NEWS

For two days, a constant stream of mourners filed past Jean Beliveau’s casket in Montreal’s Bell Centre. His widow, Elise Couture, was present to receive the sympathies from dignitaries, her husband’s teammates and ordinary fans alike.

OTTAWA - Bishops who attend Synods should spend more time in group discussions and less time listening to each other’s speeches, Gatineau Archbishop Paul-André Durocher proposed to Pope Francis.

OTTAWA - By the end of March 2015, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will choose four delegates and two alternates to attend the ordinary Synod on the family in Rome scheduled for next October.

A new and bigger Muslim prayer room at Western University has triggered resignations from the entire Catholic chaplaincy team, led by Fr. Michael Bechard.

A long fought battle to save St. Mary’s Polish parish in Sydney, N.S., came to a fiery end on Nov. 29 as the church was reduced to ash, smouldering debris and charred remains.

VATICAN CITY - More co-operation is needed between the international community and faith leaders in stemming the ongoing Ebola epidemic, said a joint communique issued by the United Nations and the World Council of Churches.

HONG KONG - Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired bishop of Hong Kong, joined the civil disobedience movement organizers who surrendered to police Dec. 3, with a hope to end the present occupation campaign that has lasted more than two months.

TORONTO - For most, a trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France is a luxury many may never be able to afford.

TORONTO - In 1985, the Vincentian Congregation opened its first retreat centre in Potta, India. The Divine Retreat Centre was so successful the Vincentians expanded the retreat ministry across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, the United States and now, finally, into Canada.

OTTAWA - As Pope Francis inaugurated the Year of Consecrated Life Nov. 30, Canada’s Apostolic Nuncio exhorted Canadian religious to build a culture of vocations.