The Pope, Grade 3's & Panic - Rome in a Day!

Wednesday of our pilgrimage to Rome is in the history books. We certainly packed a lot into the experience. We started out the day with Mass at 8:00 a.m. at the Teutonic College literally between St. Peter's Basilica and the Paul VI Audience Hall. The location for Mass, literally next to a graveyard and the spot where many believe Christian martyrs shed their blood for the cause, was an intimate start to the day that allowed us to ground ourselves and begin the day in prayer.
Following Mass, we made our way (through the side entrance) of the Paul VI Audience Hall. If you haven't been to Rome before, Wednesdays are special as most midweeks throughout the year provide an opportunity to see the Pope up close at the weekly Papal Audience.
The audiences have kept relatively predictable in their content - brief prayer, reflection from the Holy Father, presentation of pilgrims from around the world, final prayer, dismissal. The audience hall seats more than 5,000 and every seat was full today. Getting to Vatican events early is a necessity especially during a consistory week and today was no exception - 2 hours was enough to guarantee we were in the first 10 rows of the Audience Hall, a great vantage point to take it all in.
It's also special when you know some of the "characters" involved in bringing the audience to life. Many folks from the Archdiocese of Toronto will know Fr. Owen Keenan, a Toronto priest who works in the Papal Household at the Vatican and has the responsibility of announcing the various english groups that are in attendance during the audience.

For the uninitiated, the presentation of pilgrims is a wonderful experience, heartfelt pilgrims and part street theatre with announcements of language groups literally spanning the globe. Priests stoically announce groups in Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, French, German and English to name a few. Once your group is acknowledged, you make a loud cheer, sing a song, wave a banner or even in today's case, hold up your baby (a large family organization from Italy was in attendance full of toddlers smiling and waving - see pic below). Throughout the experience, the Holy Father waves and smiles, providing the ultimate "Papal" moment (people can claim for years that "he waved at me") before sitting down in their places. See below a sample of our Canadian contingent...

At the end of the audience, a small group are invited to come and personally meet the Holy Father. Cardinal-designate Collins actually had the chance to meet the Pontiff along with other bishops and cardinals present for the audience. Likely a case of "I'll see you again later this week" as the cardinal to be will have no less than four moments with the Pope over the course of the week. A wonderful expression of the diversity of our global church, it's definitely worth the experience if you ever make your way to Rome.

The afternoon was a free one for our pilgrims. Yours truly and resident photographer Emanuel Pires, hit the hustings for a round of media interviews with the Cardinal-designate on the rooftop of what is affectionately known as "Maria Bambina" a residence for nuns and the odd traveler. It also plays host to one of the most beautiful and scenic rooftops in Italy. It's rumored that a major American network was renting the rooftop out for years at the tune of $5,000/month in anticipation of the passing of Pope John Paul II.

Today it was home to our media interviews and an interactive SKYPE session with students from the Cardinal-designate's alma mater, Bishop MacDonnel SS in Guelph as well as students from Holy Rosary elementary school in Malton. If you're not familiar with SKYPE, put simply, it's a video phone call over a computer or in our case an Ipad.

I'd love to say the SKYPE session was seamless - it wasn't. You quickly learn one of the most unpredictable parts of life in Rome is the intermittent wi-fi and cell phone signals. Not the best mix when you're coordinating media relations for a very critical juncture in the life of the Canadian church. So there were one, no two, no maybe 16 mini heart attacks when 10 minutes before our scheduled chat - with media on the rooftop in Rome, in schools in Guelph and Malton, the signal gave way.

Sprinting downstairs trying to find an alternate location - no signal, no signal, no signal. What to do? Plan B - try to get a SKYPE video signal and use a cellphone to get audio through a speaker phone. A little tardy for class, the Archbishop "arrived" virtually, answering questions for the gang in Guelph unfortunately with no video signal (we sent pics later but I know it's just not the same thing). At least the students gathered were in high school and didn't get too emotional over the glitch:)

For the Grade 3's at Holy Cross, we tried valiantly - even had a video and mic connection at one point but in the end also went with the cellphone but wonder of wonders, we did get our video signal working to the delight of the students (and Archbishop Collins). While the video dropped out a few times during our chat (where was the divine intervention?) we still had lots of fun. Below you'll see a pic of yours truly as Ipad holder and the Archbishop waving at the kids at Holy Cross.

I was very impressed with the maturity of the Grade 3's - they asked questions of the cardinal to be - what were you like growing up? What do you do in your free time? What are you excited most about being cardinal? They were a real treat and we wrapped up the session with a Hail Mary (I'd already recited several when the signal went down), likely one of the first "virtual" visits from the Vatican to the GTA that we're aware of. And yes, there was some nice media coverage of the event as well - let's not forget there are plenty of ways to evangelize even when a bishop isn't physically in the diocese:)

A few more radio, television and newspaper interviews and photos and the Archbishop completed 3 hours of media for a second day in the row. We are grateful to have many of the interviews done early in the week as things will really heat up once Friday comes along.

A big shout out as well to the crew back in Toronto (Bill Steinburg, Denise Torres, Kristen Carey) who are holding down the fort and coordinating media requests from that side of the ocean as well as putting together some impressive social media updates on Facebook, Twitter, etc. - have you checked out www.archtoronto.tumblr.com - there's all sorts of cool videos, pics, etc. on there that you'll want to check out - way to go Denise. Bill has been burning both ends of the candle as the six hour time difference in Rome means he's getting calls virtually around the clock and Kristen is ably coordinating RSVP's, meals, dignitaries and other events for a local celebration in Toronto on Feb. 29 for about 1,000 - so no, not too busy these days for our team:)

So as we move into the wee hours of the night and Thursday morning, it's time to wrap it up for the midweek portion of our pilgrimage and prepare for Thursday - lots ahead and an exciting time for all. Once again, we're grateful for the prayers and kind wishes being sent our way across the ocean - don't forget you're right here with us virtually and in spirit or as they say "and with your spirit".

Rome's a beautiful spot but I think I can say with confidence, when the historic locales were being constructed thousands of years ago, no one said, "let's make sure we build it so they can SKYPE". Pilgrimage is sometimes like our wifi signals - at times, stronger than ever, sometimes falling off for a moment but a pull that is always there - you just have to be in the right place to find it...
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Location:Rome, Italy

The Flock Flying South, A Pilgrimage to Rome!

A new pilgrimage has begun for close to 200 Catholics from across the Archdiocese of Toronto and beyond. They're on their way this week to Rome to experience something that doesn't happen very often. For just the 4th time in the history of the Archdiocese and 16th time in Canadian history, a new Canadian cardinal will join the ranks of the College of Cardinals.

The Cardinal-designate is in Rome, a group of about 30 others arrived Tuesday evening and another 150+ will arrive later this week to help join in the celebrations and support Canada's newest cardinal.

In the coming days, in this space, through our website, Facebook, Twitter page and other mediums you'll be hearing more about this historical journey. We've got some interesting plans this week and we hope to bring you a sort of "virtual" pilgrimage bringing a taste of Italy back to our friends checking in from any number of locations throughout the country and around the world.

Our smaller group of about 30 represents a good cross section of the Cardinal-designate's experience to date: bishops both past and present are with us, including retired Hamilton Bishop, Anthony Tonnos, retired Auxiliary Bishop Ustryczki as well as Toronto Auxiliary Bishops Boissonneau, Nguyen and McGrattan.

The Collins family is well represented with about 14 family members joining in at some point throughout the week, most notably the Cardinal-designate's sisters, Patricia and Catharine.

Numerous priests from the Archdiocese of Toronto, about 20, will be along for the experience, if you include the half dozen or so currently studying at the Canadian Pontifical College in Rome. Add to that, clergy from the Diocese of Hamilton, London and Edmonton, Alberta along with Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal and Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec and we truly have representation from both sides of the country.

The federal government has done a wonderful job in recognizing the significance of the historical moment that will take place and, by week's end, we'll have an official gov't delegation of about 20 that includes mostly federal representation but also a representative from the Province of Ontario.

From the media and public relations side of things, we've got about half a dozen journalists "embedded" with us over the course of the week, with more expected to join in from foreign bureaus. Yours truly and Emanuel Pires will be working on the ground in Rome to help tell the story and Bill Steinburg, Denise Torres and Kristen Carey will be holding the fort in Toronto and working with local media requests both from Toronto and throughout the country. We had a great start this past weekend with a lengthy profile in Saturday's Toronto Star about Archbishop Collins followed by a piece on Sunday telling the story of the work of the Archdiocese as well as some of the challenges the church faces in today's world.

Before he left Toronto, the Archbishop did a final round of interviews Friday with Maclean's magazine, Guelph Mercury and Sun TV. Tuesday in Rome included a chat with the Globe & Mail and we've got lots of interest from the media on a fun initiative Wednesday, when the Cardinal-designate will SKYPE with high school students at his alma mater as well as Grade 3 students at Dufferin Peel CDSB's Holy Cross School in Malton.

So sit back, relax and enjoy as we do our best to bring a little piece of Rome to wherever you may be logging in from. Don't forget, our Twitter feed will be very active these coming days so if you're looking for more frequent "fixes", feel free to follow us here.

Please offer a prayer for all those entering the College of Cardinals this weekend and, in a special way, for the Canadian delegation heading to Rome for this historic experience. Know that your thoughts, prayers and intentions will be with us throughout the pilgrimage.

The whole experience started off with 20 pilgrims missing a connecting flight and spending an extra 6 hours in London, England. Apparently we were meant to evangelize beyond Italy:) After being up for close to 24 hours, the group heads for their beds tonight ready to recharge the batteries before meeting at 7:15 a.m. to head for morning Mass at the Teutonic College and then the Wednesday Papal Audience.

So as usual, the only constant is change, the only certainty is there will be new cardinals this weekend - the rest of it will unfold on God's terms. We're just happy to be along for the ride.

Bonjourno from Rome!




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Location:Rome, Italy

Celebrating Marriage Sunday - Feb. 11/12!

Building on what is quickly becoming an anuual tradition, the Archdiocese of Toronto celebrates Marriage Sunday, the weekend of February 11/12. The occasion provides a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and affirm married couples throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Many parishes have been quietly celebrating marriage in their own way for years with some creative ideas that range from handing out roses to couples on the way into Mass to renewal of wedding vows, including married couples in the offertory procession, acknowledging those in attendance who have been married the longest, etc.

Once again, we've put together a special website with plenty of resources for couples who are married, are considering marriage as well as information for those looking to enrich their covenant. Archbishop Collins has also penned a letter to couples that can be read this weekend or shared through the parish bulletin.

In addition to supporting married couples, you'll also find the Archbishop references those who are widowed or who have experienced a broken relationship. With programs like Worldwide Marriage Encounter (making a good marriage even better), New Beginnings (for widowed, separated and divorced Catholics), Retrouvaille (marriages in crisis) and others active in our Archdiocese, there's no shortage of enrichment resources to support the Catholic community every step of the way.

We remember the important foundation that the family provides, in a special way, from a faith perspective, planting the seeds of our faith that will be nurtured for years to come.

Take a few moments to visit the Marriage Sunday site and this weekend, thank a married couple for all that they do to strengthen our community, sustaining the everlasting "I Do".

Local Celebrations for Cardinal-designate Collins Announced

As we prepare for a very busy February/March, we're now able to share details of the local celebrations to welcome Cardinal-designate Collins upon his return from Rome. There will be plenty of opportunities in this space to highlight the activities at the Vatican in mid-February soon enough.

For now, we want to ensure that Catholics throughout the Archdiocese know that they will personally have a chance to pray and celebrate with Canada's newest cardinal through a series of regional celebrations scheduled for late February and early March.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - High Pontifical Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral - due to the space limitations at the Cathedral, attendance at this ticketed event will be by invitation only.

The following celebrations are open to the public and will include Mass (beginning at 7:30 p.m.) followed by a reception.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 – Central Pastoral Region – Blessed Trinity Parish, Toronto - 3220 Bayview Ave.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012 – Eastern Pastoral Region – St. Isaac Jogues Parish, Pickering - 1148 Finch Ave.

Monday, March 12, 2012 – Western Pastoral Region – St. Francis Xavier Parish, Mississauga - 5650 Mavis Rd.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 – Northern Pastoral Region – St. Clare of Assisi Parish, Woodbridge - 150 St. Francis Ave.

The Diocese of Hamilton is also planning a similar celebration in the new cardinal's hometown of Guelph for later in the month.

As for the Rome celebrations, plans for the official delegation have been confirmed with what promises to be an exciting February at the Vatican. We'll do all that we can to bring the consistory experience to you through photos, video, social media and whatever other tools that may be available.

Please continue to pray for all the new cardinals and those who shepherd us in our faith. A blessed experience but one with plenty of work still to be done!

Celebrating the Gift of Consecrated Life!

For the last several years, in the Archdiocese of Toronto, the New Year has brought with it a gathering for those who have answered the call to consecrated life.

In 1997, Blessed Pope John Paul II called for consecrated life to be promoted throughout the universal church. He declared February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, to be observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. February 02 is also known as Candlemas Day, the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is light of the world. So, too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all people.

Men and women who are called to the vocation of consecrated life respond to God’s call to become followers of Jesus through profession of vows and a life dedicated to prayer and service. They live this out in many different ways. Religious sisters, nuns, brothers, religious priests, and monks consecrate their lives through their profession of the evangelical vows and live as part of a community.

Single lay people may choose to be consecrated virgins and make private vows to the local bishop as they live out their vocation in various walks of life. Secular institutes are another form of living the consecrated life as single people - you can learn more about Canadian secular institutes online. Those who become followers of Jesus through the consecrated life bless the Church.

Once again this year, all are invited to join with the more the hundreds of brothers, sisters and those who have committed themselves to consecrated life for a special celebration on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Basilica in Toronto with Auxiliary Bishop William McGrattan presiding. It's always a wonderful occasion to connect with friends and most importantly pray together for all those who have given so much of themselves to the church.

Those who have committed themselves to God and the church strengthen the entire community in tremendously diverse ways. It may be through teaching, prayer, working with the poor, for the cause of life or any number of other noble goals.

As we reflect on this year's celebration, take a moment to get to know someone who has committed to the consecrated life - ask them how they were called to this vocation, what inspires them, the joy that comes with their ministry.

Most importantly, offer a prayer for these men and women who joyfully and lovingly embrace each day. In them we see the face of Christ looking back at us. For all that they continue to do, we give thanks.

Prayers For A Pastor Called Home

Our family of faith is mourning the loss this week of Father Bill Addley, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Toronto. It's not often we have the passing of one our clergy in the midst of their ministry and in Fr. Bill's case, a mere two weeks after his cancer diagnosis.

To learn more about a man who shared his gifts and talents with the community for so many years, see the Catholic Register article by Michael Swan below.

Visitation will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Thursday and Friday 2-4 p.m., 7-10 p.m. on both days with a funeral Mass on Saturday at 9:30 a.m at the parish.

Our sympathies to all those who mourn his loss. May he rest in peace!

Cancer claims the life of Father Bill Addley, sj

TORONTO - The parish of Our Lady of Lourdes faced the harshest command its faith can impose at the recent Sunday morning Masses. The Catholics of this diverse, downtown parish obeyed the biblical injunction to celebrate — all the while knowing that their leader, friend and pastor had died. Jesuit Father Bill Addley died at St. Michael's Hospital just before 2 a.m. Jan. 21, surrounded by friends.

The pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes for almost 13 years, a former provincial superior of the Jesuits in English Canada and one of the first Canadian Church leaders to face the sexual abuse scandal head-on, Fr. Addley died of complications from colon cancer within two weeks of being diagnosed. He went through an operation to resection his colon Jan. 13 and for a time seemed likely to recover. But the cancer had spread and he couldn't regain his energy.

Sr. Anne Purcell, Jesuit Father Jack Costello, Jesuit Superior Father Jim Webb and Jesuit Father Peter Bisson were at Addley's hospital bed when he died. They sang a Salve Regina and prayed the prayers woven into any Catholic life — Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. As news spread the next morning there were tears and quiet commiseration in every corner of Our Lady of Lourdes. Charged with proclaiming the second reading, one parishioner got as far as the lectern before she had to turn back in tears — yielding the podium to Jesuit Father Bert Foliot.

Homilist Fr. John Parry resolutely preached on the Gospel, but turned to the passing of his friend at the end."He didn't have a chance to say goodbye," said Parry. "That's part of the sadness of this whole thing."Parry noted how in the early 1990s Addley tackled the investigation of sexual abuse committed by Fr. George Epoch at Cape Croker, Manitoulin Island, in the 1970s. It was the only time Parry could recall that Fr. Addley was not encouraging, welcoming and accepting. "His heart was broken," said Parry.

Fr. Addley was a Jesuit 48 of his 69 years. Born in Halifax in 1943, he entered the novitiate in Guelph, Ont., in 1964, just after graduating with a B.A. from Saint Mary's University in Halifax.He took a Master's from Chicago's Loyola University in sociology in 1971 and studied theology at Toronto's Regis College. He was ordained in 1974.

On ordination he was almost immediately a leader among the Jesuits, appointed socius or principal assistant to the provincial superior in 1975. He became provincial superior in 1984.After a decade and a half of administrative duties he was assigned to be superior of the Pickering Jesuit community, where the Jesuits care for their elderly.

In 1999 his gifts as a homilist and a leader were put to use running one of Canada's busiest and most diverse parishes. He was also a wise and respected elder on the archdiocese of Toronto's priests council, a valued board member for Regis College and the Jesuit Communication Project.

It was not uncommon to see Lourdes parishioners with notebooks and pens in hand during Fr. Addley's meticulously crafted sermons. He often closed with the encouragement that we should all "individually and collectively, corporately and personally make this world a little bit more divine and a little bit more human."

There will be a wake at Our Lady of Lourdes Jan. 26 and 27, 2-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Reflections on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

As we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we look both locally and globally at efforts to partner with other faiths on this important initiative. Traditionally, the annual celebration is held in the northern hemisphere in the week leading up to the feast of the conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25) while in the south, the celebration take place close to the feast of Pentecost.In the Archdiocese of Toronto, St. Mike's Cathedral will host the 2012 prayer service on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. With numerous faith communities represented by their shepherds (including Cardinal-designate Thomas Collins), Toronto Anglican Archbishop Colin Johnson will provide reflections on this year's theme: "We will all be changed by the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ".

More information on the event can be found here.For those looking for more resources, you can find a speech from the Holy Father on "Ecumenism Today and the Expectation of its Fulfilment" by visiting this link.In addition the Vatican has extensive resources for the 2012 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity available here.Fr. Damian MacPherson who heads up our Office for Ecumenical & Interfaith Affairs, is one of the leaders across the country on this file - we give thanks for all that he and others do to nurture our ecumenical partnerships day in and out.

Analyzing Media Coverage of a new "Red Hat"

Apologies for a bit of radio silence over the last few days as one can appreciate the increased activity related to the January 6 announcement elevating Archbishop Collins to the College of Cardinals. Between media interviews and preparations for a Rome consistory, there hasn't been a lot of down time - let's just say we didn't exactly ease our way into 2012! Plenty of early days and late nights with more to come:)

For those who may be interested in how the media covered the story, thanks to my colleague Bill Steinburg in the Public Relations & Communications Office of the Archdiocese, we can offer a few bits of info on the breadth of coverage of this announcement:

- Total "media" captured coverage over 4 days (January 6-9) – 701 mentions of Archbishop Thomas Collins in the media.

• 96 national stories


• More than half the coverage came from two provinces – Ontario (294) and Alberta (138)


• 73% of the coverage was from television/radio broadcasters


• 18% was from print media outlets


• Wire services comprised 5% of the coverage and web-based news sites represented 2%

From the 700+ mentions over the four days in question, some initial analysis identified 125 stories that were either significant and/or unique (rather than repeated mentions in a repeating news cycle).

Looking specifically at those 125 articles/pieces:

• Had a reported circulation/reach of nearly 15 million (14,894,808); 3.5 million through national media: 8.7 million in Ontario and 1.1 million in Alberta


• Represented an equivalent ad value of $176,770


• Print ($107, 000) broadcast ($69,500)

We didn't expand the reach to American or other foreign mentions but this gives you a snapshot of the fact that yes, this is a pretty big deal.

Whether the stats are of significant interest to you or not, all in all it demonstrates that there was a whole lot of evangelization going on. We talk about reaching the gathered and the scattered and this story certainly permeated both groups.

Our eternal thanks to His Grace (for a few more weeks) for saying yes to pretty much every media request we've had of him over the last week. We're not done yet but what a ride it's been to date.

If you're looking for some raw footage of the Cardinal-designate at his media scrum outside of St. Michael's Cathedral on January 6, you can find it below.

Pope Elevates Archbishop Thomas Collins to College of Cardinals

POPE BENEDICT XVI ELEVATES ARCHBISHOP THOMAS COLLINS TO THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS

TORONTO (January 6, 2012) – This morning following Mass at the Vatican, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, announced that His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will be elevated to the College of Cardinals, an international group of principal advisors to the Pontiff.

Archbishop Collins commented on his appointment:

“I am deeply honoured that the Holy Father has called me to be a member of the College of Cardinals. I am grateful for the trust he has placed in me, and recognize this honour as a sign of his esteem for the role of Canada and of the Archdiocese of Toronto in the universal Church. I ask the people of the Archdiocese, whom I am privileged to serve as bishop, and all people in the community, to pray for me and for all who serve Our Lord through ministry in the Church."

Born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, Thomas Collins was ordained a priest in 1973. Pope John Paul II named him Bishop of St. Paul, Alberta in 1997 and Archbishop of Edmonton in 1999. Pope Benedict later appointed him as the 10th archbishop of Toronto on December 16, 2006.

The formal consistory, at which the new cardinals will be created, will take place February 18-19 in Rome. Cardinal-designate Collins will become the fourth cardinal in the 110-year history of the Archdiocese of Toronto and the 16th cardinal in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada.

The College of Cardinals is convened at the discretion of the Holy Father to discuss issues of significance – most members serve on committees covering a variety of matters. When the papacy is vacant (ie. death of the pope), all cardinals under the age of 80 gather in Rome for a closed meeting, called a conclave, to elect a new pope.

The Archdiocese of Toronto is Canada’s largest diocese, stretching from Toronto north to Georgian Bay and from Oshawa to Mississauga. It is home to 1.9 million Catholics and 225 churches, with Mass celebrated in more than 30 different languages each week.

Photos and biographical information regarding Archbishop Collins’ appointment to the College of Cardinals can be found online at: http://www.archtoronto.org/

-30-

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Neil MacCarthy – Director, Public Relations & Communications, Archdiocese of Toronto
Phone (416) 934-3400 x 552 Cell: (416) 879-2846 neilm@archtoronto.org

Bill Steinburg – Communications Manager, Public Relations & Communications
Phone (416) 934-3400 x 558 Cell: (416) 708-9655 bills@archtoronto.org

Pope Heads to Cuba & Mexico for "March Break"

While many Canadians make their way south to Mexico or Cuba for the annual March break, this year will include a special guest: Pope Benedict XVI will be making his way to both countries for anything but a vacation, rather his first apostolic voyage abroad in 2012.

First announced on December 12, this week the Vatican released the initial itinerary of the March 23-28 voyage, his 23rd official trip outside of Italy. With not a lot of time to plan for the lead up to these trips, Catholic officials in both Mexico and Cuba are working overtime to ensure all the plans are in place for the voyage that is less than 90 days away.

Full details of the itinerary can be found below from the Vatican Information Service:

PROGRAMME OF THE POPE'S APOSTOLIC TRIP TO MEXICO AND CUBA

VATICAN CITY, 3 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Yesterday the episcopal conferences of Mexico and Cuba published separate press communiques announcing details of Benedict XVI's forthcoming visit to those countries, due to take place from 23 to 28 March. The Holy Father had expressed his intention to make an apostolic trip to Mexico and Cuba during a Mass celebrated in the Vatican Basilica on 12 December, Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of Latin America.

The note issued by the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate explains that the Pope will arrive at the airport of Leon in the State of Guanajuato on the afternoon of Friday 23 March. He will be greeted there by Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, president of Mexico, by members of the episcopal conference and by Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin of Leon. During his stay, the Holy Father will lodge in the residence of the Miraflores College in Leon.

On Saturday 24 March, he will travel to the Casa del Conde Rul in the city of Guanajuato, the headquarters of the State Government, where he will hold an official meeting with President Calderon Hinojosa. After the meeting the Pope will greet and bless children and faithful gathered in the city's Plaza de la Paz.

On the morning of Sunday 25 March Benedict XVI will preside at Mass in the Parque Bicentenario in the municipality of Silao, at the foot of hill known as the Cerro del Cubilete at the top of which is a statue of Christ the King. Following the ceremony he is due to meet with representatives from the ninety-one dioceses of Mexico. That evening the Holy Father will preside at Vespers in the cathedral of Leon with Mexican bishops and representatives of other Latin American episcopates, to whom he will address a message.

On the morning of Monday 26 March, the Pope will take his official leave of the civil and religious authorities of Mexico at the airport of Leon, before flying to Cuba.

The note published by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba explains that the Pope is due to arrive in Santiago de Cuba in the early afternoon of 26 March. He will be welcomed by Raul Castro, president of Cuba, by members of the episcopal conference and by Archbishop Dionisio Garcia Ibanez of Santiago. The Holy Father will then travel by open-top car to the Plaza de la Revolucion where he will celebrate Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation. After the ceremony, the Pope will move on to the nearby mining town of El Cobre where he will lodge in a residence for priests.

On the morning of Tuesday 27 March the Holy Father will make a private visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity where he will pray before the image of the patron of Cuba. He will then go to the airport of Santiago to fly to the capital city Havana, where he is due to arrive at midday. He will be welcomed there by Cardinal Jaime Ortega y Alamino, archbishop of Havana and by other religious and civil authorities. That afternoon the Pope will hold an official meeting with President Castro, then meet with Cuban bishops in the apostolic nunciature.

On the morning of Wednesday 28 March, the Pope will preside at Mass in the Plaza de la Revolucion "Jose Marti". In the early afternoon he will be taken by open-top car to the airport of Havana were, following the departure ceremony, he will board his return flight for Rome.

Worth Remembering in 2011

As we prepare to turn the page on 2011, it's worth taking a look back at some highlights from the past year. While it's never easy to encapsulate all that's gone on in the Catholic world, it's fun to highlight a few key activities and give praise to those who have worked so hard to make it happen.

So while, our little list is not exhaustive by any means, it's an opportunity to reflect on some key moments in the life of the church (both local and global) this past year. Here's a few thoughts (in no particular order):

Pope Benedict XVI - it's safe to say that Pope Benedict has once again presided over an extremely active year in the life of the church. At 84, he has arguably one of the most high profile jobs on the planet. While most 80 somethings find a trip to the store for groceries a major outing, the Pontiff continues to meet with curial officials, bishops and diplomats from around the world daily. Yes, he's scaled back some of his meetings but that's understandable.

He's also surrounded himself with capable, trusted officials (including Quebec's Cardinal Ouellet). Apostolic voyages outside of Rome this past year included Croatia, Madrid (for World Youth Day), Germany and Benin, Africa. The man who once planned on retiring to his native Bavaria to write in "peace and quiet" has led a life that's been anything but private. We must remind ourselves that, at almost 85, he was the 5th oldest pope ever elected. Thank you Holy Father for all that you continue to give to the Church!

Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic - the 9th Archbishop of Toronto was called home to God in August of 2011. Plagued by health issues in the final years of his time as Archbishop and throughout his retirement, the late Cardinal will be remembered for his no nonsense approach to the faith. If you had a meeting with Cardinal Ambrozic, you walked out knowing where you stood. Those who worked closely with him also had a chance to see the lighter side, his humour and passion for books, history and culture.

Bishops from across Canada and priests throughout the Archdiocese came to St. Mike's Cathedral in Toronto to bid him adieu. One who never relished the media spotlight, he likely was smiling in heaven as a high profile political funeral the same week took away much of the media attention from His Eminence. More likely to show up unannounced at a soup kitchen or anonymously fund a struggling student with a scholarship, it was never about fanfare for the late bishop. His faith was woven in all that he did, never apologizing for proclaiming the truth and embracing his priesthood to the end. He will be missed. Your Eminence, we thank you.

Third Edition of the Roman Missal - with "and also with you" officially retired to the rafters, "and with your spirit" became the new lingo in parishes everywhere throughout North America the first weekend of Advent. Still in its infancy, the new translation has definitely accomplished one goal for both clergy and laity - everyone is paying more attention to the words we proclaim at Mass. That's not a bad thing at all.

Likely the most awkward Christmas in recent history with a few jumbled responses, the New Year will bring with it a new familiarity of the text and hopefully, a new appreciation for the summit of our faith journey. Most agree that adult catechesis is something we could all benefit from and this is one of the best ways to start. As the New Evangelization and a Year of Faith to begin in the latter half of 2012, no doubt this is only the beginning of our catechism classes.

Beatification of Pope John Paul II. For Canadians watching from afar, this was sandwiched between a Royal Wedding, death of Osama Bin Laden and a Federal Election. If you were in Rome, you might as well have been in Poland with all the red and white flags on display. An opportunity to once again honour one the most beloved popes in history, "JPII we love you" chants were resurrected in St. Peter's Square with a multi-day celebration that clearly brought back fond memories for Catholics everywhere including Pope Benedict XVI.

Once again, a "teachable" moment for Catholics and people of any faith, the opportunity to learn more about the road to sainthood, miracles attributed to the process and a look back at the life of man who introduced World Youth Days to the church, making it cool to be catholic. The late days of 2011 also saw the canonization announced for Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha who will be North America's first aboriginal saint. We can always use more Catholic heroes from which to draw inspiration. This year was especially inspiring in that regard.

World Youth Day 2011 Madrid - an event that clearly invigorated Pope Benedict even if he had to cut short an evening prayer service due to a violent storm. These gatherings still demonstrate the tremendous passion of young Catholics ready to proclaim their faith and energized by a global gathering that is part catechesis, part youth festival and completely marinated with faith. Organizers in Brazil are scrambling to pull together WYD 2013 in two years rather than the requisite three over the last decade. With WYD, the World Cup and Olympics on tap over the next five years, it's clear that Brazil is flexing its collective muscle on the world stage - whether or not the Mardi Gras influence will seap into WYD celebrations remains to be seen.

Refugee Sponsorship - Archdiocese of Toronto - this one is from the local perspective but it could easily be at the top of the list. Close to 150 parishes across the Archdiocese have been engaged in refugee sponsorship over the last year, a tremendous response. Most communities have supported families fleeing the Middle East, in large part Christian, as a response to increasingly unsafe conditions there, ongoing violence (often in the midst of worship services) and continued instability.

Parishes never cease to amaze at their generosity, taking in the stranger and offering shelter, clothing and monetary support, in addition to assistance with finding employment and helping families learn the ropes of a new community, new language, new country. Our Archdiocese is truly a United Nations of countries, immigrants who've come worldwide to a city that has welcomed them with open arms.

To the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office for Refugees, every parish, priest, committee member and volunteer who's helped make the dream of a new home a reality for hundreds of families this year, we thank you. One can only imagine what Christmas in 2011 is like for someone who lived in fear of even attending Mass just a year ago.

So while there are literally dozens of other stories or personalities that could be highlighted in this space, we'll leave it at that for now. To all who have made a difference in 2011, for those who quietly serve without fanfare, to those who fill the first 12 rows faithfully day to day, week to week, we're forever grateful.

May the New Year bring with it God's blessings in abundance, health, happiness and the chance to walk hand in hand with our God once again in 2012! Or to sum it up in shorthand - and with your spirit in 2012!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Catholics Invited to "Come Home For Christmas"

As we move into the home stretch of Advent, making our way to Christmas later this week, you can bet that hundreds of thousands will pack into churches throughout the Archdiocese to celebrate the birth of Christ. Among the congregation, there will be the faithful who are regulars week in and week out.

We can also expect to see some less regular attendees, those that many refer to as the C & E Catholics (Christmas and Easter). That said, the welcome they receive may determine whether they become more than just twice a year churchgoers.

One way to reach out to those who may have fallen away from the church is through the use of social media, advertising and the media. Over the last couple of years, the Archdiocese of Toronto has extended its outreach efforts to do our best to pastorally respond to those who have been away from the church. We're on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and our website is seen by many as a hub for GTA Catholic info on the web.

A website, www.wearecatholic.ca has been established to provide basic information to those who may have been away from their local parish, to help them reconnect and ultimately, to welcome them back home. In addition, this week, we will also be running ads on Toronto radio station Newstalk 1010 featuring Archbishop Collins inviting those who have been away from the church to "Come Home For Christmas". The 30 second reflection, also available in video form through YouTube (also see below), will hopefully resonate with those who may use Christmas as an occasion to rediscover their faith.



With an unlimited budget, it would be wonderful to run these ads on all radio stations in the city but it's just not realistic. That said, this modest effort is meant to go hand in hand with our own evangelization efforts, which actually cost nothing at all. We've literally got a marketing department of hundreds of thousands - they just need to be activated.

It's safe to say that most of us know someone who's fallen away from the church for any number of reasons. Perhaps this is the year that you invite them to join you for Christmas Mass. Even better, if they tend to pick up a bulletin only once or twice a year, in the New Year, consider an invitation for them to join you at Sunday Eucharist followed by a coffee or brunch where you can chat about the experience.

For those of us in the pews on a regular basis, it's also a great time for a personal hospitality tune-up. How do we welcome those who aren't familiar to us in our parish? Do we extend a smile, word of welcome, handshake or other kind gesture when we see a new face in our faith community?

When I tell people I work for the church, they usually have a couple of reactions: a) they mention their parish, personal involvement and how it's interesting to meet someone working on the "business" side of the church or b) they recount a negative experience associated with the church and take a moment to let me know that's why they no longer attend.

Well it's up to all of us to erase perceptions or a negative experience from decades ago and replace it with a positive, pastoral and welcoming home. So the next time we get in the bah-humbug mode and complain that our pews are so full at Christmas and Easter with care-free Catholics maybe we need to quietly pray that this would be the case every Sunday and shuffle to make room for another beside us in the pew.

So when a whole new gang of folks respond "and also with you" this Christmas Eve, instead of taking time to gloat, offer them a pew card with the new translation responses, a smile and afte Mass, a "Merry Christmas" and "Hope to see you again."

If we can all work together to evangelize and extend a hand in hospitality, you'd be amazed at what might just happen.

Marketing budget required? $0. Churches overflowing with prayer, hospitality, outreach and attendance week in and out? Priceless.

Toronto Archdiocese Breaking New Ground with 800 Online Giving Options

With online giving becoming a more natural option for countless donors, the Archdiocese is happy to report that a major project on streamlining online donations has wrapped up. The result? A new web portal that provides more than 800 giving options. Below you'll find the official press release highlighting the project - as this is certainly the season for giving, take a moment to visit the online portal and consider a gift to your favourite Catholic charity. And above you'll find Archbishop Collins surfing the new site.

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At a time of year when the joy of giving is top of mind, Catholics in the GTA now have more ways to make a charitable gift than ever before.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has launched a centralized online donation portal for Catholics in its region, the first service of its kind in North America. Through the donation portal (www.archtoronto.org) donors at 225 parishes can make a gift to their parish weekly collection, to building funds or to their church capital campaign. Gifts can also be made through the website to a number of other Catholic charities.

“With more and more people making charitable contributions online, we are happy to offer this opportunity to Catholics throughout our archdiocese, whether their parish is large or small, urban or rural,” said His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto. “The Internet allows us to extend our parish communities in creative new ways – including this option to make an offertory or other charitable gift online.”

Churches throughout North America of all denominations have been accepting online donations for years but this is the first time centralized giving has been offered for all parishes in a diocese. Visitors to the online portal have upwards of 800 donation options.

“Donors are becoming more comfortable in the online environment and it is important that we strive to interact with them in that space,” said Arthur Peters, director of development for the Archdiocese of Toronto. “Though the rate of online giving continues to rise in Canada, not all of our parishes have the resources or technical support required to offer online giving options. By undertaking this initiative on their behalf, we hope everyone will benefit.”

At present, the new online giving portal is set to accept credit card gifts for the following charitable options: gifts to a parish (offertory, building fund, capital campaign); ShareLife, the annual charitable appeal of the diocese; St. Augustine’s Seminary; the Archdiocese of Toronto; St. Michael’s Choir School; tribute gifts (living gifts, in memoriam gifts); humanitarian relief (as of January 1, 2012); Sunday TV Mass; and the Our Faith Our Future planned giving and estate planning options.

As one of the most diverse dioceses in the world, the Archdiocese of Toronto is home to 1.9 million Catholics who celebrate Mass each week in over 30 different languages. More than 800 diocesan and religious priests serve the Catholic community in 225 parishes.

Catholic Priest's Invention Streamlines Candy Cane Production

Chances are, this Christmas season, you'll be digging into at least one candy cane as part of the festivities. Well the next time you do, consider the origin of this treat and know that you can thank a Catholic priest for his important role in how candy canes are produced today.

Legend has it that the candy cane was first introduced by a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral around the time of about 1670 when a less than patient choral leader was getting frustrated by the distracted children, who had trouble sitting through the lengthy church services. To help keep them at bay during nativity celebrations, candy canes were distributed to the kids -at the time they were all white and simple candy was bent to resemble a shepherds' staff.

Fast forward to the mid 1800's when a German immigrant tothe USA started to decorate his Christmas trees using candy canes. Somewhere around the early 1900's the stripes were introduced to the confection. Now depending on who you ask, some feel that all along there was a Christian connection to the treats with the shepherds' staff used as a symbol that we still see today (bishop's crozier) and the red stripes representing Christ's blood and purity, the stiff candy representing the rock of the church and even the peppermint flavour resembling hyssop, often referenced in the Old Testament. Truth be told, these connections can't be traced to any one group in particular and may just be a pleasant interpretation that some have come up with over time.

That said, we can confirm the Catholic connection to the massproduction of candy canes that began, on a larger scale somewhere between 1930 and 1940. Bob McCormack, owner of Bobs Candies, was looking for a way to produce the Christmas treat without complications. Having introduced cellophane wrap to keep the candy canes fresh, the family business continued to look for new ways to innovate.

Up until 1950, 22% of the candy canes produced were broken as they were produced and had to be discarded. Bob asked his brother in law, Catholic priest and part-time inventor, Father Harding Keller to help invent a machine that wouldn't break the treats. Within six months, Fr. Harding had created the "Keller Machine", a device that twisted the soft candy into spiral striping and then cut the canes. Prior to the invention, most of the candy was made by hand and those that were made in machines were often the wrong size or broken.

By 1956, Bobs Candies was the world's largest peppermint candy cane producer and the invention created by a Catholic priest as a favour to his brother in law launched the family business into a multi-million dollar success. By the late 1950's the company was producing half a million candy canes every day.

So the next time you enjoy a candy cane, you can thank a Catholic priest for making the process less sticky and more enjoyable. Thanks Fr. Keller, for your divine intervention in helping pave the way for a Christmas treat that will be enjoyed by millions for years to come! And you thought your local pastor was only a sacramental specialist...

Advent Wreaths, Scrabble & Straw

Does your family have any Advent traditions? It may include setting up the Advent wreath this time of year. In many homes, the kids take turns lighting the candles and saying a little prayer. I can still recall as a child, being the youngest of four siblings, I was usually given the honour of lighting the first candle and maintaining that tradition through the years.

Many families also set up manger scenes to prepare for the birth of Christ. They come in all shapes and sizes and Christians young and old take great care in placing only some of the characters out at strategic times, leaving the arrival of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus until Christmas.

I know of one family with a special manger scene tradition with the parents picking up some pieces of straw at a local farm to give to the kids. Whenever a "good deed" is done in the household, a piece of straw is given to the child to place in the manger so that Baby Jesus will be more comfortable during his stay. These kind of traditions are a great way to catechize in the home.

Last year, I had the chance to attend a parish "live" nativity scene, complete with -10 temps, animals, kids in full shepherd garb and carols led by the pastor. It was a wonderful Advent celebration.

To this day, in our family, we still have a birthday cake for Baby Jesus on Christmas Day and sing Happy Birthday together so that every generation remembers the reason for the season.

One Christmas past also ended in near disaster when two elderly grandmothers in our home didn't notice the candle wax on the Advent wreath had dripped down and set fire to the evergreens. In the midst of an intense scrabble game, it was only once the flames got to shall we say more significant proportions that things were extinguished and the "all clear" was given for play to resume.

For those interested in a little more formal history of the Advent wreath, from our website resources on Advent:

The Advent wreath is a prominent symbol of the Advent season and is used in our churches and our homes as a way to prayerfully count the four weeks of the liturgical season. It consists of a wreath made of evergreens into which four candles have been placed.

Beginning on the eve of the First Sunday of Advent, the wreath is blessed and one candle is lit to mark the start of the first week of the Advent season. As each week begins, another candle is lit until all four candles are burning brightly by the Fourth Sunday of Advent. According to tradition, three of the candles are purple and one candle is pink, although all four candles may be purple.

The pink candle is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday (from the Latin word which means “Rejoice!”), as the focus of the season shifts from the Second Coming of Christ to the First Coming of Christ.

In the northern hemisphere, the days grow shorter at this time of the year, and the trees and plants drop their leaves as they “die back” in preparation for the long winter ahead. The evergreens on the Advent wreath remind us of the everlasting life promised to us by the gift of Jesus Christ, who came among us to save us from sin and death. The lighting of candles banishes the darkness as a reminder of Jesus Christ, the Light who has come into the world through his birth, and who continues to shine brightly through his Church.

So whether it's gathering as a family around the Advent wreath, placing the "characters" of the Christmas story lovingly around a manger or preparing that special birthday cake for Christmas, family traditions help bring new meaning to the season, they allow us to reflect as a family of faith and who knows? They may even be passed down from one generation to the next, living on for decades to come.

So maybe there are a couple of "takeaways" for us all in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season.

We need to take time to remind ourselves that without Christ there would be no Christmas. So let's keep Him front and centre in the season. The other lesson to learn? Grandmas playing scrabble don't like to be interrupted!

Reaching out in Advent...Comfort & Light

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are aware that many among us may be experiencing personal hardship, struggle or loss. Our invitation is to gather into the warmth and light of Christ, taking solace in Him with support from our family of faith.

Just a month after organizing the Mass Against Women Abuse, Catholic Family Services of Toronto (CFSTO) is back once again, with their foundation bringing together those who feel alone or have experienced loss for a Mass to be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 4 at Holy Rosary Parish in Toronto.

While the holidays can be a time of joy and anticipation for many, there are plenty of people who dread this time of year. For them, it's a reminder of the loss they've experienced in their own lives or a reminder that family is no longer with them, relatives are far away and joy quickly turns to pain. To those who may feel alone, CFSTO has created this wonderful Mass of Comfort and Light as part of their dedication to promoting and strengthening healthy families, marriages and individuals.

Bishop Vincent Nguyen, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto, will preside at the celebration, on Sunday, December 4, at Holy Rosary Church at 5:00 p.m.

According to Lucia Furgiuele, Executive Director of Catholic Family Services of Toronto: “Christmas may bring an abundance of family and spiritual blessings for many. But for some, it may represent a time of separation from family and friends or community. Our celebration will offer support, reflection, a chance to connect with our agency and to learn more about the help we can provide.”

Catholic Family Services of Toronto also operates the New Beginnings initiative, a peer support program to meet the needs of those who are separated, divorced or widowed as they search for meaningful ways to address their loss.

“Some of the folks who are turning to our New Beginnings program are also experiencing other kinds of profound loss—for example, the loss of a child, family member or dear friend—and this can be a particularly difficult time of year,” noted James Shaughnessy, the Coordinator of the New Beginnings program.

If you're looking for more information on the Mass of Comfort and Light, you can find full details online.

On the topic of reaching out to our sisters and brothers, a belated thank you to St. Patrick's Parish in downtown Toronto for another unique initiative that took place November 27. The community held a memorial Mass for all those living on the street who lost their lives over the past year. This "Out of the Cold" memorial reminds us of the dignity of every individual and the responsibility we have to ensure that dignity is acknowledged, even in death.

Both St. Pat's and Catholic Family Services demonstrate to us the true call of the Catholic community: to love tenderly, to act justly, to serve, to pray and to welcome the stranger among us.

Not a bad way to remember the reason for the season...

The New Translation Arrives...so what do you think?

With the new translation of the Roman Missal now in use throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that yes, that day has come and the sun did come up the next morning. In fact, initial reaction from many anecdotal conversations is that things went much smoother than anticipated.

In this way, we tip our hat to the clergy and lay staff of the Archdiocese in welcoming the new translation and preparing accordingly for its arrival. Bear in mind, for many of our priests this past weekend would have been like their first Mass all over again as the 2nd edition was the only one they ever celebrated. So if you felt a little awkward responding, "and with your spirit", just imagine what it was like for a priest to have to navigate through a huge number of changes.

Add to all of this, extremely tight deadlines on the delivery of the new Roman Missal, with some parishes receiving their orders from Ottawa just on Friday with a handful of others making other heroic efforts to make it happen.

Most importantly, we're going to start focusing on what we say and actually reflect on the words recited during the Eucharistic celebration. Whether you love the new translation or find some of the terminology awkward, we're talking about it. That's good news.

At the Cathedral Sunday, the Archbishop had the opportunity to brief the congregation at the start of Mass on the historic day in church history and talk a little about the changes, why they're being implemented and the prayer that this will bring us to a greater appreciation of the celebration of the Eucharist. All in all, it went very well, with parishioners equipped with pew cards and most people catching on to the new translation. Yes, there were a few "and also with you's" lurking in the distance but that's to be expected.

We had good media coverage as well - not a surprise that many of the stories found those who "liked" the new translation and those who didn't. Point counterpoint is the basis for most media stories but they were all done respectfully and I was actually surprised with the amount of secular interest on the story that would be most confusing for a non-Catholic reporter to tackle (that was the case with those I met on Sunday), including one camera operator who first went to the United Church Cathedral and would have certainly found a very different translation in use there.

I've heard of a few parishes where there were some mea culpas from clergy who reverted back to a 2nd edition reference - it shows we're all human. And another church where father, having heard the congregants use one of the "old" responses, smile and ask the congregation, "why don't we try that one again?'

Isn't this what a family does? We walk together and help each other when we stumble, we come together in unity, in prayer and mutual support.

If you feel so inclined, feel free to share your "first weekend" impressions in the comments section. Whether you're clergy or congregant, would be great to get your thoughts. You don't need to name your parish or region - remember though, in all things charity.

Thanks to all who have worked so hard to welcome the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. As in all things in life we can't forget: prayer, patience and a sense of humour. We made it through week one:) And now the real heavy lifting begins...

Media Advisory: Prayers at Mass Change for Millions of Catholics This Weekend

Prayers at Mass Change for Millions of Catholics this Weekend

Catholic Churches throughout North America Implement New Mass Translation

TORONTO (November 24, 2011) – The most significant changes in language used at Mass in nearly 40 years will be implemented in Catholic Churches throughout North America this weekend. Clergy across the continent will lead congregations using a new translation of the Roman Missal, the book of prayers used at Mass.

The product of more than a decade of consultation and collaboration with translators, theologians and bishops around the world, the updated text is intended to be more faithful to the original Latin translation. More than 3,000 prayers are contained in the Third Edition of the Roman Missal. While all the elements of Mass remain the same, the English text will change significantly for priests presiding at Mass and, to a lesser extent, for churchgoers responding to the prayers.

In a letter to be shared with the Catholic community this weekend, Toronto Archbishop, Thomas Collins, encouraged the faithful to absorb the richness of the new text:

“As we walk into a newly renovated room, we marvel at the beauty of a space that maintains its strong foundation yet has taken on a new magnificence after many years of use. We pray that the Third Edition of the Roman Missal will bring us new appreciation for a sacrament that is the summit of our experience as Catholics.”

Clergy, parish staff and musicians have participated in numerous workshops throughout the Archdiocese to prepare for this transition. To assist parishioners with the revised translation, 175,000 brochures outlining the changes have been distributed to churches throughout the Archdiocese.

The introduction of the the new Roman Missal coincides with the start of the Advent season, which marks the start of a new church year as Christians throughout the world prepare in joyful anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas.

The Archdiocese of Toronto is Canada’s largest diocese, stretching from Toronto north to Georgian Bay and from Oshawa to Mississauga. It is home to 1.9 million Catholics and 225 churches, with Mass celebrated in more than 30 different languages each week.

Additional resources and background information on the Third Edition of the Roman Missal can be found online at: www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal

Embracing Change: The New Roman Missal

In our continued preparation for the implementation of the new Roman Missal this weekend, below you'll find a reflection from Catechist Christine Way Skinner, a parish catechist in Newmarket, Ontario. She is also a member of the Archdiocese of Toronto's Roman Missal Implementation Committee. This piece originally appeared in the Catholic Register.

NEWMARKET, Ont. - As the catechist in an active suburban parish, I have been responsible for helping parishioners and teachers in our parish schools prepare for the changes that English-speaking Catholics will experience now that Advent is here.

When I first learned that we would be using a new translation of the Mass a few years ago, I knew that it would be very important to prepare people for the change. In my 20+ years of experience in pastoral ministry, I have learned that change in general is difficult for people. Change in peoples’ traditions and rituals, however, can be exceedingly difficult.

In many ways, the changes that have been made to the words we speak at Mass are minor compared to other changes that we as a Church have been through. More is staying the same than is changing. Nevertheless, the changes are significant enough to have caused some consternation among Catholics.

It has been interesting to listen to what has moved people — either to rejoice in or to mourn — regarding the coming changes. What one person loves, another disdains. What one disdains, another loves. One of my liturgy professors used to say that in any given liturgy there had to be “room for everyone to play.”

The truth that he was naming is that there must be something that touches each person in the gathered assembly. This is not easily accomplished in any congregation and is a special challenge for a Church like ours. Communal prayer in the Catholic tradition is inherently inclusive.

On Sundays, we gather together rich and poor, educated and uneducated, newborn babes and 100-year-old grandparents. You can find folks from almost every ethno-cultural group and national affiliation. This is what led James Joyce to describe Catholicism as “here comes everybody.”

When the language, ritual and pastoral ministry of the Church serves an assembly this broad and wide, everyone will find something that moves their heart and something that leaves them cold. Can we really expect that the new translation of the Roman Missal will work any differently?

The very prayer that evokes beautiful new scriptural images and stories in one person will be distractingly wordy to another person. The formality which seems dignified to one will seem stuffy to another. This is what it means to belong to a universal (the very definition of Catholic) Church.

There are some other significant reasons for us to rejoice in the changes. At least for a while, we will be compelled to pay more attention to the words that we speak on Sunday. Because we learn our liturgical prayers by heart, it is easy to fail to go through the motions without being conscious of what we are saying. Having to use new expressions will, hopefully, make us more attentive and we will move towards that full, conscious and active participation for which the Second Vatican Council called.

This new English translation will also unite us with other language groups. Using the same words in many tongues, we will raise our voices throughout the world in praise of our loving God. Perhaps this may help us to realize more profoundly that Christ is truly present in the neighbour with whom we worship.

As well, because the language is more formal, it may help us to reclaim some of the reverence and mystery of liturgical celebrations of former times. While it would likely be a mistake to return to the strictness that once characterized our churches, a little formality may serve as a necessary corrective in a culture both inside and outside the Church that has forgotten its good manners.

Anglican liturgical scholar Thomas Talley wrote that “Too many communities have already been brought to despair by the discovery that, having rearranged the furniture of the sanctuary and instituted an offertory procession, they still don’t love one another.”

The new Roman Missal that is being welcomed into parishes this Advent will not be a perfect translation nor will it be the last. Our task as Catholics is to seek out those words and gestures which touch our hearts and move us to be more loving and kind. It is our job to focus on those words which lead us to conversion and make us more just, more prayerful and more courageous. If we find ourselves becoming annoyed or petty, then perhaps those words are not the ones that are meant for us. They are for other “players” in the liturgy.

Let us welcome this opportunity to renew our communal worship, and thereby, our faith.

(Christine Way Skinner is a catechist at St. John Chrysostom parish in Newmarket, Ont.)