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June 8, 2018

Synod working document calls for 'new paths' of evangelization in Amazon

Pope Francis listens to members of an indigenous group from the Amazon region during a Jan. 19 meeting at Madre de Dios stadium in Puerto Maldonado, Peru.
VATICAN – The Catholic Church must discover new ways to provide the Eucharist and pastoral support to the people of the Amazon, especially indigenous people threatened by forced displacement and exploitation, a new document said.
Published in International
June 6, 2018

Third Philippine priest shot since December

People stroll in front of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Philippines, in this 2014 file photo.
MANILA, Philippines – A Catholic priest who once served as chaplain of the Philippine National Police was wounded after a gun attack June 6 in Calamba City, about 25 miles from Manila.
Published in International
May 31, 2018

Father General Arturo Sosa attends Jesuit ordinations in Toronto

Still wearing their deacons’ stoles, Canadian Jesuits Arthur Suski and Edmund Lo are presented to Archbishop Terry Prendergast for ordination into the priesthood at St. Paul’s Basilica, Toronto, May 19.
Father General Arturo Sosa, leader of over 16,000 Jesuit priests worldwide, attended the ordinations at St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto, May 19, during his Canada visit. “This moment in the life of the Society, but even more in the life of the Church, is an opening,” he said.

Canadian Jesuits Arthur Suski and Edmund Lo were presented to Archbishop Terry Prendergast for ordination into the priesthood. The archbishop handed each of them a book of the Gospels and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are.  Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” 
Published in Canada
May 29, 2018

Teaching on male-only priesthood is definitive, cardinal-designate says

Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, arrives for a meeting with Pope Francis in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican May 11.
VATICAN – That only men can be validly ordained to the priesthood is a truth that is part of the Catholic faith and will not and cannot change, said Cardinal-designate Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Published in International
May 29, 2018

Ordained at 63, late vocation was no barrier for Fr. Botari

Fr. Victor Botari at his 2008 ordination at age 63. The native of Welland, Ont., spent much of his adult life co-ordinating aid programs before answering the call to the priesthood.

EDMONTON – Fr. Victor Botari was ordained to the priesthood late in life, but he brought a passion for social justice to all the Alberta parishes he served.

Published in Canada
May 29, 2018

Cardinal Ouellet celebrates 50 years of priesthood

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, walks in procession ahead of Pope Francis at the start of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 25.

OTTAWA – Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the highest-ranking Canadian in the Roman Curia, marked his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood May 25 at a Mass of celebration in Rome.

Published in Canada
May 16, 2018

Book review: Jesuit history is ripe for the picking

Jesuit priests hear confessions at the Martyr’s Shrine, near Midland, Ontario, Canada, circa 1955.

Conscience of a Nation: Jesuits in English Canada (1842-2016), Jesuit History Series vol. 3., edited by Jacques Monet, S.J. (Novalis, softcover, 224 pages, $34.95)

Published in Arts News
May 15, 2018

A bishop's legacy should be encouragement to follow Christ, Pope says

Pope Francis meets with bishops in Lima, Peru, Jan. 21.
VATICAN – When a bishop leaves a diocese, he should give an honest assessment of what he has done and where he has fallen short, but mostly he should encourage people to follow the Lord, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
May 13, 2018

Two new priests ordained for Archdiocese of Toronto

Over 200 priests in attendance for the ordination laid their hands on Alexander MacDonald and Raymond So, May 12, at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica.

“You are servants of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That’s who we are. That’s who the people expect their priests to be,” Cardinal Thomas Collins told his two new priests in his homily.

Published in Canada
May 9, 2018

Companions of the Cross prepare for “something big” with magazine launch

Priests from around Canada and the United States were present for this year’s Foundation Day May 4, including Bishop Scott McCaig, CC, of the Military Ordinariate of Canada, and Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, auxiliary bishop of Ottawa.

As the Companions of the Cross marked its Foundation Day May 4, General Superior Fr. Allan MacDonald said he believed God has something in new in mind for the 33-year-old priestly community.

Published in Canada
May 4, 2018

The question remains: To whom shall you go?

A recent opinion piece in Nova Scotia’s provincial newspaper chronicled the frustrations of a lifetime Catholic who decided it was time to give up. "Like other Catholics, I can relate and empathize with some of the woman’s complaints," Cambell writes.

A time to search and a time to give up. 

Published in Guest Columnists
May 4, 2018

Bishops must protect their people from danger, Pope says

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate a Mass with hundreds of priests who are missionaries of mercy in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 10.
VATICAN – A true bishop always stays close to his people, protecting them from "wolves" and from losing their way, Pope Francis said.
Published in Reflections
May 3, 2018

Bob Brehl: Cringeworthy court decision over clerical sex abuse

Bob Brehl: Cringeworthy court decision over clerical sex abuse

Last week’s record financial award to a man abused by a monstrous priest 50 years ago is cringeworthy on many levels.

Published in Robert Brehl
April 29, 2018

Peter Stockland: How long do we wait to face cold reality?

Priests lie prostrate during their ordination by Pope Francis during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican April 22.

Our small English-language parish in a borough of Montreal is hardly a hot bed of serious surprises. Recently, though, we received some rather hard news.

Published in Peter Stockland
April 23, 2018

Lay down your weapons, hatred, Mexican bishops say after another priest murdered

Father Ruben Alcantara Diaz, pastor of Our Lady of Carmen Parish in Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico, was stabbed to death in his parish April 18. He is pictured with two unidentified women in 2015 in Mexico City.
MEXICO CITY – Yet another Mexican Catholic priest has been murdered in his parish -- the second such lethal attack against clergy in the country in less than a week.
Published in International
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