Barring a dramatic reversal in pandemic fortune, the vast majority of Canadian Catholics will celebrate Holy Week as they did before COVID-19 infected society two years ago.

For the third straight year, the annual Good Friday procession through the streets of Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood is cancelled.

Sean Lynn said he did not have a clear idea of how many men would attend God Squad Canada’s 25th anniversary conference in Calgary on March 18-19. But whatever the turnout, the founder of this organization is just happy to return to face-to-face fellowship for the first time since 2019.

“I have been called to Catholic education and this vocational call has blessed and enriched my life in profound ways.”

Deacon Alex D’Silva has made an impression on those surrounding him since beginning his path to the priesthood at St. Augustine’s Seminary in 2015.

It has been nearly a decade since Sr. Nancy Brown was named a 2012 Order of British Columbia recipient in recognition of her dogged advocacy on behalf of youth and young people at risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The substantial loosening of public health protocols at places of worship around Canada — except, for now, B.C. — has made it possible to manifest the Catholic Mass that existed before COVID-19. But senior clergy know it will take time to restore parishes to pre-pandemic vibrancy. 

St. Mary’s University’s four-year Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice & Catholic Studies sprouted from a desire to offer students a program instilling them with passion and equipping them with the knowledge to become societal change makers.

The Canadian Centre for Ecumenism’s virtual event “The Itinerants Speak to us” provided a forum for society’s marginalized and voiceless to share their life story and offer perspective on how individuals can come together to combat poverty.