The word ‘impossible’ does not exist in Natale Giangioppo’s vocabulary. 

Blind from birth, Giangioppo’s many barrier-shattering accomplishments most recently include participating as a choir member at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) parish in Etobicoke, Ontario.

Readings for week 3: Sunday, June 23 to Saturday, June 29, 2024

Readings for week 2: Sunday, June 16 to Saturday, June 22, 2024

Pizzelle. Pizzelle?

I was intrigued. Is it a miniature pizza? 

No, it turns out, it’s a delicious Italian wafer, and was part of a joyful parish project that manifested God’s love and compassion during recently challenging times.

Readings for week 1: Sunday, June 9 to Saturday, June 15, 2024

Reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and entities of the Catholic Church will be a long road to travel. Dr. Natasha Duquette has taken some steps along this road by recently offering an academic course called Indigenous Writers of North America.

Following a 50-country conference on safeguarding against clerical sexual abuse, Southdown Institute’s Fr. Stephen Kappler is launching a pilot project this month to train clergy on boundaries, abuse of spiritual power and healthy integrated sexuality.

News broke recently that the Jesuits have dismissed the famed artist, Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik, from amongst their ranks. The dismissal resulted from his failure to obey orders to limit his travel as a result of allegations of sexual and psychological abuse levelled against him by several religious women.

What happens to children sexually abused by priests as they grow older? Some, tragically, commit suicide. Some fall into alcoholism and drug addiction in an attempt to cope with the enduring pain caused by such profound betrayals of trust. Serial failed relationships, career catastrophes, depression and hopelessness often follow.

After many years of clergy sexual abuse survivors only finding support for their healing outside of the Church community, Good Samaritans within the Church are approaching victims to help them bandage their wounds.