Choir practices at St. James parish in Toronto have been especially exciting as the youth choir prepares for its biggest concert yet.

For many, anxiety and stress can be debilitating. It can lead to a number of physical symptoms that prevent you from being fully present in the moment.

In recent years, there has been public debate about the need for dress code reforms, particularly for female workers in the restaurant industry. Workers and restaurant patrons have complained that it is unfair for female servers and staff to be forced to wear short skirts and high heels as part of the establishment’s dress code standards. This issue hinges on discrimination towards female workers, as their male counterparts often don’t have the same dress code requirements.

I took the Pulse Pledge during Lent and found myself reflecting on how something so small could actually make a difference. 

TORONTO - The Queen’s Park Dining Room was filled with the sounds of engaging and enriching discussion March 9 as Catholic representatives from across Ontario advocated for their education system.

I recently read an article written by a Catholic teen girl and what she believes every Catholic teen guy should be. She listed off things that (I agree) should be the foundation of any relationship, such as being faithful and respecting each others’ values.

During Lent, we are all like Jesus, starving in the desert and being asked to turn stone into bread. But we must choose each and every time to say no. Even in the “Our Father” we ask God to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” But why must we face temptations during Lent and how do they shape us?
This Lenten season I decided to give up Facebook and YouTube videos. The reason was simple. I wanted to be more productive. So, I resolved to liberate myself from procrastination and to purposefully get work done.

Indigenous youth face a lot of harsh realities even in today’s school system and it has made me think about the new responsibilities that Clayton Shirt will face as the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s first-ever elderin- residence. Shirt, a member of the Cree First Nation, will be providing insight into the indigenous culture and act as a resource the school board has not had access to in past years.

As I ran down a dirt road in the village of Nandarola, Nicaragua, I could hear the bus approaching behind me, its air horn tauntingly blowing. With four-year-old Miguel on my shoulders, the two of us were racing the bus back to his small house. It was the last day of my visit to this remote community. It was a poignant moment, waving goodbye to the mothers and children — Miguel included — as we left, and one of many fulfilling and joyful experiences I had in Nicaragua.

Mary Gyulay was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a year and a half ago, at the age of 22. At the time of her crisis, she turned to God.

Like any other Sunday I sat in those wooden benches, eagerly waiting for the priest to take his place at the pulpit and give his homily. Impatiently drumming my fingers against the wooden edge, I looked around the church.

Lent is a season which seems to always start strong in our hearts, and then gradually falls apart throughout our time of suffering alongside Jesus. We are now starting our journey. We already binged on pancakes a few days ago and a good few of us decided to give up either candy, chocolate, television or cellphones. (I’ll pray for you guys, don’t worry.)

The following is the third place finisher by Vincent Pham, a student at Toronto's Chaminade College, in the annual essay contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor.

The following is the second place finisher by Raquel Seara, a student at Toronto's Loretto College, in the annual essay contest for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sponsored by The Catholic Register and the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement-Graymoor.

The mass shooting that claimed four lives in La Loche, Sask., and injured seven more on Jan. 22 was a horrific tragedy.