BLOG: Mary Rose Bacani Valenti
“Who? I don’t know who that is!” So say most of the young people whom I ask about St. John Vianney. If there’s one thing I can say I admire about St. John Vianney, it’s the complete abandonment of his life to God. Here is a simple man of no intellectual talents to boast of, ...read more
You have probably seen them in action in almost every parish – holding bake sales and other fundraisers, leading social justice activities, and meeting in the parish hall. They are the women of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada. But do you know what these ladies do beyond baking and meeting? Since its foundation in ...read more
It is always a pleasure for me to spend time with wonderful, faithful priests! During my visit to St. Peter’s Seminary, I was able to do an interview with Fr. Alan Momney, Formation Advisor and Spiritual Director; and with Fr. Bill McGrattan, Rector, for my Catholic Focus episode on St. John Vianney and the Year ...read more
This past Wednesday, June 3rd, was a special day for the Diocese of London. That night, the diocese held its first annual Bishop’s Dinner, with over 1200 guests and a lively performance from Natalie MacMaster and the Leahys. But leading up to that day were events with young people attended by London Bishop Ronald Fabbro ...read more
At 46, Bishop Mylo Vergara is the youngest bishop in the Philippines. He came to Toronto from the Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija — which is 160 kilometres north of Manila and has 21 parishes — to talk to the 530 young people at the OCY Celebration of Youth Banquet last night. OCY ...read more
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” So Archbishop Migliore quoted Shakespeare the Great in the homily for Thursday’s Mass at the close of the Catholic Social Teaching seminar in New York City. How appropriate it is that, just like the Apostles who were sent out by Jesus, we are also being sent back home to apply ...read more
Wednesday was the best day yet of the Path to Peace Foundation’s 2009 Catholic Social Teaching Seminar. Let’s just say it was an emotional day that increased our desire to change the world. Here was the line-up of activities: Three speakers in the morning about being witnesses for social change in Israel/Palestine and developing countries ...read more
An Ode to the Lady Being the Lady who is the Statue of Liberty Is a very difficult task. I try to be her, and so does the Basilian seminarian But we look like we’ve put on a mask. I must ask her when I next see her How she can look so calm and ...read more
On this day it seemed I walked everywhere and did everything: From Holy Family Parish for Mass; To the UN to hear from the Ambassador from Malta and from the Head of Delegation of The International Committee of the Red Cross; From the Sisters of Life Convent to hear about their work with women; To ...read more
I’d like you to take a few seconds to guess where I am in this photo. No, not in the market and no, not in a subway in Toronto. In this photo, I am stuck, very much like a sardine in a can, in a New York train with 51 young Americans and one Basilian ...read more