Speaking Out

Are young people, particularly those aged 18-30, still interested in religion?

The history of African-Canadians is vast, and there is so much information to unpack. We must seek to expand our minds and learn continuously. These are practical steps that we can all take to commemorate African-Canadian Heritage Month, celebrated during February.

Below-zero February temperatures, red roses, sweetheart candies galore and the timely advent of romantically-saturated Hallmark movies are the tell-tale signsof an impending, and often dreaded, culturally memorialized feast: Valentine’s Day.

Feb. 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month. Schools will host special programs, workplaces may invite guest speakers and you may find more content on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds discussing Black history.

This past week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Leanne Timko. She is the director of learning services for the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) and an instrumental builder of the school board’s new human trafficking awareness education program. 

Many young people seem ecstatic to ‘“remember their death.” But this notion is not as dark and grueling as it looks. Instead, it is an invitation to live wholly.

In many ways, we experienced an encore in 2021 of the difficulties of 2020, along with a batch of new adversities. However, January offers us a chance to recalibrate. We are invited and challenged to live each of this year’s 365 days as people of faith. 

The bullet journal is all the rage nowadays, from simple agendas to elaborate scrapbook designs.

As we bask in the Christmas season and the days leading up to 2022, perhaps now is the time to reflect on this past year.

“Bah humbug” This famous aphorism belongs to the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge, who made his first appearance as the archetypal Christmas cynic in Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 classic A Christmas Carol.