Ubuntu. Chances are many of you haven’t heard of this word until now. Pronounced “oo-boon-too”, this small African word represents big African philosophies. Derived from the Bantu languages of southern African (Swahili is one such language), ubuntu translates to “I am what I am because of who we all are.” This concept is especially foreign ...read more

World Youth Day pilgrims are internationally-renowned for being polite. So it must have been in hushed tones that some expressed their dissent. Not to Pope Benedict, who generated enthusiastic responses at the Cologne and Sydney events in ’05 and ’08, respectively. Nor to the selection of this year’s host city, sunny Madrid. But rather, displeasure ...read more

Mr. René Laprise has been appointed Director of Media Relations for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Mr. Laprise, who has acted as director of communications for the Archdiocese of Gatineau for the past 21 years, is a seasoned professional in Church communications. In 2001 and 2002, he worked for the organizing committee of World ...read more

The Vatican is using YouTube and Facebook to promote the upcoming Beatification of John Paul II. He will be named Blessed on May 1st this year. This official Facebook page and YouTube channel uses social networking tools to open up the vast documentary archives held by Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre. Using modern ...read more

Last Friday afternoon, I arrived at the 5th floor, resource Library of the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Toronto for a special book signing of Archbishop Thomas Collins’ new book, Pathway to our Hearts: A Simple Approach to Lectio Divina with the Sermon on the Mount. As many of you know, Archbishop Collins is a great fan of the tradition of praying with Scriptures. “Lectio divina” literally means “sacred reading” and in this book, Collins shares an accessible approach to and a fresh perspective on this ancient practice. Compiled from the transcripts of his first lectio series at St. Michael’s Cathedral, from 2007, the book invites readers to listen to the Word of God and ask what this word tells them about loving God with their mind, their heart and with their hands. The book is for anyone who wants to pray with the Word of God and develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. ...read more

Avoid being alone. Well, at least avoid the word “alone” when it comes to some theological arguments. That from Archbishop Thomas Collins in this month’s Lectio Divina. He’s speaking in the context of the Scripture passage that deals with faith and works: But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me ...read more

World Youth Day Madrid will be a totally “green” event according to organizers. In Madrid Thursday  morning the Main Events department and Zeroemissions, a Spain-based company that specializes in making large world events emissions free, announced plans to make WYD eco-friendly. Some of the initiatives aimed at making WYD environmentally friendly have never been seen ...read more

Does anyone have time for book clubs anymore?  While the idea is quaint, I can’t tell you how many times a group of friends and I have “committed” to reading numerous must-reads only to have them turn into “should-have” reads. Throughout the past week, though, a few of my colleagues and I had the privilege ...read more

In Ottawa, speculation is growing about a possible spring election. When the federal campaign officially begins, religious leaders want poverty reduction to be front and centre. On Monday and Tuesday, a coalition of faith leaders met with 15 Members of Parliament in Ottawa. Their ambitious goal was to launch a national conversation about poverty. The ...read more

It’s the perfect Lenten reading: Jesus of Nazareth – Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection.  The followup to Pope Benedict XVI’s first volume on our Lord is now available.  Catholic News Service’s Cindy Wooden and John Thavis offer a review. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more