Features

Friars' Essay Contest 2023 winners

Friars' Essay Contest 2023 winners

By

Once again this year, along with our partner-sponsors at the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Christian Unity and Religious Relations with Judaism and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, The Catholic Register is pleased to announce the winners of the Friars Student Essay Writing Contest. 

Trying times in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion a year ago have been eased somewhat by worldwide Christian support for the wartorn nation.

Christian support fuels Ukraine’s survival

By

Archbishop praises international aid at one-year mark of war with Russia.

Anne and Dane MacCarthy pose at their local parish of St. Basil’s in Toronto. They are one of the many couples who will be celebrated at a Marriage Sunday Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica on Feb. 12.

Answer to marriage isn’t blowing in the wind

By

Anne and Dane MacCarthy’s 61-year marriage rooted their commitment to Catholic tradition.

M3gan, the title character from the half-horror, half-satire film of the same name.

The good, the true and the beautiful… of horror

By

Lots of people read Aquinas and ignore horror movies. Lots of people watch horror movies and ignore Aquinas. The opportunity we have is to bring these things together.

Giovanni Lanfranco’s painting of Jesus feeding Multitude as rendered by Marc Ouellette in the new colouring book The Life of Jesus.

The colour of charity

By

A colouring book of famous religious paintings shows the beauty of Christian faith both in art and charity.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re sprinkles holy water on the coffin of Pope Benedict XVI during its burial in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 5.

Late pope laid to rest in saints’ spot

By

In what looks like a continuation of pontifical legacy, Pope Benedict XVI was buried in the crypt where his Polish predecessor, St. John Paul II, was first buried. St. John XXIII also was buried there prior to his beatification.

Pope Benedict XVI listens to Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, on a flight to Portugal in this May 11, 2010, file photo. Lombardi said Pope Benedict has never attempted to hide what is true, no matter how painful recognizing reality would be.

Santo subito? Church wise to take its time

By

When the coffin containing the remains of Pope Benedict XVI was carried into St. Peter’s Square, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi was among the 3,700 priests who concelebrated the funeral Mass Jan. 5.

St. André Bessette, left, a Holy Cross Brother and founder of St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal, is depicted in a painting at St. Patrick’s Basilica in Montreal. At right, a painting portraying St. Kateri Tekakwitha is seen during a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated in honour of her at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, N.Y.

Pope Benedict canonized two Canadians

By

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 870 people and canonized 45 saints, among them two notable Canadians, St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. André Bessette. 

Bishop Bryan Bayda, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparch for Toronto and Eastern Canada, conducts the Great Blessing of Water in Montreal.

Montreal’s Great Blessing of Water calls for Ukraine peace

By

Worshippers braved the bitter wind to celebrate the Great Blessing of the Water on the eve of Theophany. But they were equally there to pray for peace in their war-torn spiritual homeland across the sea.

Pope Benedict walks with youths from Latin America and Africa during World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany.

Benedict had strong connection with youth

By

Fr. Joshua Roldan, the director of the Office of Catholic Youth at the Archdiocese of Toronto, turned 20 years old in 2005, the year the late Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.  

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, private secretary to Pope Benedict, signs a scroll known as a "rogito" to place with the body of Pope Benedict XVI in his cypress casket in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 4, 2023. In addition to containing his biography, the legal document, written in Latin, also attested to his death and burial.

Scroll in Benedict's casket briefly summarizes his life and ministry

By

Pope Benedict XVI was a renowned theologian, a "recognized authority," who left "a rich legacy of studies and research on the fundamental truths of the faith," said the official summary of his life and papacy.

Page 14 of 248