My mind was already on air travel when news broke of “the Miracle on the Hudson”–last Thursday’s casualty-free crash of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. In my quest for a cheap ticket for Rome, I had been searching the airline’s website that morning. According to one source, the odds of dying in an plane accident are ...read more

Though Mexico City does seem appealing this time of year, attending the 6th World Meeting of Families just isn’t possible for most of us (especially those with children). Nevertheless, the Church’s Apostolic Penitentiary announced on Saturday that you will receive a plenary indulgence if you participate from afar. How? The Plenary Indulgence may be obtained ...read more

It’s a fair question: why would 600 students spend five days of their Christmas break at an religious conference? And just what attracted three archbishops, along with many priests? What could be newsworthy here to merit the attention of our Salt + Light cameras? As tipsy revelers filled Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, a different kind ...read more

Few of the S+L hosts and writers remain in Toronto for Christmas. Among others, one is in Vancouver, a few are with relatives in New York State, and I’m in the northern Ontario town of Deep River. The pace here is a little slower, allowing a little more time to get reacquainted with old friends ...read more

Every Fall, S+L covers the CCCB Plenary Assembly, the bishops’ national gathering in Cornwall, Ontario. This year, though, it turns out that we were also a topic of their discussions. On November 19th, CCCB President Archbishop James Weisgerber wrote Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB to congratulate S+L for its many accomplishments since its 2003 inception. Archbishop ...read more

I was returning to my apartment building one week ago when a 30-something smoker tried to strike a conversation. It was raining and well past midnight, but I obliged by seconding her complaints about the weather. “Would you like some company?,” she then asked. Her name was Donna. By “company” she meant the paid, sexual ...read more

This past weekend I enjoyed a visit by some campus lay missionary friends from Kingston, Ontario. As we reconnected over all-you-can-eat sushi, they inquired about my recent stay in Rome. It was clear from their questions that they, like most Catholics, hadn’t followed the Synod of Bishops too closely. In their defense, not everyone has ...read more

Before I return to Toronto, I would like to highlight one final result of the Synod of Bishops that may result in a national event on the Word of God. Back on October 8th, Bishop Luc Bouchard asked the synod to consider launching an international congress on Scripture, similar to the International Eucharistic Congresses. The ...read more

Before he returned to Canada, Cardinal Marc Ouellet graciously granted us an interview outside Paul VI Hall. The ever-candid Archbishop of Quebec City revealed why Pope Benedict released the synod propositions to the media, why the synod perhaps generated less headlines than it should have, and which topics he hopes the next assembly will discuss. ...read more

Paul’s encounter with the glorified Lord on the way to Damascus convinced him that Jesus had died and risen for him and for all. The mystery of the Cross showed him the power of God’s merciful and saving love. As Paul told the Corinthians, he came not to preach in lofty words or wisdom, but ...read more