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December 2016

December 22

Comment: Love can bring out the best of us in new year

December 22, 2016

It’s that time of year again. For Christians, the time from Christmas day until the Baptism of the Lord is the true Christmas season. It is, however, also the time for New Year’s resolutions.

Editorial: Peace still elusive on 50th World Day of Peace

December 22, 2016

An iconic soft drink commercial in 1971 invited the world to sing in perfect harmony. But the ad was hardly original. It came three years after Pope Paul VI made a profound pitch to teach the world to live in peaceful harmony.

Sr. Sue Moran, co-founder of Out of the Cold, remembered at funeral

December 22, 2016

The woman who demanded Toronto meet its homeless citizens face-to-face and heart-to-heart has died. Sr. Sue Moran, co-founder of Out of the Cold, died of a sudden heart attack Sunday night, Dec. 19. She was 78 years old.

Review of Martin Scorsese's 'Silence'

December 22, 2016

NEW YORK – Directed and co-written (with Jay Cocks) by Martin Scorsese, Silence (Paramount) is a dramatically powerful but theologically complex work best suited to viewers who come to the multiplex prepared to engage with serious issues.

December 23

Ottawa youth make new friends at diocesan party

December 23, 2016

More than a hundred middle school and high school youth, along with their parish youth coordinators, gathered at a diocesan-wide Advent party in Ottawa on Dec. 16.

Pope donates over $8 million to Ukraine relief efforts for Christmas

December 23, 2016

VATICAN CITY – After taking up a collection earlier this year to aid families affected by the ongoing crisis in Eastern Ukraine, Pope Francis has decided to distribute an initial sum of 6 million euros (neaerly $8.5 million Cdn) to different charity projects as a Christmas gift.

J.J. Wright’s ‘O Emmanuel’ album mixes it up

December 23, 2016

ROME – A young American composer is shaking up traditional perceptions of sacred music and finding new ways to combine his love of jazz with his Christian faith.

December 24

Some Ukrainian Catholics struggle with when to celebrate Christmas

December 24, 2016

LVIV, Ukraine – Olesia Kuzo of Sacramento, California, prepares the traditional Ukrainian Christmas play called vertep. Her three daughters and children of relatives and friends will take part. Kuzo adapted and remade three different scenarios and conducted the rehearsals.

Pope Francis at Midnight Mass: Want to see God this Christmas? Be humble

December 24, 2016

VATICAN CITY – On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis noted how the coming of Jesus as an infant is paradoxical to the images of grandeur that had accompanied the prophesies on the coming of the Messiah, saying this should challenges us to go beyond the ephemeral and focus on what really counts.

December 25

On Christmas Day, Pope Francis prays for peace around the world

December 25, 2016

VATICAN CITY – In his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing Christmas Day, Pope Francis prayed that the Child Jesus, also called the Prince of Peace, would bring a real and lasting peace to everyone suffering from violence and conflict around the world.

December 27

He was a runner for the Japanese mafia. Now he's a Catholic priest

December 27, 2016

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. – Fr. Donald Calloway could give St. Augustine a run for his money, in terms of dramatic conversion stories

Mass in sign language? Over 20 Spanish priests celebrate it every week

December 27, 2016

MADRID, Spain – In the Catholic Church, the spoken language is central to the liturgy: we recite the Nicene Creed as one, we praise the Lord with the Gloria that we sing, and we bow our heads to hear the blessing we receive at the end of Mass.

Meet the priest who serves the most rural parts of Papua New Guinea

December 27, 2016

KUNDIAWA, Papua New Guinea – In the deep Melanesian jungles, a native Papua New Guinea Catholic priest walks miles through the deep thick forests. He scales the country’s steep mountainous terrain to reach his remote flock and serve in the poorest parishes every weekend.

The astonishing secret history of the Pope who fought Hitler

December 27, 2016

WASHINGTON – Pope Pius XII's secret support for the attempted overthrow of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler is the subject of a recent book that draws on wartime documents and interviews with the American intelligence agent who wrote them.

How a sketchbook led one Chinese woman to the Catholic faith

December 27, 2016

ROME, Italy – Yan Xu is an artist from the central China city of Wuhan. What she drew one day would change her life.

'I made a huge mistake' - Why one radical feminist changed her mind on abortion

December 27, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Brazilian feminist Sara Winter used to work to legalize abortion. She was one of the founders of a radical group that carries out offensive topless protests at churches.

Mary’s role in salvation focus of Bible study series

December 27, 2016

For many people, the New Year marks a new beginning. For the Catholic Church, it is also a return to the beginning of our faith.

Legalized euthanasia, refugees top list of big stories from Ottawa in 2016

December 27, 2016

OTTAWA – In Canadian politics, 2016 will be remembered as the year Canada legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Pope asks people to offer love, tears, prayers for persecuted Christians

December 27, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Despite increased persecution and attacks against Christians, the faithful must strengthen their courage and joyful desire to follow Christ no matter the cost, Pope Francis said.

Security boosted at church in Philippines after bombing targets police

December 27, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – A southern Philippines church that was yards away from a police car bombing Christmas Eve was to have tighter security for the coming New Year's weekend, said the priest who was celebrating Mass when the explosion occurred.