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December 2017

December 15

Priest makes documentary with survivors of Canada's residential schools

December 15, 2017

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Father Larry Lynn was wrapping up a visit to the Northwest Territories, interviewing aboriginal survivors of residential schools about their experiences, when he thought to ask his tour guide about her life.

Sisters of St. Joseph join global push to create Blue planet

December 15, 2017

Blue is the new green. At least that is the case for the Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada.

December 16

God's Word on Sunday: Good news found in God's blessings

December 16, 2017

3rd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 17 (Year B) Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; Luke 1:46-54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28 We would all welcome a bit of good news. This seems to be a very rare commodity these days, but it has probably almost always been the case.

December 18

Students build tip sheet for better mental health

December 18, 2017

Students at the Toronto Catholic School Board are firm believers that wellness starts with caring for mental health.

South Sudanese women spread plea for peace

December 18, 2017

OTTAWA – If there’s one message two women leaders from South Sudan can take back to their war-torn country, it’s that they are not alone in their fight to end gender-based violence.

Pope Francis throws pizza party for sick kids on his 81st birthday

December 18, 2017

VATICAN – Pope Francis celebrated his 81st birthday with a pizza party for sick children Sunday, reflecting on the joy of children and the importance that they are raised with the faith.

Journalists' voices are needed for the growth of a democratic society, Pope says

December 18, 2017

VATICAN – People need factual and trustworthy news that avoids sensationalism and whipping up heated reactions, Pope Francis said.

Polish Cardinal and "Rosary Priest" one step closer to sainthood

December 18, 2017

VATICAN – Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton and St. John Paul II's mentor, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski.

Aid to Church in Need helps Iraqi Christians return home

December 18, 2017

MONTREAL – Now that the military in Iraq has declared ISIS defeated, about 30,000 Christians have returned to their villages in the Nineveh Plains with help from Aid to the Church in Need.

Vatican releases new instruction on authenticating, protecting relics

December 18, 2017

VATICAN – Only relics that have been certified as authentic can be exposed for veneration by the faithful, said a new Vatican instruction.

December 19

Keep hearts open, ready to hold Christ this Christmas, Pope says

December 19, 2017

VATICAN – Countries with low birthrates suffer from that awful disease called "demographic winter," Pope Francis said in a morning homily.

German churches act as buffer for refugees with sanctuary program

December 19, 2017

BERLIN – Sitting on the bare pavement outside a Catholic church, an Afghan refugee woman, dressed in a bright floral headscarf, calls out plaintively to passersby, begging for coins.

Preparing for an ecological Christmas

December 19, 2017

Come Christmas morning in churches around the world, Christians are told once again that “In the beginning was the Word.”

Pope meets Jordan's king amid rising tensions in Jerusalem

December 19, 2017

VATICAN – Pope Francis met with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the Vatican, two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital provoked outrage in the Middle East.

Refugee brings life experience to her new job leading the Canadian Council of Refugees

December 19, 2017

The new president of the Canadian Council of Refugees knows what it’s like to be a refugee in Canada, because she’s living it right now.

December 20

Commission questions priest celibacy and seal of confession in child-abuse cases

December 20, 2017

MELBOURNE, Australia – An Australian Royal Commission has recommended that the Vatican consider lifting the seal of the confessional in child-abuse cases and allowing voluntary celibacy for priests.

Montreal sculptor keeps ancient craft of making wax figures of infant Jesus

December 20, 2017

MONTREAL – For sculptor Sylvette Chanel, Advent is the busiest time of the year. She is among the few people left who keeps alive the ancient New France craft of making and repairing wax Jesus figures for Nativity scenes.

Cardinal Law, whose legacy was marred by Boston sex abuse scandal, dies

December 20, 2017

VATICAN – Cardinal Bernard F. Law, who had been one of the United States' most powerful and respected bishops until his legacy was blemished by the devastating sexual abuse of minors by priests in his Archdiocese of Boston, died early Dec. 20 in Rome at the age of 86.

Catholic leaders offer prayers for all affected by Amtrak derailment

December 20, 2017

DUPONT, Wash. – Catholic leaders in the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, offered prayers for all affected by the Dec. 18 derailment of an Amtrak train that had just come from the Tacoma station and was headed to Portland.

Archbishop: Israelis, Palestinians must agree before Jerusalem changes

December 20, 2017

JERUSALEM – The status quo of Jerusalem should remain as is until an agreement about the holy city is reached by Palestinians and Israelis, said Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.