PRAYER FOR SCHOOL DAY
Loving God, Bless this day! Bless our school community and our families. Give us your Spirit of wisdom so that we may grow in faith and knowledge. Strengthen us to have hearts of kindness, helping others so that everyone feels…
Novalis Seeds of Faith
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
Ten years ago today, Pope Francis established the first World Day of Prayer for the Care for Creation. It coincided with the publication of his great encyclical Laudato Si.’ September 1, the World Day of Prayer for the Care for…
ST. MONICA AND ST. AUGUSTINE
How often do we give up on friends or family members who are obstinate or dismissive when it comes to our faith? This can be painful and it feels like a personal attack. St. Monica (c. 332 – 387) faced these situations…
NOVALIS BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Who doesn’t love summer? It’s the perfect time to go with the flow, relax and enjoy the outdoors. But I have to admit that as the days grow shorter and the nights cooler, I look forward to the return to…
ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE
In a world increasingly fractured by conflict and unrest, we yearn for role models to point us beyond the chaos and toward lasting hope. Some people have in fact revealed to us the potential of the human spirit, what it’s…
VANITY AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF ACQUISITION
I once read that Liberace died with five furnished residences and warehouses full of expensive items for which he had no room in any of these residences! It is usually this sort of image that comes to mind when we…
MARY, MARTHA AND LAZARUS: THE OTHER HOLY FAMILY
Besides Mary, Joseph and Jesus, there is another exemplary family that played an important role in the life of Jesus. That is the family of his dear friends – Mary, Martha and Lazarus. John’s glimpse into their lives is both…
GUARDIANS OF HOPE: WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
I am 68 years old. I can no longer pretend to be “late middle-aged.” I have gray hair and wake up in the morning with aches and pains. I can officially be described as elderly. But I am certainly not…
ST. ANNE AND ST. JOACHIM: A TIME NOT OUR OWN
Saints Anne and Joachim were parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. Though not mentioned in the Bible, their story has been part of the Catholic tradition for millennia. They were a religiously devout couple. They were…
CANADA DAY
In the last month I have been travelling around Ontario and last week I was in Calgary, Alberta. Our country is massive and oh so varied in topography. The Rockies were the backdrop when we visited Stoney Nakoda First Nation. So breathtaking! I…