VATICAN – When a bishop leaves a diocese, he should give an honest assessment of what he has done and where he has fallen short, but mostly he should encourage people to follow the Lord, Pope Francis said.

“You are servants of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That’s who we are. That’s who the people expect their priests to be,” Cardinal Thomas Collins told his two new priests in his homily.

As the Companions of the Cross marked its Foundation Day May 4, General Superior Fr. Allan MacDonald said he believed God has something in new in mind for the 33-year-old priestly community.

A time to search and a time to give up. 

VATICAN – A true bishop always stays close to his people, protecting them from "wolves" and from losing their way, Pope Francis said.

Last week’s record financial award to a man abused by a monstrous priest 50 years ago is cringeworthy on many levels.

Our small English-language parish in a borough of Montreal is hardly a hot bed of serious surprises. Recently, though, we received some rather hard news.

MEXICO CITY – Yet another Mexican Catholic priest has been murdered in his parish -- the second such lethal attack against clergy in the country in less than a week.

Canadian Jesuit Deacon Adam Hincks was one of the first people in the world to read Pope Francis’ latest apostolic exhortation, a distinction that isn’t lost on the 36-year-old astrophysicist.

OTTAWA – The Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Quebec have discussed the ordination of married men to the priesthood, but have reached no conclusions, said the Assembly’s president.

VANCOUVER – Living and working with a tight-knit family on a remote B.C. ranch was a recipe for vocation for Ken Anderson who will be ordained a priest this year.

Mission work is not just about humanitarian aid in developing countries. There are missions that exist in our own backyard. 

Erik Sorensen got his first job at 12, shovelling snow for an apartment building in his hometown of Red Deer, Alta. In high school he worked in a grocery store stacking cans and filling up the bins of potatoes.

Of course Mario Biscardi was given prior notice that he was to receive the highest honour the Vatican bestows on any layperson. 

VATICAN – As a sign that God's mercy cannot be limited, Pope Francis has recommissioned his special army of priests charged with bringing that divine mercy to everyone.