Canadian News

News and events from across the country.

Fr. Hansoo Park prepares to take over as Director of Vocations for the archdiocese of Toronto

April 16, 2009

TORONTO - When he was young, fishing meant going down to the ocean side in South Korea and watching the divers disappear underwater to catch the fish his parents requested. Today, fishing has taken on a different meaning for Fr. Hansoo Park as he prepares to take over as Director of Vocations for the archdiocese of Toronto.

Walking tour takes in Toronto’s historical downtown churches

April 16, 2009

TORONTO - Looking for a free guided tour of historic churches in downtown Toronto? Just look for Eric Parker and Bill MacDonald and their blue umbrellas. Both are volunteers with the Royal Ontario Museum who lead guided walks as part of the museum’s community outreach.

Canadian aboriginals seek renewed partnership with Catholic church

April 16, 2009

OTTAWA - When Canada’s aboriginal leaders meet with the Pope April 29 they hope to turn the page on the tragic legacy of Indian residential schools. “This meeting has the potential to be a historic and momentous occasion for First Nations, survivors, Canadian Catholics and indeed all Canadians,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine at an April 15 news conference. “I am both honoured and excited to have this opportunity to meet with the Pope to discuss this important matter and to move forward to work towards real reconciliation.”

Canadian bishops getting to bottom of Development and Peace allegations

April 16, 2009

Canadian bishops are winging it to Mexico to speak with Mexican bishops and local non-governmental organizations, trying to get to the bottom of accusations the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has funded groups lobbying the Mexican government for legal abortion. Bishop Martin Currie of St. John’s, Nfld., and Bishop Francois Lapierre of Sainte-Hyacinth, Que., were scheduled to fly to Mexico on April 16 accompanied by staff from Development and Peace, CCCB general secretary Msgr. Mario Paquette and the outside eyes of Msgr. Carlos Quintana from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ secretariat for the church in Latin America. They planned to meet with representatives of five human rights organizations that LifeSiteNews.com alleges are promoting legalized abortion in Mexico.

Fr. Pierre Samson brings hope to Philippine missions

April 15, 2009

He is constantly on the move, climbing the steep mountain slopes, crossing meandering rivers and trekking the forest for hours and at times days to be with the indigenous people whom he calls his “family by adoption.” “This is my life and missionary condition and this brings me to meet with all sorts of people, hear all kinds of stories and be mixed up in a variety of situations,” says Fr. Pierre Samson, describing his reality living with members of the Manobos, the B’laan and the Tagakaolos tribes that eke out an existence in isolated settlements at the edge of jungles in the southern Philippines.

Fr. Pucci an inspiration for 70 years

April 15, 2009

TORONTO, Ont. - Over seven decades in the priesthood, Fr. Angelo Pucci has been a fine example of the priesthood to many. In fact, his friends at Oakville’s St. James Barnabite parish say the 93-year-old former science and chemistry teacher has inspired at least seven former altar boys from the parish to enter the priesthood. As Pucci approaches his 70th anniversary as a Barnabite priest, associate pastor Fr. Louis Lenssen, CRSP, said he admires Pucci’s example.

Paulist Fathers novice, Anthony Rosado, evangelizes with song

April 15, 2009

TORONTO - During his two-month placement as a novice with the Paulist Fathers in Toronto, Anthony Rosado, 24, combined his love for evangelization and music in a unique concert series. In a performance called “Four Sacred Art Songs” held from March 9 to April 6 at St. Peter’s parish, Rosado featured original classical songs he composed last year. As a Paulist novice, Rosado has to perform the normal tasks of a novice, but he was also told he needed to do something “on his own terms” in the parish. This became his enthusiastic project.

Brother Anthony Canterucci continues his work in Toronto and Tanzania

April 15, 2009

TORONTO - What does it mean to be a religious brother in modern society? Plenty, if you ask Brother Anthony Canterucci, a man who has served the Missionaries of the Precious Blood for 60 years. Canterucci, now 80, continues his work with undying passion. When he first started his vocation as a religious brother in his hometown of Niles, Ohio, his work included an assortment of tasks including administration, youth ministry and cooking. But since 1976, Canterucci has been a key co-ordinator in the order’s mission work in Tanzania, working from St. Alphonsus parish in Toronto.

Numbers rise in local Toronto seminaries

April 15, 2009

TORONTO - There are more than 400,000 priests in the world, and that number has been slowly rising since 2000, according to the Vatican yearbook Annuario Pontificio. But do such big numbers relieve the anxiety of Catholics in North America and Europe who see an aging and dwindling priesthood manning the altars? With more than 100 men in Toronto currently studying for the priesthood, perhaps local Catholics have become too used to gloomy forecasts.

Mississauga Slovak parish 75 years young

April 14, 2009

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Seventy-five years is a long time, but at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Roman Catholic parish all those years mask the truth about the parish. The truth is the parish is young. Third-year University of St. Michael’s College student Stefan Slovak is a member of the parish council and an active organizer of the parish’s 75th anniversary celebrations. He was born in Canada to a Slovak father and an Irish-Canadian mother, grew up in the suburbs and has absorbed Slovak language and culture entirely from the expatriate community of 40,000 Slovaks in and around Toronto.