October 2026

Church on the Street

The street demands a patient ministry

Dcn. Robert Kinghorn · October 1, 2026

The Church on the Street is by necessity a patient ministry, one where trust must be earned from those who have been hurt in life.

St. Kateri sculpture bridges divide

Luke Mandato · October 1, 2026

A unique, gifted sculpture of St. Kateri Tekakwitha by artist Timothy Schmalz was officially unveiled and blessed Sept. 30 at Guelph's Holy Rosary Parish.

New nuncio appeals for unity, cautions German bishops against diverging from Rome

Junno Arocho Esteves · October 1, 2026

The new apostolic nuncio to Germany, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, warned the country’s bishops against charting a separate course for the local Church, reminding them that Catholic unity relies on fidelity to the papacy and the Eucharist.

New campus, same mission at Northmount

School opens modern learning spaces

Luke Mandato · October 1, 2026

Northmount School has unveiled a transformed campus after an extensive, multi-year, $16-million renovation and expansion project.

A Christian triumph

October 2, 2026

If, as is said, the arc of history bends toward justice, then Pope Leo’s just concluded four-day visit to France can only be described as an arc de triomphe.

Examining AI, and concerns, through a Christian lens

Church council sees concerns in fast-moving technology

Michael Swan · October 2, 2026

This fall some Catholics along with other Christians will get together in small reading groups across Canada to think their way together through Pope Leo XIV’s landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas.

Christianity has a place in addiction recovery

Terry O'Neill · October 2, 2026

Every 24 hours, at least 15 Canadians die from a drug overdose.

Culture à la Carte

Human agency paramount in AI-driven world

Sr. Helena Burns · October 2, 2026

President Trump just addressed the United Nations and announced changing the name of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Super Intelligence (SI), because calling it artificial made it sound “fake.”

African bishops express solidarity with Zambia's arrested Archbishop Banda, local Catholics amid unrest

Fredrick Nzwili · October 2, 2026

Catholic bishops in Africa expressed solidarity and closeness to Archbishop Alick Banda of Lusaka, Zambia, and the Zambian bishops conference, following the prelate's arrest over a car gift.

Hegseth announces 'Office of Religious Affairs' in speech on Pentagon policy

Kate Scanlon · October 2, 2026

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new "Office of Religious Affairs" during a speech Sept. 30 on Pentagon policy.

Authentic Catholic retreat targets young adults

Luke Mandato · October 3, 2026

Young Catholics preparing to leave high school for university or the work force will gather from Oct. 16 to 18 at Orangeville's Valley of the Mother of God Retreat Centre as part of "Dead Man Walking".

The Mustard Seed

Thinking twice about St. Francis’ life

Glen Argan · October 3, 2026

St. Francis understood that following Jesus means relinquishing any claim to power, status and wealth. Such vulnerability is the only sure path to peace and nonviolence.

Franciscans to mark his Transitus — so what is it?

Kimberley Heatherington · October 3, 2026

Each year on Oct. 3, the followers of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) mark the globally popular saint’s own journey from life to death, his “Transitus” as it is known in Latin, through special community commemorations.

800 years on, Francis still points the way

'Little poor man' of Assisi has left a legacy that has endured eight centuries

Luke Mandato · October 3, 2026

On Oct. 3, the Catholic world solemnly marks the official 800-year anniversary of the death of St. Francis, the “little poor man” from Assisi.

Diocese of Trois-Rivières to get CCCB president as new bishop

Paul Schratz · October 5, 2026

The Diocese of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, will have a new bishop, and it is the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).

Alberta bishops urge charity and respect amid referendum debate

Paul Schratz · October 5, 2026

Alberta’s Catholic bishops are urging Catholics to keep referendum disagreements from becoming occasions to demean one another or question another person’s faith, saying their responsibilities to each other will endure whatever the outcome.

Saskatchewan congregation mourns church destroyed by fire

Quinton Amundson · October 5, 2026

The All Saints Orthodox Church congregation in Meadow Lake, Sask., lamenting the fiery destruction of its beloved house of worship on Oct. 1, is receiving compassion and support from the Diocese of Prince Albert.

St. Augustine's Seminary professor seeks return to the Rosary

Luke Mandato · October 5, 2026

October is the month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, yet for many Catholics the annual dedication passes almost unnoticed. A one-time defining practice of the faith, the Rosary now seemingly struggles for attention.

Calgary Word conference calls for community-facing Church

Quinton Amundson · October 5, 2026

Archbishop Paul-André Durocher said evangelization is accomplished by a Church willing to go out into the world and meet the people where they are, akin to how Jesus encountered His disciples on the road to Emmaus.

New bill looks to penalize mischief against worship spaces

Quinton Amundson · October 6, 2026

The Conservative-tabled Bill C-255 to increase penalties for mischief against religious property did not receive support from Liberal or Bloc Québécois MPs during the first of two scheduled hours of debate, held Oct. 5.