Catholic Register Canada News

Indigenous delgation at an audience with Pope Francis in Rome from Salt + Light's 'Walking Together' documentary.

Salt + Light doc captures spirit of Indigenous visit to Rome

By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register

Teeing up the historic Papal Visit to Canada from July 24-29, Salt and Light Media Foundation unveiled a 59-minute documentary entitled Walking Together on July 17, chronicling the landmark meetings hosted at the Vatican between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples in March and April.

A woman takes a picture of the memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School June 6, 2021.

Oblates widen access to personnel files

By Catholic Register Staff

Ahead of Pope Francis’ journey to Canada, the Oblate Fathers have retired their longstanding practice of keeping personnel files secret until 50 years after the death of an Oblate Father or Brother.

The Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will remain a place of worship while a number of St. John’s churches will end up in private hands after being sold to compensate abuse victims.

Court approves sale of St. John’s properties

By Quinton Amundson, The Catholic Register

The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has ratified the sale of 43 properties owned by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s, including 12 parish churches, with dozens more looming.

A teepee stands in the graveyard in the Cowessess First Nation near Grayson, Sask.

Reconciliation fund approves first project

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

Nine months after Canada’s Catholic bishops committed to it, the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund is up and running.

Pope Francis greets crowds from the popemobile at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, 2015.

Donors helping cover papal visit costs

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has turned to a wide variety of donors to help it with the $15-million cost for hosting Pope Francis in Canada.

Rita Means, tribal council representative with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, holds a smoking bowl during a smudge ceremony at the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina in Rome in this Oct. 18, 2019, file photo. A Canadian priest helping prepare for Pope Francis' visit to Canada said gestures such as the smudge ceremony or facing the four directions to pray show sensitivity to Indigenous culture and are not contrary to the Catholic faith.

Indigenous priest shares practices that will be part of Pope Francis' Canada trip

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

When Pope Francis travels to Canada to apologize to Indigenous communities for the way the Catholic Church joined efforts to uproot them from their traditional culture and spirituality, their traditions will be on full display.

Papal Mass tickets pulled from resale site

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

Scalpers have pounced on the potential of Pope Francis’ visit to Canada, but at least one ticket reseller has just said no.

People receive bags of relief grains at a camp for the internally displaced people in Adadle, Ethiopia, Jan. 22, 2022.

Development and Peace targeting hunger with matching fund

By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register

In a hungry world, Development and Peace is giving Canadian Catholics a chance to save lives. Using its partnership with Canadian Food Grains Bank, Canada’s Catholic development agency is taking advantage of an Ottawa matching fund to get money and the food it can buy to starving people.