WELCOME ADVENT
The time of waiting for a child to be born is full of excitement and wonder. What will he/she be like? How much will the baby weigh? Will the baby’s eyes be blue or brown? My grandson was born on December 24…
WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
Who are the poor?The one who is without shelter through no fault of their own.The one who is dependent on alcohol or pain medication.The one who visits food banks in order to provide nourishment for their children.The one who fears…
READ, REFLECT, REPEAT: NOVALIS BOOK(LET) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVENT
Advent has a way of sneaking up on us. Just when we’re feeling like the fall routines are in place and we’re adjusting to the time change and the cooler weather, the liturgical calendar shifts into a new season. We’re…
REMEMBRANCE DAY: A DAY TO HONOUR SACRIFICE AND EMBRACE PEACE
Every year on November 11, we pause in silence. The world remembers the men and women who gave their lives in wars past and present. Their sacrifice is not an abstract idea; it is the reason we are free to…
ALL SOULS
Last weekend, I happened to be driving in the country at sunrise. It was the first frost of the year and the fields were stunning. I had to stop the car and just gaze for a few moments. The green…
OH, TO BE A SAINT!
What does it mean to be a saint? An appropriate question, don’t you think, for the solemnity of All Saints, celebrated by the Catholic Church this year on Nov. 1. If asked, most people would refer to the official saints,…
EDITOR Q&A: FIFTY IRISH LIVES IN CANADA, 1661 TO 2017
This fall, Novalis published Fifty Irish Lives in Canada, 1661 to 2017, edited by Eamonn McKee and Mark G. McGowan. This rich and inspiring collection by a range of highly respected authors offers a wonderful panorama of the story of…
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). With similar words, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each offer this same invitation. This sacred task is placed before us. No borders, no boundaries,…
A CHRISTIAN REFLECTION ON WORLD FOOD DAY
Today, on October 16, the United Nations invites the world to pause to mark World Food Day, calling us to unite against hunger. This notion deeply resonates with the heart of the Christian faith. World Food Day reminds us that…
THANKSGIVING: A DISCIPLINE OF GRATITUDE
“There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.” That is the phrase that I use for my annual Thanksgiving Facebook post. I believe in its truth profoundly. Indeed, I think that a sense of constant and radical gratitude may…