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February 2015

February 19

God holds nothing back

February 19, 2015

Second Sunday of Lent (Year B) March 1 (Genesis 2:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Psalm 116; Romans 8:21b-35, 36; Mark 9:2-10)

Now's the time

February 19, 2015

In the 33-year life of the Charter of Rights and Freedom the federal government has never invoked the notwithstanding clause to override a court ruling. But Canada has never faced a decision quite like the Feb. 6 edict by the Supreme Court that will usher in assisted suicide and euthanasia.

New York bishops put high priority on fighting moves to allow assisted suicide

February 19, 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. - As New York lawmakers began to consider a bill to legalize physician-assisted suicide, the New York State Catholic Conference launched a new website "to offer Catholics moral clarity and guidance on the church's teachings regarding end-of-life decision-making."

Catholic justice leaders condemn Europe's growing racism, nationalism

February 19, 2015

OXFORD, England - Catholic leaders condemned "racism and xenophobia" in Europe and urged religious communities to speak out against a growing "nationalism of exclusion" of the type that preceded both world wars.

February 20

To be a Catholic man of the Church

February 20, 2015

I recently attended a men’s retreat and got three surprises. First surprise, a men’s and women’s retreat were happening at the same venue. Second, no one would be allowed to talk because it was a silent retreat. (Okay, participants were allowed to talk but only during the talks and during Mass.) The third surprise, and most important, is what I learned about masculinity and the role that men play in the Church. We also learned about what it means to be a “husband to the Church.”

Service trip helps build bonds in the Philippines

February 20, 2015

TORONTO - Adrian Durlej, 17, was handing out toys, toiletries and food to underprivileged children in the Philippines over the Christmas holidays when one child’s choice fuelled Durlej’s passion for helping others.

Pope tells Ukraine's bishops not to politicize their role as pastors

February 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis urged Ukraine's Catholic bishops to focus on the social and human tragedies unfolding in their country and avoid politicizing their role as Church leaders.

Ukrainian bishops seek to be heard over the din of rhetoric

February 20, 2015

VATICAN CITY - As the Ukrainian Catholic bishops met in a private audience with Pope Francis Feb. 20, Ukraine was marking its first Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes, commemorating those who died in the Euromaidan movement one year earlier.

February 21

Guelph’s Garden of Grace to be a place of healing

February 21, 2015

Guelph and Area Right to Life has begun a crowdfunding campaign to help build a place of healing and remembrance for parents who have lost a child in the pre-born and early stages of life.

School’s grant goes to the ‘Heart of the Community’

February 21, 2015

A Catholic school in southwestern Ontario is hoping to foster a culture of fitness within its community with the $100,000 it was awarded from the Aviva Community Fund.

Ottawa student overcoming odds with fundraising campaign

February 21, 2015

TORONTO - There are plenty of things that Jonathan Pitre may not be able to do because of Epidermolysis bullosa (EB), among them shower without the risk of his skin literally peeling off. But that hasn’t stopped the 14-year-old Catholic school student from Ottawa from raising $117,000 for DEBRA Canada.

Preserving liberal arts in a tech crazy world

February 21, 2015

Prof. David Seljak has been standing up in front of classrooms and teaching young men and women how to think about their society for approximately a generation. There’s always been an ebb and flow of students, but lately the ebb has the upper hand.

Young investors aim to make money responsibly

February 21, 2015

Dustyn Lanz’s investment goals are to “make money; make a difference.”

February 22

Name now reflects college’s Catholicity

February 22, 2015

LANGLEY, B.C. - The Catholic college affiliated with Trinity Western University has rebranded itself. Redeemer Pacific College, which teaches TWU-accredited courses from a Catholic perspective, has changed its name to Catholic Pacific College.

God is present even amid temptation

February 22, 2015

Does anyone really look forward to Lent? What is it about Lent that excites us? What aspects of the Lenten journey test us? The scriptural readings for this season are carefully chosen so as to replay salvation history before our very eyes.

Catholic colleges urged to tap into students’ faith

February 22, 2015

WASHINGTON - Catholic college presidents gathered in Washington earlier this month not only got ideas about ways to improve faculty development and fundraising efforts, they were also challenged to keep helping students embrace their faith or come to understand what it means.

Richard Corneil to succeed Fr. Rosica as Assumption principal

February 22, 2015

Richard Corneil will be taking over as new chief administrator and principal of Windsor, Ont.’s Assumption University beginning in April.

Newman Centre takes ministry to the streets

February 22, 2015

TORONTO - On a large campus like the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, it can be hard for students to feel a sense of community. So the Newman Centre’s Student Campus Ministry (SCM) team is going out to let Catholic students on campus know it is there for them.

Studying death to appreciate life

February 22, 2015

At King’s University College in London, Ont., second-year student Mark Shelvock is hoping to teach others what he’s learned already: that the key to happiness can be found in the exploration of death.

Oscar's got nothin' on us: The real best movies, family films of 2014

February 22, 2015

NEW YORK - The year just past saw the release of a number of films whose celebrated cinematic quality was not matched by moral merit.