During my recent trip to Calgary, Alberta, I had the chance to explore first hand some of the incredible initiatives of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. For years I had heard of the movement’s growth and good works but had always remained a bit off put by the movement’s affinity for ‘public displays of worship.’ A ...read more

Every weekend, the revolving-door cast of 64 Days with the Ark would ritualize their changes with a short ceremony. New pilgrims joining the pilgrimage would receive navy portageur hoodies and red bandannas. Those who had to return home were presented with wooden crosses carved from sticks found along the route. My arrival in Trois-Rivières, Quebec ...read more

It’s still over two years away, but already there’s a buzz about World Youth Day in Madrid. More accurately, there’s a ringing… as in a cell phone ringing. Last week Zenit News released an interview with Santiago De La Cierva, Director of Communications for WYD Madrid 2011, who is also the founder of the Rome-based ...read more

As a young Catholic student in university I went through the usual struggles with my faith. I was helped, to a large degree, by a kind priest-chaplain who recommended a book which has remained a personal favorite. Thomas Merton’s brilliantly written (the book should be mandatory reading for writers as well as the spiritually hungry) ...read more

This past Wednesday, June 3rd, was a special day for the Diocese of London. That night, the diocese held its first annual Bishop’s Dinner, with over 1200 guests and a lively performance from Natalie MacMaster and the Leahys. But leading up to that day were events with young people attended by London Bishop Ronald Fabbro ...read more

For the last five months, we’ve been taking the best of S+L on to the airwaves, through our new program S+L Radio, on the The Catholic Channel, which is available through Sirius Satellite Radio, channel 159 and XM Radio 117. All the programs are also available for streaming and downloading off our webpage: www.saltandlighttv.org/radio, and ...read more

What sort of teenagers get involved in gangs? And what does a gang-plagued community look like? Before I began researching the issue for the S+L documentary Changing Course, my mind would conjure the usual stereotype of disaffected thugs congregating near austere social housing complexes. The most troubling aspect of this popular image of street life, ...read more

As June rolls around this year, I am reminded of the International Eucharistic Congress held in Quebec City last year. It was an intense week of catechesis and witness talks, beautiful Masses, a powerful Ordination Mass (which will be broadcast Saturday, June 27 at 7.30 pm ET) and a very wet and chaotic closing Mass! ...read more

I often ask people if they could name one great theme that runs throughout the Bible, what would they say? Many give the answers you would expect: love, mercy, trust or something of the sort. However, one of my students very quickly responded, “waiting” – with a bit of frustration, I might add. An entire ...read more

Pentecost had an added Marian flavour this year, as the great solemnity fell on May 31st — the last day of the month dedicated to Mary, and also the feast of the Visitation. Pope Benedict XVI tied the Vistiation into his Regina Caeli address in St. Peter’s Square: The young Mary who, carrying Jesus in ...read more