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April 2008

April 17

Internet may spell end of newspaper

April 17, 2008

The North American newspaper is a wonderful thing. Since its rise some 300 years ago, this medium has helped build civil society and advance democracy. It has linked people together over the vast distances of the continent, and it has provided these people with the facts about what is happening in the world, and why.

Today’s composers rarely write for liturgical reasons

April 17, 2008

TORONTO - Catholic composers today fall into two categories: those who write for liturgy, and those who don’t. James MacMillan, a world-renowned Scottish composer and conductor, spoke about this in a lecture on “The Catholic Composer Today” at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto April 8.

Oh yes, they had a meeting too

April 17, 2008

In all the excitement, flag-waving and crowds surrounding Pope Benedict's public meetings, it is almost forgotten that he also had a quiet, private conversation with U.S. President George Bush on April 16. And while it was billed as a courtesy call, it turns out there was some rather substantive — if courteous — discussion.

Oh yes, they had a meeting too

April 17, 2008

Benedict hits a home run

April 17, 2008

The Nationals Stadium is one of those brand new baseball facilities designed to bring back the excitement and intimacy of those old-time ball parks. It was only finished March 30 and has held 2 games of the Washington Nationals so far, reportedly to critical acclaim. But a Catholic Mass for 46,000 people is a much different kind of test.

Benedict hits a home run

April 17, 2008

An unscheduled meeting

April 17, 2008

It's not clear whether Pope Benedict XVI expected he would have to concentrate so much on dealing with the fallout of the clergy sexual abuse on this, his first visit to the United States. But he is devoting a significant part of his time to trying to heal this very open wound. Besides his three strong public comments on it, he also met privately with a small group of abuse victims on April 17.

An unscheduled meeting

April 17, 2008

Pope challenges universities, meets with abuse victims

April 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - Day three of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Washington and New York covered the gamut of events and emotions — from the joy of a papal Mass to a no-nonsense challenge to Catholic universities, to a tear-filled visit with victims of clergy sexual abuse. In an April 17 address at the Catholic University of America, Pope Benedict XVI said he believes in academic freedom, but at a Catholic university, it has limits. And he drew a line in the sand in a speech to leaders of the United States' Catholic education institutions.

April 18

Toronto school board continues summer youth program

April 18, 2008

TORONTO — The Toronto Catholic District School Board will once again offer Focus on Youth summer programs for children and youth this summer.

New media competition announced

April 18, 2008

THORNHILL, Ont. — Students and staff from St. Elizabeth Catholic Secondary School will host a festival dedicated to productions by youth featuring spirit and religious faith.

100 years of Italian heritage celebrated

April 18, 2008

TORONTO - The Italian priests of the archdiocese of Toronto and their parishes are preparing for the 100th anniversary of the first Italian church of Toronto. On Nov. 8, 1908, Archbishop Fergus McEvay gave the old St. Patrick’s Church to the Italian community, under the new name of “Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

Caring for each other will save environment

April 18, 2008

TORONTO - The Earth needs to be treated as a sacrament given to each other because “time is running out,” said Fr. Pier Giorgio di Cicco.

Toronto's priestly vocation healthy

April 18, 2008

TORONTO - Vocations in Toronto might seem healthier from the perspective of other Canadian dioceses. Where some areas of the country generate zero priestly vocations on a yearly basis, the archdiocese of Toronto’s mean average is four or five. In fact, Toronto will be ordaining seven priests for the archdiocese in May.

The planetary secrets of C.S. Lewis

April 18, 2008

Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward (Oxford University Press, 347 pages, hardcover, $31.95). Planet Narnia is one of the most creative works of scholarship I have read since I fled the murky world of graduate studies in English literature. Michael Ward sets before us one of the great mysteries of C.S. Lewis studies, i.e. what is the underlying unity among the seven Narnia stories, and solves it. It’s the kind of thing that makes a rival PhD student throw her laptop across the room and take to drink. Ward has made a brilliant discovery.

Catholic bishops green with energy

April 18, 2008

Why doesn’t the church say something about ecology and the environment? Why doesn’t the church get with the program? Such questions never fail to surface after I give a talk on Christianity and ecology.

Jesus is a constant reality

April 18, 2008

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A) April 27 (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Psalm 66; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21) Even while some were rejecting Jesus and persecuting the Christian movement, the message of hope was breaking out into the regions of Samaria. It is intriguing that many of the Samaritans — so at odds with their fellow Jews — were some of the first to receive the faith. The words of Jesus had a special appeal to those excluded or on the margins.

Moderation is liberation

April 18, 2008

Alcohol is seen both as a substance of cultural pride and as a problem-causing drug. So where does it fit in for young Catholics? While certain Christian denominations practise complete abstinence from alcohol, recent studies of its health benefits cannot be ignored.

Ministry of youth, poverty

April 18, 2008

TORONTO - The Redemptorists have made a home for themselves in downtown Toronto — a location ideal for the many youth projects they lead on poverty and justice.

Thanking the hired help

April 18, 2008

How many world leaders come and go at the United Nations headquarters in New York with nary a word to say to the staff? Almost all, I would daresay. But not Pope Benedict XVI. Before rushing off to his next even after his major address April 18 to the UN General Assembly, he dallied a while to talk to the hired help.