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January 2016

January 21

Shrines are welcoming homes of forgiveness, mercy, Pope says

January 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Shrines are homes of forgiveness that allow pilgrims to experience firsthand God's love and mercy, Pope Francis said.

Forever being ahead of our souls

January 21, 2016

Sometimes nothing is as helpful as a good metaphor. In his book The God Instinct, Tom Stella shares this story: A number of men who made their living as porters were hired one day to carry a huge load of supplies for a group on safari. Their loads were unusually heavy and the trek through the jungle was on a rough path. Several days into the journey they stopped, unshouldered their loads and refused to go on. No pleas, bribes or threats worked in terms of persuading them to go on. Asked why they couldn’t continue, they answered: “We can’t go on; we have to wait for our souls to catch up with us.”

Foot-washing ritual not limited to men, Vatican says in new decree

January 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Following a request by Pope Francis, the Vatican issued a decree specifying that the Holy Thursday foot-washing ritual can include "all members of the people of God," including women -- a practice already observed by the Pope and many priests around the world.

Still fighting the death penalty, Sr. Prejean gets Pope’s blessing

January 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Two decades after her anti-death penalty work was transformed into the Oscar-winning movie Dead Man Walking, Sr. Helen Prejean’s campaign continues with the backing of Pope Francis.

January 22

The gift of friends in faith

January 22, 2016

With the start of a new year, what has become increasingly evident to me is how fortunate I am to have strong, faith-filled female friends.

An examination of your social media conscience

January 22, 2016

Marshall McLuhan, a communications philosopher and former professor at the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto, once stated that “we make our tools, and then our tools make us.”

Collins calls for leadership to end homelessness

January 22, 2016

TORONTO - The 5,000 people in Toronto who will sleep outside, in church basements or in shelters on any given night now have their own lobbyist making their case at provincial pre-budget hearings.

Pope: Speak truth with love, denounce evil without alienating sinners

January 22, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Use the power of communication to build bridges and heal wounds, not generate hatred or misunderstanding, Pope Francis said.

Celebrating Toronto’s migrant tradition

January 22, 2016

On their 37th day in Canada, the Peters family from Liberia found themselves surrounded by Goans, carrying gifts of bread and wine up to an Irish-Canadian cardinal.

The Oblates at 200

January 22, 2016

A HISTORY OF SERVICE

Muslim leaders plan summit on protecting non-Muslims in their midst

January 22, 2016

Hundreds of Muslim scholars will meet in Morocco next week to reassert the rights of non-Muslims living among them as Christians and other religious minorities flee extremism across the Middle East for safety and freedom elsewhere.

Pope advances causes of Argentinian 'gaucho priest,' Japanese samurai

January 22, 2016

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of 10 men and women, including the Argentinian "gaucho priest," Blessed Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero, known for his ministry to the sick and the dying.

January 23

The Revenant and higher justice

January 23, 2016

Alejandro Iñárritu’s new film The Revenant is one of the most talked about movies, and for good reason. The opening 20 minutes, which feature a frighteningly realistic Indian attack and a horrifically vivid mauling by a grizzly bear, are absolutely compelling viewing. And the remainder of the film is so involving that this viewer at least felt physically sick as he followed the sufferings of the main character.

The Oblates: God’s servants for 200 years

January 23, 2016

Two hundred years ago the French aristocrat Eugene de Mazenod gathered a few priests into a kind of evangelical team in southeastern France. They went into neglected, impoverished parishes preaching in the local dialect of Provençal, not French, sharing their lives and the Gospel with poor people who had been left behind by modern France.

Eugene de Mazenod: a shepherd of his people

January 23, 2016

St. Eugene de Mazenod was born in 1782 in Aix-en-Provence, France. His father, Charles Antoine, was a member of the French nobility and the President of the Aix parliament. His mother, Marie-Rose Joannis, was affiliated with the expeditiously evolving bourgeois merchants.

January 24

An inspiration so powerful it has endured for 200 years

January 24, 2016

On Jan. 25, 1816, six priests came together in Aix en Provence, France, drawn by an inspiration so powerful they were prepared to dedicate their lives to it. They were roused into action by the situation of the poor people around them, whose lives were changed by the events of the French Revolution.

Oblates founded western dioceses

January 24, 2016

EDMONTON The Oblates of Mary Immaculate have deep roots in Edmonton and in Canada as a whole. In fact, the missionaries were paramount in establishing the archdiocese and other dioceses across the West.

Oblates share the Gospel with those poor in spirit

January 24, 2016

Growing up in a parish with a lively and abundant presence of Oblate priests, one could see the zeal, excitement and, most importantly, the joy the priests shared. I assume from this, not surprisingly, a fascination was born which quickly turned into a desire and yearning to be and act like them.

My dive into faith

January 24, 2016

Last summer I was privileged to travel on pilgrimage to France with a young adults group. The 2 1/2- week trip (called “In the footsteps of St. Eugene de Mazenod”) under Fr. Marcin Serwin OMI, served to bring to light the full breadth of the foundation of who and what the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are.

January 25

Homily for Christian Unity Vespers

January 25, 2016

Pope Francis delivered the homily at the closing Vespers of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Basilica of St. Paul "Outside the Walls" in Rome on Monday evening. Below, please find Vatican Radio's full English translation of the Holy Father's prepared remarks.