I’ve often puzzled over what Jesus meant when he said “Blessed are they who mourn”. Thankfully, in Episode 2 of Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism series we’re introduced to the teachings of Jesus and Fr. Barron explains that the beatitudes are a formula for practicing ‘detachment’. Now, most moderns conceive of happiness as freedom to do whatever they ...read more

By Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches Having been given wonderful breakfasts by our host Palestinian families, including in many cases home-made fig and apricot jams, having been shown their gardens of lemon and almond trees, we reassembled as The Path of Abraham. Our next stop was the Church of ...read more

Special Mass of Thanksgiving on the Occasion of the First Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. His Eminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, is the principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Apostolic Nuncio to the ...read more

  By The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches   Leaving our Kibbutz hotel, The Path of Abraham bus rolled towards Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation. This traditional place of the Annunciation to Mary that she would bear the Son of God, Jesus, is decorated with large mosiacs ...read more

This coming Friday, March 14th, as we mark Chiara Lubich’s entry into heaven we invite you to learn more about one of the Church’s great lay movements: Focolare. Founded by a young lay woman during wartime Italy the story of Chiara Lubich is truly extraordinary. It can be difficult to describe how the Holy Spirit is present in ...read more

“Whoever is not with me is against me” Matt 12:30 Talk about throwing down the gauntlet! Those unfamiliar with this passage from the Gospel of Matthew might be surprised to hear it was Jesus of Nazareth who first uttered these words. Words which are a stark contrast to the image of Jesus as gentle and peaceful. ...read more

  By Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton General Secretary, The Canadian Council of Churches It is day two, or rather day one and a half, of The Path of Abraham study tour. We started the day bright and early, well, at least early, as we boarded the bus at 7:00 a.m. to see the three very ...read more

The Reverend Dr. Karen Hamilton is the General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches. She will be sending photos and “notes” from the Holy Land where she is co-leading an interfaith study tour called In the Path of Abraham. by The Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton   The Path of Abraham has begun! The flights ...read more

Below is Pope Francis’ message to the faithful for Lent, 2014. Dear Brothers and Sisters, As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: “For you know the grace of our ...read more

  Fr. John Braganza, OSB Abbot, Westminster Abbey Mission, British Colombia A crazy thought for each of us: one of the deepest motivations of my faith and my vocation has been this: my life began not in my mother’s womb but in the heart of my Father in heaven who knew me in his Son ...read more