See how you get on with the latest crossword in our new series. Select "file > print" in your browser to print off your own copy.

The 2012 Friar’s Essay Contest winners have been announced.

The annual contest is sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

You can read about the three lucky winners here: "Friar’s Essay winners announced, students take home an iPad2 and Kindle Fire".

We will be publishing the winning entries in the coming weeks in the newspaper and here at CatholicRegister.org.

See how you get on with the latest crossword in our new series. Select "file > print" in your browser to print off your own copy.

ORILLIA, ONT. - It may have taken Deacon Bernie Harris 73 years to become a deacon, but his life of service had started long before that day he was ordained in 2003.

Deacon Harris had long been active in pastoral outreach before his ordination, as a hospital chaplain, a eucharistic minister, a prison visitor and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society among others.

Deacon Harris passed away Sept. 29. He was in his 82nd year.

OTTAWA - Fr. Robert Bedard, founder of the Companions of the Cross, a society of apostolic life in the Catholic Church, died on Oct. 6. He was 82.

Fr. Bedard was born and raised in Ottawa and ordained a priest at Blessed Sacrament Church in Ottawa on June 6, 1955. For many years, he was a teacher at St. Pius X High School in Ottawa.

See how you get on with the latest crossword in our new series. Select "file > print" in your browser to print off your own copy.

Catholic Crossword #1 Solution

Designed by: Bob Carson
 

TORONTO - Fr. Edwin Platt, a well-known priest who served throughout his hometown of Toronto, died Sept. 17. He succumbed to the stroke that had felled him while he was saying Mass at Corpus Christi parish.

Fr. Platt was 89 and was in his 62nd year as a priest.

Fr. Platt had returned in his later years to the east end where he grew up. He was educated at St. John’s and Corpus Christi Schools before moving on to St. Michael’s College School. He entered St. Augustine’s Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1948.

BARRIE, ONT - Depending on who he was with,  Deacon Ted MacDonnell was affectionately known as detective, sergeant, deacon, pastor, professor, Teddy, dad or papa.

He was a man of many names and even more friends, someone who always had time for people, whether it was in his role as an OPP detective or a deacon in the Church. Above all, though, he was a husband, father of two daughters and grandfather of five children whom he baptized.

“Everyone he came in contact with remembered him warmly and with a genuine smile because dad simply cared,” said his youngest daughter, Janet Small.

See how you get on with the first crossword in our new series. Select "file > print" in your browser to print off your own copy.
 
And don't worry, we'll be publishing the solution next week! [update - find the solution to puzzle #1 here]

More information: Register launches a wordy new feature this week

Designed by:  Bob Carson
 

The Catholic Register is launching a new feature this week. Here’s a clue: What’s a 15-letter term for cruciverbalist?

If you answered a person who creates crossword puzzles you are absolutely correct — and can go to Page 26 to try out our new weekly feature, a Catholic crossword puzzle.

The puzzles are designed to be fun and educational but not too difficult so they can be enjoyed by a broad cross section of readers. Each week will offer a different Church-based theme, such as Canadian saints, religious orders or holy days.

- Click here to try out the first crossword. Check back next week for the solution.