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September 2019

September 6

Texas prison ministries bring sacraments and message of hope

September 6, 2019

SAN ANTONIO, TX. -- Crowding around a painted portrait of St. Maximilian Kolbe, the Polish friar who died in a German concentration camp during World War II, prison inmates and retreat leaders smiled for a group photo at a recent retreat.

Gerry Turcotte: Voice of the wounded is essential for healing

September 6, 2019

Recently I read a wonderful LinkedIn entry by Aron Laxton about the U.S. Navy’s efforts to study and reinforce aircraft based on planes that had been damaged from the front. Engineers studied and mapped the bullet holes that peppered the “wounded” planes and determined that additional armour needed to be added to the wingtips and to the central body of the aircraft.

Catholic organizations provide aid in Florida for Dorian victims

September 6, 2019

MIAMI -- In the wake of Hurricane Dorian's brutal blasting of the Bahamas, Catholic organizations in Florida continued to raise funds to aid victims there.

Nuns break tradition with birthday party

September 6, 2019

KOLKATA, India -- Missionaries of Charity nuns in India celebrated the birthday of their order’s founder, St. Teresa of Kolkata, three years after her canonization, breaking a Catholic convention.

September 7

Season of Creation demands action

September 7, 2019

Seventy-six-year-old great grandmother Patricia Timson is appalled at the low level of Catholic participation in this month’s Season of Creation — a liturgical observance beginning with the World Day of Prayer for Creation on Sept. 1, endorsed and promoted by Pope Francis since 2015.

Dementia advocates keep up pressure

September 7, 2019

OTTAWA -- Armed with a government commitment of $50 million to implement a National Dementia Strategy, advocates are not about to let up on efforts to keep the issue on the front burner.

Pope Francis in Madagascar: Help the poor, protect the environment

September 7, 2019

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- In Madagascar, where the destruction of the environment and the suffering of the poor are inextricably bound, Pope Francis urged government officials to promote development projects that protect nature.

Jobs funding refusals worry advocates

September 7, 2019

OTTAWA -- Christian communities remain concerned about the administration of the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) grants after it was revealed 403 groups were refused funding.

Gladu not impressed with palliative ‘Action Plan’

September 7, 2019

OTTAWA -- Health Canada’s five-year Action Plan on Palliative Care announced Aug. 20 is a “lacklustre” effort that fails to commit enough resources, says Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu.

John Milloy: Secularism can be a positive force

September 7, 2019

Is secularism good or bad? Canadians of faith are struggling with that question these days. Our increasingly secularized world seems intent on removing religion from public life.

September 8

God's Word on Sunday: God is faithful even when we are not

September 8, 2019

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 15 (Year C) Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32 The Golden Calf is alive and well. It is a powerful cultural symbol for greed, infidelity and idolatry — even in secular settings.

A new door opens to evangelization

September 8, 2019

OTTAWA -- Pierre O’Reilly has a pretty easy answer to why his long and winding life path has led to NET Canada and the chair of executive director.

CWL funding for Development and Peace remains on hold

September 8, 2019

OTTAWA -- The Catholic Women’s League (CWL) will revisit its decision to suspend funding to Development and Peace once the Canadian bishops’ audit of overseas partners is complete, says its national president.

Pope Francis to young people: Change the world

September 8, 2019

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- Following Jesus means growing in friendship with him and with one's brothers and sisters, never being content with the way things are, but not just griping about them either, Pope Francis told young people.

Solidarity, not poverty, is God's plan, Pope Francis says

September 8, 2019

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- God's plan for humanity involves community, mutual support, sharing and caring for each other and for the earth, Pope Francis said.

Refugee advocates heave sigh of relief

September 8, 2019

Federal funding that will reverse Ontario government cuts to legal aid for asylum seekers is getting praise from Catholic refugee advocates.

Ministry’s barbecue feeds the spirit as well as body

September 8, 2019

EDMONTON -- For Keith Whitford, the Inner City Pastoral Ministry provides more than just a free meal. It has been a vital source of comfort and guidance through his many struggles.

Fr. Yaw Acheampong: Spiritual journey to Confirmation begins

September 8, 2019

At the beginning of every academic year, parishes across the Archdiocese of Toronto begin the process of preparing their young parishioners to celebrate Confirmation. It is one of three “sacraments of initiation” — the others being Baptism and Eucharist — that lays the foundations of every Catholic life.

Pope Francis prays for Madagascar's working poor

September 8, 2019

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- Standing where the phrase "by the sweat of their brow" is a daily reality for hundreds of Madagascar's poor, Pope Francis prayed for those whose daily bread is earned by hard physical labor and for the unemployed longing to earn a living for their families.

Text of pope's prayer for workers at Madagascar stone quarry

September 8, 2019

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- Here is the Vatican's English translation of Pope Francis' "Prayer for Workers," which he prayed Sept. 8 at the Mahatazana stone quarry: