BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Stressing out is a natural reaction a person has towards a difficult situation. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m no class act when it comes to sweating the small stuff. When life gives me lemons I don’t always think to add the sugar right away. After the fact I’ll reflect on God, pray ...read more
Today he is 165 years old.  If he were still alive, that is. Even before he died in 1937, people all over the world regarded him as a saint.  About two months from now, on October 17th, Brother André Bessette CSC will be the first Canadian-born male to be officially named a saint by the ...read more
A little boy once came across a sparrow laying on his back with his feet sticking up to the sky.  The boy looked at him and asked “Sparrow, why are you lying on his back on your back with your feet pointing up to the sky?”  The sparrow replied, because if the sky falls, I ...read more
In Washington D.C. our Salt + Light team came across a young man from Kansas who comes from a long line of Knights of Columbus in his family. He’s eagerly awaiting his 17th birthday so he too can join the Catholic fraternal organization. I spoke with him about why he wants to be a Knight: ...read more
Even before the G8 and G20 Summits began, the world’s religious leaders were under no illusions that they could greatly influence the politicians. Still, eighty faith leaders were gathered in Winnipeg for their own assembly. While they were confident they had something important to say, many had been through this before, and they kept their ...read more
As we have discussed over the last three days the theme of the Knights of Columbus’ 128th Supreme Convention has been I Am My Brother’s Keeper. On the third and final day of the Convention, the Knights remembered their deceased brothers and family with Mass, on the memorial of the dedication of the Basilica of ...read more
A few weeks ago, my mixed feelings about multi-faith advocacy were brought to the surface. Before I confess my misgivings, I must tell you that I’m especially indebted to people of other religions and denominations. When I was an agnostic high school student, a Bahá’í friend stoked my interest in God by inviting me to ...read more
With the opening formalities out of the way, today, the second day of the 128th Supreme Convention, the Knights of Columbus get down to business. Mass this morning was celebrated by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia at 8:00am. He reminded the congregation that today is also the feast day of Saint John Vianney, the patron saint ...read more
Happy 400th Anniversary to the Mi’kmaq First Nations people. The Mi’kmaq peoples’ annual St. Anne’s Mission took place in Cape Breton this weekend. St. Anne’s Mission is one of the longest running annual assemblies in North America. They meet each year to celebrate their faith and promote their culture. This year was particularly special as ...read more
Today was the first day of work at the Knights of Columbus Supreme Annual Convention in Washington D.C. Traditionally the convention kicks off with a concelebrated Mass at the conference venue. This year was a little different and whole lot more spectacular. The opening Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of ...read more