Yesterday morning, one of my colleagues came looking for advice from the S+L producers. As a parent facilitating a children’s catechism class, she wanted to know how to get kids excited about the spiritual meaning of Christmas. Soon, we were able to extract the root problem: she wasn’t feeling very enthusiastic about it herself. I ...read more

I know your works. You have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep that, and repent. That is an ...read more

First of all, this week’s episode of Perspectives is the first one to ever merit a “viewer discretion” advisory at the onset! And not without due reason; we have come to discover that many people have strong opinions about Santa and about the version of Christmas that he represents (particularly those under 12 years old). ...read more

It’s an interesting idea. Perhaps some would fear it borders on – at the very least – disrespect, if not sacrilege: Mary, tired after nearly 2000 years of immersing herself in other people’s prayers, finds a quiet home, owned by a quiet woman, and kicks of her Nikes to stay for awhile. But this idea ...read more

Over the past few days, I have heard some of the most moving and meaningful Advent homilies of my life. As a result, I felt inspired to share some of what I have been learning and so “The Word: Still becoming flesh” a new Advent episode of Catholic Focus is born! As a child, Advent ...read more

I remember when my wife was pregnant the first time: the excitement of this new life growing inside of her,  the first time we heard the heartbeat. We spoke to the baby, we sang to him, played music… Unfortunately for many women (and men) this is not the case. Some women feel scared to be pregnant. ...read more

Creamy risotto paired with a stuffed Ontario turkey marinated in herbs and cooked to a tender and succulent state. The meal is accompanied with a crisp Riesling from an award winning Niagara winery complimented with a fennel and olive salad. Now that I have your attention (and appetite), the menu I’m  so vividly describing does ...read more

For many of us, entering into the season of Advent is a tall order. The liturgies throughout this season are rich in imagery and anticipation and the scriptures call us to wait in “joyful hope” but all too often we don’t have the luxury of giving Advent the time it deserves. It seems that once Halloween ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI called on the universal Church to marked the first Sunday of Advent with a Vigil for Nascent Life.  Catholic News Service’s Carol Glatz and John Thavis have more on the Holy Father’s effort to promote the sanctity and dignity of life. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

We know the Catholic Church teaching on sex – even non-Catholics could quickly repeat the mantra, “No sex before marriage.” But how many of us can answer, with confidence and understanding, the “Why?” to that same teaching? On this upcoming episode of Word for Word, we open up books exploring the Theology of the Body, ...read more