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April 2015

April 2

Assyrian patriarch dies; was promoter of unity, served for 39 years

April 2, 2015

CHICAGO - Catholicos Dinkha IV, patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, died March 26 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A virus infection and pneumonia were cited as the cause of death. He was 79.

Canada marks first John Paul II Day

April 2, 2015

OTTAWA - Parliamentarians marked the first John Paul II Day a day early April 1, recalling the late pope’s legacy as a defender of human dignity against oppression.

At least 147 killed, hundreds rescued in Kenyan university attack that targeted Christians

April 2, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somalia's al-Shabab militants shot and killed more than 147 people, wounded dozens of others and held hundreds hostage April 2 at Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya.

Toronto marks the inaugural John Paul II Day

April 2, 2015

TORONTO - For 24 hours the Vatican flag is flying above Nathan Philips Square as the City of Toronto celebrates the first national John Paul II Day April 2.

Pope asks prisoners to pray that Christ make him a better servant

April 2, 2015

VATICAN CITY - In a moving ceremony that recalled how Jesus loved the world so deeply that He lowered Himself to serve and died for everyone's sins, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 prison inmates, plus a small toddler who lives with his incarcerated mother.

Indiana lawmakers agree to amend 'religious freedom' law

April 2, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Republican legislative leaders, under growing pressure from inside and outside the state, said April 2 that lawmakers had reached agreement to amend Indiana’s controversial “religious freedom” law to ensure it does not discriminate against gay and lesbian customers of Indiana businesses.

April 3

Safer way for youth to connect

April 3, 2015

Online classifieds have become a popular method of buying and selling, but online purchases can be risky. First, there’s the problem of not knowing the person you’re connecting with online, and whether they can be trusted.

The Pope of mercy

April 3, 2015

For the first time in months, I was feeling nervous about going to Confession. I had a sense of dread as I imagined reading my lengthy examination of conscience to my confessor. The worry of never again being able to look my priest in the eye lingered at the back of my mind as I scrambled to prepare to receive the sacrament.

Seder meal takes catechumens to faith’s roots

April 3, 2015

MARKHAM, Ont. - As they prepared for their baptism at Easter, adult catechumens at Chinese Martyrs parish got a taste of the Old Testament by participating in the Jewish ritual of the Passover Seder.

Easter parade of winners in Register art contest

April 3, 2015

Lakeisha Angelous Ginanena has always loved to draw but now he thinks it may be something to pursue seriously and take, as he says, “to the next level.”

Providence reimagines palliative care

April 3, 2015

TORONTO - If death is a part of life then we shouldn’t die alone any more than we should live in isolation. Our deaths should not be coldly institutionalized any more so than our lives. Our deaths should be as surrounded by family, love and compassion as the lives we lived.

Preparing for Easter a time of joy for Eastern Catholics

April 3, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Joy is not a word people usually associate with strict fasting and penance — unless they are Eastern-rite Catholics.

St. Michael’s College principal is moving to Northmount

April 3, 2015

TORONTO - St. Michael College School is preparing to say goodbye to principal Terry Sheridan. Sheridan, who has spent 17 of his 20 years in education at St. Michael’s, officially takes over Sept. 1 as headmaster at Toronto’s Northmount School for Boys.

3-D art depicts Christ’s light

April 3, 2015

Jed Malitz appends V2 to the name of his art gallery in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. The V2 stands for “Version 2” — both in art and in life.

The Last Supper and the ritual of family meals

April 3, 2015

During Holy Week, Catholics are called to reflect on the Last Supper, when the apostles came together like a family to break bread with Jesus for the final time. It was from that simple meal, with bread at its centre, that Christ gave mankind the Eucharist.

April 4

The political life of a Catholic priest

April 4, 2015

Richard John Neuhaus: A Life in the Public Square, by Randy Boyagoda (Image, hardcover, 480 pages, $35). Fr. Richard John Neuhaus’ life was a broad sweep in many ways. Born into a Lutheran family in the rural Ottawa Valley, he ended up living in densely populated lower Manhattan.

Kenya religious leaders urge unity in face of Garissa massacre

April 4, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - As Good Friday services began here, Christian and Muslim leaders preached unity a day after a horrific terrorist attack at Garissa University College left 147 students dead, most of them Christians.

Cinderella’s Christian symbolism

April 4, 2015

Released before Easter, Cinderella is the most surprising Hollywood movie of the year so far.

Papal preacher: Passion continues today as world ignores persecution

April 4, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Widespread indifference to the violent persecution of Christians and other communities suggests the world is full of Pontius Pilates who eagerly wash their hands of all responsibility, the papal preacher said.

April 5

Healing body, mind and spirit through art

April 5, 2015

SASKATOON - Many factors contribute to a positive healing experience at a hospital, including medical expertise and respectful and compassionate care by physicians, health care personnel, staff and volunteers. But for patients at St. Paul’s Hospital, where core values include holistic care, the process of healing the body, mind and spirit is enhanced through art.