World AIDS Day

Although a lot of the initial hype with the “red ribbon” has diminished, the sad reality of HIV and AIDS continues, especially in developing countries. There are certainly a variety of factors like poverty, drug use and promiscuity which is a part of the problem but ultimately AIDS is a disease. Let us pray for [...]

Read Full Post »

39 things to do for Advent!

Fr. Tom Rosica, csb, CEO of Salt+Light Television here in Toronto is a dedicated religious, a dynamic priest and wonderful friend. He’s shared with me a column he wrote about Advent. Fr. Tom mentions some of the things that we might consider for this Advent when we recall our great relationship with God and prepare [...]

Read Full Post »

Walmart employee murdered

Did you see the news about the 34 year old temporary worker at a Long Island, NY Walmart who was murdered by a hoard of people rushing through the doors, whose hinges had been removed by the waiting public. The doors fell on the employee and hundreds of people walked over the doors, and him [...]

Read Full Post »

Obama and family volunteer at Chicago food pantry

From the change.gov website press release, here’s an interesting story about President-Elect Obama visiting an African American Catholic parish and school in Chicago. It’s here that Mr. Obama got some of his “hands-on” experience in community work. This was no photo-op… Obama was returning where he had already been and was known. Pretty impressive.
Wednesday, November [...]

Read Full Post »

“Jane” Roe of Roe vs. Wade

Here’s a sensitive and compelling video from Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark abortion case in the United States. This is a difficult and sensitive issue that requires personal witness like this that changes people’s hearts. The best strategy for promoting a respect for life is to show the consistent [...]

Read Full Post »

Church attendance helps women live longer!

A study in the United States at Yeshiva University`s School of Medicine has shown that women who attend a religious service once a week have a reduced risk of death. (I wonder if they looked at whether the women in question were married and attending without their husbands. Was it a break from their spouses [...]

Read Full Post »

Patriarch asks for pilgrimages to Bethlehem

In a recent article in Toronto`s Catholic Register, Michael Swan reports on recent comments by the Latin-Rite Patriarch of Jerusalem on the current peace proposal from Saudi Arabia as well as the role of pilgrims to the Holy Land and especially Bethlehem. The patriarch`s view is precisely why the pilgrimage that I am preparing will stay [...]

Read Full Post »

Eli Stone cancelled?

So is it true? One of the better TV shows is being cancelled. Ok, this season was a little tough to get into as they made so many changes… but it was picking up. TV networks don’t give people a chance to settle in to a show, especially when they change the time slot. It [...]

Read Full Post »

Roof Update et alia

Despite the unseasonably cold weather and some snow the roofing is proceeding well. The skylights on the south roof were removed and covered with wood while waiting for the new ones to arrive. They will sit “prone” to the roof (higher) to prevent water from getting in (please Jesus!). We have to wait for the [...]

Read Full Post »

R.I.P.

Monsieur Raton gave it up at the 5:00 PM liturgy on Saturday. I saw him under one of the radiators in the chapel.  One of the parishioners (you know who you are) graciously disposed of our brother and took him to his place of rest. According to witnesses, he was possibly a large mouse rather [...]

Read Full Post »