At first impact the phrase “the Cuban Church” sounds like an oxymoron, or a misnomer and thoughts of an underground catholic presence might spring to mind. That might have been true at some point. However, Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to the Island nation later this month shows that is not the case today, and ...read more

We are about halfway through lent already, the point at which many people begin to think “why did give up chocolate?” or “why did I decide to get up earlier to pray before I start my day?” It’s also the point when many people feel the need for more spiritual nourishment in order to get ...read more

March 8th is International Women’s day. In Canada not many people know what this day is, or remember to say “happy women’s day” to the women in their lives. When I lived in Italy and Spain this day usually arrived accompanied by Mimosas or other flowers. The Vatican news portal news.va published this reflection on ...read more

When we look at a conflict we always think of the innocent people who are suffering without any blame — the people who every day are fighting to survive, people who are persecuted just for being Christians. It is very difficult to watch TV and see my brothers in faith suffering just because they believe ...read more

If you could celebrate Easter anywhere in the world, where would you go? For many Christians like myself, the answer is obvious: the Holy Land, where Jesus experienced his passion, death, and resurrection. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is making this possible for two fortunate people. Holyland-pilgrimage.org is inviting would-be pilgrims to create a one-minute Youtube ...read more

Our friends at Catholic News Service recently released this video about the theologian of the papal household. The footage was courtesy of Kindly Light, the media production division of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. ...read more

Lent! Ahhh yes… the sweet smell of suffering! If you are fully embracing our great Catholic tradition of penance, I have a suggestion for a different kind of “fast” this year, one very appropriate for our age – A fast from media! “But Mark, we don’t want to put you (or S+L) out of a ...read more

For Christians the season of Lent is a time for reflecting on and confronting the reality of trials. These are periods in our lives filled with anxiety, doubt, anger, helplessness, and even despair; they are a part of our human experience. And it is not surprising that the Scriptures shed enormous light on the matter, ...read more

Yesterday, Wednesday February 29, Cardinal Thomas Collins celebrated his recent elevation to the cardinalate with a Mass of Thanksgiving at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Cathedral.  Toronto is a large archdiocese and, naturally, not everyone who wanted to attend could make it to the Mass. In order to include all of Toronto’s faithful in this joyful moment ...read more

Lent is a period of reflection and prayer, of looking for the meaning of our prayers. One community is intimately connected with this search is the Taize Community. The Taize community is an ecumenical society of more than 100 brothers who take vows and commit themselves to the apostolate of reconciliation. It began in 1940 ...read more