

Green Party’s May interested in the common good, but supports abortion, gay marriage

April 23, 2007

OTTAWA - Green Party Leader Elizabeth May hopes to change the conversation in Ottawa. Though best known for its environmental stance, the Green Party also stresses social justice, fair trade instead of free trade and non-violence. But Mays views on families, communities and the common good may also attract Catholic voters and potential candidates.