What sort of teenagers get involved in gangs? And what does a gang-plagued community look like? Before I began researching the issue for the S+L documentary Changing Course, my mind would conjure the usual stereotype of disaffected thugs congregating near austere social housing complexes. The most troubling aspect of this popular image of street life, ...read more

As June rolls around this year, I am reminded of the International Eucharistic Congress held in Quebec City last year. It was an intense week of catechesis and witness talks, beautiful Masses, a powerful Ordination Mass (which will be broadcast Saturday, June 27 at 7.30 pm ET) and a very wet and chaotic closing Mass! ...read more

I often ask people if they could name one great theme that runs throughout the Bible, what would they say? Many give the answers you would expect: love, mercy, trust or something of the sort. However, one of my students very quickly responded, “waiting” – with a bit of frustration, I might add. An entire ...read more

Pentecost had an added Marian flavour this year, as the great solemnity fell on May 31st — the last day of the month dedicated to Mary, and also the feast of the Visitation. Pope Benedict XVI tied the Vistiation into his Regina Caeli address in St. Peter’s Square: The young Mary who, carrying Jesus in ...read more

Four weeks ago I introduced you to Jerry Grzadka, organizer of the nine-week walking pilgrimage from Midland, Ontario to Quebec City featured in 64 Days with the Ark. One of Jerry’s most difficult tasks was finding people who were willing and able to complete the arduous trek. Though dozens signed up to carry the Ark ...read more

At 46, Bishop Mylo Vergara is the youngest bishop in the Philippines. He came to Toronto from the Diocese of San Jose de Nueva Ecija — which is 160 kilometres north of Manila and has 21 parishes — to talk to the 530 young people at the OCY Celebration of Youth Banquet last night. OCY ...read more

“The tyranny of the autonomous self. ” What an interesting phrase to consider. It’s a phrase from Bishop John Corriveau at the latest edition of Nothing More Beautiful. As many of you know, Nothing More Beautiful is a five year initiative of the Archdiocese of Edmonton featuring catechesis and witness talks that aim to renew ...read more

As a follow-up to Sunday’s entry about Pope2You.Net — the Vatican is reporting that in its first day of operation the website received half a million visits. Webmaster Father Paolo Padrini of Vatican Radio, said the site is intended “to create a climate of belonging, of participating in the Church, through ever greater closeness with ...read more

If you missed it when it first came out in January, you may want to check out Pope Benedict XVI’s MESSAGE for the 43rd World’s Day of Communications, which we mark today. It’s worth the read, particularly as it discusses how relationships are being formed by new technologies ( I’m thinking particularly of Facebook or ...read more

On April 15th, Ron Howard’s latest film adaptation hit the big screens. This time he brought to life Dan Brown’s thriller Angels & Demons. I read the book about two years ago while I was living in Rome. I would describe the book as a page-turner, the exact type of book you’d like to be ...read more