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February 2010

February 25

Br. André's example for us all

February 25, 2010

He was a small man, poor, sickly, uneducated and with no discernible skills or talents. He had little more than the clothes on his back and his faith when he showed up at the door of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Montreal some 140 years ago. At first, he was turned away, but later told to come inside. That simple act of welcome set in motion an unlikely life of healing and service that culminated in the Feb. 19 announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that Blessed Brother André (born Alfred Bessette) will be canonized Oct. 17 in Rome. He follows St. Marguerite d’Youville as just the second Canadian-born saint.

Enlightenment, tolerance according to Michael Ignatieff

February 25, 2010

I first met Michael Ignatieff when my wife and I dined with him in Toronto in the early 1990s. He was an academic and television host back then and had no intention of returning to a Canada which, he told us, he found a little stifling. He obviously changed his mind. And a fine mind it is. He’s a sophisticated, intelligent man with a great deal to offer but also a patrician person slightly disconnected from the mass of humanity. That was particularly well illustrated in early February when he tried to use the abortion issue to score political points.

Discerning your vocation

February 25, 2010

Recently I was invited to the University of St. Andrews to talk to Catholic students about discerning their vocations. Being a bit rusty on the subject, I picked up Fr. Stephen Wang’s book, How to Discover Your Vocation. It was very helpful although Fr. Wang forgot to discuss the single life. Discernment is not just about vocations to a state-in-life, but about vocations to everything. If you become obsessed with finding your “state-in-life,” you forget that God is calling you to other things, ordinary things, every day. You also risk getting self-absorbed and sucked in by the drama of it all.

Making a gratitude list

February 25, 2010

As an impatient child who wasn’t very fond of standing out in the hot weather, I absolutely loathed waiting in line for amusement park rides. Not only would the most obnoxious kids be the first ones in line, but the smaller children who weren’t even old enough to ride would cut though people’s legs and get further in front. My mother told me it was rude to cut in line so I was forced to reluctantly wait my turn in the face of a cruel childhood injustice. While I was waiting, I glanced in front of me to see how many people were left. There were about eight million. Unsatisfied, I turned around to look behind and was shocked to find that the number of people waiting was much greater.

Dispute with landlord forces Caritas out of its offices

February 25, 2010

TORONTO - A North York Catholic charity that helps recovering addicts is being “forced into homelessness” after its landlord locked it out of its offices. Caritas associate director Ramin Deravian told The Catholic Register charity staff and residents were shocked to find themselves locked out of Caritas’ main building at 15 Millwick Dr. on Feb. 19 over a $57,000 unpaid parking lot repavement bill. Deravian said when talks broke down, Caritas found itself locked out of the building it has called home for the past 16 years.

February 26

God calls us to change our ways

February 26, 2010

Third Sunday of Lent (Year C) March 7 (Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; Psalm 103; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9) Many of God’s manifestations in the midst of everyday life are quiet and subtle. But sometimes they are anything but subtle — in fact, they can be dramatic, awe-inspiring and even a bit frightening.

Brother André a saint for today

February 26, 2010

MONTREAL - Just two days after the announcement of Brother André’s canonization, St. Joseph’s Oratory had no lack of pilgrims filing past his tomb. One young woman, who would not reveal her name, stopped and prayed at the various stations depicting St. Joseph’s life, leading up to Brother André’s crypt. “I come often because I’m a believer and it’s renewing,” she said.

The evolution of Robin Hood

February 26, 2010

Hodd by Adam Thorpe (Random House UK, 320 pages, $34). The Robin Hood most of us grew up with was a perfect hero for bookish kids. He was cheerful, generous and just. He surrounded himself with merry men, had a loyal, clever, cute girlfriend and together they robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. If we thought about it later, we might have regarded the Robin Hood of childhood books, movies and cartoons as a gentleman who had taken sides in the class struggle.

The refugee rap video funded by Toronto refugee office

February 26, 2010

TORONTO - When a 14-year-old boy from Sri Lanka arrived on his doorstep in Accra, Ghana, with little ability to communicate in English, 26-year-old Michael Baah saw firsthand just how difficult it can be for refugees to get help. So he made a music video about it. The video, “Refugee Appeal,” produced by Martin Mark, director of the Office for Refugees of the archdiocese of Toronto, was posted on YouTube shortly before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees declared Piratheeprajh SriVijayarajarajan a vulnerable, at risk youth in need of expedited processing.

Toronto teachers get closeup view of northern experience

February 26, 2010

TORONTO - It was a “life changing” experience for Toronto teachers attending a First Nations educational conference in Moose Factory, Ont., says teacher Brenda Stewart. Stewart was part of a delegation of 12 Toronto Catholic District School Board teachers who made presentations at the Great Moon Gathering conference on Feb. 18 and 19. Two teachers from the Toronto District School Board and three members from Me to We/Free the Children also attended.

March for Life aims for 20,000 with schools' help

February 26, 2010

OTTAWA - Campaign Life Coalition is hoping this year’s National March for Life will draw 20,000 people to Parliament Hill on May 13 with help from Ottawa area Catholic schools. Last year’s march drew more than 12,000 people, the largest crowd in the event’s 12 years. About half of the marchers were young people. But many of these were bused in from other cities around Ontario.

Standing up for life at 40 Days for Life

February 26, 2010

TORONTO - For 21-year-old Gabriel Bacani, standing outside on a chilly Friday afternoon isn’t a big deal if it’s to stand up for life. Bacani was joined by Josh Canning, a pastoral assistant at York University’s Catholic Chaplaincy, at a vigil for the 40 Days for Life campaign on Feb. 19. The campaign kicked off two days earlier on Ash Wednesday.

Being a witness for Christ means loving others

February 26, 2010

Editor’s note: This is the second place entry for the Friars Student Writing Award contest sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Katie Gillis, 18, is a Grade 12 student at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, Ont. “You are witnesses to these things” (Luke 24:48). This Scripture passage is the guideline for what we, as Christians, are being called to do. God has been calling us to love one another since the start of time. One could argue this is our vocation which we are meant to fulfill throughout our lifetime. Whether young or old, all people of God are called to love one another as they want to be loved, and treat one another as they wish to be treated.

Fr. Stan tells teens '2' love

February 26, 2010

U Got 2 Love by Fr. Stan Fortuna, C.F.R. (Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 254 pages, $13.95.) In the latest instalment of the U Got 2 series from renowned rapping priest Fr. Stan Fortuna, Catholics are not only urged, but called “2” love. This follow-up to U Got 2 Believe and U Got 2 Pray dedicates itself to the dominant force in our faith and provides Catholics with a desperately needed and refreshing approach to a world stuck chasing impoverished and superficial love.