Baptism of the Lord: God’s Never Ending Love for Us
I never asked, but am pretty sure that no one saw the heavens open on the day of my baptism. Nor did I notice it happening at any of the hundreds of baptisms I witnessed as a music minister at…
Novalis Seeds of Faith
A Universal Church
When many of us hear the term ‘catholic,’ we often think of the Catholic Church. In fact, each Sunday you might recall that we say this word when we pray the Creed: “I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic…
The Compassion of Brother André
“The two aspects of a miracle are therefore God’s compassion for human suffering and faith in God’s presence in our lives. Brother André prayed the stations of the cross every day because he saw in Jesus the God who shared…
The Light at the Heart of Epiphany
When news slows down over the Christmas season, media outlets often resort to seasonal stock stories. A classic piece asks astronomers about the star that led the wise men to Bethlehem. Was it a comet? A meteor or supernova? As engaging as…
New Year’s Greetings
New Years’ greetings and best wishes to all our friends on this first day of 2013. During this Year of Faith, we look forward to carrying on our 77-year-old tradition of providing accessible, affordable resources for worship, prayer and living…
Welcoming the Stranger to the Table
Well the turkey is down to soup and Julia, my youngest, has finished off the stuffing – the best part of the turkey, she declares every Christmas and Thanksgiving. Thinking back to our recent Christmas dinner, I can’t help but…
Thomas Becket by John Guy
Immortalized by Jean Anouilh’s play, Thomas Becket remains one of the most well known English saints. The numerous retellings and productions of his story populate our imaginations with vivid scenes of his fierce struggle with King Henry II and his…
Christmas Greetings From Novalis
In his annual Christmas message, Archbishop Richard Smith offers reminds us of the gifts of the Magi to the newborn Jesus: gold, myrrh, and frankincense. For the year just past the president of the Canadian Conference of Bishops likens these…
Enjoying the Holidays
We all want Christmas to be a special time of year, with family, friends and the perfect gifts for all. But often we get caught up in materialistic trappings, consumerist distractions and an emphasis on perfection that only adds stress…
A Communion of Commuters
I recently moved to Toronto to join the Novalis team. This is the first time I have been commuting on a train, and then walking any distance to my job. And what struck me is the kind of strange communion…