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November 2019

November 1

Making the list ... checking it twice

November 1, 2019

Situations change, so it is important to regularly review your estate plan and keep it up to date. Here are some things to consider and questions to answer to ensure that you keep the future of yourself and your family on track

Keeping faith with The Shepherds’ Trust

November 1, 2019

Msgr. Sam Bianco still remembers the week five decades ago when he couldn’t get rid of the chills. As a seminarian at St. Basil’s Seminary in the Toronto School of Theology, he took a course called the inner-city plunge, which challenged participants to live the life of a street person for a week.

Death comes to those who forget it, Pope Francis says

November 1, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- Death is not a topic that should be avoided but a reminder that cures men and women from any illusion of being all-powerful, Pope Francis said.

Angelus: God gives grace to live holy lives

November 1, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- The saints were flesh-and-blood people whose lives included real struggles and joys, and whose holiness reminds all the baptized that they, too, are called to be saints, Pope Francis said.

Pray for the dead, gain indulgences for them, cardinal urges Catholics

November 1, 2019

VATICAN CITY -- The early November feasts of All Saints and All Souls are reminders that God's church exists both on earth and in heaven and that all the faithful, living and dead, can and should pray for each other, a top Vatican official wrote.

Election results don’t stop fight over Bill 21

November 1, 2019

OTTAWA -- A second court challenge to Quebec’s secularism law has been launched while a key court date approaches in another court fight against the province’s Bill 21.

Book fails to cast new light on Nouwen

November 1, 2019

It’s not entirely clear that Michael Higgins and Kevin Burns are all that interested in Henri Nouwen as a writer or a priest. They’ve got bigger fish to fry — namely the Roman Catholic priesthood itself.

Bishop Dorylas Moreau led Quebec diocese

November 1, 2019

Bishop Dorylas Moreau, who led the Diocese of Rouyn-Noranda in Quebec for 17 years, died Oct. 22 at the age of 72.

Chinese rules spark concern over Church

November 1, 2019

HONG KONG -- Weeks after the first anniversary of the deal between the Vatican and the People’s Republic of China on the appointment of bishops — the first formal agreement between the two countries since the 1950s — Beijing promulgated a fresh batch of regulations governing places of worship.

Your guide to understanding Wills

November 1, 2019

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to “speak” from the grave and tell your loved ones how you would like things handled after you die?

What’s in a name? As it turns out, a lot

November 1, 2019

It seems easy and straightforward. You make out your Will, you divide your assets between family, charitable causes and other beneficiaries and all is said and done — your wishes now in writing and detailed for those who survive you.

'Humanae Vitae' scholar is new vice president of JPII institute

November 1, 2019

ROME -- Msgr. Gilfredo Marengo, a theologian who led important research on the drafting of St. Paul VI's "Humanae Vitae," has been appointed vice president of Rome's Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences.

Brendan Steven: Catholics need to return to centre of political life

November 1, 2019

Canada’s 43rd federal election is over — and for many Canadians it was dismal. It was a campaign of “gotcha” moments fought in the mud and a symptom of the greater rot in Canadian politics: the continued growth of so-called “affective partisanship,” or the tribal hostility felt by partisans of one party against partisans of another.

November 2

Gifts in kind offer a ‘fair’ challenge

November 2, 2019

A gift in kind to your favourite charity is always good for a tax receipt, but arriving at the gift’s fair market value can be difficult.

Receiving gift of life … straight from the heart

November 2, 2019

St. John Paul II called organ donation a “genuine act of love.” Pope Benedict XVI is a registered organ donor and urges others to follow suit. For many people, offering this gift of life is intrinsic to their estate planning. Here is one story of how signing a donor card saved a life.

The archbishop without a home

November 2, 2019

A fresh outbreak of violence across Iraq is preventing the Chaldean Archbishop of Iraq from visiting Canada.

Mint pays tribute to Riel with coin

November 2, 2019

The Royal Canadian Mint is honouring the contributions of Louis Riel and the Métis Nation to Canadian history with a silver special edition proof dollar.

Alberta doctors fear for rights

November 2, 2019

EDMONTON -- Many Catholic doctors in Alberta are worried that they will soon be forced to provide referrals for assisted suicide, says the head of the provincial St. Luke’s Physicians’ Guild.

It’s a win-win situation with gift of insurance

November 2, 2019

Bill Olynyk often wondered how he could further support his parish, St. Mary’s in Barrie, Ont.

The reality of death, taxes … and probate

November 2, 2019

Your death may be end of life, but it’s not the end of the bills. Aside from burial costs and cleaning up the monthly household bills, the executor of the estate will usually be faced with probate fees.