“I echo the desire of many in expressing my hope that the objectives outlined by the Paris Agreement do not remain simply as good words, but rather that they are transformed into courageous decisions!“ Pope Francis, Message for World Food Day, Oct. 14, 2016 Small family farmers are at the heart of ecological justice.  That’s the message Development ...read more

The summer is coming to a close and the Vatican is getting back into its typical routine.   Pope Francis, unlike his predecessors, never takes much of a break during the summer, despite frequent prompts coming from his inner circles: those concerned his busy schedule will negatively affect his overall health…and theirs.  But, as Austen Ivereigh ...read more

Show Mercy to our Common Home United with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, and with the support of other Churches and Christian communities, the Catholic Church today marks the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation”. This Day offers “individual believers and communities a fitting opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation, ...read more

Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Sì: Reflecting One Year Later In May 2006, former US Vice President Al Gore released the groundbreaking documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” While climate change debate has continued ever since, while concrete solutions seem to drip slower than maple sap in March. The question remains: are we willing to deal with this ...read more

It’s “Laudato si’ Week”, an anniversary movement to celebrate and implement the landmark encyclical of Pope Francis on care for our common home. As the website indicates, this week is about reflection and action; it’s about bringing the rich teachings of the document to life in our communities.  Last week I heard a wonderful story ...read more

I’ve always been interested in matters of science and of faith. Growing up, it never occured to me that there would be a conflict between faith and science or faith and reason, but as a young adult, these conversations became more and more common – and the consensus among some of my friends was that ...read more

The 2016 John M. Kelly Lecture University of St Michael’s College, Toronto St Basil’s Church, 21 March 2016 Laudato si’: Let’s Redefine “Progress” – Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson Introduction Thank you for the kind invitation to deliver the 2016 Lecture in honour of Basilian Fr. John Kelly, your illustrious President from 1958 to 1978. The ...read more

Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Archbishop emeritus of Cape Coast (Ghana),  will deliver this year’s John M. Kelly Lecture in Theology entitled Laudato Si’: Let’s Redefine” Progress,” on Monday, March 21, in St. Basil’s Parish at 7 p.m. While in Toronto, Cardinal Turkson will also celebrate the ...read more

It’s Solidarity Sunday across Canada! To remind us of the Lenten call to action on behalf of justice watch this episode of Catholic Focus with Emilie Callan on creating a climate of change with Development and Peace animator Luke Stocking. ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For February 2016, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Care for Creation – That we may take good care of creation–a gift freely given–cultivating and protecting it for future generations.  Asia – That opportunities may increase for dialogue and encounter between the Christian faith ...read more