It was a fresh wind that sent the white smoke billowing away from the roof of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on March 13, 2013. This ancient herald of a new pope was the first indication of how a…
The world is a bit of a mess these days, isn’t it? Sometimes I just can’t face the news. There is so much conflict, political instability and suffering of all kinds. Our planet is in peril, and it’s hard to…
February is upon us and for people in many provinces in Canada it’s Family Day! Having a holiday in February is relatively new compared to many of our traditional holidays. More recently, in 2016, Pope Francis had Amoris Laetitia published…
In September of 2019 Pope Francis declared that “the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God (Aperuit Illis, 3).” On this day we devote ourselves to delving…
We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of the victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in…
Each month, the Pope sets before the People of God a special intention for the worldwide Church to bring to prayer. This month he asks that we pray for victims of abuse: We pray for those who have suffered harm…
The papal visit continues as I write, yet there is already so much to think about. I was moved as I watched Pope Francis arrive in Edmonton on Sunday. Despite his knee pain and limited mobility, I saw expressions of…
If ever there was a time to rediscover the beautiful ministry and wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi, it is now. While we face the crisis of climate change, our devastating history of residential schools and even our anxiety in the…
I’m rather partial to St. Joseph, considering that I bear his name and was baptized on his feast day of March 19. And so I felt a special thrill when Pope Francis announced Dec. 8 that we would be celebrating…
I remember long ago an anecdotal story of the conference of bishops of Brazil who ended their meetings about policies and procedures with the question: “Well gentlemen, how have we helped the poor today?” Whether this account is true or…