This title may prompt you to say: “Fasting for Lent is hard enough but fasting for Easter is just too much!” Indeed, a better title might be “Fasting because of Easter.” Whatever? Here’s the reason we fast — some people in the Gospel once asked Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast often, but Jesus’ ...read more

“I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” (John 15:15) This… this is true, quality friendship. This is our Lord, telling us he calls us friends and sharing with us all the love and grace and knowledge that comes from our Heavenly Father. ...read more

This past Sunday I pressed the reset button and recommenced Lent. Thankfully, 40 days allows time for a few false starts. My problem wasn’t that I chose overly challenging forms of fasting and abstinence—they were modest and achievable. Rather, when something doesn’t go your way in life, as was the case for me last week, ...read more

The history of the Catholic Church is filled with extraordinary personalities who were raised to the altar for their heroic virtues. One of the most fascinating personalities in recent church history is, without a doubt, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. This year marks the 40th anniversary of his death and it is a good time to ...read more

Who likes being organized? Sticking to a schedule? Maintaining a well-outlined plan? Well, this week’s episode of Mothering, Full of Grace has a plan… a Family Plan. Big families, small families, in-between families, host Rhea Johner gets us talking about God’s input in our family planning. We’ll also meet Bridget and Carlo Santaguida, parents of ...read more

“Have you any spare change?” If you’re a person who does much walking around a city these days you may recognize these words as the appeal of a street person. The “times” seem to be multiplying the number of people experiencing “hard times” – individuals who are depending on public charity for a livelihood. Thus, ...read more

The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion, and for this reason too it can and should be called “the domestic Church.” (21)- John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio Today in Ontario we celebrate “Family Day.” It’s a new civic holiday that was part of the Ontario Liberals’ election campaign. Political jockeying ...read more

… It’s Valentine’s Day, the day for romance, and what have I got to offer you for Catholic Focus tonight??? A lot of SILENCE…. But wait, silence not too far off from the theme of love. Because lovers who love don’t always need so many words to say to each other. Being in each other’s ...read more

Love is in the air. Or perhaps it’s the endless flurries that seem to be circulating around us here in Toronto. Regardless, today is Valentine’s Day, and card companies everywhere are excited to count their profits come February 15th. Maybe I’m being cynical, but isn’t Valentine’s day just a day of over priced roses with ...read more

Imagine a job that requires you be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pay is minimal and demands are high. Guaranteed to be moments of high stress. And duties include everything from chauffeuring, preparing meals, keeping staff in line, and cleaning up after everyone. Probably… there won’t be a long line-up ...read more