BLOG: Advent and Christmas,Faith Education,Liturgical,Prayer
Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Benedict XVI. For January 2013, we join the Holy Father in praying for: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him. ...read more
This post was submitted by Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches.  A question that I often ask preachers and pastors is whether anyone in their congregations ever complains if the worship service goes longer than an hour and a half. At least, I ask Roman Catholic and Protestant preachers ...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 23, the antiphon is based on Isaiah ...read more
The feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in the Christmas season and through Matthew’s Gospel we become aware of the visit of the wise men or Magi who come in search of the Christ child so that they might present their gifts. It is interesting that in the homily of an early saint and bishop ...read more
Pope Benedict’s third volume of “Jesus of Nazareth” demonstrates that the nativity has profound significance for our faith lives — and not just during the Christmas season. Dr. Josephine Lombardi, professor at St. Augustine Seminary, and Fr. Thomas Rosica, Salt + Light’s CEO, share what they’ve learned from the Pope’s latest book. This new episode ...read more
In the Jubilee Year of 2000, John Paul II made a very insightful statement.  He said: “Our Christian witness would be hopelessly inadequate if we ourselves had not first contemplated the face of the Lord.”  The same might be said of our fully entering into the Christmas season. Christmas is a time in which we ...read more
Earlier today, Salt + Light (together with the world) heard the devastating news out of Connecticut.  There was a shooting at an elementary school that has left 27 people dead, including 18 children. Exact numbers have yet to be released. This could quite possibly be one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, even ...read more
When Christmas is near, we all become traditionalists. Even the most anti-establishment types among us are horrified by attempts to alter our treasured rituals. As one example, Toronto shoppers were aghast at the unveiling of the modernized Christmas tree in the Eaton Centre shopping mall. Replacing the traditional, Swarovski-bedazzled faux-fir of years past, this year’s ...read more
On this month’s edition, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto continues his series of reflections on the Year of Faith by looking at chapter six of John’s gospel and his message on Faith and the Bread of Life. Join us for our fourth installment of Lectio Divina at the following times: Sunday, December 9 9:00 pm ...read more
The seasons of Advent and Christmas seem to come so quickly and to be filled with many activities to say the least. In the everyday planning and preparations for family and community celebrations there are inevitably certain individuals who for whatever reason go unnoticed or unrecognized. They make important contributions.  They are invaluable in their ...read more