A wife, mother of 10, grandmother of 36, and great-grandmother of 21, Giuseppina Gagliano was a remarkable woman of strength, faith, gentleness, and goodness. Growing up in Sicily at a time when Italy experienced many difficulties, Giuseppina emigrated to Canada with her husband Gaetano in the mid-1950s and continued to raise her family as her husband held down many jobs in order to provide for their growing household. In those first years in a new land, she knew many sacrifices and hardship as a newcomer to Canada, yet her joy was constant. With her friends and relatives, Giuseppina was a model Christian and great woman of prayer. She loved the Eucharist, Mary, and the saints, and her piety was an inspiration to all who knew her. In May 2004, Giuseppina and Gaetano Gagliano took part in the canonization ceremony of St. Gianna Beretta Molla at the Vatican. Shortly after the ceremony, the Gaglianos had a private audience with Pope John Paul II. The Holy Father thanked the Gaglianos for founding Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation a year earlier. Giuseppina cherished that memory of that blessed encounter throughout her life. After 70 years of marriage, in April of 2016, Giuseppina’s husband Gaetano died. Giuseppina has now gone to be with him and with the Lord she loved so much. Giuseppina and Gaetano, rest in peace. Thank you for all you have done. Bless us now from the window of the Father’s house.
At the Manresa Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering, ON, retreatants of all ages can encounter a God of surprises.
On December 7, Pope Francis will hold a consistory for the creation of new Cardinals. Then on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, he will preside over a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving with the new Cardinals.
As most longtime Catholics know, it’s easy to hear the Gospels repeatedly preached on Sundays, but not to understand, remember, or (consequently) truly value any of what you’d just heard.
Euthanasia is becoming accessible to an increasing number of Canadians. What should we know about these changes?
Twenty years ago, I was at a crucial point in my life. In 2003, I graduated from college and I began my Salt + Light Media career.