It’s Christmas and all our worries- the food, the dinner guests, our families, the presents- seem to be multiplied. Jesus’ birth is supposed to bring us peace, but instead, during this time of the year, it seems that what we have least of is peace. And we go to Christmas Eve Mass looking for a ...read more

Refugees and the Elderly Are The Outcasts of Society Pope Francis on Sunday turned his attention to the dramatic predicament of migrants and refugees who not always find a welcome, but often become victims of human trafficking and slave labour. Speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Sunday Angelus, the Pope ...read more

By The Rev. Dr. Karen A. Hamilton, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches. Ah, the anticipation builds…. Some of us are anticipating that rustle of tissue paper and scrabble to untie ribbon that is Christmas morning. Some of us are anticipating the Hope, Peace, Love and Joy that is the reality of the ...read more

2013 has come to an end and so it’s time for our year-end-review. What are the highlights of this past year? What were the top news stories? What stands out the most in your mind? What’s your favourite Pope Francis moment? Join Deacon Pedro and our panel of S+L Producers, Cheridan, Alicia and Sebastian as ...read more

Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi Message on Christmas Day, 2013: Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom he favours (Lk 2:14) Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Christmas! I take up the song of the angels who appeared to the shepherds in Bethlehem ...read more

In the classic tale of Home Alone, Kevin has the opportunity to speak to an older gentleman who is struggling to have a relationship with his son. This might have only had been a short subplot within the classic, but it is a touching subplot we can learn a lot from. Christmas is a time ...read more

Homily of His Holiness Pope FrancisChristmas Midnight Mass25 December 2013 1. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1).This prophecy of Isaiah never ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas Night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves ...read more

You would think we are a religious nation. Some 1 in 3 Canadians – adding up to more than 10 million people – say that they are attending special Christmas services. To put things in perspective, that total in our allegedly secular nation easily exceeds the number of Canadians who earlier this year watched the ...read more

Pope Francis is gearing up for his first Christmas. Pope Francis paid an early Christmas visit to his predecessor, Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI, on Monday afternoon in the monastery Mater Ecclesia in the Vatican gardens. The two warmly greeted each other and prayed briefly in Benedict’s chapel. They had a private conversation and exchanged Christmas wishes. Pope ...read more

From December 17-23, I’d like to share with you these antiphons, that you will pray with them and they will help you continue to prepare for the Advent of our Lord. May they become part of your Advent tradition as they are becoming part of mine. For December 22, the antiphon is based on Isaiah ...read more