Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

Record crowd attends 2010 Ordinandi Dinner in Toronto

March 5, 2010

In 1990, 50 people gathered to celebrate the upcoming ordinations of a small group of soon-to-be priests. Twenty years later, a record 1,760 attended this still-growing tradition known as the Ordinandi Dinner. Held in Toronto’s Pearson Convention Centre on Mar. 1, and hosted by Serra International, an organization promoting religious vocations, the Ordinandi Dinner celebrated its 20th anniversary by welcoming into religious life 10 men from St. Augustine’s and Redemptoris Mater Seminaries.

Br. André canonization a wake-up call for Quebec

March 5, 2010

The canonization of Br. André next October should serve as a wake-up call for the Catholic Church in Quebec, said Fr. Alain Faubert, assistant to the vicar general of the Montreal archdiocese. “I hope we would seize the moment and re-propose the faith to our society — not just to those who attend our Sunday liturgies and our other activities, but also to the larger public of all origins and spiritual traditions,” Faubert said.

Papal encyclical fuses love and justice

March 5, 2010

OTTAWA - The Pope’s latest social justice encyclical Caritas in Veritate could launch a revolution of divine love says a Harvard-trained economist and Jesuit priest. Speaking at Saint Paul University on Mar. 1, Fr. Bill Ryan urged parishes and dioceses to launch small group-study sessions of the document to bring about Church renewal.

More funding sought for palliative care

March 5, 2010

TORONTO - The executive director of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association is calling for increased funding for community care, including at-home palliative care, in the wake of a study that found Canadian families are paying a high price to care for loved ones at home. “If there’s no proper support, we crush the backs of Canadian caregivers and families,” Sharon Baxter told The Catholic Register from Ottawa. The general trend has been for people wanting to receive care in their own homes, Baxter said. In the long run, it’s the least costly option.

Standing up for life at 40 Days for Life

February 26, 2010

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.

March for Life aims for 20,000 with schools' help

February 26, 2010

OTTAWA - Campaign Life Coalition is hoping this year’s National March for Life will draw 20,000 people to Parliament Hill on May 13 with help from Ottawa area Catholic schools. Last year’s march drew more than 12,000 people, the largest crowd in the event’s 12 years. About half of the marchers were young people. But many of these were bused in from other cities around Ontario.

Dispute with landlord forces Caritas out of its offices

February 25, 2010

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.

Brother André to be canonized

February 25, 2010

MONTREAL - Just 73 years after his death, Brother André will become the first Canadian-born man elevated to sainthood. The news of his Oct. 17 canonization, one of six announced by Pope Benedict XVI Feb. 19, was met with elation by the members of the church in Montreal.

Fraternity of St. Peter's days in Toronto over

February 25, 2010

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.

Bishop Lahey trial on child porn charges set for spring 2011

February 22, 2010

OTTAWA - Bishop Raymond Lahey’s trial on charges of possessing and importing child pornography has been set for the spring of 2011. The trial will begin April 26, 2011 and run until May 6, Assistant Crown Attorney David Elhadad told CCN. The former bishop of Antigonish, N.S., is not expected to appear in an Ottawa court until his trial starts in more than a year’s time. Lahey has been living in a retired priest’s residence in the Ottawa archdiocese since Oct. 9.