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September 2011

September 22

Pope celebrates Mass in Berlin's Olympic Stadium

September 22, 2011

BERLIN - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Berlin's Olympic Stadium and appealed for a better understanding of the church, one that goes beyond current controversies and the failings of its members. The evening liturgy Sept. 22 was the religious high point of the pope's busy first day in the German capital, where he also met with government leaders, Jewish representatives and addressed the parliament. About 70,000 Catholics gave the 84-year-old pontiff a rousing welcome when he rode in a popemobile through the stadium, which was built by the Nazi regime to host the 1936 Olympic Games. The pope paused to kiss several babies as young people waved scarves imprinted with the theme of the papal visit, "Where there is God, there is a future."

September 25

The Vaniers valued family values

September 25, 2011

The year 1959 is a couple of generations ago — hardly a blink of an eye in the gaze of history. But on Sept. 15, 1959, Georges Vanier took office as Governor General of Canada with words few leaders would speak in public today. “My first words are a prayer,” said the old soldier. “May almighty God in His infinite wisdom and mercy bless the sacred mission which has been entrusted to me by Her Majesty the Queen and help me to fulfill it in all humility. In exchange for His strength, I offer Him my weakness. May He give peace to this beloved land of ours and, to those who live in it, the grace of mutual understanding, respect and love.” A new biography of Georges and Pauline Vanier by Mary Frances Coady tells the story of their lives lived in tandem, driven by high ideals and understood as a spiritual enterprise. Georges and Pauline Vanier: Portrait of a Couple covers a century of history in which Canada emerged from a semi-colonial backwater to become a modern nation. But rather than a march through two world wars and into the Cold War, Coady presents this history through the intimate lens of a marriage.

September 26

Church must move closer to Gospel, not to worldly values, pope says

September 26, 2011

FREIBURG, Germany - The church must change to respond to the Gospel call and the needs of real people, but that change must be dictated by Christian values and not by greater adaptation to the values of the modern world, Pope Benedict XVI said. Meeting Sept. 25 with about 1,500 Catholics involved in church ministries, lay movements and civic, political or social activities, the pope said he knows Germany is experiencing a decline in religious practice and is seeing many of its members drift away from church life. The audience, which included German President Christian Wulff, gave the pope a standing ovation when he finished his speech.

Whitehorse bishop pitches for priests

September 26, 2011

Bishop Gary Gordon has a one-time, can't-miss, double-your-money-back-guaranteed deal for the priests of the nation. "You want an opportunity to pray? You want an opportunity to connect with God in the vastness of His creation? An opportunity to actually know every single parishioner and have coffee with them, all the time?" begins Gordon's sales pitch to priests in southern Canada. He has just the spot for them — his Whitehorse diocese in the Yukon. Priests in the north get to actually read books, reflect on their work and take a second look at their homilies.

In Germany, pope says godlessness poses new risks for society

September 26, 2011

FREIBURG, Germany - On a four-day visit to Germany, Pope Benedict XVI warned that godlessness and religious indifference were undermining the moral foundations of society and leaving its weakest members exposed to new risks. He repeatedly mentioned the duty to protect the unborn, and proposed this as an area where Catholics and non-Catholics can witness together and help resist ethical erosion. The Pope said after arriving in his homeland Sept. 22 that he had come “to meet people and to speak about God.” He took that message to the country’s political leaders, to the Church’s ecumenical partners, to the Catholic faithful and, through the mass media, to the German people.

September 27

Sunday Do’s and Dont’s - An extract from Dorothy Pilarski's "Motherhood Matters"

September 27, 2011

The following is an extract from Dorothy Pilarski's forthcoming book "Motherhood Matters". Click here to read more about the book or place an order. One day at Sunday Mass a well-meaning dad arrived with a large plastic bag from a popular store. It contained a big, new toy for his young son. Something to entertain him during Mass. I can still see the bag’s big, green logo appearing from behind the kneeler, interrupting prayers. Being a brand new toy, it was in plastic packaging that was torn open in the middle of Mass. What a racket! Several people nearby, including me, were mortified. I had to fight all my motherly instincts to lean over and give the man a scolding. What I really wanted to do was tug him out of the church by his ears and ask him: “What are you teaching your child? Do you want to teach him that no matter what is happening around him he is entitled to have fun?”

Weekly Crossword #1 - Oct 2nd 2011

September 27, 2011

See how you get on with the first crossword in our new series. Select "file > print" in your browser to print off your own copy. And don't worry, we'll be publishing the solution next week! [update - find the solution to puzzle #1 here] More information: Register launches a wordy new feature this week Crossword #1 [images/stories/crosswords/crossword_week1.jpg] ACROSS 1. He loves, to Livy 5. Boast 9. Waldorf or Caesar 14. Machete 15. Possess 16. Dish 17. English prep school 18. Kazakhstan’s ____ Sea 19. Roof overhangs 20. St Francis of Assisi: “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you have men who will deal likewise with ______________” 23. Suffix for musket 24. Classic car 25. Hobbles 28. Peruse 30. Bill 33. Weird 34. Anthracite 35. Tend 36. John Paul II: “Animals possess a soul, and men must love and feel solidarity for our _______________” 39. Lug 40. Adolescent 41. Warms up 42. Chemical suffix 43. Lean-to 44. Handbag 45. Mimic 46. Total 47. Mother Teresa: “They, too, are created by the same loving hand of God which created us ... it is our duty to protect them and promote __________” 55. Essence 56. Time periods 57. Birch, for one 58. Golfer Palmer, familiarly 59. Location 60. Marsh bird 61. Currents 62. Golf ball holders 63. Morays DOWN 1. Help a felon 2. Butterfly’s cousin 3. Lotion additive 4. Novelist ____ Morrison 5. Irritates 6. More unusual 7. Egg-shaped 8. Healthy 9. Gushed 10. Site of an 1836 battle 11. Wash 12. Two fives for _ ___ 13. ___ Moines, Iowa 21. Drive off 22. Papal vestment 25. Used car, perhaps 26. Angry 27. Unit of distance 28. Garbed 29. Merit 30. Skater Lipinski, et al 31. Mountain crest 32. Stein and Affleck 33. Villa d’ 34. Manitoba native 35. “Moonstruck” actress 37. Early anaesthetic 38. _____ a ride (hitchhike) 43. Acts maliciously 44. Heartbeats 45. Eagle’s nest 46. Tablet 47. Actress ____ Hatcher 48. Lend a ____ (help out) 49. Bridge seat 50. A great lake 51. French 101 verb 52. Dies ____ 53. Astronaut ____ Armstrong 54. Sets 55. Cap Designed by: Bob Carson

Finding your sufficient creed

September 27, 2011

Several years ago, a friend of mine made a very un-Hollywood type of marriage proposal to his fiancé: He was in his mid-40s and had suffered a number of disillusioning heartbreaks, some of which, by his own admission, were his own fault, the result of feelings shifting unexpectedly on his part. Now, in mid-life, struggling not to be disillusioned and cynical about love and romance, he met a woman whom he deeply respected, much admired and with whom he felt he would like to build a life. But, unsure of himself, he was humble in his proposal.

We must earn our way into the kingdom

September 27, 2011

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Oct. 9 (Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) Isaiah’s vision of God’s banquet is a gourmet and wine connoisseur’s delight: rich foods and the very best, well-aged wine and all of this in abundance. God is not stingy but generous beyond imagining. God’s kingdom is always cast in terms of a banquet and this is a theme that will continue through the New Testament. But food and drink is not the main focus of the vision. The feast will take place on the mountain of the Lord — an echo of the covenant at Sinai but also in the ancient world a place where humans and gods meet. But of even greater importance is the fact that it is intended for all peoples — this is not a feast for the in-crowd or elect. Already a new universal understanding of God has dawned. But the blessings far exceed a fine meal. God is going to remove the dark and heavy burden that oppresses all peoples — death and the accompanying dread and fear. Added to that is the wiping away of tears and the end of suffering — in other words, everything that people have yearned for since the beginning of time.

There is always hope, and there is always faith

September 27, 2011

Do you believe in miracles? It’s an age-old question. Songs and movies have been written on the topic. Sporting events have taken the issue as their own: consider the “Miracle on Ice” or the “Immaculate Reception.” TV evangelists and so-called “doctors” the world over have gotten rich selling miracle healing and miracle cures. Sometimes, the question touches us so personally and so profoundly that we can’t get it out of our mind. Can we definitely give all credit to God’s grace? Is God not working through the actions of humans, such as doctors, nurses and others? I found myself in this state the other day.

Beware of the celebrity priesthood

September 27, 2011

Checking the headlines of Catholic Internet media every day has its down side. The stories are often sad. Catholic journalists, paid and unpaid, professional or amateur, report everything that might be of interest to other Catholics, and thus not a week goes by in which some scandal, minor or major, is presented to the public worldwide. These scandals, I hasten to add, rarely have anything to do with the Gospel. These scandals, more often than not, detail sins of commission or omission committed by priests, bishops or other Catholic leaders. Not only do they disgust and depress Catholics, they erode our trust in God’s ministers and messengers. Three cases in particular have troubled my thoughts in recent months. One, coming out of Australia, is so vile I dare not discuss it in a family newspaper. The others are merely distasteful and disappointing, so I will confine my thoughts to them.

Stand up for education

September 27, 2011

The biggest threat to Catholic education is not creeping secularism, political apathy or stressed government finances. It’s Catholic complacency. When Catholics take their schools for granted, they lose them. Fr. Leo English, a Redemptorist from Newfoundland, shared that warning in a recent speech. “We took what we had for granted,” English told a Saskatoon audience. “This is an all-too common practice. Do not take what you have for granted, because there are storms everywhere.”

Actions of ‘self-righteous’ come as no surprise

September 27, 2011

I have spoken three times at Tyndale College in Toronto, arguably Canada’s leading evangelical university and seminary. What was 20 years ago a virtually moribund Bible school, with very little academic reputation, has been transformed by remarkable Christian leaders such as Brian Stiller into a serious educational institution. So I was incredulous, saddened, when I heard that a breakfast speech to Tyndale supporters by George W. Bush had suddenly been cancelled. Whatever one thinks of the former U.S. president, anybody interested in knowledge and history would be fascinated to hear from such a man. That he was also speaking on “Christian Education” made the event even more compelling.

Arrogance on full display in papal snub

September 27, 2011

It’s not right to characterize a people by their elected representatives. Who among us would advise our visitors that the Canadian character is what one witnesses, say, in the House of Commons during Question Period? So the fact that many members of the German federal parliament (Bundestag) boycotted Pope Benedict XVI’s speech in that chamber last week ought not be held against the German people. But it should be noted for what it says about the German political culture. That so many — perhaps as many as a hundred members from the Green, Left and Social Democratic opposition parties — could be so rude and so closed-minded is a discouraging sign that all is not well in the heart of Europe. Remember that last year in Great Britain, the Queen extended a most gracious welcome to the Holy Father, and the entire assembled ranks of British political life — including all former living prime ministers — did Benedict the honour of welcoming him to the Palace of Westminster. Or a few years back, when President George W. Bush gave an extraordinarily warm and festive welcome at the White House, and even gave a formal dinner for the Pope, despite the fact that popes don’t attend such dinners. So the cool reception from a significant part of the German parliament is certainly not the normal courtesy the Holy Father is usually shown.

September 28

Ten Commandments to influence Zambian president

September 28, 2011

Zambia’s first elected Catholic president told members of his parish he will base his rule on the Ten Commandments. President Michael Sata, 57, elected Sept. 20, also commended the Catholic Church for the role it played in ensuring that the nation held peaceful elections. Sata, a member of St. Ignatius parish in central Lusaka, told fellow parishioners Sept. 25 his government will embrace the fight against corruption because the Seventh Commandment states, “Thou shall not steal.” He said his government will prosecute anyone who steals despite his or her socio-economic status or party affiliation.

U.S. cardinal arranged Vietnam meeting

September 28, 2011

VATICAN CITY - U.S. Cardinal Bernard F. Law helped finalize plans for the first ever meeting of a president of communist Vietnam with a pope, according to a U.S. government cable appearing on the WikiLeaks web site. Law visited Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, in 2009 to meet with government officials and discuss bilateral relations between the Vatican and Vietnam, the cable said. “It took a visit to Vietnam last week by American Cardinal Bernard Law to finalize arrangements to allow the visit (of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet) to go forward,” said the cable dated Dec. 4, 2009, released on the WikiLeaks web site Aug. 30. During a meeting with a top-level staff member of the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican, Law said the Vietnamese “expressed little interest in formal diplomatic relations, but considerable interest in ensuring the already announced visit would go forward.” Law had been involved in Vietnamese issues for decades. In 1991, he led the first high-level U.S. Catholic Church group to visit Vietnam at the invitation of the Vietnamese government since 1975.

Bishops’ social justice message targets youth

September 28, 2011

OTTAWA - The Canadian Catholic bishops have issued a message on social justice to young Catholics encouraging them to commit themselves to building a “more just and joyful society.” In a message released Sept. 22, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace urged young Catholics to participate in furthering the “Millennium objectives for development.” “The Catholic Church shares all of humanity’s common quest for peace and happiness, and supports efforts of individuals and groups working to eradicate poverty, illness, injustice, inequality, human rights violations and environmental exploitation,” says the Message to Young Catholics on Social Justice. “This witness of solidarity flows from God’s love for humanity as revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”

Justice office aids refugees

September 28, 2011

VANCOUVER - The most shocking experience of her life, says Lindseigh Lochhead, was the year she taught English in refugee camps in Thailand. “I met many who had been persecuted. The conditions in the camps lacked dignity, and many despaired of ever being able to return home,” said the administrator of the Refugee Outreach Program of the Office of Service and Justice of the Vancouver archdiocese. Shaken but not discouraged, Lochhead became determined to help. She returned to Vancouver to get a degree, expecting to return to Thailand. Instead an opportunity opened up to work with refugees coming to Canada through government sponsorship programs.

From Chile to a religious call in Canada

September 28, 2011

EDMONTON - By most standards, Sr. Loreto Andrea Leon Soto was like any other girl growing up in Santiago, Chile. Becoming a nun never occurred to the young girl who had a normal upbringing with close friends and a boyfriend. But enter religious life she did. After five years of religious formation, Leon made her first profession of vows Sept. 20 at Providence Renewal Centre. Leon came from a strong Catholic home where faith was essential. Christmas and Holy Week were more than just liturgical celebrations, they were a time to fully express the faith.

Long search ends for sister

September 28, 2011

EDMONTON - While others around her believed she would make a good sister, it took Sr. Christina Wong a long time to realize it herself. As a high school student in Hong Kong, she was asked by the sisters who ran the school whether she had considered becoming a nun. “I was under 20 and I didn’t take their question too seriously because in a convent school the sisters looked after the students,” said Wong, seeing a reverence in them that she did not see in herself. But after years of searching, Wong made her perpetual vows as a Sister of Providence Sept. 17 at the chapel of Providence Renewal Centre.