In the Oct. 15 issue, Glen Argan laments the drop in priestly vocations in Canada (“Still waiting for Vatican II to bear fruit”). He believes that if the laity follow their call to be the light of the world, more vocations will be forthcoming. Vocations to the priesthood often began with the experience of altar boys. The tendency to downplay the importance of altar servers discourages vocations.

I am very disappointed in the articles in The Catholic Register on current wars. This is a religious publication purportedly supporting the thoughts of Pope Francis. Let it do so. Let us have more news about the works of our Pope and his ambassadors to Ukraine, Russia, Israel and Palestine. We do not need the chest thumping and righteous anger spewed out in the current publication. Do I have to look in The Toronto Star for news of the great works of our Pope? Should I not hear such news amidst calming, peace-calling solutions from your newspaper?

Yes, I believe you have to "Tell it like it really is." How did we get to this dreadful place in world history? Can we as Catholics do more to spread the light of Christ and His peace? Why were these young Hamas terrorists taught such hate and utter disrespect for Israelis? As Remembrance Day approaches we think of our relatives who served. How many lives are being lost in senseless wars? Wars will not solve the conflicts affecting so many countries. There must be a better way of solving our many disputes in the world.

Misericordia! I feel this word as a deep cry from my soul in response to these troubled times of unspeakable horror.

Pope Francis in addressing the National Confederation of the ‘Misericordie’ of Italy said, “This word misericordia — mercy — is a Latin word whose etymological meaning is ‘miseris cor dare,’ to ‘give the heart to the wretched,’ those in need, those who are suffering.”

The release of Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount’s 2023 report shows how food banks are the proverbial “canary in the coalmine” reflecting the state of our society’s socio-economic health.

The Toronto Star, which often seems to have sold its soul to the progressive deity Unthink, conveyed genuine wisdom in its coverage of demonstrations that snarled the city centre on Nov. 4

There was much buzz at the recent Synod on Synodality in Rome regarding the possibility of women deacons. In the New Testament, St. Paul refers to a woman named Phoebe as a “servant” or “deacon,” and “patron of many” (Romans 16:1-2), and it seems that at one time in the early Church, women had designated roles of service that no longer exist in the same form today.

Anna Farrow’s excellent article about consecrated virgins in the Nov. 5 edition was a joy to read, but there is an error. The actual name of this ecclesiastical province is the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, having been formed by a merger of the Archdiocese of Ottawa with the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall in 2020.

The Editor’s  response to John Killackey’s “Let the revolution begin” letter of Oct. 22 was cute but incomplete.

Regarding the Editor’s comment on my letter published in The Catholic Register Oct. 22 issue: