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June 2016

June 17

Parish reaches out to Nebraska family after deadly alligator attack

June 17, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. – Members of St. Patrick parish in Elkhorn prayed June 16 for Lane Graves, a two-year-old boy killed in an alligator attack in Florida, his father and mother, Matthew and Melissa, and sister, four-year-old Ella, during a regularly scheduled morning Mass and special rosary.

A year of living 'Laudato Si'

June 17, 2016

“Is it unusual for the Pope to make a comment on the environment?”

The deep things are under the surface

June 17, 2016

The spirituality writer Tom Stella tells a story about three monks at prayer in their monastery chapel. The first monk imagines himself being carried up to Heaven by the angels. The second monk imagines himself already in Heaven, chanting God’s praises with the angels and saints. The third monk cannot focus on any holy thoughts but can only think about the great hamburger he had eaten just before coming to chapel. That night, when the devil was filing his report for the day, he wrote: “Today I tried to tempt three monks, but I only succeeded with two of them.”

Pope appoints Fr. Kasun new auxiliary bishop for Toronto

June 17, 2016

TORONTO – A Basilian priest who is no stranger to the city of Toronto will be joining the archdiocese as its new auxiliary bishop.

The committed will bring change, healing

June 17, 2016

Thirteenth Sunday Ordinary Time (Year C) June 26 (1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21; Psalm 16; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62) Many personnel managers would envy Elijah’s situation. God not only told him when it was time to train a successor, but also whom he should choose. Finding Elisha, the designated successor, Elijah threw his mantle over him in a traditional prophetic gesture of selection and empowerment. Elisha’s response was immediate and positive — he was willing, but needed just enough time to say goodbye to his parents. Elijah was rather nonchalant, and indicated that Elisha was a free man and could do as he liked. No one was forcing him to follow in the prophet’s footsteps. Elisha slaughtered the oxen and threw a farewell feast for his family and the people, and then he followed Elijah.

Professor, respected communicator becomes Montreal's new auxiliary bishop

June 17, 2016

MONTREAL – Noting the city's passion for hockey and their beloved team, the Canadiens, the new auxiliary bishop of the Montreal Archdiocese said people of faith work to follow Jesus and bring God to the world during his episcopal ordination.

Francis builds on ecumenical progress with Armenians

June 17, 2016

TORONTO – In a country that is more than 90-per-cent Orthodox, the biggest event in Armenia this year will be a three-day visit by Pope Francis.

Senate falls in line with MPs on Bill C-14

June 17, 2016

OTTAWA – The Senate has voted to accept more restrictive access to assisted suicide.

Orlando shooting victim described as compassionate young man

June 17, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. – As a youth minister, Michelle Murphy has established strong bonds with many of her youths, especially the ones she met during her first year working at All Souls parish in Sanford. She lovingly refers to them as her "cornerstone youths."

June 18

Toronto Archdiocese’s communications manager to compete in gruelling European race

June 18, 2016

TORONTO – Bill Steinburg will begin his summer attempting to best both man and nature on Mont Blanc.

Muslim attitudes about LGBT are complex, and far from universally anti-gay

June 18, 2016

As one of a tiny number of openly gay imams in the world, Daayiee Abdullah has felt the sting of rebuke from fellow Muslims. No good Muslim can be gay, they say. And traditional schools of Islamic law consider homosexuality a grave sin.

Hard knocks give Rolheiser appreciation of life

June 18, 2016

TORONTO – Fr. Ron Rolheiser’s next book will be about death. Five years ago the popular newspaper columnist, book author, theologian and university administrator was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was caught early. A six-month round of chemotherapy seemed to knock it out. But two years ago it came back. Now there are chemo pills every day and check-ups every six months.

Why some evangelicals changed their minds about evolution

June 18, 2016

Creationist Christian tourists may soon flock to the Ark Encounter, a literal vision of Noah’s story in Genesis come to life in July as a theology-packed tourist attraction in Williamstown, Ky.

Canadians are invited to advise Ottawa on aid spending

June 18, 2016

With the amount of money Canada spends on foreign aid in decline, Canadians have been given a rare opportunity to let the federal government know what they think about its belt tightening.

June 19

Alfonse Borysewicz’s lonely struggle gives Catholic art a modern face

June 19, 2016

Whenever Alfonse Borysewicz addresses a fresh canvas, a daunting set of issues stares back at him.

More men putting child-rearing ahead of careers, a change from generations past

June 19, 2016

You might get a sense of how different when you notice a couple of dads coming out of Starbucks in comfortable sweats, pushing strollers on a weekday afternoon. Pictures on Facebook of new fathers standing in the delivery room holding their newborns might also seem a little different. Men taking paternity leave from the office — another change.

Restoration begins on Jesus’ tomb

June 19, 2016

JERUSALEM – For the first time in 200 years, experts have begun a restoration of the Edicule of the Tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was laid to rest after His crucifixion.

Child missionary group uses baseball to connect Cubans, Americans

June 19, 2016

WASHINGTON – It was the end of a long day of baseball under the late May sun in Santa Clara, Cuba, and Marilyn Santos found an unpainted, dented, wooden baseball bat among the shiny blue and black ones she had brought from the United States.

June 20

Look in the mirror before judging others

June 20, 2016

Before judging others we should look first in the mirror to see how we, ourselves, appear. That’s what Pope Francis said at Monday morning’s Mass at the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican. In his last Mass with a Homily there ahead of the summer break, the pontiff pointed out that what distinguishes God's judgment from ours is not “omnipotence” but “mercy.”

Pope offers prayers as pan-Orthodox council opens on Crete

June 20, 2016

VATICAN CITY – As the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church opened with only 10 of the 14 Orthodox churches represented, Pope Francis offered his prayers.