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December 2013

December 16

Mandela statue fitting end to mourning period, says ex-Cabinet member

December 16, 2013

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - The unveiling of a statue of Nelson Mandela in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, was a fitting end to 10 days of mourning for the democracy icon, said Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, a South African priest who served in Mandela's Cabinet.

Ordaining 31 Legionaries, cardinal says they are part of order's reform

December 16, 2013

ROME - Ordaining 31 new priests for the Legionaries of Christ, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis told them they were not responsible for the scandals that threatened to destroy their order, but they have been part of the effort to renew and reform the order.

Pope reconfirms Cardinal Ouellet to lead bishops' congregation

December 16, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Nine months after his election, Pope Francis has reconfirmed Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, seen as one of the most powerful offices of the Roman Curia, and expanded the international membership of the congregation.

December 17

Pope celebrates birthday having breakfast, Mass with homeless men

December 17, 2013

VATICAN CITY - As part of a low-key celebration of his 77th birthday, Pope Francis had breakfast with three people who live on the streets near the Vatican. A small dog, belonging to one of the homeless men, was also on the guest list.

Poor not on government radar, Citizens for Public Justice says

December 17, 2013

OTTAWA - With the release of the House of Commons Finance Committee Dec. 10 report on income inequality, it is clear to Citizens for Public Justice that Canada's poor are not on the radar with the government.

Pope denies he's a Marxist in latest interview

December 17, 2013

VATICAN CITY - In another wide-ranging interview with an Italian journalist, Pope Francis denied he was a Marxist but said he took no offense at the label, dismissed the notion of women cardinals and reflected on Christmas as an occasion of joy, tenderness and hope.

Pope proclaims sainthood of Jesuit companion of St. Ignatius

December 17, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis issued a decree declaring one of his favorite Jesuits, Blessed Peter Faber, a saint.

December 18

Vatican names Italian as new nuncio to Canada

December 18, 2013

OTTAWA - Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi has been appointed the new apostolic nuncio to Canada, the Vatican announced today.

Online ‘pastoral conversation’ off to slow start

December 18, 2013

Updated - 12/20/13 Less than 20 per cent of Canadian dioceses are using their web sites to consult the laity in advance of next year’s extraordinary synod on the family.

December 19

Christmas prayers

December 19, 2013

Catholics have more to celebrate than usual this Christmas. For the first time in Church history the birth of Jesus will be celebrated by two legitimate popes. Yes, it has been quite a year.

A Polish Christmas, Edinburgh-style

December 19, 2013

According to British officialdom, Canadians are a minority ethnic group. If fellow expats were to take this seriously, I’d suggest we call ourselves the “invisible minority.” Not only do we look like the British majority or the other ethnic minorities, we sound like Americans. On the bus, I strain my ear for clues as to whether a loud transatlantic rider is a charmingly lively Canadian or just a noisy Yank. In truth, Edinburgh Canadians seem to be few and far between—unlike, of course, the Poles.

Divine reunion

December 19, 2013

Our children are coming home for Christmas. Oliver from Queen’s University in Kingston, Daniel from the University of Colorado and Lucy from her six months touring around New Zealand. Lizzie never left, and the dog and cats are homebodies. So, the Corens unite for the season that commemorates the birth of Christ.

Let us all adore Him in song

December 19, 2013

KINGSTON, ONT. - On Thursday evenings, we have a Mass and dinner for our students at Newman House, which is just across the street from the Queen’s University campus. At the end of the semester our evening Mass coincided with the Queen’s Bands practising on nearby Tindall Field. At least that is what we surmised as my homily was delivered with background music, recognizable as the repertoire of the marching band.

There’s nothing like Christmas traditions

December 19, 2013

Like many families, for years the Brehl Christmas centred on dad and mom corralling as many of the seven kids as possible and going to Midnight Mass at Holy Cross Church in East York.

Toronto students honour the ‘last great statesman’

December 19, 2013

TORONTO - One week after the death of Nelson Mandela, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Free The Children came together to honour the man dubbed the world’s last great statesman.

The family is our greatest gift

December 19, 2013

Holy Family (Year A) Dec. 29 (Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23) The term “family values” is tossed around rather indiscriminately, especially in the political sphere. It can mean many things, but often it is little more than a code word for extreme conservative social values or a mask for hypocrisy.

The challenge of King Herod and the wise men

December 19, 2013

The Christmas story is surely one of the greatest stories ever told. It chronicles a birth from which the world records time as before or after. Moreover, it is written in a way that has inflamed the romantic imagination for 2,000 years. This hasn’t always been for the good. Beyond spawning every kind of legend imaginable, the story of Christmas has, in the Christian imagination, too often taken on a centrality not accorded to it in the Gospels themselves. This is not surprising, given its richness.

Man seriously injured after setting self on fire in St. Peter's Square

December 19, 2013

VATICAN CITY - A 51-year-old man was severely injured after he set himself on fire in St. Peter's Square.

Assumption shifts its focus to chaplaincy

December 19, 2013

One of Canada’s oldest Catholic universities is claiming it has gained a new lease on life by selling its buildings.

Poor under government radar

December 19, 2013

OTTAWA - With the Dec. 10 release of the House of Commons Finance Committee Dec. 10 report on income inequality, Citizens for Public Justice says it is clear that Canada’s poor are not on the radar with the government.