Browse › 2013 › August

August 2013

August 9

Pilgrims lighten load, physically and spiritually.

August 9, 2013

For World Youth Day, my parents and I dropped off two of my brothers and my roommate at the airport. They were on their way to Brazil with a group of four other young people and a chaperone. Watching them all get their bags weighed and tagged brought to mind what Jesus said about packing lightly when He sent out the Twelve: “Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses: nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff…” (Matthew 10:9- 10).

August 10

A walk among Toronto’s Catholic past

August 10, 2013

TORONTO - As the cash-strapped Toronto Transit Commission continues to wrestle with its future, there was no sign during a recent tour of St. Michael’s Cemetery that TTC founder George Washington Kiely is rolling in his grave.

Rohr offers daily dose of meditations

August 10, 2013

When I picked up this hefty tome, a compendium of snippets from Franciscan Father Richard Rohr’s many writings (some of it previously unpublished), I expected a series of reflections in familiar groupings: personal faith, compassion, social justice, the natural world, grief — the standard mix that is often a blessing to preachers or educators who need a little help getting started on a selected topic or biblical passage.

Pope Francis discovers charismatic movement a gift to the whole church

August 10, 2013

VATICAN CITY - During World Youth Day celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, July 23-28, many worshippers in the crowds could be seen swaying from side to side, arms raised in the air, wearing rapt or joyous expressions on their faces.

August 11

40 Days for Life seeks volunteers to ensure fall campaign is a go

August 11, 2013

TORONTO - Organizers of 40 Days for Life in Toronto are appealing for help so that the upcoming campaign doesn’t end up being cancelled like this past spring’s event.

Montreal church to be reborn as a palliative care centre

August 11, 2013

MONTREAL - As an emotional debate rages in Quebec over Bill 52 and the legalization of euthanasia, a Montreal church is slowly but surely being turned into a palliative care centre.

August 12

Pope to parents: Teach your children to respect, defend human life

August 12, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Respect for human life from conception until natural death is something children must be taught, not mainly with words, but by the example of their parents, Pope Francis said.

Pope asks people to consider what they desire most

August 12, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Yearning and loving give people the strength to move forward and overcome obstacles, but Christians must ask themselves what really is their hearts' desire, Pope Francis said.

REAL Women of Canada fights back against 'media firestorm'

August 12, 2013

OTTAWA - REAL Women of Canada does not support persecution of homosexuals, despite what has been written in a media firestorm responding to the organization's Aug. 7 news release accusing Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird of abuse of office for funding homosexual activism overseas.

August 13

Vincentians do their part for Lac Mégantic

August 13, 2013

Ontario Vincentians have sent more than their sympathy to citizens of Lac Mégantic, Que.

His Holiness, the soccer fan, asks players to be real role models

August 13, 2013

VATICAN CITY - With admiration and big smiles all around, the lifelong soccer fan Pope Francis met the star players and coaches of the Argentine and Italian national soccer teams hoping to compete for the World Cup in 2014.

August 14

Soccer stars help launch Pontifical Academy of Sciences' school project

August 14, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Immediately after meeting Pope Francis, Gianluigi Buffon, captain of the Italian national soccer team, and Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina's team, lent their hands -- actually just a finger -- to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

Jerusalem, shared 'security blanket,' key to Israeli-Palestinian peace

August 14, 2013

JERUSALEM - Coveted as a spiritual and political capital by both Israelis and Palestinians, the status of the city of Jerusalem has stood out as one of the pivotal topics in their ongoing peace negotiations.

U.S. State Department office to engage faith groups

August 14, 2013

WASHINGTON - The creation of the Office for Engagement with Faith-Based Communities at the U.S. State Department, announced Aug. 7, follows long- standing criticism that U.S. diplomacy has been too separated from the realities of the importance of religion.

August 15

Vatican II part of the 2,000 years of growth in the Church

August 15, 2013

BARRY’S BAY, ONT. - Soon Catholics will no longer see Vatican II as a break, but will interpret the Council’s teachings in light of the Church’s 2,000 years, says Pembroke Bishop Michael Mulhall.

Pope asks Mary, queen of peace, to bring calm to Egypt

August 15, 2013

VATICAN CITY - As the official death toll rose from clashes Aug. 14 in Egypt and as the damage done to Christian churches was being assessed, Pope Francis invoked Mary, queen of peace, to bring calm to the country.

Catholic spokesman defends Egyptian army crackdown against protesters

August 15, 2013

OXFORD, England - A spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church defended a police and army crackdown against Egyptians protesting the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Jesus offers no free pass

August 15, 2013

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) Aug. 25 (Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117; Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30) The concept of a universal God was not a New Testament invention. The vision of the inclusion of other peoples and nations in God’s plan of salvation was firmly embedded in the third portion of the Book of Isaiah. The sojourn in Babylon had stretched the intellectual and spiritual horizons of Israel’s people. They encountered other belief systems and cultures more directly than in the past. Even in foreign captivity they saw God at work and their release from captivity was a gift of Cyrus the new Persian ruler, designated God’s anointed in Isaiah.

Summer’s here and now is the time to Make Today Count

August 15, 2013

Summer is under way and it’s time for road trips. Whether it is a short trip from a small town to a big city for the weekend, a coast-to-coast marathon to see Canada in an over-packed car or a backpacking Euro-rail adventure, a road trip is often an adventure — and maybe even a first step in finding our own unique life path.

Side with life

August 15, 2013

The Canadian Medical Association refers to its general meeting as “the parliament of Canadian medicine” because the annual assembly is where doctors debate policies and health issues that affect the nation.