BLOG: Saints and Blesseds,Special Events
On June 11th we celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas. The Church sees him as an apostle though he was not one of the twelve. We first hear about him in the Acts of the Apostles, where he is given the name Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4).  And he lived up to ...read more
February 11 will long be remembered as the day Pope Benedict announced his resignation – the first pontiff in 600 years to do so. But do you recall the event during which he made his stunning declaration? The Holy Father had convoked a meeting of cardinals to vote on three causes for canonization. As expected, ...read more
It’s a liturgy that most Catholics never get to experience: the ordination of a bishop. The faithful of Hamilton, Ontario, however, will have this privilege on Tuesday, May 7 – as will viewers on S+L television and online. That day, Fr. Daniel Miehm will be ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Hamilton. The ...read more
Pope Francis chose a fitting day to preside at the first priestly ordinations of his pontificate. Tomorrow, April 21, is the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, an occasion instituted by Servant of God Paul VI in the midst of the Second Vatican Council. The fourth Sunday of Easter also represents Good Shepherd Sunday, ...read more
Most dioceses in Canada have just come off celebrating the most important liturgical time in their calendar, that being Easter. But for one diocese on the west coast, the celebration continued as parishioners and lay faithful of Prince George, British Columbia welcomed Msgr. Stephen Jensen as their new bishop. This came on Tuesday, April 2 ...read more
Earlier today, Pope Francis took possession of his Cathedral, the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran. In fact, the Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. The local Church or diocese established in Rome was founded by the two Apostles Peter and Paul and sanctified by the lives of many ...read more
Vaticanists have been waiting with baited breath to see who will be Pope Francis’ personal secretary and who is named Secretary of State. The first appointment he made as pope, however, was the new Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The move shows two things: first, that the Holy Father still has his head and his heart ...read more
Most Catholics have either attended a wedding or priestly ordination before. But what about an episcopal ordination? Parishioners and lay faithful will have a front seat ticket, via the internet, to tonight’s episcopal ordination inside Sacred Heart Cathedral. The diocese of Prince George will be welcoming Msgr. Stephen Jensen as their 6th diocesan bishop with ...read more
Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi message — to the city (of Rome) and to the world — today at noon, Rome time.  The traditional message and blessing is given at Christmas and Easter.  The underlying theme of his address was peace throughout the world. The Holy Father called on the faithful to ask ...read more
Preaching at the first Easter Vigil of his pontificate, Pope Francis urged us not to be closed to the newness that God wants to bring into our lives. The Holy Father said that nothing remains as it was before, not only in the lives of the women at the tomb, but also in our own ...read more