Arts

Jesus is brought before Pilate as the crowd shouts its verdict in this scene from the 2010 production of the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany.

For the sake of Oberammergau's Passion: Every ten years, Bavarian town becomes Calvary

There are probably thousands of Passion plays put on around the world during the Easter season, but you would be hard pressed to find a more unique version than the one held in a small town in Germany’s Bavarian Alps.

Students and faculty from Holy Trinity Catholic High School with their first-place award for the Stewards of Creation video: (from left) Kevin McCue, Ben Smith, vice-principal Ron Rapps, Nicole Branchaud, principal Stacey Krol, Ashley Payette, Jim Malyon and Nolan Laframboise.

Rural Ontario high school recognized for their stewardship of creation

“The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.”
Laura Ballan-Kohn (Andrea Irwin), Fr. Gabriel Mejia (Evan Walsh) and Megan Gutierrez (Gillian Reed) witness Cardinal Matias Iglesias (Thomas O’Neill, kneeling) confronting his past in Omission.

Playwright presents the Catholic Church, world in human terms

How much truth does it take to really set us free? A young journalist, a Latin American cardinal and the ghosts of his past set out to answer this difficult question about sin and redemption on the eve of a conclave that could well see the cardinal elected pope in the new play Omission.
Film producer Pete Shilaimon said he wants people who enjoy mainstream films to also go to faith-based films and vice versa. His latest film, Forever My Girl, is in theatres Jan. 19.

Producer Pete Shilaimon captures his faith in films

If faith is meant for all people, then it is also meant for the box office.

Journey of the Three Magi to Bethlehem by Leonaert Bramer, 1640

Priest follows the trail of three wise men

When the story of Jesus’ birth is told in the same breath as the story of Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman, it’s easy for the greatest story ever told to lose its weight as historical truth.
Fr. Paul Keller vested in purple applies ash on a young man's forehead during the Ash Wednesday scene in Lady Bird.

Sermon on the screen: Priest plays himself in 'Lady Bird'

WASHINGTON – Part of a voice-over in the trailer for "Lady Bird" – playing over scenes from the movie and in between dialogue – comes from a homily delivered to Catholic high school students attending a school Mass in the beginning of the movie.
Stephen Yeun, from The Walking Dead TV series, is the voice of Boas the donkey in The Star. His best friend, Dave the Dove, is played by Keegan-Michael Key.

Nativity story takes a look at the wild side

The story of Christmas has long been a classic. 

Seeing the nativity story from the animals’ point of view … well, that’s another story altogether, though the director of animated film The Star has hopes for it becoming a classic, too. 
It was a strange and surreal experience for Patty Rivera to sign her late daughter’s book during a book launch party Oct. 27. She signed it with Rani’s name, knowing in her heart that the book was her way of making her daughter’s dream come true a year after her death.

Poetry book a bittersweet dream come true

It was always Rani Rivera’s dream to become a published poet, much like her mother Patria. What she didn’t know was that her dream would come true after her own death.
“There are a lot of wounds in this story,” said Hennessy as she brought her new book on Day, The World Will be Saved by Beauty, to the Mary Ward Centre in Toronto on Nov. 2.

Granddaughter sheds fresh light on Dorothy Day

Opening up the family vault for public scrutiny is never easy, even when your grandmother is considered a saint by many people.
Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem play a couple whose country-home serenity is upended with the arrival of another couple.

'mother!' adds new twist on God and Bible

Darren Aronofsky’s latest film mother! has certainly stirred up a storm, and no wonder. It features murder, point-blank executions, incinerations and the killing and devouring of a child.
An indoor art installation for Nuit Blanche at Toronto’s Msgr. Fraser College highlights the migrant’s journey.

Art showcases migrant journey at Nuit Blanche

From darkness into light.

For students at Msgr. Fraser College, that imagery depicts a migrant’s journey to a new land. And it was the central theme of an indoor art installation students created for Toronto’s annual Nuit Blanche all-night festival.
Soprano Josie Grossi will be performing at Toronto’s Pauline Books and Media Sept. 30.

Singer finds strength in life of St. Thérèse

Josie Grossi was 20 years old when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 1987. Her doctors didn’t give her much hope. They told her there was no known cure. There wasn’t any medication that could slow down the deterioration of her central nervous system and eventually, she would need a wheelchair.

Cartoon from Jason Bach courtesy of The Ultimate Catholic Comic Book.

Artists join forces to create Catholic humour

John Smillie was just 15 when he stumbled into the world of Catholic comics. In October 2015, he posted a drawing on his Facebook page of the child Jesus tugging on the dress of an exasperated Mother Mary, yelling “Mom, mom, mom….”

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