Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register

Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register

Sheila was a reporter for The Catholic Register from 2008-2011.

A graduate of the University of Toronto's international relations program (M.A.) and Carleton University's School of Journalism (M.J.),  she has worked at The Canadian Press, CBC Ottawa, The Toronto Star, The Jordan Times and IRIN Middle East.

{mosimage} MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - A framed photo of fallen soldier Marc Diab sits in every room of the Diab family’s new home.

Almost a year after the 22-year-old trooper was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, the family is still mourning his loss but says they’re coping thanks to community support and by keeping his memory alive through the charitable foundation they started the day after his funeral.

{mosimage}TORONTO - A new Scarborough interfaith group says it plans to buy a home to help homeless people off the local streets.

This was just one of several ideas as the Scarborough Interfaith Affordable Housing Association tries to find solutions to homelessness. The group held a Jan. 23 affordable housing forum called “In From the Cold” attended by about 50 faith leaders, community activists and concerned citizens at Knox United Church.

{mosimage}AJAX, Ont. - It was a day of song and multicultural dance, along with prayers for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, as parishioners celebrated the 150th anniversary of St. Francis de Sales Church.

Long-time parishioner Rita Jatoe says the parish community is a “very loving, caring family.” Wearing a traditional West African dress, Jatoe read a prayer petition in her African dialect and cut the celebratory cake after the noon-time Mass on Jan. 24, the Feast of St. Francis de Sales.

{mosimage}TORONTO - For 21-year-old Gabriel Bacani, standing outside on a chilly Friday afternoon isn’t a big deal if it’s to stand up for life.

Bacani was joined by Josh Canning, a pastoral assistant at York University’s Catholic Chaplaincy, at a vigil for the 40 Days for Life campaign on Feb. 19. The campaign kicked off two days earlier on Ash Wednesday.

{mosimage}TORONTO - A North York Catholic charity that helps recovering addicts is being “forced into homelessness” after its landlord locked it out of its offices.

Caritas associate director Ramin Deravian told The Catholic Register charity staff and residents were shocked to find themselves locked out of Caritas’ main building at 15 Millwick Dr. on Feb. 19 over a $57,000 unpaid parking lot repavement bill. Deravian said when talks broke down, Caritas found itself locked out of the building it has called home for the past 16 years.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Due to a pastoral reassignment, the Fraternity of St. Peter will be leaving the archdiocese of Toronto on Feb. 28, but the Tridentine Mass they brought here will remain.

Fr. Howard Venette, the only priest from the fraternity based in Toronto, said he is being reassigned to a parish affiliated with the Fraternity in Sarasota, Fla.

{mosimage}THORNHILL, Ont. - For the past 25 years, before 6 a.m. every Sunday, parishioner Eva Parisi stops by St. Paschal Baylon Church’s Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Adoration Chapel to keep watch over the Eucharist.

Perpetual eucharistic adoration is an ancient tradition that’s been kept alive for the past quarter century at Catholic churches, including Thornhill’s St. Paschal Baylon.

{mosimage}TORONTO - With more than 1,700 tickets sold and 400 high school students expected to attend, this year’s Ordinandi Dinner will be the biggest in its 19-year history.

Among the 1,700 guests for the March 2 dinner will be Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins, several priests and hundreds of Catholics from across the archdiocese.

{mosimage}TORONTO - At almost $3.7 million, Catholics in the archdiocese of Toronto collectively made one of the largest donations from a North American diocese for Haiti earthquake relief.

It is the largest donation from a Canadian Catholic diocese.

{mosimage}TORONTO - Danny Boy runs after the red ball, with his golden brown tail wagging from side to side and panting with a doggy-style grin from ear to ear.

The year-old toy poodle is a resident favourite at St. Bernard’s Retirement Residence on Finch Avenue West run by the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood .

“We began to see that people, their eyes light up when they see him, especially when people are coming in the beginning because of the life they left behind,” said residence administrator Sr. Francis Bisland.