ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
October 4 is the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, who I believe to be, the best-known saint in our secularized society. He was born sometime in 1181 or 1182, died 1226, and then was canonized quickly in 1228…
NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: A DAY FOR ALL OF US
September 30 is a painful day in so many ways as we remember and honour the Indigenous children who didn’t return home from residential schools, the survivors, their families and their communities. We also acknowledge the ongoing trauma Indigenous people…
ARCHANGELS MICHAEL, GABRIEL AND RAPHAEL
To the dismay of his pacifist and non-violent parents our son Patrick has always had a fascination with toy guns, swords and anything that has to do with such. Patrick is named after a dear friend of mine who died…
WORLD DAY FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND THE JUBILEE OF MIGRANTS
Many years ago, when I was sitting in the room in Ottawa to officially become a Canadian citizen, I was struck by the diversity of people in the room. There were probably 40 or 50 people there, many of those…
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: A MODEL FOR SERVICE TO THE POOR
When French lawyer and university professor Frédéric Ozanam organized a group of young men into an organization to help the poor of Paris, he decided to put it under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660). He couldn’t have…
BLESSED ARE THE AFFLICTED
September 23 is the feast day of Italian Capuchin Franciscan St. Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968). Canonized by St. John Paul II on June 16, 2002, he is popularly known as Padre Pio. St. Padre Pio is reported to have had…
TERRY FOX, ST. PEREGRINE AND FINDING HOPE
September 14 is a day to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope. Growing up millennial and Canadian, I was part of the first generation to participate in fundraiser run and walk each September. I can recall…
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…
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…