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April 2015

April 25

To Sr. Pacatte, it's all about the story

April 25, 2015

TORONTO - Sr. Rose Pacatte is first and foremost a storyteller. In her 47 years as a Daughter of St. Paul, she has great stories about answering her call to consecrated life, the joy she shares with her fellow sisters and the opportunities her congregation has given her.

Long-dormant oratorio reborn in Toronto

April 25, 2015

TORONTO - The first and last time the Judith oratorio was heard by an audience was in 1888 in Birmingham, England. It was written by one of Britain’s best-loved composers of the time, Hubert Parry, and was well-received by the critics of the era. But then the work fell into obscurity.

April 26

Alberta Catholic charities critical of cut to provincial tax credit

April 26, 2015

EDMONTON - Catholic charities are crying foul at the recent Alberta budget cut to the tax credit for charitable donations. Once among the highest in the country, the credit has been reduced to 12.75 per cent from 21 per cent for donations of more than $200 — meaning less incentive to give money to charity, including the Church.

Pope's Cuba visit expected to boost Church's role there

April 26, 2015

TLALNEPANTLA, Mexico - The president of the Latin American bishops' conference called Pope Francis' planned visit to Cuba an opportunity for the Church to play a larger role in a country experiencing reforms and re-embracing institutionalized religion.

Christ remains at heart of religious life

April 26, 2015

Vowed life is a mystery, but only in the Catholic sense. There’s no mystery in the vows themselves. Poverty, chastity and obedience are pretty straightforward — no money, no sex, no turning your back on the demands of the community.

Turin expecting millions of pilgrims for shroud exposition

April 26, 2015

TURIN, Italy - A thin white cloth draped over the glass-covered Shroud of Turin was pulled down and billowed to the floor, marking the official opening of the venerated icon’s exposition to the public.

April 27

Fr. Gorman chooses to leave the priesthood

April 27, 2015

TORONTO - A popular parish priest who was asked to step aside for a “period of reflection” has declined the opportunity and has decided he will leave the priesthood.

U.S. faith leaders call for religious protections ahead of gay marriage hearing

April 27, 2015

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on April 28 that could wind up legalizing gay marriage nationwide, dozens of Christian leaders have issued a call to civil authorities to preserve “the unique meaning of marriage in the law” — but also to “protect the rights of those with differing views of marriage.”

Archbishop Raymond Roussin passes away at 75

April 27, 2015

Archbishop Raymond Roussin’s life of dedication, faith, struggle and hope is over. The retired archbishop of Vancouver died in Winnipeg April 24. He was 75.

Quebec nun Mother Elisabeth Turgeon the latest Canadian to be beatified

April 27, 2015

RIMOUSKI, QUE. - A teacher from Quebec's Lower St. Lawrence region who believed that "schools were the vestibules to the Church" was beatified April 26 by Cardinal Angelo Amato, the papal legate who came from Rome to Rimouski to proclaim her Blessed.

April 28

Our world losing understanding of what it means to be human

April 28, 2015

OTTAWA - Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias told the 50th annual National Prayer Breakfast April 20 the world is growing dark and dismal as it loses an understanding of what it means to be human.

Christian exodus from Mideast weakens moderate Islam: Cardinal Rai

April 28, 2015

PARIS - The exodus of Christians from the Middle East — due to wars, conflicts, socio-economic crises and persecution — will weaken moderate Islam "which, thanks to the Islamic-Christian conviviality, is so far the vast majority of Muslims in the Middle East," said Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai.

Inclement weather, logistical issues delay aid for Nepal quake victims

April 28, 2015

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Inclement weather and logistical pressures were delaying aid to hundreds of thousands of Nepalese earthquake victims.

Sr. Dumont accepts Catholic Missions award on behalf of all missionaries

April 28, 2015

VAUGHAN, ONT. - Sr. Andrea Dumont, a missionary Sister of St. Joseph, was honoured this year with Catholic Missions In Canada's St. Joseph Award.

Fleeting peace as Baltimore pays final respects to Freddie Gray

April 28, 2015

BALTIMORE - For four hours April 27, Freddie Gray Jr. was patiently and prayerfully memorialized. That peace, however, was extremely fragile.

U.N. head looks to religions for 'moral leadership' on climate change

April 28, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Promoting sustainable development and mitigating climate change will take more than just global policies and agreements, it will also take a strong, unified stance from the world's religions, the secretary-general of the United Nations said at the Vatican.

April 29

Catholics join efforts to heal, clean up, move forward in Baltimore

April 29, 2015

BALTIMORE - As the city cleaned up after a night of riots, looting and fires following the funeral of Freddie Gray, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori said the Church's place is to pray, be a voice for peace and participate in a wider community dialogue to solve the systemic issues that led to the unrest.

Pope prays for Nepal quake victims, sends donation, urges solidarity

April 29, 2015

VATICAN CITY - Santosh Kumar Magar said he was attending the ordination of a new priest in Okhaldhunga, a remote part of eastern Nepal, when the devastating magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit April 25.

U.S. high court considers place of same-sex marriage in states that bar it

April 29, 2015

WASHINGTON - The questions raised by U.S. Supreme Court justices as they considered April 28 whether they should rule that same-sex marriage should be made legal nationwide covered a gamut of rights concerns — religious, equal protection, states' ability to enact their own laws.

Latest bid to restore historic Windsor church falls through

April 29, 2015

WINDSOR, Ont. - A $10-million bid to save Windsor’s historic Our Lady of Assumption Church has fallen through.