WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK
On this World Day of Prayer for the Sick we have a special occasion to express solidarity with those who suffer from illnesses by praying for them. This observance was instituted by St. John Paul II on this day back…
ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA
February 8 marks the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita. This is also the annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. When we hear St. Josephine Bakhita’s story, we realize that this is not a coincidence. As a young…
NOVALIS BOOK REVIEW: REMI DE ROO: PILGRIM AND PROPHET
We’ve been hearing a lot about synodality over the last couple of years, since Pope Francis announced the Synod on Synodality, a three-year worldwide process of discernment by lay people and ordained alike on how to move forward together as…
CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL
When you enter the Church of Santa Maria del Puopolo in Rome, you walk down the central aisle toward the ornate altar. We glance to the left to see a chapel which is dominated by three large masterpieces painted around…
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES AND COMMUNICATION
Today’s feast day is special for all writers and journalists. While some persons do earn their living in these particular professions, we are all writers. Even those who limit their written communications to text messages and emojis are writers. All…
SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD 2024
No other book in history has been so influential in our culture and history than the Bible. Nor more misunderstood, misused, exploited, or simply ignored. The Bible is more than a list of rules or a magical story. It is…
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2024
“The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world on January 18-25, which are also dates recommended by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. However, there has also been a long-standing practice by a number of communities…
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Most of us cradle Catholics do not remember our baptism. Taken to the church in a white garment, we were sprinkled with water from the font and blessed with the oils of salvation. We grew up knowing who our godparents were,…
THE STRANGE AND WONDERFUL BLESSINGS OF EPIPHANY
If you ever need evidence that many of us are not listening all that closely to the Sunday readings, watch the faces of the assembly on the feast of the Epiphany (though you’ll have to be an altar server, lector…
THE LONGING FOR PEACE
Another year has ended, and a new year begins… What will it bring? In a world where discord, intolerance and war are all too common, I find myself longing for peace like never before. According to the Global Citizen website,…