“Whoever is not with me is against me” Matt 12:30 Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! Those unfamiliar with this passage from the Gospel of Matthew might be surprised to hear it was Jesus of Nazareth who first uttered these words. Words which are a stark contrast to the image of Jesus as gentle and peaceful. ...read more

The incarnate Son of God did not remove illness and suffering from human experience but by taking them upon himself he transformed them and gave them new meaning. New meaning because they no longer have the last word which, instead, is new and abundant life; transformed them, because in union with Christ they need no ...read more

Who doesn’t like a good old fashioned public debate? The prospect of two sides of a contentious issue going toe-to-toe in a public forum…exciting! Besides the inherent drama, public debates are useful because they clarify the basis of our own beliefs while allowing for a deeper understanding of what others believe. It’s a great way ...read more

By Elizabeth Krump “Keep the youth close to you: they will keep you young and faithful.” These are telling words that Blessed John Paul II shared with Fr. Thomas Rosica in the later days of his pontificate. John Paul II had a great love for all young people, until the very end of his life. There ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI gave the following homily at an ecumenical prayer service in Erfurt, Germany during his last papal visit to that country in 2011. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through them” (Jn 17:20). According ...read more

Dear migrants and refugees! Never lose the hope that you too are facing a more secure future, that on your journey you will encounter an outstretched hand, and that you can experience fraternal solidarity and the warmth of friendship! To all of you, and to those who have devoted their lives and their efforts to ...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

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

There are few Toronto Catholics (especially those who frequent the downtown core) who aren’t well-acquainted with St. Michael’s Choir School. They’re a regular feature at St. Michael’s Cathedral. It’s a rare treat though to interview them, and I was glad to have an opportunity to speak with the Choir’s talented conductors and singers on the ...read more

This past weekend, I had the great honour to speak at the Inaugural Women’s Conference for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. It was a soulful and joyful experience to be gathered together with women of faith from all walks of life, sharing and learning together. After the talk, several women inquired if the talk would be ...read more