Farley Magee was the musical leader for years at the Sunday services of Inner City Pastoral Ministry (ICPM), the ecumenical group that serves the beautiful and broken people who populate downtown Edmonton.

Farley died Oct. 11, and his memorial service 17 days later packed the basement of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, the church visited by Pope Francis last year on his journey of reconciliation. Farley was a gentle, beloved soul whose difficult life can bring some understanding of those without homes.

Is it okay to call God “Mother”? Well, what does God want to be addressed as, and how do we know what God wants? It’s all in the Bible. God has various titles in the Old Testament, but God’s “final word” was revealed to us by Jesus in the Gospels. 

Pro-life people are used to euphemisms in the abortion debate. The term “pro-life” itself is often denigrated because some believe pro-lifers are only concerned about life in the womb, and not the fullness of life afterwards. In reality, “pro-life” is about as clear as any term used to discuss abortion. It’s those on the other side who mostly prefer to speak in euphemism and/or double speak. 

Two days are designated World Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians. There are many of them that just one World Day is not enough. Last Sunday, Nov. 3, and again this Sunday, Nov. 10, people have been asked to pray for the persecuted, many of whom are in prison for Christ’s sake.

I’m afraid I must disagree with Sr. Georgette Gregory about what constitutes good Catholic journalism — with emphasis on both words.

Pope Francis’ homily at the Mass for deceased cardinals and bishops.

As a Catholic newspaper committed to telling non-partisan truth in charity, the Register would never seek to interest its readers in generic badmouthing of Justin Trudeau as an “idiot” and an “imbecile. We need only look south of the border to witness what festers in, erupts from, and corrupts the body politic when such schoolyard insults become the public office invective of the day.

Text of an “urgent appeal” from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and three Catholic aid groups for the support of the people of Lebanon.

Following the lead of our august newspaper confreres at the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and possibly the Muncie Morning TidbitThe Catholic Register will not be endorsing anyone in the election race to succeed Pope Francis.

Over the summer, I wrestled my way through a nasty case of pneumonia. As a life-long asthmatic, I have lots of experience with lung infections and trouble. Into the fall, my lungs were still struggling. The acute crisis had passed, I rested, and now it was time to do the work: eat, move and sleep for my lungs. It is hard, and I am breathing easier. Spiritual health follows the same processes as physical health. Eventually, the time for spiritual work shows up for all of us.

Standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon in Arizona is an extraordinary experience.  It’s not just the stunning beauty, It’s also the silence.  You can hear the chatter of tourists behind you, but in front is a palpable silence, replete with Divine Presence.