In his General Audience today, Pope Benedict XVI told the people of L’Aquila and the region of Abruzzo (in which L’Aquila is located), “You are not alone, the Pope is with you. I am praying for you and I will come to see you as soon as possible.” Fr. Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesperson, confirmed that ...read more

Holy Week is always a little difficult for me, as I remember the Holy Weeks I spent living in Rome and yearn to go back. This week, Holy Week is again difficult, but for another reason. I’m waiting to hear back from friends and relatives who live in and around the epicentre of the 6.3 ...read more

Four years ago I was living in Rome. In 2005 Easter was “early” and it fell at the end of March. Being new to Rome and realizing I was living a once in a lifetime opportunity, I seized every opportunity that came my way to “do as the Romans do.” On Palm Sunday 2005 I ...read more

The Bible has been surrounded by such an air of reverence and holiness that for many it seems odd to think of reading the Bible as one might read the latest New York Times list best-seller. In some traditions it is actually seen as irreverent to do so. Thus we have come to rely on ...read more

This year some friends and I decided to have a Lent Support Group. Our reasoning was that it’s really easy to forget or slip up on our Lenten promises when it’s just between me and God….yes, he sees all but he can’t exactly smack your hand when you reach for the chocolate or shoot you ...read more

In the latest James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, 007 uncovers a powerful criminal organization’s plot to take control of the world’s most important natural resource: water. Bond launches into a mission to stop the villain from getting control of Bolivia’s water supply (and, coincidentally, avenge the death of his love, Vesper Lind… but that’s ...read more

Imagine you have a special needs child. Maybe they have Downs syndrome, maybe they have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, maybe they have Autism. Now imagine that you still want this child to learn about the faith, the faith that led you to keep them when doctors advised not to, or perhaps the faith that led ...read more

On this the World Day of the Sick, my attention can’t help but turn to something I read recently about nutrition. With the world’s financial system in tilt almost everyone is feeling a crunch of some sort. Even those not directly affected have tightened their belts just in case. This might mean passing up on ...read more

This past weekend, January 31st, was the fest of St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesian order of priests. I have a soft spot for Don Bosco, as he is commonly known. I grew up in a parish run by Scalabrinian fathers. The Scalabrinians were founded by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, who was close friends ...read more

As anyone who reads this blog will know by now, Vancouver has a new Archbishop, Michael Miller. This past weekend, a Salt + Light crew traveled to Vancouver to cover his Mass of Thanksgiving, which officially marks the beginning of his tenure as Vancouver’s spiritual leader. That Mass will air on Salt + Light this ...read more