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December 2021

December 20

Caritas appeals for aid after typhoon claims over 200 lives in Philippines

December 20, 2021

MANILA, Philippines -- Super Typhoon Rai has claimed more than 200 lives since making landfall in the Visayas and Mindanao region, Philippine authorities said.

December 21

New health measures for Mass vary across Canada

December 21, 2021

As of Dec. 20, anyone entering a place of worship in Quebec will be required to show their vaccination status.

December 22

New publisher for The Catholic Register

December 22, 2021

A familiar face to Catholic Register readers is about to take on a new role with the paper.

Bishops aim for spring meeting with Pope Francis

December 22, 2021

Rescheduling the Indigenous delegations’ visits with Pope Francis in Rome in the midst of the Omicron-fuelled global COVID resurgence is not going to be easy, but the parties are committed to moving forward.

Pope’s World Day of Peace message stresses dialogue, education

December 22, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- Governments must pour more money into education and drastically reduce military spending for there to be genuine progress and peace in the world, Pope Francis said in his annual message for the World Day of Peace Jan. 1.

Speaking Out: I hope for a better tomorrow

December 22, 2021

As we bask in the Christmas season and the days leading up to 2022, perhaps now is the time to reflect on this past year.

Rise Up conference a pandemic casualty

December 22, 2021

Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) had designs to begin 2022 with a bang with its ambitious national conference Rise Up: UNLEASHED on Jan. 6-8.

Sr. Helena Burns: So, what was your Epiphany?

December 22, 2021

The Christmas season has so many wonderful feast days along the way, not least of which is Epiphany, the commemoration of the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child.

2021: A Church in crisis confronts its sins

December 22, 2021

This entire year turned on three unexpected words — “ground-penetrating radar.”

December 23

Ottawa finally showing signs of concern over Bill 21

December 23, 2021

OTTAWA -- Federal politicians, two years after it was first passed by the Quebec government, are now raising concerns about Bill 21.

Fr. Raymond de Souza: A great blessing in a historic church

December 23, 2021

The topic of residential schools dominated this column in 2021, and too often that story is written as if Catholics and Indigenous peoples are two distinct parties, perhaps opposing or even hostile.

Editorial: Our hopes for 2022

December 23, 2021

It is with some relief that we can soon put 2021 in the proverbial rear-view mirror.

Montreal Catholics mobilize prayer vigil for religious freedom in wake of COVID restrictions

December 23, 2021

Evelyn Campbell was shocked when the Quebec government suddenly mandated that all places of worship impose a vaccine passport system as of Dec. 20.

Readers Speak Out: December 26, 2021

December 23, 2021

Another story Re: Catholic media must do better on Indigenous file (Dec. 2): Fr. Raymond de Souza argues convincingly that relying on mainstream media for accurate reporting “is a mistake.” Last May it described the discovery of Indigenous children’s remains at the Kamloops Residential School as a “mass grave.” The terminology was provocative and misleading, suggesting murders with bodies thrown into mass graves.

Pope Francis names Cardinal Czerny interim head of dicastery

December 23, 2021

VATICAN CITY -- Thanking Cardinal Peter Turkson for his five years of service as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Pope Francis has decided to name new leadership for the office, said a Vatican communique.

Bishops look to launch fundraising plans for reconciliation in new year

December 23, 2021

A national framework for a five-year, $30 million fundraising campaign in aid of healing and reconciliation with residential school survivors and their communities is coming in the new year, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops vice president William McGrattan has told The Catholic Register.

Good Shepherd goes takeout again for annual Christmas feast

December 23, 2021

Demand for comfort and joy is up all over, and despite COVID the Good Shepherd Centre in Hamilton is determined to deliver.

December 24

King’s program calls for reconciliation

December 24, 2021

King’s University College at Western University marked the sixth anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s final report with a participatory reading of the 94 Calls to Action Dec. 15.

Mary Marrocco: How long O Lord?

December 24, 2021

This New Year, perhaps more than most, stirs up awareness of time and its strange ways. Through the unsettling days of 2020 and 2021, some have found the time long and heavy, waiting for the lonely burdensome time to pass so they can regain their lives. For others, time has come to an end as effects of the coronavirus or other painful happenings claimed their lives. Still others have found time opening up for them, enabling them to do or explore new things. Some have spent more time in prayer.

Pope Francis at Christmas: 'God comes into the world in littleness'

December 24, 2021

The celebration of Christmas serves as a reminder that God did not reveal his greatness in a grand spectacle, but rather in the "littleness" of a poor, vulnerable child born in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis said.