As you know, in this time of Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas, we prepare to welcome our Lord into our hearts.  It is a time of reflection, of penance, but also of subdued joy.  For some though, it can be a difficult time, particularly when December 25th arrives.  The joy of Christmas may ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s travel schedule for 2011 is quickly getting booked up after two Apostolic Journeys were announced within seven days. The Holy Father’s participation in World Youth Day Madrid, in August, had been expected for sometime.  In fact back in July he became the first pilgrim to register. It was also announced some weeks ...read more

A gathering of the College of Cardinals and a new interview book with Pope Benedict highlight this week in Rome. Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and John Thavis have more. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

As you may have read from our Vatican correspondent Alicia Ambrosio here, there’s been a lot of focus on Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks on condoms.  The comments come in the interview book “Light of the World,” which is released this week, but of which excerpts were published in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano on Saturday.  ...read more

This week brought some new developments from the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and Cindy Wooden explain one of those developments involves HDTV. To download Flash Player please click here > ...read more

The persecution of Christians has been on our minds and hearts over the last couple of weeks. Just this past week in Toronto there was an ecumenical prayer service; praying particularly for the 58 victims of the October 31st attack on a Syriac Catholic Cathedral in Baghdad.  The vigil was an event to remember those ...read more

“Let us pray.” Those were the first words that Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, made as the Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario. It’s that calling people to prayer that Bishop Crosby saw appropriate as his first action as Bishop. The 62-year old prelate was installed as the ninth Bishop of Hamilton this past Monday. ...read more

In just a few short hours, Bishop Douglas Crosby will be officially installed as the ninth Bishop of Hamilton, Ontario. You can a special LIVE stream on our Bishop Installation Mass page on November 8th beginning around 2:30pm ET. (a procession of priests and Bishops is to begin at 2:40pm ET, while the Mass begins ...read more

Trahe nos.  Draw us. That’s the motto of Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI. On Monday, November 8th, he will be installed as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario. Regarding the motto, the 62-year old prelate explains that Jesus says no one can come to me unless through the Father (John 6:44).  To this, ...read more

Though today we celebrate all the many wonderful holy men and women who have gone before us, November is traditionally a month where we remember our dearly departed, the poor souls in purgatory. We may also want to regularly call to mind the Papal intentions for this month.  Pope Benedict XVI’s general prayer intention for ...read more