Facebook, the Pontiff & Breakfast with the Media

You may already know that each year, the Vatican recognizes the valuable contributions of journalists and communicators by celebrating World Communications Day. This officially took place on Sunday, May 24, 2009 but throughout the world we're seeing initiatives that continue this week. Here's just a few examples....

The Vatican announced this past week that Pope Benedict will now have a presence on Facebook. You can visit http://www.pope2you.net/, a site sponsored by the Ponitifical Council for Social Communcations. Stop by to find out how to connect with the Holy Father on Facebook in addition to downloading applications for your iphone, YouTube and WikiCath, similar to Wikipedia with a Catholic slant. In his first couple of days online, the Holy Father has attracted more than 50,000 "fans" on his Facebook page.

It's good to see the Vatican looking to these modern communications tools as part of their overall evangelization efforts. Here in the Archdiocese of Toronto, we hosted our annual "Breakfast with the Media" for the 3rd year running. An opportunity to connect with the secular media, we invite journalists from many faith backgrounds and various "beats" to join us for breakfast with the Archbishop. This year's event took place at St. Paul's Basilica with about 30 in attendance. We had the chance to celebrate morning prayer together before hearing from restoration artist Carlos Nunes, who spent many years restoring the Basilica.

With representatives from newspaper, radio, television and online media outlets, it's an opportunity for us to show the face of the church alive and at work while encouraging those called to vocation of journalism an oppportunity to retreat from the busy-ness of their day to day activities. As one attendee told me, "It was the perfect way to start the week." More than a few seeds for future stories were planted this morning. Most importantly, it was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and community building, all under the backdrop of World Communications Day.

While we were at breakfast, Friar Rick Riccioli, pastor at St. Bonaventure's Parish in Don Mills, was up bright and early as a guest on Canada AM, speaking about the latest online offerings from the Vatican in conjunction with World Communications Day. Kudos to Friar Rick on a job well done and having to fit it all in with a 2:30 segment - not an easy task! You can check it all out online.

Finally, I'm off to the Catholic Media Convention ("New Media for the Good News!") which is held annually for Catholics working in communications at the diocesan level as well as many catholic journalists in radio, television and newspaper. Guest speakers include Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter along with sessions that include Strategic Planning for Diocesan Communicators, Digital Media Bootcamp and many more.

You may recall last year the convention took place in Toronto for the first time ever. It will be nice to attend a conference and not have to be part of the planning committee. That said, it's a great opportunity to network with other communicators, celebrate "wins" and strategize about how we can continue to raise the bar on our work...

In light of all the digital media, I can tell you that I took great pleasure in penning a handwritten note to a colleague today - with all the modern communications tools at our disposal, there still is something incredibly intimate about writing a note by hand...it's just too bad my penmanship hasn't improved since Grade 4...

Photos: Vatican, Catholic Media Convention

Life: Imagine the Potential!

Thanks to all who joined in the celebration at Dundas Square this past weekend. A powerful statement in the centre of the city. A great day had by all. Photos can be found online here. Look for video clips and more footage coming soon...and to answer the question as to whether this will be an annual event - we still have to catch our breath! That said, there was a lot of goodwill and positive feedback from the event. Stay tuned for more on the Year of the Priest...coming soon.

If you're an American Idol fan and checking out this week's finale, you might catch this powerful new ad from CatholicVote.org. It's a powerful message and definitely worth a look!

12,000 March for Life...Peacefully & Respectfully!

Last week in Ottawa, I had the opportunity to attend the 12th annual March for Life. Sadly in our country, there is no abortion law. Over the last 40 years, more than 3.5 million children have been aborted. It’s a conversation that is uncomfortable to most yet one that needs to be discussed.

On May 14, 2009, in the wind and rain, more than 12,000 people of all faiths and ages (including thousands of young people) gathered on Parliament Hill to respectfully speak out for the unborn and encourage our government to take another look at how we treat the most vulnerable in our society. Earlier in the week, an MP also introduced legislation aimed at allowing assisted suicide, what we'd term euthanasia, putting end of life issues back at the top of what will likely be the next growing debate in our country. Yet when it comes right down to it, the debate is not that different from one that has gone on for 40 years – how do we protect the most vulnerable at all stages of life?

The March for Life events included an increased presence this year from Canada’s bishops with more than 10 present for the day’s activities, including Archbishop Collins. A number of Toronto priests, parishioners and students from across the Archdiocese also made the trek to Ottawa, despite a day filled with rain and wind.

I was impressed with the professionalism of those who spoke at this year's rally. The pro-life speakers were respectful yet passionate in their presentations, a key to having our voices heard beyond our own community. Almost 20 MP’s from the Pro-life caucus flooded the steps of Parliament Hill to encourage those present to continue to lobby their elected members to work for new legislation. As they remarked, the abortion debate is a polarizing issue in our country and we need to come up with logical and reasoned arguments presented with charity to effectively lobby those in government.

During the March throughout the streets of Ottawa, there was a joyful tone among those present. Some prayed the rosary, others sang songs, many walked arm in arm. We encountered a small group of pro-abortion protesters who were met with “God Bless You” or friendly waves.

A powerful witness took place after the March when several women spoke about the pain experienced through their own abortions, how they had come to regret that fateful decision and how their lives were forever changed. Some developed addictions, while others struggled with depression or attempted suicide. As they shared their stories, the sun emerged through the darkness, a fitting metaphor for the support these women have received from many worthwhile organizations including Silent No More.

We continue to pray for all those who have experienced the pain of abortion in their lives and reach out to them. We also encourage those in crisis to speak to someone and recognize the many services that are out there to support their pregnancy.

While there was little secular media coverage of the event, no doubt organizers will redouble their efforts and do it all again next year. As Catholics, it's the type of event that we should all consider taking part in. We were reminded on the Hill that each one of us were at that vulnerable stage, the unborn baby in our mother's womb. Thanks to our mothers who made the conscious decision to say yes to the gift of life.

Kudos to all those who took part in the March for Life and for the hard working organizers who pulled it all together, including the hard working folks at Campaign Life. On a day when I was fielding calls about Angels & Demons, I couldn't help but imagine what could be accomplished if we channeled some of the energy and attention into a different story, one that wasn't a piece of fiction but all too real.

It's a story that needs to be told again and again. 12,000 voices brought that story to the nation's capital last week - let's hope it's just the beginning of a new chapter in protecting the most vulnerable among us...

Photos: Archdiocese of Toronto

Stop by for St. Paul in the Square this Victoria Day Weekend!

On Sunday of the Victoria Day weekend, consider stopping by Dundas Square in downtown Toronto for "St. Paul in the Square". It will be a unique opportunity to see faith alive in the public square in the heart of our city.

Stop by with family and friends for any part of the afternoon. A quick rundown of the day's activities can be found below:

Schedule for Sunday, May 17, 2009 –

“St. Paul in the Square” (Dundas & Yonge St.)

3:00 p.m. Welcome & Greeting
Rosary & Litany to St. Paul

4:00 p.m. Music with Susan Hookong-Taylor & Friends… (you may remember Susan and her beautiful "Song of the Cross" that was used during World Youth Day 2002).

5:00 p.m. Break (video clips on vocations and other Catholic initiatives)

5:30 p.m. Lectio Divina with Archbishop Collins
(Reflection on Acts 17:16-34)

6:30 p.m. Break (more video clips)

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Concert with Contemporary Christian Artist, Matt Maher

You are welcome to come for any portion of the day. As this celebration takes place in the public square, people will be coming and going throughout the afternoon/evening. Stop by anytime!

For those unfamiliar with Dundas Square, it is located in downtown Toronto at the corner of Dundas/Yonge St. across from the Toronto Eaton Centre. If you're taking public transit, get off at the Dundas subway station and head outside - you can't miss it!

Remember, this is a free event. Bring your own snacks or take advantage of the many vendors/restaurants nearby.

As always, you can find more information on the event online.

Looking forward to seeing many of you downtown this weekend!

Photo: City of Toronto

Choir School Hits the Road...Cantate Domino - Sing to the Lord!

Those who frequent St. Michael's Cathedral will, no doubt, be familiar with St. Michael's Choir School, the well known educational institution established in 1937 to serve the Cathedral and Archdiocese by educating and training boys who sing at many of the prominent liturgical celebrations at our mother church.

Well this week, the senior boys' choir hits the road for its spring tour 2009. This week's "Sing to the Lord" concert series travels to eastern Ontario and Quebec for a series of free performances:

Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 p.m. - Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, 385 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

Thursday, May 14, 7:30 p.m. - Église Saint-Dominique, 175, Grande Allée Ouest, Québec

Saturday, May 16 - 5:00 p.m. - Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul, 3415 Redpath Street, Montréal

The spring tour features sacred music which has emerged over the centuries by composers from Canada and around the world. From Gregorian chant, music from the Renaissance to works by Grief, Lassus and Tavener - in short, there should be something for everyone who's got an interest in sacred music.

St. Michael's Choir School is one of only six choir schools in the world affiliated with the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music. During its remarkable 70 years, St. Michael’s Choir School has produced some of Canada’s most celebrated vocalists and performers, from the famous Crew Cuts and Four Lads of the 50’s to presentday artists such as Michael Burgess, Jerzy Cichocki, Matt Dusk, Stewart Goodyear, Kevin Hearn (The Barenaked Ladies), John McDermott, Claude Morrison (The Nylons), Robert Pomakov, Michael Schade to name a few.

This year, the boys are staying a little closer to home - last year's tour took them to the Czech Republic for the International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival in Prague.

We get the opportunity to appreciate St. Michael's Choir School on a regular basis here in the Archdiocese of Toronto. It's nice to see the seeds spread beyond the GTA to eastern Ontario and Quebec. Travel safe boys and be good to your chaperones!!

Photos: Archdiocese of Toronto

Toronto's Newest Priests...A Closer Look

In our post below we talked about the upcoming ordinations. The past few days we've had the chance to see their stories profiled in the secular media, a wonderful evangelization opportunity.

It's always great to see the different personalities of the ordinandi shine through. Their diversity helps strengthen the entire church.

If you'd like to take a closer look at some of their stories:

The National Post's story on Thomas Lim - "Banking on Priesthood" can be found here

The Toronto Star's story on Frank Portelli - "I don't know why...but I was called." can be accessed here.

CFRB Newstalk Radio in Toronto did a 10 minute interview with Eric Rodrigues about his dream of heading to medical school before realizing that God had other plans. Host Dave Trafford also wrote a great blog which is worth a read as we move into Mother's Day weekend. You can find the blog and link to the radio interview here.

Continue to pray for the Class of 2009. God knows they'll be praying for us...

Photos: National Post, Toronto Star

Road to Priesthood Runs through Regent Park, the Chemistry Lab and the Butcher Shop…Meet Toronto’s Newest Priests

Photo from this year's Ordinandi Dinner - Note this photo also includes those to be ordained for dioceses other than Toronto - 7 from this group will serve in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Well we seem to find ourselves saying it again and again but boy, is it busy around the Archdiocese of Toronto these days. This is Catholic Education Week (see post below) and on Saturday, one of the high points of the year takes place with the ordination of the Class of 2009. We will welcome seven new priests for service in the Archdiocese of Toronto!

This year's "Men in Black" come from wide-ranging backgrounds, including a biochemist, a financial securities specialist from Regent Park, a meat cutter and high school teacher to name a few. Having spent no less than five years preparing for their ordination, the seven newest priests for the Archdiocese of Toronto, will each assume a role of service in one of the more than 220 parishes of our local church, which stretches from Oshawa to Mississauga and north to Georgian Bay.

We do what we can each year to help the public learn more about those ordained to the priesthood. Look for a piece in Wednesday's National Post profiling the moving journey of Thomas Lim and some of his classmates. Eric Rodrigues from the Class of 2009 will be interviewed on Toronto station CFRB Thursday at about 12:40 p.m. (you can listen live here). There really are so many wonderful stories to be told. Our job is to try and get the message out beyond our Catholic community.

This week we try to make the job of telling that story for the media as easy as possible. We issued a media advisory Wednesday and made three of this year's class available to reporters throughout the week. To help non-Catholic journalists understand the formation process leading up to the big day, we've put together a series of profiles and "backgrounders" to help them get up to speed quickly. We even provide a visual snapshot of the actual ceremony so that journalists attending Saturday can "follow the action" as it happens.

We're told time and again by journalists that these tools are a HUGE help. Part of proactive media relations is not only contacting journalists to make them aware of a story but doing all that you can to make telling the story to a secular audience that much easier. And at the same time, these tools are a pretty good refresher or teaching tool for our own Catholic community.

As we spend time with the ordinandi before their big day, it's a special moment. Think of the eve of graduation, a wedding or any other significant event in one's life. While they aren't seeking the media spotlight, we continue to tell them, "Your story may inspire another vocation. Now isn't it worth telling?"

So many of us see priests on the altar and never get a chance to learn about what life was like before ordination day. The meat cutter, the biochemist, the Bay St. businessman - all these experiences help make them better priests and for that, make our Catholic community that much stronger.

So the next time you're sitting in a pew and thinking, "Was he just born a priest?", think again. These life experiences pre-ordination day help shape the shepherds of our faith for years to come.

Kudos to the Class of 2009! We're praying for you and just know that there are parishes across the Archdiocese that can't wait to see you in action!

If you want some more inspiration and have a few minutes, check out the Fishers of Men video put together by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The whole thing runs about 19 minutes. And remember, if you're in the Toronto area and thinking about a vocation to the religious life, contact our Vocations Office.

Photos: Archdiocese of Toronto

Good News For All - Catholic Education Week 2009

(The following entry was written by Bill Steinburg, Communications Manager, Office of Public Relations & Communications, Archdiocese of Toronto)

As the father of two students in a Catholic elementary school, I’m thankful for the education my son and daughter receive.

As is the case in every school in Ontario, my kids are taught the science, social science, math, and language skills of the standard provincial curriculum. They have the chance to compete on teams, both athletic and academic, and to participate in other extracurricular activities.

There’s another element to it, though. The kids also start their day with prayer, attend Mass with their classmates from time to time, and learn about our Catholic faith from teachers, visiting deacons and priests. They actively live their faith every day, guided by people who have dedicated themselves to Catholic education.

Like other schools – in both the public and separate system – our school is a community full of supportive staff, families and friends. We fundraise and volunteer together, attend after-school functions together and assemble to celebrate milestones in our children’s lives.

In our Catholic school, however, many of us (admittedly not all of us) also attend Mass together as part of the larger parish. We visit in the church hall during the coffee time afterward, socializing in the context of our larger faith community. The parish-school-home connection benefits us all.

Some people question the validity of the Catholic education system in Ontario. But I see the positive results in my children.

Just before Easter, my 12-year-old son initiated a discussion at the dinner table about the Stations of the Cross. He’d learned about Pope John Paul II’s alternative stations and wanted to explore the meaning of the differences between them and the traditional stations. His genuine interest and enthusiasm made the conversation a real pleasure.

On other occasions, asking my 9-year-old daughter about her day has garnered mention of the lunchtime Rosary group she attended, or the visit from a deacon or priest. These references are made with an ease that comes from familiarity.

My kids are thriving in their school. They’re experiencing a rich and well-rounded education, an education informed by our Catholic faith. As a result, I’m proud to say they’re becoming responsible, well-rounded young Catholics, with a growing sense of their place, and their faith, in our larger world.

Their lives wouldn’t be as complete without Catholic education. Another reason to celebrate the "Good News" alive and at work in our community.

Photo: Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association (OCSTA)