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June 2012

June 20

St. Mike’s athletic director Forbes retires

June 20, 2012

TORONTO - It's not the championships, the money and certainly not the hours that Paul Forbes will miss as St. Michael's College School's veteran athletic director sizes up retirement after 36 years. "It's the personnel, the people you work with. They started as colleagues, as peers, but many of them are close personal friends now," said Forbes, who was appointed athletic director at the midtown Toronto private Catholic school in 1985. "The staff and students I've been privileged to work with over the years is the best part of the job."

Politicians set aside partisan politics to tackle poverty

June 20, 2012

OTTAWA - Politicians across party lines in the House of Commons and Senate have launched the all-party Anti-Poverty Caucus to examine ways to fight poverty across Canada. “I think we all understand the moral issues,” said Senator Art Eggleton, a former Liberal cabinet minister and mayor of Toronto, one of three co-chairs at the June 12 launch. “We all understand this is not right for our country.”

Abortion caravan comes under attack as pregnant team member is egged

June 20, 2012

As the New Abortion Caravan makes its way across Canada, it has drawn a variety of reactions. One of the most aggressive shows of disapproval came when a pregnant team member was egged, said Stephanie Gray. And in Winnipeg, a group of about 30 protesters gathered outside Living Christ Community Church, where the members were presenting, beating on pots and pans.

At-risk Hamilton school graduates 8

June 20, 2012

Good Shepherd Notre Dame House School in Hamilton, Ont., graduated its largest class yet on June 19, with eight students collecting their high school diploma. For Loretta Hill-Finamore, director of youth services at Good Shepherd Centres, having a graduating class of eight is very inspiring. “That’s our goal, for everyone to graduate,” Hill-Finamore said. “We’re so proud of them.

Bill-13 claims its first victim as trustee opts to resign

June 20, 2012

It isn’t just members of the Catholic school system being rubbed the wrong way by the Ontario government’s Bill-13. The passage into law of the province’s anti-bullying legislation was the final straw for David Goldsmith, a trustee for the Lambton Kent District School Board. “Bill-13 is causing me a lot of heartburn,” said Goldsmith, who will officially step down from his position June 30 after nine years with the southwestern Ontario school board.

St. Dominic's honours fallen soldiers

June 20, 2012

The Grade 7 students at Oakville's St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School were the driving force behind the establishment of the Bronte Veterans' Garden along Halton Region's Veterans Highway. For several years, the students have been creating posters as a tribute to Canada's fallen soldiers from the mission in Afghanistan. On June 15, the St. Dominic's students were joined by Canada's Defense Minister Peter McKay, who helped unveil two plaques at the garden dedicated to Trooper Marc Diab and Col. Geoff Parker, two soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan. (All photos by Boris Hofman)

Vatican II's Bible promotion said to create vitality in church life

June 20, 2012

NEW YORK - In the 50 years since the Second Vatican Council encouraged Catholics to read, reflect and act on Scripture, there has been a "surging vitality in the life of the church," according to Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. "There is nothing that the church does that is not rooted in Scripture," he told participants at the New York Catholic Bible Summit June 16.

At audience, Pope appeals for peace in Nigeria, talks about prayer

June 20, 2012

VATICAN CITY - Expressing his "deep concern" about terrorist violence in Nigeria, Pope Benedict XVI urged an end to "the shedding of the blood of so many innocent people." Speaking at the end of his weekly general audience June 20, the Pope said the terrorist attacks are continuing and are "directed mostly against Christian faithful." For months, bombs have exploded at Christian churches in various cities; the attacks were carried out on Sunday mornings when the churches were full. Forty-five people were reported killed June 17 after four churches in Zaria and Kaduna were bombed, and mobs carried out reprisal attacks on Muslims.

June 21

Pendant’s symbolism shows God is always there for us

June 21, 2012

When thinking about long journeys, a few specific examples may spring to mind. Some will think of Homer’s great Odyssey, others of Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring. Many of us will recall Jesus’ travels as He went from place to place proclaiming the Word of God. I, too, think of Jesus when it comes to travelling, but in a slightly different form. The Jesus I think of is a small carved pendant attached to a dusty black string. Though modest in appearance, this pendant of Christ has gone through quite the journey and has come to mean a great deal to me.

Volunteering can help your career while giving back

June 21, 2012

One of the many benefits of service volunteer trips is professional growth, said Friar Rick Riccioli, director of Francis Corps, a Catholic organization that places volunteers in Syracuse, New York, and Costa Rica. Every year, thousands of high school and university students make the trek to different volunteering opportunities overseas — or across the border — to donate their time and services to those in need. “We had one young woman who wanted to be a surgeon and then decided to go into public health because (she saw) the need for policy,” Riccioli said.

Jury hung on four of five charges in Philadelphia abuse trial

June 21, 2012

PHILADELPHIA - After jury members said they could not agree on four of five charges in a Philadelphia clergy abuse trial June 20, Common Pleas Judge Teresa Sarmina instructed them to continue deliberations in order to reach a verdict. Sarmina suggested June 20 -- the 12th day of jury deliberations -- that they rehear portions of testimony from two accusers to help them finalize their decision. She also turned down a defense request for a mistrial.

Church advocates call for preserving funding for foreign aid programs

June 21, 2012

WASHINGTON - Federal funding for foreign poverty-focused development and humanitarian aid programs must be preserved as Congress continues debating the fiscal year 2013 budget, said officials from two church agencies. In particular, officials from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services called for support of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, because of high levels of success in the prevention and treatment of AIDS around the world under the program.

Appealing for peace in Syria, Pope expresses fear of wider conflict

June 21, 2012

VATICAN CITY - The international community must act swiftly and decisively to end the violence in Syria, which "risks becoming a widespread conflict that would have seriously negative consequences for the country and the entire region," Pope Benedict XVI said. The Pope expressed his prayers and hopes for peace in Syria during a meeting June 21 with Catholic Church representatives from throughout the Middle East, including the nuncio to Syria and the president of Caritas Syria, and with leaders of Eastern Catholic churches. The representatives and leaders were at the Vatican for a meeting of the Vatican's coordinating body for church funding agencies that assist Eastern Catholics and Catholics throughout the Middle East. The violence in Syria began in March 2011 and has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians as soldiers battle forces seeking an end to the rule of President Bashar Assad.

Bishops demand appeal of B.C. euthansia ruling

June 21, 2012

OTTAWA - Canada’s bishops have expressed dismay over a B.C. Supreme Court decision June 15 to strike down Criminal Code provisions against euthanasia and assisted suicide. “I strongly urge the government to appeal this extremely flawed and dangerous ruling,” said Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miller in a statement released the day of the decision. The government has until July 16 to file a notice of appeal.

Vatican plans for Year of Faith include hymn, Mass, packed calendar

June 21, 2012

VATICAN CITY - With a hymn and a prayer, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella presented the Vatican's initial calendar of events for the Year of Faith, which begins with a Mass Oct. 11 in St. Peter's Square. Archbishop Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, said the Pope has invited as concelebrants bishops and theologians who, like the pontiff, served as members or experts at the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council.

June 22

Catholic Movie Reviews - Brave, Rock of Ages, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter & more

June 22, 2012

This week sees the release of the new Pixar movie Brave and a new fun take on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

Teacher’s play an extension of Catholic education

June 22, 2012

TORONTO - Liezl Mejia believes everything happens for a reason. She feels it’s important to have faith and always believe God is there for you. And this is the message Mejia, who plays the main character Mary in St. Joseph Secondary School’s musical Waiting for God, hopes audiences will walk away with. “I’m blessed to have this opportunity because it made me feel that I was a living testimony to God’s existence,” says Mejia, whose character is literally waiting for God to show up at a bus stop after her fiancé dies of cancer. During her wait, she encounters a variety of characters.

Priest and musician brings his music to Canada [w/ video]

June 22, 2012

For Fr. Robert Galea, music is the language of the heart. “And what better way to preach the Gospel than through the language of the heart?” asks the 30-year-old Maltese singer, songwriter and priest serving in Shepparton, Australia. Sponsored by Salt + Light Television in collaboration with dioceses across Canada, Galea will be on tour in Canada in early July with stops planned in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Specific dates were not yet confirmed by press time.

Toronto students celebrate aboriginal culture [w/ audio]

June 22, 2012

TORONTO - Some 75 staff, students and parents were treated to a day of aboriginal music and dancing as the Toronto Catholic District School Board celebrated National Aboriginal Day June 21. "We invited some aboriginal people to celebrate with them and to demonstrate some of the celebrations as part of their culture," said Bruce Rodrigues, TCDSB's director of education. "It's important to acknowledge (aboriginal culture) so that our students can have an understanding of the diversity that we have within the system." National Aboriginal Day has been celebrated in Canada since 1996 to recognize, celebrate and preserve the unique aboriginal cultures while acknowledging their contributions to contemporary Canada.

Canadian sisters tight-lipped on U.S. counterparts

June 22, 2012

Sisters, brothers and religious priests across Canada are praying for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, but they’re not talking about the organization that represents about 80 per cent of U.S. nuns. “The LCWR has asked us not to comment at this point,” said Canadian Religious Conference spokesperson Louise Stafford. A number of religious communities across Canada contacted by The Catholic Register also either declined comment or did not return calls.