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January 2020

January 8

Rise Up hits new heights in reaching out to youth

January 8, 2020

Rise Up showed no signs of slowing down in its 20th year.

Charles Lewis: Make this a year to put words into action

January 8, 2020

I am writing this column late in December, thinking of the annual ritual of making resolutions. I do not think in my life I ever followed through on a New Year’s resolution — but I have made resolutions at other times of the year that I have stuck to like glue.

CNN settles lawsuit with Covington Catholic student

January 8, 2020

WASHINGTON -- CNN reached an undisclosed settlement Jan. 7 with Nick Sandmann, a Kentucky Catholic high school student who sued the cable news outlet for defamation over its coverage of an incident that occurred after last year's March for Life.

January 9

Halifax pastoral plan on ‘pretty good’ path

January 9, 2020

A pastoral plan three years in the making which resulted in a two-thirds reduction of parishes in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth has put the archdiocese in a position to succeed amid the realities of the modern Church, said John Stevens.

Amid threats of war, world must stay hopeful, Pope Francis tells diplomats

January 9, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- Hope is the virtue needed to approach the coming year, especially when the looming threat of war surrounds a humanity scarred by violence, Pope Francis said.

Editorial: The women’s decade

January 9, 2020

It seemed fitting that Pope Francis began the new year by pointing a spotlight at women, given that integrating women into the everyday running of the Church will be a major theme of the new decade.

Readers Speak Out: January 12, 2020

January 9, 2020

Room for all Re: New Mass at 50: a face-to-face issue (Dec. 22): I find much beauty in the Latin Mass. I grew up with it. But I also find beauty in the Novus Ordo in its simplicity and its native tongue, or mix of Latin and English.

German bishop dampens hopes of shared Communion between Protestants and Catholics

January 9, 2020

ERFURT, Germany -- Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg voiced skepticism about a recent proposal by German theologians for Catholics and Protestants to reciprocally open access to Communion.

Winnipeg Free Press partners with faith communities to put religion back in the news

January 9, 2020

Whether Canada’s faith life is hidden, secret or just ignored, it represents a rich vein of news for any enterprising journalist, as far as Winnipeg Free Press columnist John Longhurst is concerned.

January 10

Malta’s Christians set welcoming tone

January 10, 2020

An island nation that is more than 90 per cent Catholic is using the story of a shipwreck to remind Christians what ecumenism is really about — kindness, welcome and the bonds of our common humanity.

The great collaborator: Sr. Sue Mosteller receives Order of Canada

January 10, 2020

Changing the world an inch at a time with nothing but a word, a prayer, a hope or an intuition isn’t the sort of thing we very often notice, let alone celebrate.

Author’s pillars could use extra support

January 10, 2020

With gratitude, generosity and mindfulness as his three foundational pillars, Fr. Darrin Gurr wants to examine a spirituality of stewardship. The result is a helpful guide to those who want to find meaning in acts of generosity, but the book lacks originality and some of its themes remain undeveloped.

Pope Francis establishes date dedicated to Bible focus

January 10, 2020

VATICAN CITY -- The newly established "Sunday of the Word of God" is an invitation to Catholics across the world to deepen their appreciation, love and faithful witness to God and his word, Pope Francis said.

French bishops approve removal of gendered terms from baptism certificates

January 10, 2020

OXFORD, England -- The French bishops' permanent council has approved a recommendation to remove gender references for parents on baptismal certificates.

Gerry Turcotte: Some timely advice that’s never too early

January 10, 2020

This new year my resolution was to be less punctual. Why? Because punctuality has always been both my obsession and my curse.

January 11

Orphans of history: The Irish refugees of The Great Famine of 1847

January 11, 2020

MONTREAL -- Unlikely as it might seem, the Irish are once again in the eye of a controversy storm, this time over the naming of a Montreal commuter rail station in historic Griffintown neighbourhood.

Peter Stockland: Neighbourly advice on changing lives

January 11, 2020

During a pre-Christmas trip to Toronto, New York Times columnist David Brooks offered a small vignette that can provide us with a new year’s resolution but, more, a spiritual shift for life.

January 12

God's Word on Sunday: Everyone is called to be a light to nations

January 12, 2020

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 19 (Year A) Isaiah 49:3, 5-6; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34 One of the most unsettling questions that we can ask of ourselves is: “Who am I, and why am I here?”

Student pulls back curtain on addiction

January 12, 2020

VANCOUVER -- When Myka Kollmann isn’t buried in textbooks at the University of British Columbia, she can often be found playing games with, running errands for, and laughing with recovering drug addicts at Luke 15 House.

Robert Kinghorn: Looking out for the holy innocents

January 12, 2020

As I write this it is the feast of the Holy Innocents (Dec. 28), the memorial day for children who endured the wrath of King Herod as he set out to ensure that the Light of the World would never be allowed to shine in the darkness of his kingdom. As it was 2,000 years ago, so it often is today.