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December 2021

December 5

God's Word on Sunday: Joy flows from seeking God in our midst

December 5, 2021

Third Sunday of Advent, Dec. 12 (Year C) Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Psalm 12; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 Joy is an essential and vital element in our religious faith and relationship with God. And yet it often seems to be lacking, for what is written on our faces sometimes belies the words that come from our mouths.

Peter Stockland: ‘Make us worthy of the promises of Christ’

December 5, 2021

Often when a particular friend of mine says certain things, I don’t react right away. In fact, it might require days. Or impose a prudent pause until the 12th of Never.

December 6

Pope Francis asks pardon for sins that drove Catholic, Orthodox apart

December 6, 2021

ATHENS, Greece -- Like St. John Paul II before him, Pope Francis apologized to members of the Orthodox Church of Greece for the ways Catholics over the centuries had offended them, and he told Catholic leaders that they must embrace their minority status with humility.

Pope Francis tells reporters Paris archbishop was hounded out by gossip

December 6, 2021

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO ROME -- Pope Francis told reporters he accepted the resignation of Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris because the archbishop's reputation had been destroyed, making it impossible for him to continue leading the French archdiocese.

December 7

Canadian delegation cancels Rome papal summit over Omicron concerns

December 7, 2021

Postponed, not cancelled, but still heartbreaking. The long planned encounter between Indigenous Canadians and Pope Francis in Rome is being put off while everybody learns more about the Omicron variant of COVID-19, according to a joint release from three Indigenous organizations involved in the trip and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

December 8

In early morning darkness, Pope Francis pays tribute to Immaculate Conception

December 8, 2021

ROME -- An hour before sunrise, Pope Francis set a basket of white roses at the base of a statue of the Immaculate Conception in the center of Rome, praying Mary would help all who suffer.

At Lesbos refugee camp, Pope Francis urges attack on causes of migration, not those forced to flee

December 8, 2021

MYTILENE, Greece -- Standing in a tent on the shore, Pope Francis said the Mediterranean Sea, “the cradle of so many civilizations, now looks like a mirror of death.”

World seeing ‘retreat’ from democracy: Pope Francis

December 8, 2021

ATHENS, Greece -- From Aristotle to St. Gregory Nazianzus, and from the Acropolis to the olive tree, Pope Francis drew from Greek history and culture to appeal for a faith that is lived in good works and a politics that truly seeks the common good.

Speaking Out: Youth must drive pro-life activism

December 8, 2021

Despite the federal Liberals trying to legislate an end to crisis pregnancy centres, I stood in a crowd of 100 people outside Parliament on Nov. 24 to defend them.

Teacher takes winding path to be an author

December 8, 2021

A long odyssey for Berta Milavec Byrne, beginning at the ripe age of 13, has finally resulted in the completion of her first novel.

'Superstar' resurrected for 50th anniversary

December 8, 2021

Count Fr. Paul Massel among the Canadian theatre lovers hyped for the return of Jesus Christ Superstar, now on stage in Toronto.

Sr. Helena Burns: Some prayer tips for Advent

December 8, 2021

Advent, like Lent, is a prayerful time of joyful expectation of a major feast of the Christian year.

Report identifies five European nations with increasing anti-Christian violence

December 8, 2021

MANCHESTER, England -- Catholics are facing soaring levels of discrimination in some of the most influential countries in Europe, a new report said.

December 9

$75 million promised to take bite out of hunger

December 9, 2021

It’s a hungry world and COVID has only sharpened those hunger pangs.

Editorial: Walking together

December 9, 2021

The bags were almost packed, plane reservations made, hotels booked, schedule set. Then came the news on Dec. 7 that the long-planned, much-delayed meeting between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s Indigenous communities is on hold again because of COVID concerns.

Readers Speak Out: December 12, 2021

December 9, 2021

Praise earned Re: Led by the Spirit to joyful encounter (Deacon Robert Kinghorn, Nov. 28): St. Ignatius of Loyola once said, “Hate what the world seeks and seek what it avoids.” The world avoids the poor and rejected people “on the street.” Yet they are the very ones Deacon Robert Kinghorn seeks out and helps.

Restoration at Church of the Nativity shows what cooperation can do

December 9, 2021

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- When restoration on the Church of the Nativity's wooden beams and leaking roof began in 2013 with the blessing of the three custodial churches, everyone involved was aware of the historic significance of the venture. It was the first time in 540 years that any repair work was done on the church on the site where Jesus was born.

Vatican Nativity crèche inspired by Peru's Andean region

December 9, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- The representation of Peru's diverse Indigenous communities in this year's Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square embodies the joy and hope of their faith, said Peruvian Bishop Carlos Alberto Salcedo Ojeda of Huancavelica, Peru.

Glen Argan: Dialogue the path to understanding

December 9, 2021

In a speech to an international congress in Madrid last month, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Jose Gomez, painted movements of social justice, “wokeness” and identity politics as pseudo-religions.

December 10

As rich get boosters, Africa lacks vaccines

December 10, 2021

Canada’s ban on travel from southern Africa and the failure of rich countries to effectively share COVID-19 vaccines with the rest of the world has Jesuit Fr. Charles Chilufya steaming mad.