FAITH/STORIES
{mosimage}The way is now clear for the canonization of Quebec’s first male saint after Pope Benedict XVI’s decree of a miracle attributed to Blessed Brother Andre Dec. 19.
“During these days leading up to the majestic celebration of Christmas, we have another reason to exult as we have learned that the Holy Father has officially recognized the miraculous cure which was obtained by the intercession of Blessed Brother Andre,” said Fr. Claude Grou, CSC, rector of Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory. “This important step has revitalized our expectations to see Brother Andre among the saints of the Catholic Church.”
“During these days leading up to the majestic celebration of Christmas, we have another reason to exult as we have learned that the Holy Father has officially recognized the miraculous cure which was obtained by the intercession of Blessed Brother Andre,” said Fr. Claude Grou, CSC, rector of Montreal’s St. Joseph’s Oratory. “This important step has revitalized our expectations to see Brother Andre among the saints of the Catholic Church.”
{mosimage}TORONTO - After a gun-wielding 14-year-old killed his son Jason at the local high school, Anglican minister Dale Lang led a memorial service and publicly prayed for the killer and his family. That was 10 years ago, and to this day, the Taber, Alta., resident continues to share his story and message of forgiveness.
Lang was in Toronto Nov. 20 for a restorative justice conference to speak about forgiveness as a means to break a cycle of violence.
Lang was in Toronto Nov. 20 for a restorative justice conference to speak about forgiveness as a means to break a cycle of violence.
{mosimage}TORONTO - Alvera Nyabasa grew up going to church in her native Zimbabwe, but she had little idea what was going on before she moved to Canada as an adult. Like 80 per cent of the world’s 1.3 million deaf Catholics who live in developing countries, Nyabasa grew up in a church that simply didn’t know how to deal with her.
Today, attending Sunday Mass with the De Salles Chaplaincy to Toronto’s deaf community is a happy occasion for Nyabasa and her two boys. There at St. Stephen’s Chapel on Bay Street, Fr. Harry Stocks says Mass in American Sign Language, or, if another priest is covering the Mass, it is simultaneously translated.
Today, attending Sunday Mass with the De Salles Chaplaincy to Toronto’s deaf community is a happy occasion for Nyabasa and her two boys. There at St. Stephen’s Chapel on Bay Street, Fr. Harry Stocks says Mass in American Sign Language, or, if another priest is covering the Mass, it is simultaneously translated.
Silence prominent in new Mass instructions
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}If it’s been a while since your mother asked whether you could just be quiet for a minute, get ready. Mother church is about to start asking again.
Catholics have been fighting over the words in the 2008 amended typical edition of the Roman missal, but perhaps the most noticeable change will be in the non-speaking parts. Before the opening prayer, after each of the readings and after communion, the new instructions for how to celebrate Mass will ask for a period of silence.
Catholics have been fighting over the words in the 2008 amended typical edition of the Roman missal, but perhaps the most noticeable change will be in the non-speaking parts. Before the opening prayer, after each of the readings and after communion, the new instructions for how to celebrate Mass will ask for a period of silence.
Toronto Sisters walk to aid Haiti projects
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Sr. Theresa Rodgers and Sr. Teresa Garvey of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Toronto will don their walking shoes this month in support of two fellow Canadian Sisters working in Haiti.
Rodgers, 67, said she and Garvey (who is in her mid-80s) originally were just curious to see how long it would take for them to walk from their residence (which at that time was 74 Wellesley St. W., above St. Joseph College) to St. Joseph Morrow Park in Toronto’s northern reaches where they worked.
Rodgers, 67, said she and Garvey (who is in her mid-80s) originally were just curious to see how long it would take for them to walk from their residence (which at that time was 74 Wellesley St. W., above St. Joseph College) to St. Joseph Morrow Park in Toronto’s northern reaches where they worked.
Today’s priests must continue to have hope in a secularized world
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Saving the priesthood in the era of sex scandals, skepticism about church authority and a disengaged laity is going to depend on hope, according to the author of a new book about the spirituality of parish priests.
More famous for his writing on Catholic education, Msgr. Dennis Murphy has just launched A View From The Trenches: Ups And Downs Of Today’s Parish Priest — a 140-page examination of how priests are coping.
More famous for his writing on Catholic education, Msgr. Dennis Murphy has just launched A View From The Trenches: Ups And Downs Of Today’s Parish Priest — a 140-page examination of how priests are coping.
Reasons behind the fast
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}What’s a fast for? As Muslims make their way through the month of Ramadan and Jews get ready for Yom Kippur, that simple question can prompt many answers — depending on your point of view.
“People do stuff like not eat in a very scrupulous way in order to avoid having to go to the trouble of being good people,” said Dan Merkur, psychoanalyst and University of Toronto lecturer in comparative religious studies.
“People do stuff like not eat in a very scrupulous way in order to avoid having to go to the trouble of being good people,” said Dan Merkur, psychoanalyst and University of Toronto lecturer in comparative religious studies.
Pilgrimage pain for graces gained
By William Stephenson, Catholic Register Special
{mosimage}TROIS-RIVIERES, Que. - Some 80 pilgrims blended their voices in hymns to the Blessed Virgin as they wound their way through 100-km of Quebec’s countryside over the Labour Day weekend.
This was part of the Marie Reine du Canada Pilgrimage , which has taken place every Labour Day weekend for seven years. Pilgrims from Ontario and Quebec gathered in St-Joseph-de-Lanoraie to walk to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape, just outside Trois-Rivières. They came to gain graces, to do penance, to turn to God and to grow in faith.
This was part of the Marie Reine du Canada Pilgrimage , which has taken place every Labour Day weekend for seven years. Pilgrims from Ontario and Quebec gathered in St-Joseph-de-Lanoraie to walk to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape, just outside Trois-Rivières. They came to gain graces, to do penance, to turn to God and to grow in faith.
St. Anne de Beaupre set to greet more than 1.5-million visitors
By Lorraine Williams
{mosimage}ST. ANNE DE BEAUPRE, Que. - Last year marked a resurgence of religious consciousness in Quebec City. Not only did the International Eucharistic Congress take place during that UNESCO World Heritage City’s celebration of its 400th anniversary. It was also the occasion of the 350th anniversary of Canada’s celebrated pilgrimage site, St. Anne de Beaupre Shrine.
This year the Shrine, which is only 35 kms. northeast of Quebec City, anticipates more than its usual 1.5 million pilgrims as a result of the 2008 celebrations. In particular during the annual novena July 17-26 (celebrating the feast day of St. Anne) the faithful will flock to ask the intercession of the grandmother of Jesus and mother of the Blessed Virgin.
This year the Shrine, which is only 35 kms. northeast of Quebec City, anticipates more than its usual 1.5 million pilgrims as a result of the 2008 celebrations. In particular during the annual novena July 17-26 (celebrating the feast day of St. Anne) the faithful will flock to ask the intercession of the grandmother of Jesus and mother of the Blessed Virgin.
Catholic values help grocer's business survive
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - It’s the grocery store equivalent of “the little engine that could,” with a Catholic twist.
Domenico Cozzi has been running his St. Clair Avenue West neighbourhood store with his wife, Rosa, for the past 43 years.
As other grocery stores supersize and the economy dips, the Cozzis’ corner store is a survivor. In this case, the classic “David vs. Goliath” story has a happy ending.
Domenico Cozzi has been running his St. Clair Avenue West neighbourhood store with his wife, Rosa, for the past 43 years.
As other grocery stores supersize and the economy dips, the Cozzis’ corner store is a survivor. In this case, the classic “David vs. Goliath” story has a happy ending.
Fasting gives Jesuit spiritual strength
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}Toward the end of 44 days of fasting (see Jesuit's fast shows care for creation ) — living on nothing but juice and water throughout Lent — Jesuit Father John McCarthy found he didn't have the energy to exercise any more.
He also found the cross-country flight he had to take from Deer Lake, Nfld., to Vancouver during the last week of Lent a bit trying.
For the first few days following the end of Lent on Holy Thursday, McCarthy's stomach was feeling a touch delicate. And he did lose some weight. He estimates he's down about 15 kilos or 35 lbs.
He also found the cross-country flight he had to take from Deer Lake, Nfld., to Vancouver during the last week of Lent a bit trying.
For the first few days following the end of Lent on Holy Thursday, McCarthy's stomach was feeling a touch delicate. And he did lose some weight. He estimates he's down about 15 kilos or 35 lbs.
The St. Andrew School of Evangelization from Mexico to expand into English Canada
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}The cross of St. Andrew, the Saltire, has been a symbol of the apostle’s martyrdom, a symbol of Roman imperial power, the flag of Scotland, the flag of Jamaica and the ensign of the Russian navy.
Now the ancient Christian standard is on its way to Canada from Mexico, where a group of Mexican lay evangelists have pointed out that it looks a lot like a multiplication sign.
The St. Andrew School of Evangelization based in Guadalajara, Mexico, wants to multiply the experience of Christ by forming new evangelists for the 21st century. The 25-year-old group has established national offices in Mexico, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Hungary, Argentina, the United States and Quebec. It is setting the stage for a push into English Canada with courses offered at Belleville’s St. Michael’s parish.
Now the ancient Christian standard is on its way to Canada from Mexico, where a group of Mexican lay evangelists have pointed out that it looks a lot like a multiplication sign.
The St. Andrew School of Evangelization based in Guadalajara, Mexico, wants to multiply the experience of Christ by forming new evangelists for the 21st century. The 25-year-old group has established national offices in Mexico, Colombia, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Hungary, Argentina, the United States and Quebec. It is setting the stage for a push into English Canada with courses offered at Belleville’s St. Michael’s parish.
Spiritual tourism on rise despite tough times
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register{mosimage}"Christopher Cross has his bags packed for the Holy Land for the 50th time."
The 60-year-old retired Vietnam veteran has been organizing pilgrimages to Israel for close to three decades. For most of those years, he was running the tour on the side — what he considered a ministry of sharing the story of the Holy Land with other Catholics — while working full-time in his insurance business.
During this economic downturn, Cross says there is a surprising demand for his tours.
“We’ve seen a change in spirituality because of everything happening in the world,” he told The Register from New York.