Columnists

The story of St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio is a lesson in our relationship with nature, at once both feared and revered. In the story, Francis’ presence heals fears — the people’s and the wolf’s.

Mary Marrocco: Casting off fear for the sake of love

By Mary Marrocco

Showing a young French couple our summer youth camp, we chatted about our part of the world and theirs. André, an intense observer of human nature, lamented the lost connection with nature he sees everywhere. His greatest sorrow was not that people are distant from nature, but that they are not sad about it.

God's Word on Sunday: Unleash the power of spiritual healing

By Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 13 (Year C) 2 Kings 5:14-17; Psalm 98; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Luke 17:11-19

When pain and suffering become unbearable most people are willing to try anything.

God's Word on Sunday: Faith is our lifeline through the darkness

By Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 6 (Year C) Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; Psalm 95; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10

How long, O Lord? This cry of anguish has been uttered by many over the centuries. It conveys anger, bewilderment, disillusionment and deep distress in the face of incredible violence, insecurity and the collapse of the social and political order.

God's Word on Sunday: The well-being of people not negotiable

By Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 29 (Year C) Amos 6:1a, 4-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:11-16; Luke 16:19-31

It is said that a society or nation can be judged morally and spiritually by what it does to the weakest and most vulnerable. One could also add what it allows or tolerates being done to them.

God's Word on Sunday: Wheels of divine justice miss nothing

By Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 22 (Year C) Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

Corruption and dishonesty in the business and social realms are nothing new.

A young girl is anointed during Confirmation while her sponsor looks on.

Fr. Yaw Acheampong: Spiritual journey to Confirmation begins

By Fr. Yaw Acheampong

At the beginning of every academic year, parishes across the Archdiocese of Toronto begin the process of preparing their young parishioners to celebrate Confirmation. It is one of three “sacraments of initiation” — the others being Baptism and Eucharist — that lays the foundations of every Catholic life.

God's Word on Sunday: God is faithful even when we are not

By Fr. Scott Lewis, S.J

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 15 (Year C) Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; Psalm 51; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32

The Golden Calf is alive and well. It is a powerful cultural symbol for greed, infidelity and idolatry — even in secular settings.

Mary Marrocco: We must give our faith a chance to grow

By Mary Marrocco

Religion, an essay in a major news service declaimed recently, is a sociological phenomenon that exists as a psychological need-fulfillment. It is a never-ending series of (similar) movements that are born and die when their usefulness to social groups has passed.