BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Welcome to S+L’s Weekly News Round-Up. As the Director of Marketing and Communications here at S+L, many interesting Catholic news stories and articles come across my desk on a daily basis. Some of them we’ll cover on our different television programs and others I’d like to share with you on this blog. This blog column ...read more
It was 19 March 2013. Pope Francis had been elected just a few days before. He preached on Saint Joseph, the “protector” of Mary and Jesus[1], as a model of discretion, humility, silence, abiding presence and complete fidelity. The present Way of the Cross will make constant reference to the gift of our being “protected” ...read more
Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For April 2015, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Creation: That people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God.  Persecuted Christians: That persecuted Christians may feel the consoling presence of the Risen Lord and the solidarity ...read more
Canadian Premiere on Salt + Light Sunday April 12, at 9pm ET / 6pm PT A new Knights of Columbus produced documentary on St. John Paul II and his relationship with North and South America will air April 12 on Salt + Light. John Paul II in America: Uniting a Continent explores how the papacy ...read more
Pope Francis’ universal prayer intention for April is for Creation: That people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God. The environment is a topic that many do not expect the Church to be vocal on, but if you followed Pope Benedict’s many addresses, you would know that he ...read more
Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday – Palm Sunday – the beginning of Holy Week 2015. Please find, below, the official English translation of the Holy Father’s prepared text. At the heart of this celebration, which seems so festive, are the words we heard in the hymn of the ...read more
I set out to deacon-struct Holy Week and soon found that I was faced with a monumental task. I looked at each of the key moments of the Passion: the entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, the trial, the way of the Cross and crucifixion… the burial… there is so much there. I have ...read more
The Lenten Season is, par excellence, the time of inspiration.  At this time, we take deep breaths; we fill the lungs of our soul with the Holy Spirit and thus, without our realizing it, our breath will have the scent of Christ. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, First Lenten homily for 2015 reflecting on Evangelii Gaudium A good ...read more
Here are some of the things going on across Canada this week. In Montreal, Cardinal Jean Claude Turcotte has been entered palliative care. The RCIA program in Edmonton is overflowing. The Western Catholic Reporter explores why. An 80-year-old high school teacher in Vancouver makes headlines for refusing to slow down. And in Saskatoon, a Catholic ...read more
This week we focus on the details of the upcoming Holy Week liturgies. Catholic News Service has details on how Pope Francis and the Diocese of Rome are helping Christians in two areas where Christians have been hit hard with persecution: Iraq and Nigeria. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Holy Week and Easter approached, Pope ...read more