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November 2013

November 21

On pilgrimage to a Benedictine abbey

November 21, 2013

Last week my husband and I took two busses, an airplane, two trains and a boat to reach a Benedictine convent on the Isle of Wight.

The good side of human nature wins

November 21, 2013

As quickly as human nature can leave you discouraged, it can turn around and uplift you.

Strains in the academy and the pew

November 21, 2013

There has always been an innate and healthy tension between theology and catechesis, between what’s happening in theology departments in universities and the church pew. Theologians and bishops are often not each other’s favourite people. And that’s understandable. Why?

In a chaotic world, treasure each day

November 21, 2013

1st Sunday of Advent (Year A) Dec. 1, (Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44) The image of beating swords and spears into ploughshares and pruning hooks is both beautiful and painful. It is beautiful in that it represents the heartfelt yearning of humanity for millennia for a time when nations no longer resort to war. The pain lies in the realization that we are ever so far from this state of harmony and peace.

Year of Faith coming to an end

November 21, 2013

NAZARETH - Archbishop Fouad Tawl, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, urged “faith and only faith” during a Mass celebrated Nov. 17 in the city of Jesus’ childhood to mark the final week of the Year of Faith.

Pope prays for peace, full religious freedom for all in Middle East

November 21, 2013

VATICAN CITY - After a two-hour private meeting with the patriarchs and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic churches, Pope Francis prayed for peace and full religious freedom throughout the Middle East.

In Central African Republic, thousands turn to bishop for protection

November 21, 2013

WASHINGTON - More than 35,000 people are living on the 40-acre diocesan compound in Bossangoa, Central African Republic, seeking protection from rebels who are targeting Christians, said the local bishop.

November 22

Union ‘intransigence’ at heart of Tory motion

November 22, 2013

OTTAWA - With the Conservative Party aiming to take a hard line with unions, a number of Catholic voices are speaking out, both pro and con.

The Triumph still screened at Cineplex

November 22, 2013

The Triumph, a popular documentary about Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia will be screened as originally scheduled at Cineplex facilities across Canada following a resolution of issues between the theatre giant and the Ave Maria Centre.

Priests are teachers too

November 22, 2013

Have you ever seen a priest and thought, “He’s a teacher?” Recently, I’ve been noticing many similarities between priests and teachers, both professionally and personality wise.

Teens clueless about love

November 22, 2013

Hands shoot up from about a third of the room as Brad Henning asks a group of teens if they have ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend tell them “I love you.” Then he asks how many have found out the feelings of love weren’t real. The same hands go up. This is how Henning begins the talk he has been delivering for the past quarter century to boys and girls about life, love and sex.

Tensions in abortion debate

November 22, 2013

OTTAWA - Documents from the Mulroney era prior to the last attempt to pass a federal law restricting abortion reveal a deep divide in the Conservative cabinet, says Canadian Press.

Combine prayer and meditation

November 22, 2013

A new book on meditation is inviting youth to take ownership of their prayer life. Guided Meditations for Young Catholics by Glynnis Hope B. Dawson is targeted at group leaders — catechists, youth ministers and teachers — to help them guide young people age 10 to 15 to a meaningful and relevant prayer life.

With document on evangelization, Pope makes real authorial debut

November 22, 2013

VATICAN CITY - With his apostolic exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel), which the Vatican has scheduled for publication Nov. 26, Pope Francis finally makes his real debut as papal author.

November 23

Francis, the defibrillator pope

November 23, 2013

TORONTO - Pope Francis was elected the Bishop of Rome eight months ago, but the honeymoon isn’t over yet. The new pope continues to invigorate the faithful and captivate the secular media, and Fr. Tom Rosica believes he knows why.

Euthanasia a future battleground

November 23, 2013

In Michael Coren’s new book, The Future of Catholicism, the award-winning Catholic Register columnist warns the Church will face “enormous pressure” on the issue of euthanasia. Here is an excerpt from his book.

Salt+Light doc introduces pre-papal Francis

November 23, 2013

When Pope Francis was still Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he would often pass by Estevina Sánchez, a beggar in the streets of Buenos Aires. Before leaving, the last thing he’d always say to her was “Pray for me. Alleluia.”

Religious argument can lose euthanasia debate

November 23, 2013

The Catholic argument against physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia need not be based on religious precepts, and if it is presented in explicitly religious terms it will probably lose, said students from the University of St. Michael’s College after watching Dr. Donald Low’s plea for assisted suicide recorded eight days before he died.

November 24

Antigonish continues sex abuse reconciliation

November 24, 2013

OTTAWA - Nova Scotia’s Antigonish diocese plans a series of public encounters to reach out to sexual abuse victims and those hurt by a former bishop’s child porn conviction.

Church beefs up presence in prison ministry

November 24, 2013

On any given day more than 160,000 Canadians over 18 are in jail, though only 38,000 of them have been convicted of a crime. Despite a decline in crime rates, the rate at which Canadians are jailed rose by five per cent between 2001 and 2011, according to Statistics Canada.