January 2025

Pope Francis prays for victims of New Orleans attack

Justin McLellan · January 2, 2025

Pope Francis was "deeply saddened" to learn of deaths and injuries caused by the attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, which killed 15 people.

New Orleans archbishop, others offer prayer and support for victims of 'evil' deadly New Year attack; FBI investigating as terrorism

OSV News · January 2, 2025

The archbishop of New Orleans offered prayers for victims of the attack perpetrated by a man who drove a Ford pickup truck through crowds celebrating the New Year in New Orleans' French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Jan. 1.

Holy Land Christians wish to live in peace

Amid the turmoil of war, the custos of the Holy Land, has a unique perspective on the plight of Christians in the region.

Father Patrick Briscoe · January 2, 2025

Amid the turmoil of war, the custos of the Holy Land, has a unique perspective on the plight of Christians in the region.

Human trafficking on the rise: UN report

Post-COVID has seen a 25-per-cent increase in people being trafficked worldwide

Quinton Amundson · January 2, 2025

The UNODC 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons shows the number of victims identified in 2022 and beyond is 25-per-cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Editorial

A new year for living ‘off time’

Laura Kelly Fanucci · January 2, 2025

Imagine two doors before you. One wide. One narrow. You stand on the threshold. A moment of decision. The wide door hints at busy brightness behind. But the mere presence of another door is intriguing.

Executive Director Agnes Thomas in the newsletter of Catholic Charities of the Toronto Archdiocese

Catholic Register Staff · January 2, 2025

In the newsletter of Catholic Charities of the Toronto Archdiocese, Executive Director Agnes Thomas pinpoints the divine-human connection at the heart of the consistory where Archbishop Francis Leo was made a cardinal.

A blog post Fr. Troy Nguyen, Chaplain of St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy

Catholic Register Staff · January 2, 2025

A blog post Fr. Troy Nguyen, Chaplain of St. Francis Xavier Chaplaincy in the diocese of Calgary.

The Mustard Seed

Finding leaders in the arms of the Angel

Glen Argan · January 3, 2025

The Globe and Mail interviewed business leaders about Dominic LeBlanc’s appointment as finance minister, so it set the parameters for the resulting story. These men are entitled to their opinions, but their assumption that Canada’s finance minister needs to be “one of us” shows a lack of regard for broader concerns.

Figure of Speech

St. Sylvester save us from neoannophobia

Gerry Turcotte · January 3, 2025

Perhaps most relevant at this time is that there is a well-known phobia fearing the arrival of the new year — neoannophobia — and as one would expect, a saint to counter this unease — St. Sylvester.

Make the change that brings you closer to God

The Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week, Sunday, January 5 to Saturday, January 11, 2025.

Lea Karen Kivi · January 3, 2025

The Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week, Sunday, January 5 to Saturday, January 11, 2025.

The Rings arose from Tolkein’s suffering

Cecilia Hadley · January 3, 2025

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth — the world of The Lord of the Rings and now the new animated film The War of the Rohirrim — was born, first and foremost, from Tolkien’s intense and lifelong love for language.

Catholic priest in Belarus convicted of treason, sentenced to 11 years in penal colony

OSV News · January 3, 2025

Father Henrykh Akalatovich, pastor of the Catholic parish in Valožyn, was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony in Belarus in a move that highlights the growing persecution of Catholics in the Russia-aligned country.

Muslim scholar seeks 'bridges for dialogue'

Luke Mandato · January 3, 2025

A Muslim scholar at a Catholic university is set to offer his take on how the two faiths can build "bridges for dialogue."

Order of Canada shines a light on faith

John Longhurst recognized for media contributions

Luke Mandato · January 3, 2025

John Longhurst is as one of 88 Canadians to be appointed to the Order of Canada for his contributions to the country’s religious and spiritual media.

Assumption, U.S. Basilian school forge partnership

Quinton Amundson · January 4, 2025

Assumption University in Windsor, Ont., and the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Texas, two Catholic institutes informed by Basilian tradition, have signed a historic collaborative agreement that will take immediate effect in the upcoming Winter 2025 semester.

Annual Rise Up conference emboldens youth to "take courage" in fallen world

Quinton Amundson · January 6, 2025

“Why does God care about us?” is a question that's been on Msgr. James Shea's mind lately and one he posed to more than 500 young adult missionaries attending Catholic Christian Outreach’s (CCO) annual Rise Up Conference from Dec. 29 to Jan. 1.

Editorial

Trudeau resignation might be too late for charities' sake

January 6, 2025

Fundamental political leadership demanded that Prime Minister Trudeau unequivocally declare before Christmas whether he would try to continue leading Canada or resign.

Trudeau to resign, Parliament prorogued

Quinton Amundson · January 6, 2025

A Catholic university political scientist says Justin Trudeau seems to have seen himself as the last man standing in Ottawa — until he wasn’t.

St. Peter's Holy Door sees more than half million pilgrims in two weeks

Justin McLellan · January 7, 2025

More than half a million pilgrims crossed the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the first two weeks after Pope Francis opened it.

Chatlain to succeed Gagnon as archbishop of Winnipeg

Archbishop to take reins from Gagnon in Winnipeg

Quinton Amundson · December 31, 2024

The CCCB officially announced on Dec. 30 that Archbishop Richard Gagnon, 76, will retire as bishop of Winnipeg after Pope Francis accepted his resignation request and that Chatlain, currently Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, will be his successor.