In a previous Catholic Focus, we looked at the little-known ministry of Canada’s military chaplains. While I learned much from preparing that program, particularly from Bishop Donald Thériault, the head of the Catholic military ordinariate, I don’t think I properly understood the dangers chaplains faced. That awareness came with the news that U.S. Army chaplain ...read more

Just over a week from now Pope Benedict will flying from Rome to Scotland to begin his Apostolic Journey to the United Kingdom. Organizers have been posting weekly audio updates on the official Papal Visit website.  The updates are short, and the page also has a transcription of the audio. It provides some nice background ...read more

As it has been for well over 120 years in Canada, this first Monday in September is Labour Day. I suspect we won’t spend a lot of time reflecting on work. We’ll be busy flipping burgers, or soaking up the last day of vacation before returning to school or the regular routine of the workplace. ...read more

After a long summer of brainstorming and “re-creating”, Perspectives Weekly is back in business! We are excited to showcase the fruits of our discussions and, thanks to your feedback, we have lots of fuel to keep the Perspectives fires burning well into the winter. The suggestions we have received cover a variety of topics; some ...read more

Cor ad cor loquitur — heart speaks to heart. That’s the motto Cardinal John Henry Newman chose for his coat of arms when he was given the red hat. Some 130 years later, it’s the theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Journey to the United Kingdom – a visit that will be highlighted by the ...read more

On a number of occasions this summer Pope Benedict XVI has invited the faithful to get to know the saints. In this week’s Catholic News Service Vatican Report, Carol Glatz and Cindy Wooden discuss the Pontiff’s promotion of the holy men and women who have come before us. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

A couple of weeks ago I went back to camp. I was reminded of my first job in Canada: I was a counsellor at Camp Wahanowin in Orillia. Camp Wahanowin is a Jewish camp and before every meal we used to say the blessing of the bread: Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, ha-motzi lechem ...read more

Every day I usually take a moment to take a look at the photos on the Catholic News Service newswire. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve come across heartbreaking photo after heartbreaking photo coming out of Pakistan, where flooding has devastated the region. At least four millions people have been left homeless — that’s ...read more

Do you really believe in conversion? You wonder this as you repeat those same sins in confession. You also struggle to believe that a dysfunctional family relationship could be transformed by God; it’s been a certain way for so long, you can hardly fathom what it would even look like. On a societal scale, when ...read more

In addition to a September 16th to 19th Papal trip to the United Kingdom which Pope Benedict has asked prayers for, September brings us the following papal intentions: General Intention: The Word of God as Incentive for Social Development That the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work ...read more