Dennis Girard hopes the Marian Devotional Movement’s prayerful Papal Visit Pilgrim Statue Procession — and a 54-day Novena launched May 31 —  will bless Pope Francis’ mission of healing and reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples.

With the famed Detroit River as a uniting backdrop, replica Pilgrim Virgin Statues of Our Lady of the Cape (Cap-de-la-Madeleine) and Fatima intersected on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border on May 1 for a special Rosary for world peace and consecration to the Blessed Mother.

Outside of its military overtones, the word “legion” most often describes a large group of people with a singular mission.

“We’re about to hear the story of a woman — an accompanying witness whose story begins with a prophecy and ends with victory. A woman whose story can be reflected in other people, helping us to see our story in her story.”

The cross I wear around my neck each day is a relatively large wooden one made by young people living in the poorest and most dangerous areas of Colombia. It is one of hundreds of thousands that they made as part of a project supported by Development and Peace. The crosses were given as a special gift from St. John Paul II at the World Youth Day papal Mass in Toronto on July 28, 2002. 

PANAMA CITY – Although Mary would not be considered an "influencer," like many social media personalities, she still became the most influential woman in history by trusting "in the love and promises of God, the only force capable of making all things new," Pope Francis told young people at the World Youth Day prayer vigil Jan. 26.

As much as I want to travel light for this pilgrimage, I'm letting myself bring one book to World Youth Day – St. Louis de Montfort's True Devotion to Mary.

VATICAN – Pope Francis will make a three-day apostolic visit to Romania in late May, the Vatican announced.

VATICAN – The end of one year and beginning of next naturally leads people to think about the passing of time and about love, which gives time -- and everything else -- real meaning, Pope Francis said.

VATICAN – Just as she did hundreds of years ago from a small hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, Mary accompanies the downtrodden and the lowly like a mother caring for her children.

ROME – In the heart of Rome, near streets of fancy shops already blinged out for Christmas shopping, Pope Francis prayed for Romans struggling to survive and for families in the city and around the world who face the same lack of welcome that Mary and Joseph experienced.

One woman’s labour of love has seen an overgrown peace garden at a Catholic school in Orangeville, Ont., brought back to life as a Rosary Garden.

VATICAN – Signaling his belief that the Catholic Church is facing a serious crisis, Pope Francis asked every Catholic in the world to pray for the protection of the church from attacks by the devil, but also that the church would be more aware of its sins and stronger in its efforts to combat abuse.

Canadians from coast to coast are being called to take up arms through the Rosary Oct. 7 in a clarion call for peace.

In 2008, Regina Mundi Centre was on the brink of closure.