Last week we learned that the Church loves the poor. We have what we call a “preferential option for the poor.” The Church has been very good at caring for the poor and the needy worldwide. So why did Cardinal Hummes of Brazil tell Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, to “remember the poor”? Perhaps because ...read more

Last week, I went supper with a group of friends. All of a sudden, a friend sitting beside me took off his smartwatch and put it harshly on the table. I turned to him and he looked so angry. I thought it is because someone texted him something awful to make him angry. I asked ...read more

The Newman Centre at the University of Toronto hosted its first 3-day Regional Canadian Catholic Students Association Conference (CCSA) over the weekend of October 23 – 25. CCSA Conferences are organized annually to bring together students who are actively engaged in their university chaplaincies to network, to share best practices for mission and ministry, and to ...read more

Deacon-structing: All Saints with Deacon Pedro, in honour of All Saints day. ...read more

A priest of the Diocese of Derry, Fr. Brendan Collins discusses the historic referendum which legalized same-sex marriage in Ireland. How are you going to spend the next five minutes of your time?  You could browse social media or check your email, but how about meeting a fascinating person and learning something relevant that will ...read more

Below is the Vatican-provided translation of Pope Francis’ discourse at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall this afternoon: Dear Beatitudes, Eminences and Excellencies, Dear Brothers and Sisters, I would like first of all to thank the Lord, who has guided our synodal process in these ...read more

Pope Francis’ Address at Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops – FINAL TEXT October 17, 2015 Paul VI Audience Hall – Vatican City Your Beatitudes, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters, As the Ordinary General Assembly is in full session, this commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the institution of ...read more

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7) Dear Young People, We have come to the last stretch of our pilgrimage to Krakow, the place where we will celebrate the 31st World Youth Day next year in the month of July. We are being guided on this long and challenging path by ...read more

Here is some of what has been making headlines across the country: In light of the numbers of Syrian refugees trying to find a safe home, the Archdiocese of Toronto has launched “Project Hope” to sponsor 100 refugee families. Meanwhile the Archdiocese of Vancouver shares some of their experiences sponsoring Iraqi and Syrian refugee families. ...read more

James W. Foley, the American journalist and war correspondent that was the first American beheaded by ISIS in August, 2014, once said: “Drop a pebble in the water: Just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples Circling on and on and on, Spreading, spreading from the center, Flowing on out to the ...read more