BLOG: Sebastian Gomes
(CNS photo/Paul Haring: Pope Francis (left), Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II (center), Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (right), spiritual head of the Eastern Orthodox churches, attend an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of St. Peter in Cairo, as an image of the risen Lord stands behind them. April 28, 2017.) With a providential twist in the ...read more
I sat down with Fr. Thomas Berg last week to chat about his new book Hurting in the Church: A Way Forward for Wounded Catholics before we headed to film the newest episode of Subject Matters on the same topic. Check it here:Hea ...read more
On the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the ecumenical movement seems to have entered a "Holy Week," where the churches can look back at all that's been accomplished, and know, deep down, that the looming hill of Calvary has yet to be climbed. ...read more
Filled with wisdom literature and elderly heroes, the Bible is a perennial textbook for studying wisdom. As it turns out, wisdom is not exclusively for the elderly; the Bible is filled with old fools and wise youngsters too. But, as Christopher Bellitto points out, the discovery of true wisdom leads to openness and reciprocity, especially between generations, ...read more
(S+L Photo: Bishop Ricardo Ramírez, CSB, presents his book “Power from the Margins: the Emergence of the Latino in the Church and in Society” on the set of Subject Matters at Ben McNally Books in Toronto, ON) The timing of Bishop Ricardo Ramírez’s book “Power from the Margins” couldn’t be more appropriate. As debates rage about ...read more
(CNS photo above: Pope Francis updates the Roman Curia on his reform agenda during their Christmas audience in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Dec. 22, 2016) Catch an all new Perspectives on Church Reform under Francis Friday, March 17th at 7pmET & 11pmET No matter where you’re from or how you interpret the first four ...read more
Sebastian Gomes discusses where you can find Jesus this Lent. His answer may surprise you. A new season of Subject Matters premieres Sunday, March 19, 2017! ...read more
(CNS Photo: A rare full moon glows over Vatican City on Christmas Eve, 2015) Another marvellous cosmic discovery was made this week: seven earth-sized planets orbiting a red dwarf star just under 40 million light years away. Nasa’s discovery strengthened the popular hypothesis that other “earths,” that is, distant planets able to sustain life, most ...read more
Catholics who remember the paradigm shift that took place at Vatican II often point to the transformation of the liturgy as its most concrete expression. That’s understandable. As Catholics, the Mass is the most frequented celebration in the life of the community.  Even if you didn’t follow the theological developments at the Council, you couldn’t escape the ...read more
(S+L Photo: Ahmet Tarmici, National Director of the Intercultural Dialogue Institute (far left) moderates a discussion as Dalia Hashim (far right), Kevin Lo (middle right), and Naomi Shore (middle left) answer questions related to religion and culture in Canada today.) How do we stay true to ourselves in a multicultural context? That was the question ...read more