{mosimage}TORONTO - Mass rape, forced abortions, hospital bombings and war crimes have been constant themes for the Tamil community as it has protested and prayed for international intervention in the civil war in Sri Lanka.

The most serious allegation against the Sri Lankan government found on signs at every Tamil rally is genocide. Tamil protesters have compared government attacks on Tamil civilians with the genocides in Darfur and Rwanda.

{mosimage}“Ministry with Maturing Adults; 55+” has lifted the spirits of many parishioners at St. Mary’s parish in Barrie, Ont.

For the past year, Sr. Mary Rose Marrin of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Toronto has led a variety of programs in this unique ministry addressing the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of retirees and seniors. It is based on the Spiritual Gerontology and Lifelong Faith Formation course offered in St. Louis by Richard Johnson, author of Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults. Marrin has completed the course. 

“I’m very committed to it and I think it’s a need in our church,” Marrin said.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Thanks to the Sisters of St. Joseph, the elderly have a new venue for making social connections in southern Etobicoke.

The Sisters’ newest Fontbonne Ministry outreach program, Village Mosaic will welcome seniors in the community for a variety of social activities in the newly renovated 3,500-square-foot venue at 2794 Lakeshore Blvd.

“We want the seniors to help us develop programs for them rather than say ‘here we are and we’re going to do this,’ ” said Sr. Anne Marie Marrin, the director of Village Mosaic.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Dozens of Catholic high school students from across the GTA will be lending a hand this month, trying to raise money for the 2009 ShareLife campaign.

On March 25, more than 50 students from four Toronto-area schools will head underground with a simple message for rush-hour commuters on Toronto’s subway system — You can work wonders. The message conveys a simple truth: every donation makes a difference.  

{mosimage}TORONTO - Despite a reeling economy, ShareLife has raised its fund-raising goals for 2009 and is optimistic that parishioners will meet the challenge.

ShareLife, the charitable fund-raising arm of the archdiocese of Toronto, has set an overall goal of $14.3 million for this year’s campaign. This includes a parish goal of $12 million and a corporate goal of $1.625 million. Last year the organization raised a total of $14.03 million to help support its sponsored charities. It is through these agencies that ShareLife tries to maintain a commitment to providing care and outreach to members of the community who are in need.  

{mosimage}TORONTO - It’s going to be a marathon of biblical proportions.

This Lent, 365 parishioners of Toronto’s Epiphany of Our Lord Church are planning a three-day, cover-to-cover reading of the Bible, starting March 20.

The event, titled “From Genesis to Revelation: Bible Proclamation,” will start with an English reading of Genesis by pastor Fr. George Parayil, C.F.I.C. It is scheduled to close with a reading of the Book of Revelation in Italian on March 23 at 9 p.m. by Fr. Domenico Rettura, C.F.I.C.

{mosimage}OTTAWA - Groups on opposing sides of the same-sex marriage debate have joined forces to oppose the legalization of polygamy.

“We feel (polygamy) would be a very backward step for our nation,” said Institute for Canadian Values founder Charles McVety, who joined Canadian Family Action Coalition president Brian Rushfeldt and Muslim Canadian Congress president Farzana Hassan at a news conference March 3 on Parliament Hill.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Have you ever wanted to understand the Traditional Latin Mass? If so, you might consider heading out to the Newman Centre in Toronto on March 20.

An outline and brief explanation will be provided beforehand to guide the congregation as it celebrates its first Tridentine Mass in approximately 40 years.

“Given the fact that we are part of an educational community, it was felt we should at least have an opportunity for people to experience that form of liturgy, be educated in it, so they can be a bit more enlightened on its history as they read more about it, and as they might come across it in some places,” said Fr. Pat O’Dea, pastor of the Newman Centre parish.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Whether the product of a profound devotion to St. Joseph or a great excuse to break the Lenten fast, zeppole, an Italian pastry, rises in popularity every March.

Zeppole, which originated in southern Italy, are traditionally made and given out or sold on March 19 in honour of St. Joseph’s feast day. It could be compared to a French Cruller but with custard cream and sour cherries in the middle. In Canada, zeppole can be found in some parishes as Italian communities bake and sell their own to raise money and can also be found in multiple Italian bakeries across the city.

{mosimage}TORONTO - The Board of Directors of The Catholic Register is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim O’Leary to the position of Publisher and Editor of The Catholic Register, effective immediately.

O’Leary brings to the position more than 25 years experience as a writer, editor and executive in traditional and online media companies.