CHRIST THE KING
I don’t often express a disagreement with those who prepare liturgical texts, but on this feast I do. Saying that Christ is the King of the Universe, at least to me, makes it sound like Star Wars – that title…
MUSINGS ON THE THEME OF THIS WORLD DAY OF THE POOR: “STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND TO THE POOR”
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…
BOOK REVIEW: JUST WATER: THEOLOGY, ETHICS, AND FRESH WATER CRISES
Consider fresh water. We use it for cooking, cleaning, bathing, agriculture and for just about all our economic activities. Yet, of all the water on Earth, only 2.5% of that is fresh water; and most of that lies in icecaps…
REMEMBRANCE DAY
My parents were children during the Second World War, and their memories of that time were lasting ones. They recalled doing paper and scrap drives with their pals, wearing underwear that had buttons instead of elastic, and the incredible gift…
ALL SOULS
All Souls Day is going to mean more to me this year than ever. I recently lost my brother to cancer. My thoughts are filled with memories, conversations and images of my closest sibling in age. Although his death has brought me much…
SAINTHOOD IS FOR EVERYONE!
Messages from Heaven can come in conversations with strangers. Not too long ago, I had such an encounter with a woman on a bus. She was on her way to arrange for the burial of her sister’s ashes. She was really distraught…
Q&A WITH MARIETTE MARTINEAU, AUTHOR OF SOWING SEEDS: INQUIRY, FAITH AND EARLY LEARNERS
What is Sowing Seeds all about? Sowing Seeds: Inquiry, Faith and Early Learners is a book about students learning about their faith. It is about respecting the ability of children, all ages, to engage in exploring their relationship with God…
PRAYING FOR OUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER
Death for a Christian is a bittersweet event. On the one hand, we are supposed to rejoice since the person that died has entered eternal life with God, the aim and culmination of our earthly pilgrimage. Our faith gives us…
ST. JOHN PAUL II
It became so natural, but when Saint John Paul II was elected as Pope in Rome in 1978, it was almost beyond comprehension. He was the first non-Italian in centuries to become bishop of Rome. But it took almost no…
RELIGION INJECTS $67.5 BILLION INTO CANADIAN ECONOMY
It’s long been a truism that organized religion is beneficial to society through its volunteers, its schools, social programs and fostering of a population willing to sacrifice for the greater good. But what’s it worth in cold, hard cash? A…