Browse › 2015 › November

November 2015

November 27

Youth continues ministry thanks to new scholarship

November 27, 2015

TORONTO - Kaylee Moynihan is a true servant of the Church. At the young age of 19, she has already spent years working in parish communities. She said that volunteering and working in youth ministry has allowed her to grow in confidence and in her faith.

Haitian earthquake a life-changer for Whitehorse girl

November 27, 2015

TORONTO - In 2010, Morgan Wienberg’s future was set: she was headed to McGill University to study nursing to specialize in pediatric surgery because she knew she wanted to work with children. But her plans were derailed when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti.

Toronto seminary rector named new bishop of Whitehorse

November 27, 2015

TORONTO - Fr. Hector Vila, rector of Toronto’s Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, has been appointed the new bishop of Whitehorse. Pope Francis announced the appointment on Nov. 27.

Pope ends Kenya visit defending rights of poor, denouncing tribalism

November 27, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya - The wealth of residents of the poorest neighbourhoods ringing big cities around the world will never be quoted on the stock exchange, even though their wealth gives life and joy to millions of people, Pope Francis said.

Ugandans give pope exuberant welcome as he urges unity

November 27, 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda - Witnessing to what is true, good and beautiful -- even if that witness is motivated by different faiths -- brings people together and strengthens a nation, Pope Francis said.

Tackle root of problem

November 27, 2015

For 12 days starting Nov. 30 several dozen world leaders, joined by 50,000 delegates and lobbyists, will meet in Paris to craft a global treaty to dramatically reduce man-made greenhouse gas emissions. This zeal for an international consensus is certainly commendable but it misses the point.

November 28

Fr. O’Brien shaped many minds in film world

November 28, 2015

There was one happy Jesuit in the background of a lot of your favourite movies, TV shows and broadcast journalism through the last 40 years. Smiling Fr. Jack O’Brien didn’t produce The Fifth Estate, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Bon Cop Bad Cop or Law and Order. He did, however, produce the minds that made those shows great.

Award-winning author inspires Catholic students

November 28, 2015

Caroline Pignat was teaching her Grade 12 writer’s craft class, doing the daily morning prompt and getting ready to start a new unit on script writing. It was like any other morning.

Mass at Sanctuary of Ugandan Martyrs: Homily

November 28, 2015

Pope Francis on Saturday morning celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the National Sanctuary of the Ugandan Martyrs at Namugongo. The Shrine commemorates the martyrdom of 22 young Catholic converts during an anti-Christian persecution that took place under Mwanga II, the king of Buganda.

Abuse victim finds healing in prayer, art

November 28, 2015

WINDSOR, ONT. - Deborah Kloos believes that healing can come not just through prayer but art.

Archaeologists: Monks made up legends about King Arthur’s burial site

November 28, 2015

CANTERBURY, England - Twelfth-century Roman Catholic monks with their eyes fixed on the equivalent of medieval cash registers were responsible for spreading the story that King Arthur and his golden-haired wife, Guinevere, were buried at Glastonbury Abbey in Somerset, one of England’s best known and most loved pilgrimage sites.

Honor your martyrs by putting faith into action, Pope tells Ugandans

November 28, 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda - As Pope Francis encouraged Ugandan Christians to draw inspiration from the 19th-century Ugandan Martyrs, he carried with him graphic images of the horrors the 45 Anglican and Catholic martyrs endured.

November 29

Catholics need to shape suicide law from within

November 29, 2015

A new ethics guide on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia recommends that family doctors who cannot find ethical common ground with patients who wish to die help those patients find another doctor.

Medical aid in dying ‘a catastrophic idea’

November 29, 2015

MONTREAL - After 30 years in palliative care medicine, Dr. Bernard Lapointe is adamant that regardless of what the law says he will never euthanize a patient. He is among thousands of law-abiding Quebec doctors who are facing some of the most difficult days of their professional careers as the province hurtles towards Dec. 10 and the legalization of euthanasia.

Pope arrives in violence-torn Central African Republic preaching peace

November 29, 2015

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Despite serious security concerns for Pope Francis and for those who would come to see him, the pope landed in Central African Republic Nov. 29 saying he came as "a pilgrim of peace."

Pope opens Holy Door at Mass in Bangui cathedral

November 29, 2015

Priests and religious, catechists and young people joined Pope Francis on Sunday evening for the celebration of Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Bangui, Central African Republic. During the ceremony, the Pope opened the Holy Door of the Cathedral for the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy. The Jubilee Year officially begins on 8 December. In his homily at the Mass the Pope spoke of the Christian vocation to love our enemies, saying it protects us "from the temptation to seek revenge and from the spiral of endless retaliation."

On eve of U.N. climate summit, Catholics join in calls for change

November 29, 2015

PARIS - Hundreds of thousands of people in at least 150 countries around the world demanded action on climate change on the eve of a U.N. conference that aimed to find agreement on greenhouse gas emissions.

Pope in Bangui: Open the doors of mercy, counter violence with love

November 29, 2015

BANGUI, Central African Republic - Put down the weapons of war and work for justice, Pope Francis urged the people of the Central African Republic.

November 30

'VatiLeaks' trial rescheduled for Dec. 7

November 30, 2015

VATICAN CITY - A Vatican trial against two Italian journalists, a Spanish monsignor and two others was postponed for one week after the court allowed one of the defendants to change lawyers.

Papal visit fills Africa with hope, joy

November 30, 2015

Flying back to Rome on Nov. 30 after a six-day “pilgrimage of peace” as an “apostle of hope,” Pope Francis said he was surprised by Africa.