Pope Benedict XVI will open the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East with Mass this Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Father is hopeful that the Synod, which runs until October 24th, will provide an opportunity to deepen bonds between members of the local Churches of the Middle East and the universal Church, ...read more

Have you ever had the experience of praying the Rosary and come to the end of a decade only to ask yourself: “Um, did I just say 10 Hail Marys?” Sometimes we lose our place, we get lost in the repetition, or we are distracted.  And when I say distracted, I’m not talking about wrapped ...read more

Every year around mid-December there is a blessing at the Sunday Angelus Address of angels and little Baby Jesus figurines. As you can see in the photo, it’s a cute scene to see young children gleefully getting their Baby Jesus figures blessed, so they can be laid in their Nativity scenes at home. And though ...read more

With his time at Castel Gandolfo behind him, Pope Benedict prepares for a busy fall. In this week’s Catholic News Service, Carol Glatz and John Thavis look at what’s upcoming for the Holy Father. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

October 1st!  The mornings here in Toronto are crisp and cool, the days are still warm and welcoming, the leaves are changing colour.  It’s a favourite time of year for me.  And as I’ve written in the past, liturgically it’s a great time for saintly celebrations: we’ve got the Archangels, the Guardian Angels, St. Jerome, ...read more

Earlier this year, Archbishop Michael Miller, of Vancouver, wrote: I urge you to recommit yourselves to the sacred cause of life and to help financially equip pro-life organizations, such as crisis pregnancy centres, to serve our communities. Even more, I urge you to become personally involved. Let us act in small and large ways – ...read more

John Paul II biographer George Weigel called him “the best English-language Vatican reporter in history.” His objectivity has even been described as “maddening.” John Allen Jr. will be in Toronto on Tuesday, September 28th, to offer the lecture: Covering the Vatican and the Church — A Vaticanista Reflects on Challenges Facing the Church Today. An ...read more

Season four of Lectio Divina gets underway this Sunday! Previously, Archbishop Collins has meditated on the Sermon on the Mount, the writings of St. Paul, and the Parables of Jesus. For the 2010-2011 season, Toronto’s chief shepherd will reflect on two books in Scripture. From September to January His Grace will focus on the Book ...read more

Ten days ago you may have seen a note on our Facebook page congratulating and offering prayers for Bishop Bergie as the new Bishop of St. Catharines.  Bishop Bergie had been serving as the Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of the Diocese of Hamilton. But that wasn’t the only change to take place in Hamilton. ...read more

It’s hard to believe that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United Kingdom has come and gone. After months of speculation and negative media, the trip unfolded smoothly and the Holy Father was warmly received by the majority of people. In this week’s Catholic News Service Vatican Report, Cindy Wooden and John Thavis review the ...read more