While I can’t always understand them, Rome is full of interesting characters. It’s for them that I’ve attempted to become an extrovert since I arrived nearly two weeks ago. Andre Koekenhoff (right) is the Thermovolt site manager for the solar panel project atop the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, where most of the Synod of Bishops ...read more

How do you solve a problem like Maria? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you find a word that means Maria? A flibbtijibbet! A will-o’-the-wisp! A clown! Singing yet? I would guess that 92% of this country (random calculation and not scientific) have some concept of The Sound of ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI attended the world premiere of “Testimony” with good reason.  Certainly, a John Paul II biopic is timely, given that today marks the 30th anniversary of his pontifical election. And yes, some visual stimulus is in order for the Synod Fathers, who have daily endured the rigorous schedule of long speeches. However, the ...read more

Today’s Zoom story about he anniversary of John Paul II ‘s election as Pope brought back some happy memories. No, I’m not old enough to remember his election. (to be honest, I didn’t exist yet). Living in Rome from 2004 to 2007, I discovered how deeply entrenched the image of Pope is in the consciousness ...read more

I don’t know about you, but I am one of those people who believes that, in many cases, it’s best to leave religion out of the ProLife arguments. I’ve been in too many situations with non-believers for whom “life is sacred” means nothing. When they challenge you with “why is life sacred?” you can’t just ...read more

October is the month of the Rosary. Celebrate with us, as we bring you a new program from Family Theatre Productions that points us in the direction of Mary. Coming to Salt + Light Television Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, is the hour-long drama Finding Mary. Based on the Coronation of the ...read more

World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia seems like such a long time ago.  Since I’ve been back in the office, it’s one project after the other! Being young and healthy, I haven’t thought much of death and where I’d like to be buried!  And I never really thought much about why I should look ...read more

Today’s the day! It’s Election Day across the country! And while Canada’s campaign may have been overshadowed by our louder neighbours to the south preparing for their own ballot-taking in November, this by no means lessens the importance of our own vote, selecting and supporting a party that we think will do best for our ...read more

Today I give thanks for… traditions. As a member of a many-generation Canadian family, we tend not to consider our holidays to be infused with any kind of grand, cultural traditions. Instead, ours are just run-of-the-mill, nothing extraordinary, meat-and-potatoes kind of holidays. But, to a certain extent, those meat-and-potatoes are our traditions. Any of our family holidays – ...read more

This has been my sixth day in Rome. While I’m eager to share my perspective on the Synod of Bishops, I must first recount the beautiful scene this morning at the Canonization Mass, as seen from my breezy vantage point next to the Saints above the the south-west colonnades. “God, who does not wish for ...read more