TORONTO – Before Pope Francis even thought of declaring a Jubilee Year of Mercy, one ship in Africa was already proclaiming this message.

TORONTO – Patricia Rehak still remembers feeling overwhelmed when she first travelled to Guatemala in 2004. A project manager, she and her husband Daniel, a professional engineer, had volunteered with the Canadian Executive Service Organization.

WASHINGTON – As the Oct. 3 feast of St. Francis of Assisi approached this year followers gathered at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land spoke of a revival taking place in the Franciscan order.

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg community of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions honoured Sr. Aileen Gleason for seven decades of a life of service to others and for changing the lives of thousands of refugees.

OTTAWA – In 1976, in preparation for his final vows to become an Oblate priest, Fr. Louis Lougen asked God for “the grace to be a missionary.”

When Sr. Mary Rowell was growing up, religious communities were everywhere. They ran schools, colleges, parish activities, hospitals and day care centres.

QUEBEC CITY – As a pilgrim, Ann Sieben had just walked 5,000 km from her hometown of Denver to Quebec City, making it just in time for the Easter triduum.

MONTREAL – Vocations to the priesthood may be lagging in North America and Europe, but the ranks of Scalabrinian priests are swelling in other parts of the world, according to Fr. Joseph Fugolo.

WINDSOR, ONT. – Sr. Helen Prejean said ministering to inmates on death row, and prisoners in general, is something that takes effort and persistence, but it is mutually beneficial to her in her call as a religious sister.

MONTREAL – When Quebec’s doctors were blindsided by their professional association and its support for assisted suicide, Dr. Catherine Ferrier knew she had to spring into action.
“We didn’t see it coming. We knew it was out there but it was on the margins. Three-quarters of the population was against medically assisted suicide. The legislation kept dying” every time a politician would introduce a motion in favour of assisted suicide, said Ferrier, who has been one of the leaders in the fight against medical aid in dying for the past seven years.