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March 2015

March 26

Christ is key to human freedom

March 26, 2015

Resurrection of the Lord — Easter Sunday — (Year B) April 5 (Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18) One thing was abundantly clear to the first followers of Jesus after the resurrection: it would not be ‘business as usual.’ The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was not intended to merely add one more religion to the world’s diverse spiritual traditions, but to herald a new stage in humanity’s spiritual evolution.

Evangelium Vitae at 20: ushering in a culture of life

March 26, 2015

Twenty years ago, on the Feast of the Annunciation 1995, St. John Paul II published one of his signature encyclicals, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). It’s important to return to the richness of that teaching, as many who oppose the Church’s pro-life witness having been making mischief with Pope Francis’ remark that Catholics should not be obsessed with abortion.

A tale of two Catholic high schools

March 26, 2015

Recent stories about two Catholic high schools are terrific examples of how government policies can sometimes produce the exact opposite effect as intended.

Cardinal O’Brien the author of his own misfortune

March 26, 2015

Edinburgh’s disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien was in the news again last week after he resigned his rights and privileges as a cardinal. The Vatican stated that “with this provision” Pope Francis “would like to manifest his pastoral solicitude to all the faithful of the Church in Scotland and to encourage them to continue with hope the path of renewal and reconciliation.”

Loyola’s victory

March 26, 2015

Much is being made — and deservedly so — of Loyola High School’s victory on behalf of religious freedom. The Jesuit-run Montreal school deserves praise for sticking it out through a seven-year court slog that has made Canada a better place for people of all religions.

Who am I on the Via Dolorosa?

March 26, 2015

This year on Palm Sunday, we listen attentively to Mark’s Passion story of Jesus’ final days and hours on Earth — a story of striking contrasts. In Mark’s jarring story, we witness the anguish of Jesus who has been totally abandoned by friends and disciples. He is resigned to His fate. He makes no response to Judas when he betrays Him, nor to Pilate during His interrogation. In Mark, Pilate makes no effort to save Him, as the Roman procurator does in the other three Gospels.

Pope's visit to Turin will highlight shroud, young people, marginalized

March 26, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis will spend two days in Turin to venerate the Shroud of Turin; meet young people, workers, juvenile detainees, immigrants and the sick; and visit with his Italian relatives from northern Italy.

Richard III, Catholic king of England, reburied at Leicester Cathedral

March 26, 2015

MANCHESTER, England - One of England's last Catholic kings was reburied three years after his skeleton was discovered in a coffin beneath a parking lot.

Montreal's Cardinal Turcotte admitted to palliative care

March 26, 2015

Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte of Montreal, one of the most popular Quebeckers alive even as the province grew more decidedly secular, has entered the last stage of his life.

March 27

U of T and Ryerson Catholic students feed the hungry

March 27, 2015

PHOTO GALLERY: YSN reporter Augustine Ng captures students preparing sandwiches before delivering them to people experiencing homelessness on the streets. This photo gallery is an example of what Digital Edition subscribers have access to. The Digital Edition features the same articles as the print edition PLUS colour photos, videos, audio clips and links. If you are not a subscriber, you can try a free subscription by going here:http://www.catholicregister.org/digitaledition The Newman Catholic Students’ Club at University of Toronto gathered in the Newman chapel for its monthly street patrol discussion, but this time they were joined by some new faces.

Reflecting on my Rome trip

March 27, 2015

PHOTO GALLERY: YSN reporter Vincent Mastromatteo shares what he saw at the Vatican when he visited last year. This gallery is an example of what Digital Edition subscribers have access to. The Digital Edition features the same articles as the print edition PLUS colour photos, videos, audio clips and links. If you are not a subscriber, you can try a free subscription by going here: http://www.catholicregister.org/digitaledition Of all the places a Catholic can be during Holy Week, few can beat Rome. The bustling capital of Italy is awash with pilgrims that week, and last year, 21 classmates and I were among them.

President, first lady to welcome Pope Francis to White House Sept. 23

March 27, 2015

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will welcome Pope Francis to the White House Sept. 23.

World Youth Day 2016 in Poland will offer 'Message of Mercy'

March 27, 2015

WARSAW, Poland - A new airport, improved road and rail links, a fleet of dream buses and "Youth Bible" are among features projected for the Catholic Church's 14th international celebration of World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, in 2016.

Pope joins homeless people for private tour of Sistine Chapel

March 27, 2015

VATICAN CITY - While enjoying a private visit to the Sistine Chapel, a group of VIP guests -- homeless people who live around the Vatican -- were surprised by a visit from Pope Francis.

March 28

Not just pretty pictures: Church art is catechetical storybook of faith

March 28, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Having so much world-famous art housed in Rome's churches and chapels has risked turning the city's sacred spaces into sightseer circuses. A hushed prayerful atmosphere for the faithful is often broken by clicking cameras and tourists exchanging guidebook details.

Immigrant bishop, builder, martyr: Telling the story of Blessed Budka

March 28, 2015

VATICAN CITY - More than a century after he first set foot in North America, the story of a little-known Canadian blessed and martyr of the Soviet regime is starting to come out of the shadows.

Pure Flix aims to bring ‘culture of Christ’ to the film industry

March 28, 2015

David A. R. White and Michael Scott fell in love with movies at Church. Both grew up as pastor’s kids (or PKs as Scott likes to call it) and had regular movie nights at their respective churches, enjoyable nights that brought the whole community together.

March 29

St. John Paul II, a pope who gave himself to the end

March 29, 2015

I once found myself in a room full of photographers forced to make a passionate defence of the Pope. It was an odd sort of defence. I was defending the Pope’s right to look frail, weak, lost and vulnerable in public.

Imitate Jesus’ humility and service, Pope says on Palm Sunday

March 29, 2015

VATICAN CITY - From modern-day martyrs to those who quietly care for the sick or elderly, Pope Francis remembered all those who “sacrifice themselves daily,” following Jesus in serving others and giving witness to the Gospel.

In vitro moms pressured to abort some fetuses

March 29, 2015

GATINEAU, QUE. - Women who achieve multiple pregnancies through in vitro fertilization are increasingly being pressured to abort all but one of the babies, a conference on life and family was told.