Salt + Light Blog

Martyrs’ Shrine is a popular destination for many faithful from different cultural backgrounds. On Saturday, it was the Irish who ventured out to Midland, Ontario for Mass and a day of prayer. It was for the annual Irish Peace Garden commemoration. It was ten years ago that the Peace Garden was erected at the Shrine. One of its founding members; Geraldine Sullivan was inspired by her brother who had been visiting from Ireland. She had taken him up to the Shrine where he saw how the many different cultures displayed their nationality and religious identity in various structures and places throughout the grounds. He asked why Irish Canadians didn’t have something to commemorate their Catholic devotion and Irish identity. In response to her brother’s question, Geraldine got together with two other members of the local Irish community, Eamonn Dorgan and Hugo Straney and they brought the project to fruition.

I came upon the event in my research for my Catholic Focus on the Northern Ireland Conflict. It was a perfect coincidence that it coincided with the filming for the episode. I spent a wonderful day of filming and meeting Irish Canadians at the Irish Peace Garden. It was a moving and significant ceremony that celebrated the Irish culture and their history in Canada. Speakers talked about their Irish heritage and the importance of praying for peace and their loved ones who have passed. They continue to pray for peace in Ireland and that there isn’t a return to violence. They also pray for other places throughout the world where political and religious conflicts still persist.

Bishop Peter Hundt gave a blessing in the Peace Garden before presiding over Mass with those gathered. Bishop Hunt is the vicar general and regional bishop of the northern and eastern pastoral regions for the Archdiocese of Toronto.

The strong Catholic faith of the Irish people has left such a great impression on me. I have met many individuals of exemplary faith and conviction both here in Canada and in Ireland. The story of the Irish Catholics has always been an important one to tell and I am honored to be able to be doing that. If you visit Martyrs’ Shrine, be sure to stop by the Irish Peace Garden. It’s a beautiful tribute to the legacy of the Irish in Canada. Keep an eye out for news on my Catholic Focus. I’ll be keeping you updated on its screening this fall.

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Alessia Domanico

It’s a feast of the Assumption not soon to be forgotten.

A cruel prank was pulled on over 30,000 pilgrims gathered yesterday in Lourdes, located in southwest France. Police received an anonymous phone call about a bomb threat to the Shrine. The call came in as thousands of worshippers, priests and nuns were congregating for midday Mass. Officials soon began evacuating pilgrims.  It is disheartening to think about the thousands of sick and disabled that had to be ushered out in such a hurried and frightening manner.

After thoroughly sweeping the grounds and surrounding areas, army bomb disposal experts found there to be no sign of explosives. A Lourdes spokesman told the press that they have no idea who is behind the threat. “Bomb scares are not something you associate with Lourdes” he added. This is not a solitary incident however. Lourdes was evacuated in 2002 for the exact same reason, another bomb scare.

I am deeply relieved and thankful that there was in fact no real threat and that no one was harmed. At the same time, I am saddened by the monumental inconvenience suffered by the pilgrims. Over 900 seriously ill pilgrims were kept in a secure area for five hours, unsure of what would happen to them. Lourdes is meant to be a place of healing, to provide sanctuary and solace to those who visit.

There’s a time and place for a funny prank or hoax, this was most definitely not one of them. By what can be called luck or Divine Providence, the Eucharistic procession still started on schedule. Thanks be to God.

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CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec

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Alessia Domanico

Stressing out is a natural reaction a person has towards a difficult situation. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no class act when it comes to sweating the small stuff. When life gives me lemons I don’t always think to add the sugar right away. After the fact I’ll reflect on God, pray and ask for patience in accepting mistakes and shortcomings. But maybe I’ve got the order wrong. According to a study by the University of Toronto, I should be thinking about God before, as opposed to after the fact.

University of Toronto Researchers Micahel Inzlicht and Alexa Tullet found that those who believe in and reflect on God, deal with stress and anxiety more easily in strenuous situations.

The study tested individuals to determine if thinking about religion would reduce their reaction to making mistakes.  Test subjects were first asked to think about religion by writing about God. They then had to complete a word scramble with religiously themed words. After this they were given a tricky computerized test. The researchers monitored the subjects’ brain reactions when they made mistakes on the test.

The test found that believers experienced less distress when making an error. It also found that it didn’t matter what religious denomination the person belonged to. All that mattered was that they were reflecting on their belief and religion while taking the test. One researcher said that these small differences in brain pattern can lead to a calmer lifestyle. And God doesn’t even have to be the first thing on your mind, the result is achieved as long as you have experienced some form of reflection on your faith and spirituality. The researchers use the example of a person walking by a Church on the way to their bus stop. Dr. Inzlicht says:

Admiring (the) church en route could prime the religious thoughts that will take the sting out of noticing the bus has passed by.

Interestingly enough, the test found the result was the opposite for subjects who did not believe in God or practice a form of organized religion. Non-believers demonstrated a heightened form of neural distress when they were made to contemplate God and then take the tricky test. The distress reactions only last mere milliseconds after making an error, but researchers say that they can add up over the course of a lifetime.

While avoiding stress may be a positive thing, the researchers say it is also important to remember that a little anxiety is a good thing. The anxiety we experience after making a mistake will in theory, help prevent us from making it again in the future. While I’m relieved that my anxiety is teaching me something, I will be giving this test a try before my mad dash to the train this evening. Try it too and see what happens.

If you’d like to learn more; the article on this study can be found in the latest edition of Psychological Science.

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Photo: CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec

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Alessia Domanico

“Video Killed the Radio Star” was a popular song in the ’80s, but that message definitely doesn’t pertain to the social-media savvy radio personalities of the new millennium.

Catholic radio hosts have been working overtime to promote the Catholic faith to young adults. Young adults have their fingers on the pulse and are constantly looking for the fastest method of getting their daily dose of information, be it news, celebrity gossip or in this case keeping close ties to their Catholic faith. The radio is a medium that often gets overlooked, but has found momentum with new forms of social media such as podcasts and digital radio. Lino Rulli, aka The Catholic Guy is one of the success stories of Catholic programming on Digital Radio.

He recently returned from a pilgrimage he organized for his listeners to Italy. He was apprehensive at first when planning the trip because he didn’t think he’d be able to fill all of the spots. To his surprise and delight he sold out all 40 spots the first day he mentioned it on the air. He specially catered an unconventional pilgrimage itinerary to give the participants the chance to have both an enriching religious experience and enjoy the best of what Italy has to offer.

Rulli called it ‘the best and the worst pilgrimage in the world’ because the concept of fun doesn’t usually lend itself to the notion of a pilgrimage being a sacred spiritual journey. The pilgrims’ typical day included trekking for over 15 hours in the hot Italian sun, visiting a notable religious site such as the Duomo and Santa Maria del Fiore, sampling local Italian wines, eating late night lasagna and doing some Bon Jovi Karaoke. They visited many popular holy sites in Rome, Assisi and Florence. They even went to Castel Gandolfo for Pope Benedict’s Sunday Angelus.

The group of pilgrims ranged from college students to grandparents. Most were Catholic, though some not practicing, while others belonged to other Christian denominations. He said what struck people, was that they could have fun while experiencing their faith in God. He said they never realized that the two things can be experienced together.

Rulli says that he believes the element of fun can enrich the religious experience. He said that by combining faith and fun the pilgrims were able to gain a new perspective on how they can celebrate their Catholic faith.

We were doing something for our faith, we were doing something penitential and yet at the same time … we were still ourselves,” – Lino Rulli

Read more on the pilgrimage from CNS HERE.

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Alessia Domanico

Antiques Roadshow is one of my guilty television pleasures.

I find it fascinating how people can have priceless objects just sitting around their homes for years that get passed down through the generations or that they pick up at the odd yard sale for $20.  (Sometimes I even venture down into my basement to see if maybe I have a Ming Vase lying around.)

Antiques Roadshow would have a field day with what the Jesuits of Rome may have had under their noses for hundreds of years.

On the front page of the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano is a story about a painting owned by the Jesuits. The headline reads “The New Caravaggio?”

The painting is speculated to have been painted by the Italian Baroque artist who is commonly referred to as il Maestro.  The painting is known as the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo. It depicts a semi-naked man with his mouth open and arms outstretched in desperation as he lies over flames.

The Vatican Newspaper says the painting is undergoing analysis to determine if it was in fact painted by Caravaggio.

It would be a significant discovery if it is indeed proven to be authentic. Celebrations are taking place in Rome to mark the 400th anniversary of the artist’s death. Thousands of people have visited exhibitions of his work throughout the city. Churches with Caravaggio works even stayed open through the night last weekend to allow visitors a chance to see some of art history’s most important masterpieces.

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Alessia Domanico

A few of Salt+Light’s team celebrated Mass in a different way this Sunday: at the Honda Indy Races. The Indy took place this past weekend at Exhibition Place in Toronto. We were the guests of Father Phil De Rea, MSC, Catholic Chaplain of the Indy Racing League Ministry (IRL).

Father Phil has been a  close friend of the Andrettis, the famous racing family dynasty, for over 50 years — he was a childhood friend to Mario Andretti!  He would visit the race track to celebrate Mass for the Andretti family and over the years, they suggested that he travel with the Indy circuit to celebrate Mass for others at the racetrack.

So began Father Phil’s involvement with the IRL (his work is even under the jurisdiction of the Pontifical Council for People on the Move, or Migrant and Itinerant People!). He along with Bob Hills, the Director and Protestant Chaplain for the IRL Ministry travel religiously with the Indy circuit, literally. It is a wonderful practice of Ecumenism that involves everyone on the circuit, no matter their religious denomination.

I was so impressed with their dedication to their ministry and to the members of the Indy Racing League. It was a privilege to be able to get an insider’s look at how this group comes together on Sunday before the race to be with one another in the presence of God before they immerse themselves into a very tiring and action-packed day of loud cars and screaming fans.

The IRL is one big family traveling throughout the world. It was very humbling to be able to share in their Sunday Mass. We were lucky enough to get an interview with Brazilian racecar driver, Helio Castroneves who ranks 5th in the 2010 Indy racing standards. He spoke about his faith as a Catholic and how much Father Phil’s presence means to him. He never misses a Mass at the races and is happy to have the chance to celebrate his faith before he races.

The IRL Ministry does more than celebrate Mass on Sunday, they are a constant source of spiritual guidance and support for the memebers of the IRL. Fr. Phil has baptised many babies and performed a number of marriages too.

Watch Perspectives, the Daily Edition, tonight with Matthew Harrison to see all of the Indy action Salt + Light took part in on Sunday.

That’s @ 7:00pm and 11:00pm ET or 8:00pm PT.

Read more about Father Phil DeRea HERE.

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Alessia Domanico

For our viewers in the Greater Toronto Area:

A chance to venerate the relics of a remarkable modern day Blessed on her way to Sainthood. An exhibit of Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s relics will be open to the public today (Friday July 9th) and Saturday July 10th.

They are here for the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Missionaries of Charity in the Archdiocese of Toronto. The first and second class relics include personal effects that would have been presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints when her case for Beatification was brought forth.

The relics will be on display for veneration at the Missionaries’ convent at 185 Dunn Avenue on Friday from 8am to 5pm. They will then be taken to St. Barnabas Parish in Scarborough, Ontario for Mass at 7pm.

On Saturday, the relics will be on display at the Holy Family Parish at 1372 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario. The Thanksgiving Mass for the Missionaries of Charity also takes place here at 10 am.

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Alessia Domanico

Alessia here, officially back in the Salt+Light Office!

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind adventure through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. I am overwhelmed by how much I’ve been exposed to and had the opportunity to learn about  in such a relatively short amount of time. I tried to soak everything up from religious affairs, politics, Irish culture, economics, agriculture, North vs. South, and the list goes on. I am indebted to The Saint Patrick Centre for opening so many doors and windows for me during my time in Ireland. Dr. Tim Campbell, Director of the Saint Patrick Centre, was invaluable to the young ambassadors, providing us with his wealth of knowledge and experience concerning all things Northern Ireland. He filled in the gaps over issues he knew less about by arranging for us to meet an array of influential and diverse representatives of Northern Irish society, politics and culture. Now at the end of this I can say that I have come away with a deep appreciation for Northern Ireland. I was so fortunate to hear so many different perspectives on the land, its people and their different beliefs and principles. It all seems so surreal as I sit here at my desk recalling where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing for the past two weeks.

From a religion standpoint I was blessed to meet with several remarkable authorities on religion and the Catholic Church in Ireland who were able to enlighten me on its context there in today’s society. The majority of the population in Northern Ireland is Protestant, but the seat of the Catholic Church in Ireland is located in the North, in a beautiful place called Armagh. The Primate of Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady presides there. Another important fact for Catholics is that Saint Patrick began his ministry in the North. His ship docked there some 1500 years ago in Northern Ireland in Strangford Lough. The Young Ambassadors were fortunate enough to take not one but two boat trips through Strangford Lough. The first was on a modern sail boat, the second voyage on Strangford Lough was on a Viking Ship. The Viking Ship was a modeled replica of what the Vikings would have used to arrive in Ireland. I tried unsuccessfully to help rowing it, but with a total lack of any upper arm strength, the oar threatened to either hurl me across the boat or render the Ambassador next to me unconscious.

Last week I was in Dublin where I met with Michael Kelly, the Deputy Editor of the Irish Catholic, the largest Catholic newspaper in all of Ireland. We had a fantastic discussion about the Catholic Church in Ireland. Michael gave me a crash course in its history, his take on the current situation of the Church and some very interesting statistics. 60% of Irish Catholics attend Mass once a month and 46% attend Mass every week. These are statistics surpass those of many other countries and I was personally impressed to see these statistics come alive when I met with so many people that are grounded in their faith.

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Alessia Domanico

Politics are something that I would rarely associate myself with and a section of the newspaper that I’d normally use to wrap up my valuables rather than read. Working in media and television, I have been exposed to politics on a local, national and international scale. I was in the room last year at Queen’s Park the day  that John Tory resigned his role as Tory leader and he and his family were in tears. But that emotional display didn’t get me to sign up for CBC RSS feeds. Instead, I find my passion and interest for politics beginning here in North Ireland. The St. Patrick Centre has really opened a lot of doors here for myself and the other young ambassadors.

Being at Stormont for the past three days has been like a political immersion program. I am overwhelmed with how welcoming and open some of the politicians, civil servants and other Stormont staff have been with myself and the other ambassadors. I’ve been going to Stormont while the other ambassadors have gone to do other placements with hospitals, law firms, museums, Gaelic and heritage centres and outreach centres. I had done a significant amount of research back home on the political background of Northern Ireland over the past 40 years to better understand the Troubles and to anticipate what I could expect for when I got here. But, never in my wildest imagination did I think I’d be coming back three days in a row and be on a first name basis with some of the staff here.

I think what impresses me most is how the peace process is put into practice by the politicians at Stormont. Here we have Martin McGuinness as the current deputy first minister. This is an individual who in the past was a self-declared IRA (Irish Republican Army) commander. Now he’s working here in collaboration and harmony with politicians from different opposition parties. Go back to the early 1980s and a scenario such as this would have been an idea of a utopian society amidst all the violence that was taking place.

I don’t think I could have ever said that I felt sincere admiration for a politician, as I do for some of the individuals I’ve met up here…And I know, I know, politicians are charming and very good at convincing you to see them in a positive light. But there’s something different about these blokes and lassies. Maybe it’s because I’m getting this insider look, but this admiration is also attributed to my understanding of how far this institution has come from the Troubles to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement to today.

A wee bit of History..

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Alessia Domanico

And so begins my trip to the emerald isle. A six and a half hour flight to Dublin and a three-hour bus trip brought me to Dundrum, Northern Ireland.

I must say that I have never before seen a place quite like this. A ride through this country is like a 10-course feast for the eyes. Everything is beautiful and intriguing in its own way. Modern buildings and quaint homes line the cities, intermixing with older building and ruins from centuries before. The landscape is lush and full of history from a time that I can only  now read about. I think the locals on the bus thought I was crazy because I kept smiling ear to ear and taking photos through the glass of things we passed along the way, I got a kick out of seeing all the sheep, goats, horses and cattle I saw riding up. The fields are full of these beautiful farm animals, it’s really like something out of a movie. I wanted to jump off the bus and go play with the sheep, but I restrained myself… I could not a dreamed up a more picturesque setting.

When I presented my passport to the customs officer in Dublin he asked me where I was going. I told him that I’d be at the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick. He said “What’s that?” I said, ‘it’s a museum where St. Patrick is buried”. He replied “Oh wow, I didn’t even know that!” This was my first clear indication of the divide between the Republic or Ireland and the North. The people of the Republic are in many ways as unaware of the North as people in other nations like Canada would be. A place like the St. Patrick Centre really  does need the attention and recognition on a much larger scale than it presently has.

Although the people do speak English, I’ll tell you, when asking for directions, sometimes it felt like we were speaking two different languages. Some of the people I came into contact with spoke very quickly with an accent and words that aren’t typical of the Canadians vernacular. I must say though that I love love love the Irish accent and hope I develop one in the span of my stay here! So my luggage and I finally made it to the charming little cottages in the town of Dundrum, about a twenty-minute drive away from St. Patrick. The other Young Ambassadors who had arrived on an earlier flight from the United States greeted me. We are all girls, except for one, Ryan who will have to put up with this estrogen-fueled bunch for the next two weeks, he’s doing very well so far.

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Alessia Domanico