Fr. Raymond J. de Souza is the pastor of Sacred Heart of Mary parish on Wolfe Island, and chaplain at Newman House at Kingston, Ont.'s Queen's University.

Blessed Paul VI is pictured on copies of L’Osservatore Romano prior to his beatification Mass. Blessed Paul, who served as pope from 1963-1978, is most remembered for his 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae.

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: Canada took wrong side in Humanae Vitae debate

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The summer of 1968, with France undergoing a social revolution and America burning, was not a congenial time for a reaffirmation of traditional morality in face of the sexual revolution. But the courageous Blessed Paul VI did just that in his encyclical Humanae Vitae, published 50 years ago this month.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1819.

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: Ave Verum stirs the soul and memories of Rome

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A former student sent me a notice that caught my attention, for both artistic and pious reasons. The Cantata Singers of Ottawa will be at St. Joseph’s Church later this month where the entire program will consist of settings of the brief Eucharistic and Marian hymn, Ave Verum, including those of Lassus, Byrd, Mozart, Elgar, Liszt, Saint-Saëns and Poulenc. 

Writing for the April 2 issue of America Magazine, Fr. Rosica addressed Trudeau’s position on the Canada Summer Jobs “attestation.”

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: Rosica pulls back curtain on ‘a new dictatorship’

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Fr. Thomas Rosica, CEO of Salt & Light Catholic Media Foundation, published a blistering assessment of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the pages of a Jesuit magazine, identifying in practice what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger memorably called the “dictatorship of relativism.”

MP Peter Fonseca, fourth from right, with a Knights of Columbus honour guard at the Mass for the relic of St. Francis Xavier at the Mississauga parish named after the saint.

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: Catholic politicians fail to walk the walk

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In January, I had the great blessing of preaching at the Holy Mass for the relic of St. Francis Xavier in the parish in Mississauga named after him. There was an immense congregation, and in the very first pews were various political figures from the federal Parliament, provincial legislature and city hall.

More than 13,000 people are estimated to have descended on St. Francis Xavier Church in Mississauga, Ont., for the relic of the parish’s patron saint.

St. Francis Xavier relic highlights vital role of immigrants

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The visit of the relic of St. Francis Xavier to the Mississauga, Ont., parish named after him will likely be the largest Catholic event of the year in Canada. Numbers are not the most important part of any pilgrimage, but they do tell part of the story. And the 13,000-plus pilgrims that came to St. Francis Xavier parish to honour their patron is an important story about the state of the Church in Canada.
The blessing of the relic of St. Francis of Xavier at CCO's Rise Up conference during the New Year's Mass, Dec. 31, 2017.

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: St. Francis Xavier relic hits very close to home

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The relic of St. Francis Xavier is making a Canada-wide visit this month. It began with stops in Quebec City, St. John’s, Nfld., Halifax and Kingston, and visits the Toronto area before heading to the four Western provinces.
The scale of the centennial renovation at Sacred Heart of Mary on Wolfe Island is evident by the extent of scaffolding in the church.

Fr. Raymond J. De Souza: A blessing of Providence after church fire

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We are blessed on Wolfe Island with a magnificent church — more like a cathedral, visitors often say. Dedicated to our Lady under the title of the Sacred Heart of Mary, it was built in 1916-1917, and dedicated in June 1918. I had begun thinking a few years back how to mark the centennial.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Nov. 20, 2017.

The Queen and her prince keep royal traditions alive

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In a democratic age, we need to be reminded that the governing image of Christ Jesus is kingship, a biblical image of deep resonance.
Sisters of Life nuns attend CCO's Rise Up young adults conference. The Sisters of Life recently marked 10 years in Toronto, one of two 10-year anniversaries Fr. de Souza shared with organizations near and dear to him over recent weeks.

Sisters of Life and Catholic Christian Outreach celebrate decade of service

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Anniversaries of importance for the universal Church have abounded this year — 500 years since the Reformation, 100 years since Fatima, 25 years since the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For me though, two more modest anniversaries — 10 years — were celebrated this past fortnight.
The face of the Catholic Church in Canada has changed, and will continue to change, because of immigration. It is the most recent immigrants rather than traditional cultures like the French and Irish that will be filling the pews in the future.

Comment: Immigrants vital to growth of the Church in Canada

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A celebration planned by the Canadian Goan Christian Group for St. Joseph’s parish in Mississauga on Oct. 14 will highlight the role that immigrants play in keeping the Church in Canada alive and vibrant.

The memorial at Vimy Ridge, site of the epic First World War battle where it is said that Canada came of age as a nation.

Comment: Blood from Vimy Ridge, martyred apostles remind us of our covenant

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OTTAWA – On the main route travelled by the Prince of Wales from Rideau Hall toward the teepee on Parliament Hill for Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations at the beginning of July, it was notable that the banners flying from the light standards were not for Canada 150, but for the centennial of Vimy Ridge. Looked upon with biblical eyes, it was a reminder that covenants have to be ratified, to be paid for as it were, and the payment is in blood.

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