![Built in the 1700s, the St. Augustine Cathedral in Iba, Zambales in the Philippines continues the tradition of displaying “parols” or Filipino laterns during Advent as a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. (Photo by Shubert Ciencia) St. Augustine Cathedral](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/filipino-christmas.jpg)
Our Lady of Assumption, the archdiocese’s Filipino Catholic Mission, is home to about 7,000 Filipino Catholic families.
A homemade rosary made of love
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register![Christina Panzini shows off her homemade rosary. This Christmas, she will be making two more to give to her grandparents as gifts. (Photo by Vanessa Santilli) Christina Panzini](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/panzini3.jpg)
“I never know what to buy my grandparents and I want to give them things that are sentimental,” she said. “Something they’ll use and appreciate.”
Panzini, a third-year geography student at York University, said it’s easy to make beautiful rosaries at reasonable prices. She buys all materials at art supply stores, like Michaels, which stock all the required parts.
Maltese creativity for the nativity
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![Anthony Camilleri began creating his nativity scene for St. Paul the Apostle Church in the summer, working on it gradually until Christmas time. (Photo by Michael Swan) Anthony Camilleri](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/camilleribest.jpg)
Traditional Maltese Christmas nativity scenes, called presepju, contain all these Maltese elements and more. At Toronto’s Maltese parish, St. Paul the Apostle, the Maltese tradition is on display in a big way.
St. Joseph's Sisters will be caring for soles this Christmas
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register![Sr. Gwen Smith cares for the feet of a homeless person. (Photo courtesy of the Sisters of St. Joseph) Sr. Gwen Smith](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/sr_gwensmith.jpg)
“On Holy Thursday, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and said, ‘Do likewise,’ it’s always a privilege for us to do that. It reminds us of who we’re called to be,” said Sr. Gwen Smith, director at Mustard Seed, the Sisters’ ministry to help the homeless and individuals at risk.
Haitian relief ongoing in Dufferin-Peel
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register![haiti camp](/images/stories/international/international10/haiti0710.jpg)
Maria Masucci told The Catholic Register that the volunteer trips by a team of teachers, university students, plus a doctor and dentist from Woodbridge’s St. Peter’s parish to Haiti in April and then again in July were inspired by the Gospel of Matthew about feeding and clothing the poor, welcoming strangers and visiting prisoners. They were helping in the aftermath of the January earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people and left millions homeless.
Bruinooge believes Roxanne's Law still has some life in it
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News![Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge](/images/stories/canada/canada10/bruinooge.jpg)
“I was not too disappointed,” said Bruinooge, who chairs the Parliamentary Pro-life Caucus, after the 178-97 defeat Dec. 15 of Bill C-510.
Roxanne’s Law would make it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion. It was named for a constituent in Bruinooge's Winnipeg riding who was beaten with a hockey stick by three men and left to die in a snow bank because she refused to have an abortion. Bruinooge said he “learned a lot about Canada” in telling her story, which also attracted international interest.
Atheist ad campaign set to hit Toronto streets in new year
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic Register![The “Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence” ad campaign, run by the Centre for Inquiry, will hit Toronto streetcars in January, pending approval. While the ad, above, looks at the broader scope of topics targeted in the campaign, the ad hitting streetcars will include Allah, Big Foot, UFOs, homeopathy, Zeus, psychics and Christ. athiest poster](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/poster2.jpg)
“Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence” reads the new campaign poster set to run on TTC vehicles in Toronto. While the ads are still pending approval, they are expected to make their debut on streetcars in January, said Justin Trottier, national executive director of the Centre for Inquiry, the group behind the campaign. If all goes according to plan, Trottier said the ads will then run in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal.
“Broadening our focus from just God, we’ll now call for skepticism and rational inquiry into any conceivable extraordinary claim,” said Trottier.
Ignatieff onside with transgender bill
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News![Michael Ignatieff Michael Ignatieff](/images/stories/canada/canada10/ignatieff.jpg)
Party leaders do not generally vote for private members’ business, but Ignatieff rose to vote “Yea” for Bill C-389, which passed report stage 143-136 on Dec. 8.
“Well, you know, we’re the party of the charter,” Ignatieff told journalists afterwards.
Old City Hall creche vandalized for sixth year straight
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![Toronto Old City Hall creche vandalized for sixth year straight (photo by Michael Swan) creche vandalized](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/crechecrushed.jpg)
Passersby noticed the plexiglass window which encases the statues of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus had been smashed on Dec. 5. Suresh Dominic of Campaign Life Coalition's Catholic wing was preparing to replace the broken pane on Dec. 8.
Ashleigh Molloy follows Vanier’s path
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register![Long-time educator and expert on special needs education Ashleigh Molloy, centre, was recognized for his work with Catholic education on Nov. 29 by the Toronto Association of Parents in Catholic Education. He was joined by daughter, Lindsey, and son, Justin. (Photos courtesy of the Transformation Education Institute) Ashleigh Molloy](/images/stories/ysn/ysn10/molloy.jpg)
It is Vanier, the founder of the worldwide L’Arche movement, and his message that working with people with special needs is a blessing, not a burden, that Molloy has carried throughout his more than two decades of work as a Catholic school teacher and father of a daughter with Down Syndrome.
Catholics step up response to Iraqi Christian refugee crisis
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register![Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins addresses the crowd of more than 100 Iraqi Christians and parish refugee advocates at the Salam Club Dec. 3. To Collins’ right is Carl Hetu of CNEWA. (Photo by Michael Swan) Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins](/images/stories/toronto/toronto10/collins_hetu.jpg)
The boom in Iraqi refugee sponsorships was fueled by 40 new refugee sponsorship committees or initiatives aimed at rescuing Iraqi refugees. The Office of Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto is currently handling sponsorship files for approximately 250 refugees from around the world.