Fat Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday. Pancake Tuesday. Call it what you want, it is the day before Ash Wednesday, and the day before the Church’s great penitential season of Lent. Lent is a time of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting… sounds pretty daunting — and kind of unsettling. It’s probably a good thing though for us to ...read more

As if they were the only two in Kelown’s Immaculate Conception Church, papal nuncio Archbishop Luigi Ventura preached much of his homily directly to Br. John Corriveau, who minutes later would be ordained Bishop. “When I informed you of the Pope’s appointment, you responded to me: “I give myself to the decision of the Holy ...read more

What kind of hopes fill our life? We may hope for a good job or a perfect relationship. Some may have simple hopes, like catching a bus on time. Others may have lofty hopes like winning the lottery. Whatever our hopes, I suspect it is rare for us to go a few days without expressing ...read more

[NOTE: This Wednesday, January 30th, marks the debut of a new Salt + Light Television series, Mothering, Full of Grace. You may remember Gillian’s previous entry on Mothering, Full of Grace, from the beginning of January. Click HERE to refresh your memory!] I always like it when people sign their letters with a thoughtful, “Take ...read more

The official celebrations of Quebec City’s 400th Anniversary are now underway. This is surely one of the only birthday parties where conversing about religion and politics—not to mention other touchy topics like immigration and language laws—is perfectly acceptable. By declining his invitation, the Pope decided against bringing to full boil Quebec’s debate over the role ...read more

On the feast of the conversion of St. Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will mark the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with a special ecumenical Vespers service. The Holy Father will preside over the solemn Vespers, which will be held at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Salt + Light ...read more

On May 4, 2008 the Catholic Church will mark the 42nd World Communications Day. This occasion was created by the Second Vatican Council to provide an annual message for the Church to its people and the rest of the world. Pope John Paul II, throughout his pontificate, made his annual letter for World Communications Day ...read more

The Papal Message for the 16th World Day of the Sick has been released. The day is held every February 11th on the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. The theme this year is “The Eucharist, Lourdes and Pastoral Care for the Sick,” and Pope Benedict notes there are two significant events this year in ...read more

As I began the long drive back to Toronto from Port Lambton, Ontario (near Sarnia), my eyes watered and I uttered an angry lament, I wish I could have known him. For a few hours, it felt as if I did know 21-year-old Private William Cushley. I sat with parents Errol and Elaine as they ...read more

This Friday marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Mindful of this, in his Wednesday General Audience, the Holy Father said: “It is indeed necessary to pray without ceasing, insistently asking God for the great gift of unity among all the Lord’s disciples. May the endless strength of the Holy Spirit ...read more