Bigoted. Patriarchal. Sexist.

We’ve all heard the way some people talk about the Catholic Church — in our schools, at work, in the mainstream media or on the Internet. They say it’s an ancient institution, stuck in the past, left behind by modern progress in women’s rights.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, just as I was getting ready to leave church after an evening Mass, a gunman opened fire on a mosque in Quebec City, killing six people and injuring many more shortly after the end of their evening prayers.

In general, I’m a pretty hopeful person about the future of the Church, even more so with the announcement of the theme for next year’s Synod of Bishops.

Happy New Year! Growing up in Canada, I had a largely typical North American childhood experience, but it was also infused with the traditions of my Chinese heritage.

Whether at school or work, one thing we all have in common is responsibilities, and with this comes a lot of stress.

Ever since I was a child, I was taught to praise God and to tell Him what I was thankful for in my life.

My grandmother once told me a story. A farmer’s wife noticed a rat running through the kitchen and told her husband to set a trap. When the rat saw the trap, he got scared because he might be caught. He went to ask his friends for advice.

In late March 2016, it was announced that a Women’s Wellness Centre was being built in Summerside, P.E.I. It is the first abortion clinic to open on the Island and is scheduled to begin seeing patients in January 2017.

I found myself rushing through a grocery store on a busy Friday afternoon at the end of an arduous week. There was Christmas music blaring throughout the store, my stomach was grumbling and I was frantically picking my way through the produce section before I had to be at work.

Ever since I was a young girl, sports have been my outlet. The rush of energy that comes from scoring a goal, the thrill of passing someone in a race, the satisfaction of mastering a skill, are moments I lived for.