I think the reason we love the Christmas season is because it evokes so many memories from our childhood, whether it’s playing board games, decorating the Christmas tree, singing carols, or just the excitement of a visit from Santa that sparks feelings of generosity and thankfulness in everyone.  But doesn’t it seem like there was ...read more

I’ve been contemplating what my New Year’s resolution should be. I couldn’t settle on which direction I should go so I went to Pinterest for inspiration. Luckily for me, Pope Francis is the most popular guy on the internet so he reached out to this wayward creature (and provided some much needed redirection) through a ...read more

First I want to express how deeply humbled I am at the trust and confidence the Lord has placed in me. I express my gratitude and devotion to Pope Francis who has chosen me for this role and to His Grace, Archbishop Prendergast for his constant support and encouragement. I feel that this is also ...read more

St. Andre Bessette, a member of the Holy Cross Brothers and founder of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. St. Andre was known for his intense piety, miraculous cures and for his dedication to the building of the shrine honoring St. Joseph. CNS photo/archives of St. Joseph’s Oratory ...read more

During his Sunday Angelus Address, Pope Francis Announced his upcoming trip to the Holy Land – May 24-26, 2014 Dear brothers and sisters, In the climate of joy typical of this Christmas season, I would like to announce that May 24-26, if it pleases God, I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The ...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

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

Pope Francis issued his Christmas greetings to the Roman Curia on Saturday. In his message, the Pope expressed the three hallmarks of a Curial official: professionalism, service and holiness of life. He urged the Curia to be “conscientious objectors to gossip” and expressed his gratitude for the dedicated service of the retiring members of the ...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 20, the antiphon is based on Isaiah 22:22, ...read more