Perspectives Daily - Pope Francis' Holy Week Schedule

Noel Ocol

March 28, 2017
Following the resignation of its founding member Marie Collins, The Pontifical Commission that is charged with addressing clergy sex-abuse issues vowed to continue To seek input from victims & survivors.
The March 1st resignation of Ms. Collins from the The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, was a "central topic" during their plenary assembly last week. The commission "expressed strong support for her continuing work in promoting the healing of abuse victims and ensuring preventative best-practices. Despite this, commission members have unanimously agreed to find new ways to ensure its work is shaped and informed by victims. Several ideas that have been successfully implemented are being carefully considered for recommendation to the Holy Father. Commission members spoke of their willingness to work together with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to communicate "guidelines & templates" to episcopal conferences and religious congregations, both directly and through their website.
You can read the entire statement from the commission on their website at protection-of-minors.va
Mexicans who help build the wall along the US Border will be acting immorally and will be considered traitors. This statement was made by the Archdiocese of Mexico in its weekly newsletter Desde la Fe on Sunday
In the editorial, the Archdiocese warns that “Any company intending to invest in Trump's wall, would be immoral. And all its shareholders and owners should be considered traitors to the homeland.” It also stated, that “Signing up for that project is a serious affront to dignity, and is shooting yourself in the foot.”
The archdiocese also blasted "the economic authorities of the Mexican government, who has not moved firmly against these companies," which it says, is numbered the hundreds. For them, "the end justifies the means" the editorial said.
And while Mexico’s economic minister agrees it would not be in companies’ interests to participate in building the wall, the Mexican President has stressed that Mexico will never pay for a border wall.
The Vatican has just released the details, of the celebrations that the Pope will preside over during Holy Week and Easter.
On Palm Sunday, April 9th, the Pope will lead a procession for the blessing of the palm branches in St Peter’s Square at 10am, then celebrate the Mass of Our Lord’s Passion. On Holy Thursday, the Pope will preside at the Chrism Mass and bless the holy oils in St Peter’s Basilica, at 9.30am. The following day, Good Friday, he will lead the celebration of the Lord’s Passion in St Peter’s Basilica, beginning at 5 followed by the Way of the Cross, at the Colosseum. Easter Vigil in St Peter’s Basilica will be celebrated at 8.30pm and during the celebration he will administer the Sacrament of Baptism before con-celebrating Mass with the other cardinals and bishops.
Finally on Easter Sunday. The Pope will preside at the Mass of Our Lord’s Resurrection in St Peter’s Square at 10am
We will be broadcasting on Salt and Light, some of the events so be sure to check our online schedule listed below for details.
Here in Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins, the Archbishop of Toronto sent an open letter to the members of Ontario's Provincial Parliament asking the Ontario Government to enact into law, a Protection of Conscience-Rights for health-care workers who refuse to participate in the administering of euthanasia.
The open letter was released yesterday with respect to provincial Bill 84, an act that Legislates Medically Assisted Dying in Ontario
The Archdiocese of Toronto released a video today of Cardinal Collins explaining the moral issues at hand in relation to conscience rights in Ontario and the Bill. You can watch the Cardinal's entire video message on the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Youtube page listed below
And finally today, we had the great privilege of hosting the Basilian General counsel last Thursday, for an afternoon visit here at the Salt and Light studios.
Fr. George Smith the Superior General of the Order, along with the Vicar General, Fr. David Katulski, Fr. Jack Hanna, the Secretary-Treasurer General and the rest of the Basilian leadership joined the staff for a tour of the new studios, Mass and an afternoon of fraternity with the team. Here are some images of how the afternoon went.
And that is all that we have time for today. Join us again tomorrow when we bring you more of the latest news and stories through the Perspectives of a catholic lens.