NEWS
{mosimage}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.
“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
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}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.
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
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register{mosimage}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
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register{mosimage}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
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register{mosimage}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
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}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.
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.
Whitehorse benefits from Catholic Missions In Canada's Tastes of Heaven
By Nicholas Carafa, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Catholic Missions In Canada is holding its annual fundraising dinner, Tastes of Heaven, on April 22 with the goal of raising $100,000.
The dinner will help support 12 parishes and 21 missions throughout the diocese of Whitehorse. Whitehorse Bishop Gary Gordon will be the guest speaker.
“This is a very unique event. People can meet the heroes of our dioceses and recognize the work they do,” said Kathleen Ancker, the National Director of Development for Catholic Missions In Canada.
The dinner will help support 12 parishes and 21 missions throughout the diocese of Whitehorse. Whitehorse Bishop Gary Gordon will be the guest speaker.
“This is a very unique event. People can meet the heroes of our dioceses and recognize the work they do,” said Kathleen Ancker, the National Director of Development for Catholic Missions In Canada.
Toronto Knights of Columbus aid seminarians
By Catholic Register Staff
{mosimage}TORONTO - The Knights of Columbus Toronto Council 1388 will celebrate 100 years of service by making a gift of $100,000.
At a gala dinner April 25 to mark its 100th anniversary, the Toronto Council will donate $100,000 to create an endowment to support Toronto’s seminarians. It is the largest gift in the history of Council 1388.
At a gala dinner April 25 to mark its 100th anniversary, the Toronto Council will donate $100,000 to create an endowment to support Toronto’s seminarians. It is the largest gift in the history of Council 1388.
Liberal MP John McKay tries to woo Catholics
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
{mosimage}OTTAWA - Liberal MP John McKay is reaching out to Catholic and Christian voters on behalf of the federal party.
He hopes to “redress” the relationship with faith communities — a relationship that has been hurt by Liberal tactics that have at times demonized Christian voters as “scary” or “anti-charter.”
“I am hoping that this initiative will free up some political space for faith leaders to speak into the marketplace of ideas and not feel that they will end up battered and bruised and run out of town on a rail,” said McKay.
He hopes to “redress” the relationship with faith communities — a relationship that has been hurt by Liberal tactics that have at times demonized Christian voters as “scary” or “anti-charter.”
“I am hoping that this initiative will free up some political space for faith leaders to speak into the marketplace of ideas and not feel that they will end up battered and bruised and run out of town on a rail,” said McKay.
Only resurrected Christ can fill emptiness in peoples hearts
By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service
{mosimage}VATICAN CITY - Christ's resurrection is not a myth or fairy tale; it is the one and only event that has destroyed the root of evil and can fill the emptiness in people's hearts, Pope Benedict XVI said in his Easter message.
But Christ still wants humanity to help affirm his victory by using His weapons of justice, truth, mercy and love to end the suffering in Africa, build peace in the Holy Land and combat hunger and poverty worldwide, he said April 12 in his message "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world).
But Christ still wants humanity to help affirm his victory by using His weapons of justice, truth, mercy and love to end the suffering in Africa, build peace in the Holy Land and combat hunger and poverty worldwide, he said April 12 in his message "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world).
John Paul II beatification expected soon
By Catholic News Service
{mosimage}VATICAN CITY - They brought flowers and messages to his grave. They sang songs evoking his memory. And they prayed for his beatification.
The fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II April 2 was marked by a sense of anticipation following reports that the late pontiff would be beatified on the fifth anniversary next year.
The fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II April 2 was marked by a sense of anticipation following reports that the late pontiff would be beatified on the fifth anniversary next year.