“I will not leave you orphans” (Jn 14:18) The central purpose of Jesus mission, which culminated in the gift of the Holy Spirit, was to renew our relationship with the Father, a relationship severed by sin, to take us from our state of being orphaned children and to restore us as his sons and daughters. ...read more

Here is a look at the vast and varied things that we’ve been reading about across the country this week: The Fort McMurray fire is still very much front and centre this week. The WCR has this special report about what its like to fight Alberta wild fires. In Saskatoon, the Prairie Messengers is offering ...read more

Pope Francis will ask the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation to study the issue of women deacons. The pope announced the decision during a question and answer session with participants of the International Union of Superiors General plenary assembly. During a question and answer session with the nearly 900 religious sisters taking part in the meeting, Pope ...read more

The head of the International Union of Superiors General on Friday shared details of the organisation’s meeting with Pope Francis, including his comments on women in leadership and the possibility of their being readmitted to the diaconate. Sr Carmen Sammut, the president of the UISG and superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady ...read more

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” Cicero Subject Matters is a brand new series on Salt + Light Television that promotes the reading and writing of books in our time. As digital content becomes more prominent and accessible, books are becoming more peripheral in people’s lives. But are they still ...read more

The Henri Nouwen Society is delighted to welcome popular writer, columnist, and spiritual memoirist Anne Lamott to Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, on Friday, May 13, 2016 at 8:00 pm. An enthusiastic admirer of Henri Nouwen, Anne will share her unique perspective on living a spiritual life, warts and all, with raw and disarming honesty. ...read more

Recently, while in Edmonton during the Every Life Matters series, I overheard someone say that the Catholic Church had two preferential options. I had heard of the preferential option for the poor but had never heard of the preferential option for life. Life is the one inalienable right upon which all the other inalienable rights ...read more

Reflecting on the First Chapter of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family Pope Francis’ recent Apostolic Exhortation on love in the family, Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”), is a treasure trove reflecting the beauty of family life. In his introductory paragraphs the Holy Father uses the image of a “multifaceted gem” ...read more

(Perspectives Weekly: Catholic Update with John Thavis premiered Friday, May 6th on S+L TV.) Things are always happening at the Vatican and throughout the Catholic world that warrant discussion and analysis.  One of the most widely respected commentators or “Vaticanistas” is John Thavis, former Rome Bureau Chief for Catholic News Service.   Thavis retired from his ...read more

Almost three months ago I ended this column by mentioning that someone had sent me a comment about another post. I had said something about the permanency of doctrine and that person was challenging (I think) my use of the word doctrine. Perhaps (I surmise) I should have used the word “dogma.” At any rate, since then, ...read more