Archdiocese of Toronto Blog

Celebrating the Gift of Consecrated Life!

2012-01-26T17:11:00.001-05:00

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

2012-01-24T17:11:00.008-05:00

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

2012-01-19T12:21:00.002-05:00

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"

2012-01-13T17:28:00.015-05:00

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

2012-01-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

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/

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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"

2012-01-03T16:49:00.012-05:00

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

2011-12-27T08:30:00.018-05:00

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!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.002-05:00

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"

2011-12-19T07:05:00.001-05:00

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

2011-12-14T11:37:00.009-05:00

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

2011-12-09T07:15:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-05T07:00:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-01T07:05:00.001-05:00

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?

2011-11-28T15:49:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-24T16:19:00.005-05:00

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

2011-11-23T13:30:00.001-05:00

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.)

What happens to the "old" Sacramentary when the new Roman Missal "arrives" this weekend?

2011-11-22T14:22:00.013-05:00

While we are certainly focusing our energies these days on the introduction of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal (coming to a church near you this weekend), a question that has been asked and worth answering, "What do we do with the Missal that's currently being used? (often referred to as the Sacramentary)

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the body tasked with coordinating the printing of the new Roman Missal, has provided guidelines to parishes for "decommissioning the Sacramentary".

When you stop and think of it, it's amazing to consider the literally tens of thousands of sacramental celebrations that have occurred utilizing the current Sacramentary. From baptisms to weddings, loved ones saying a final goodbye to those called home to God at funerals, confirmations, weekday Mass, Sunday celebrations, countless Holy Weeks, Christmas Eves, Christmas Morns and all things in between.

While the carpet may have reinvented itself numerous times, layers of paint have peeled and been reapplied, there's the faithful Sacramentary helping lead the way in our celebrations.

Tabs well worn, mightily lifted by countless altar servers and at times hiding its pages so Father needed to take an extra moment or two to find the right one, we'll miss the Sacramentary and the history it will take along with it. Almost a time capsule of sorts, it's fitting that we have a decommissioning ceremony to say one final goodbye.

Here's a recommended decommissioning, as provided by the CCCB:

De-commissioning the Sacramentary

1. After the Prayer after Communion, the Priest pauses for a moment of silence and then reminds the faithful of the many events this book has been a part of in these or similar words:

Dear Friends in Christ; today is the last (Sun)day in which this Sacramentary will be used. It has served our community well for many years: it has been present at baptisms, funerals, marriages, and above all at the countless Masses that have been prayed in this church. We pause to give thanks for all that God has done by means of the words contained in this book, and trust that God will continue to bless us in the years ahead.

(All pray silently for a time.)

Then the Priest, with hands outstretched says:

Father of light and wisdom,
We praise you for your gifts:
for giving us the power to see
and the ability to write and read
and to use the arts of printing.

Bless + this book as it is taken out of service
and grant that all who have used it or heard its words
may grow in wisdom and grace
before you and all your people.

Father, we praise you through Jesus Christ your Son
in the love of your Holy Spirit,
now and always and for ever.

All: Amen.

2. The Mass continues in the usual way with the Final Blessing. After the Dismissal, the Deacon, or in his absence the Priest closes the book for the final time, saying:

For everything there is a season.
At the closing of this book,
we look to the opening of a new season of grace.

3. The Sacramentary is carried out in the procession by a server or other appropriate minister.

4. The Sacramentary is then reserved in the sacristy, a parish library or museum, or disposed of in a dignified manner.

So there you have it. Now for those who may ask the bonus question, "What is disposed of in a dignified manner mean?" then we turn to a directive offered to dioceses in the United States earlier this year for some reflections:

Pertaining to disposal of the Sacramentary, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that parishes:

Bury it in an appropriate location on church grounds or a parish cemetery (if there is one)

Bury it in the coffin of the deceased (perhaps a priests' funeral) if they had a specific love and devotion for the Liturgy.

Burn it, collect the ashes, and bury them in an appropriate location on church grounds.

Keep a copy for parish archives.

In these final days, let us give thanks for the blessings that have come with sacramentaries throughout North America that will soon be retired. For those attending daily Mass, the countdown on your final "and also with you" continues for the next few days as it too, will be "retired" after many years of dedicated service.

Pope Speaks to Children in Africa - Full Text

2011-11-21T09:52:00.007-05:00

Having completed his Apostolic Visit to Benin, Africa, Pope Benedict has now returned to Rome after another trip abroad. A country of only 9 million, for many it was the birthplace of a new evangelization 150 years ago that has spread into neighbouring areas from Togo to Ghana and Niger.

We don't often get a chance to hear the Holy Father speak directly to children and this meeting provided such an opportunity. He began his visit at the Home of Peace and Happiness where Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity care for sick and abandoned children. The delegation then made their way to St. Rita's Parish in Cotonau where 800 children listened to the Pope and had the opportunity to pray together. The full text of the Holy Father's meeting with the children can be found below:

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO BENIN 18-20 NOVEMBER 2011
MEETING WITH CHILDREN
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Parish church of Saint Rita -Cotonou

Saturday, 19 November 2011

Dear Young Friends,

I thank Bishop René-Marie Ehuzu of Port Novo, Director of Social Ministry of the Benin Bishops’ Conference, for his words of welcome. I also thank the parish priest and Aïcha for their words offered on behalf of all of you. After this beautiful moment of Eucharistic adoration, it is with much joy that I greet you. Thank you for coming out in such great numbers!

God our Father has gathered us around his Son and our brother, Jesus Christ, who is present in the host consecrated during the Mass. This is a great mystery before which we worship and we believe. Jesus, who loves us very much, is truly present in the tabernacles of all the churches around the world, in the tabernacles of the churches in your neighbourhoods and in your parishes. I ask you to visit him often to tell him of your love for him.

Some of you have already made your First Holy Communion, and others are preparing for it. The day of my First Holy Communion was one of the most beautiful days of my life. It is the same for you, isn’t it? And why is that? It’s not only because of our nice clothes or the gifts we receive, nor even because of the parties! It is above all because, that day, we receive Jesus Christ for the first time!

When I receive Communion, Jesus comes to live in me. I should welcome him with love and listen closely to him. In the depths of my heart, I can tell him, for example: “Jesus, I know that you love me. Give me your love so that I can love you in return and love others with your love. I give you all my joys, my troubles and my future.”

Do not hesitate, dear children, to speak of Jesus to others. He is a treasure whom you should share generously. Throughout the history of the Church, the love of Jesus has filled countless Christians, and even young people like yourselves, with courage and strength. In this way, Saint Kizito, a Ugandan boy, was put to death because he wanted to live according to the baptism which he had just received. Kizito prayed. He realized that God is not only important, but that he is everything.

What, then, is prayer? It is a cry of love directed to God our Father, with the will to imitate Jesus our brother. Jesus often went off by himself to pray. Like Jesus, I too can find a calm place to pray where I can quietly stand before a Cross or a holy picture in order to speak to Jesus and to listen to him. I can also use the Gospels. That way, I keep within my heart a passage which has touched me and which will guide me throughout the day.

To stay with Jesus like this for a little while lets him fill me with his love, light and life! This love, which I receive in prayer, calls me in turn to give it to my parents, to my friends, to everyone with whom I live, even with those who do not like me, and those whom I do not appreciate enough. Dear young people, Jesus loves you. Ask your parents to pray with you! Sometimes you may even have to push them a little. But do not hesitate to do so. God is that important!

May the Virgin Mary, his Mother, teach you to love more and more through prayer, forgiveness and charity. I entrust you to her, together with your families and teachers. Look! I have this rosary in my pocket. The rosary is like a tool that we can use to pray. It is easy to pray the rosary. Maybe you know how already; if not, ask your parents to help you to learn how. At the end of this meeting, each one of you will receive a rosary. When you hold it in your hands, I would ask you to pray for the Pope, for the Church and for every important intention. And now, before I bless you all with great affection, let us pray together a Hail Mary for children throughout the world, especially for those who are sick, who are hungry and in places of war.

Let us pray together: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute Turns 10!

2011-11-16T11:15:00.001-05:00

Tucked away on the campus of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto sits a wonderful gift within our Catholic community in Canada. The Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute (CCBI) quietly goes about its business in tackling issues that are seeping into the everyday lives of Canadians, whether we're aware of it or not.

Their work is critical to ensuring that there is a Catholic voice involved in issues related to bioethics. This week, the CCBI celebrates its 10th anniversary of sharing collective wisdom and pastoral guidance with the Catholic community both in the Archdiocese of Toronto and throughout the country.

For those not familiar with the work of the CCBI, a little background courtesy the CCBI website:

The Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute came about as a result of discussions, dating back to 1998, among some Toronto-area physicians and lawyers, ethicists at the three Catholic hospitals of Toronto, University of St. Michael's College, Regis College, St. Augustine's Seminary, and the Canadian Association of the Order of Malta. This group felt that it would be helpful to create a centre or institute to help enhance Catholic research and communications in the area of bioethics in a way that would be of service to Canadians generally.

In particular, it was felt that there was a need to foster collaborative research and to communicate the fruits of that research in ways that are accessible to Canadians of all backgrounds. The group also stressed the need for a proactive approach to bioethics by Catholics, academically credible research, and stronger links across the country among academics, clinical ethicists, and workers in health and pastoral care.

In the summer of 2000, under the direction of His Eminence Cardinal Ambrozic, the Archdiocese of Toronto agreed to provide sufficient funds to organize the proposed institute, to fund its activity during the first year, and to provide significant annual support thereafter.

With this support assured, an office was established on the campus of the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto. A director, Dr. William Sullivan was appointed effective January 2001 to begin the process of Canada-wide consultations that would help to shape the Institute's vision, mission and activities.

I've had the pleasure of working with the CCBI on numerous projects over the last several years. With a shoestring staff and budget, they are making a profound impact in our faith community and beyond.

Their first director, Dr. Bill Sullivan paved the way and continues to be a treasured resource to the CCBI and our faith community. Some may recall that in 2007, Dr. Sullivan was asked by the Vatican to serve on the Pontifical Academy for Life, a talented group of international experts tasked with assisting the church as she explores biomedical issues and questions relating to the dignity of human life.

Current director, Dr. Moira McQueen is one of the busiest Catholics around. You may catch her lecturing on Moral Theology at the St. Michael's College, offering commentary to the media on any number of ethical issues from organ donation to stem cell research or end of life care to name a few.

She also makes "house calls" to parishes throughout the Archdiocese where the popular "People in the Pews" program is offered for Catholics looking to learn more about bioethics through four, two hour evenings.

If that's not enough, she's an author, having published Bioethics Matters, a helpful introduction for Catholics looking to become more informed on ethical issues (stem cell research, reproductive technologies, end of life issues, etc.) from a faith perspective.

If you haven't had a chance to experience any of these offerings from the CCBI, you're missing out. Consider a visit to the CCBI website where a host of resources, including information on organ donation from a faith perspective, short articles on issues of present day relevance can be accessed. They also offer regular lectures that are always a popular and informative chance for Catholics to learn more about what's currently "on the radar".

With court cases underway, particularly around end of life issues, there's no better time to get educated. When Catholics or non-Catholics get together and ask you why the church teaches what it does or perhaps a colleague misrepresents the position of the faith, you'll be in a much better position to recant the argument.

More importantly, as we all face challenging ethical decisions in our own lives and those we love, we can take comfort in knowing that the church has provided us with a roadmap and a toolkit to help navigate through these most difficult moments.

So Happy Birthday to the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. For a 10 year old, you sure know a lot about a whole bunch of stuff! Can't wait to see what you're like as a teenager!

Roman Missal - 2 Weeks Away - Great Video Resource

2011-11-12T08:30:00.001-05:00

The days are counting down in preparation for the implementation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal. Hopefully by now in your parish community, there has been some discussion, bulletin announcements and education around what's to take place come November 27.

For those who are more visual, there's been a series of great videos prepared by the LifeTeen program and the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Phoenix. Many of the videos are aimed at young people but some clips have been developed for parents and adults as well as those working with young people.

As part of the video series, a brief 10 minute episode has been prepared for adults and parents where Fr. John Muir from the Office of Worship at the diocese walks through some of the changes, history and why we're doing what we're doing. There are some references to the United States but the essence of the presentation is one that works in Canada as well.

Certainly worth a look, you'll find it below.

Don't forget the Archdiocese of Toronto has an extensive Roman Missal site that has resources for adults as well as helpful tools for use in schools and parish ministry.

Together, let's continue our rediscovery and appreciation of the Eucharist as we prepare for this historic change.

Lest We Forget

2011-11-09T21:17:00.001-05:00

Each year, on Remembrance Day we remember the sacrifice made by those who gave their lives for the freedom that we enjoy in Canada and other countries around the world.

During countless services nationwide, the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields" will be recited. Depending on which version of the story you reference, a doctor subbing as a chaplain may well have inspired this famous piece of prose.

According to one popular account, during the early days of the Second Battle of Ypres a young Canadian artillery officer, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, lost his life on May 2, 1915 after an exploding artillery shell landed near him. Serving alongside Lt. Helmer in the same unit was a friend of his, the Canadian military doctor and artillery commander Major John McCrae.

As the brigade doctor, John McCrae was asked to conduct the burial service for Alexis as the unit chaplain had been called away somewhere else on duty that evening. It is believed that later that evening, after the burial, John began the draft for his now famous poem “In Flanders Fields”.

For those looking to join in a faith based Remembrance Day service, St. Michael's Cathedral, along with the 2011 Graduating Class of St. Mike's Choir School, will offer a service November 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Take a moment to stop, reflect, give thanks and pray for those who have fallen and for peace, now and always.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

It's Raining Nativity Scenes in Toronto - Nov. 10-12

2011-11-04T11:52:00.018-04:00

It's just about that time of year when families and churches will unwrap nativity scenes carefully preserved over the last number of months, to celebrate Advent and to prepare for the birth of the Christ child.

For centuries, the "nativity scene" (also referred to as a crèche) has popped up worldwide, depicting the arrival of the Baby Jesus. The displays vary in composition, size, materials and presentation but all see Christ as the centre of the display, the story, the miracle that we call Christmas.

In an increasingly secular world and in a country and city that, at times, seem reluctant to call Christmas Christmas, it's refreshing to see a crew heading to town that unabashedly celebrates the occasion and the visual representation that comes with the manger scene.

Yes, in just a few short days, The Friends of the Crèche Conference will be held in Toronto, a full fledged convention that will include Ecumenical Prayer, discussions, workshops, socializing and of course, plenty of crèches. It all takes place November 10-12 - full details available online.

From far and wide they will come, just as did the wise men from the east, to celebrate all things nativity. With workshops like "The Crèche in Time of War", "Journeys of the Nativity", "Displaying, Animating & Caring for your Crèche", it will be a full out crèche fix for those with a passion for angels, animals, kings, Mary and the baby Jesus.

St. James Anglican Cathedral agreed to host and organize the event on the request of the American Branch of a worldwide organization of Friends of the Crèche - the original group started over 100 years ago in Europe and has grown to branches in 19 countries around the world with its headquarters in Rome. The Americans joined as a conference after a meeting in 1999 in you guessed it, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. On their website they list the goals of the "friends" as the following:

To learn more about the crèche tradition: how it developed, and how it is expressed in our own and other cultures.
To make better known the tradition of the crèche.
To serve as a source of information about crèches.
To encourage artists to create crèches.
To promote crèche exhibits.
To establish relationships with crèche associations in other countries.

Check out a great piece they've penned on the history of nativity scenes here.

This is the first time the convention has been held in Canada and the "Friends" will gather at the Royal York in Toronto, likely home to a few nativity scenes in its day. Registrants have been confirmed from 27 states in the USA, 6 provinces as well as participants from Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

A major exhibit of crèches assembled from institutions and personal collections across the entire continent will demonstrate its continued importance to so many. One in particular was made in a prisoner of war camp during World War II, and with the convention also coinciding with Remembrance Day, it's a most appropriate time to delve into this part of crèche connection.

All the crèche conference details are wrapped up online here.

So thanks to the "Friends of the Crèche" for descending on Toronto and injecting the Advent spirit and long-standing tradition of the nativity scene in our city. To the participants: while you're here, feel free to drop off a crèche at City Hall the Eaton Centre, Queen's Park and any other spot you think has misplaced the reason for the season.

Welcome to all who will be part of this celebration - if you can't seem to track them down, just follow the star...

Catholic Family Services Hosts Mass re: Woman Abuse Nov. 3

2011-11-01T16:30:00.003-04:00

Sadly, each day in our community, women continue to be abused. The numbers are not encouraging. Every year, more than 33,000 women across the nation suffer from some form of abuse, most often, from a loved one.

To put that in perspective, the population of Orillia is about 30,000. So think, if you will, of every single resident of that community being abused at some point in the year and that's what you have across our country. Even more upsetting is that this often happens quietly, unreported, in some cases, under the auspices of a "loving relationship".

Catholic Family Services of Toronto continues to shine a light in the darkness when it comes to this issue. For the 2nd year, the organization is hosting a Mass this week to draw attention to the plight of those abused, pray for all those impacted and to offer hope in the form of support services to begin the healing process.

St. Clare's Parish in downtown Toronto will serve as the venue for this year's Mass, at which pastor Fr. Vito Marziliano will preside on Thursday, November 3 at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend - Mass will be followed by a light meal. Full details can be found here.

The passionate staff at CFS Toronto make a profound impact in our community, not only through organizing this spiritual gathering to come together as people of faith; they're also rolling up their sleeves and offering a host of programs to those most in need, in a culturally sensitive environment.

A wonderful extension of their work is the close partnership they have established with many local parishes and chapters of the Catholic Women's League as well as the expansion of an ever-growing volunteer mentorship program.

From the Catholic Family Services of Toronto website:

Woman Abuse Services can be accessed by calling the North Office at (416) 222-0048. The program focuses on providing a safe and supportive environment to abused women and their families, including those who have been sexually abused, in which they can receive counselling, support, education, and information on other support services in the community. The services are provided through individual, couple, family and group counselling. Assessments and service plans are jointly developed to determine the most appropriate way to provide a focused service.

SAFE TO SHARE

This is our early pathway to service for women who have experienced intimate partner abuse. Support and safety planning are offered. This group is offered weekly and women can attend as needed. Child care is available and TTC tokens provided, if needed. There is no fee for this group.

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING

Individual counselling works with the woman to assist her in healing from the impact of abuse and develop a safety plan for her and her family. The process starts with the woman and her counsellor making an assessment and identifying goals that will be worked on in counselling.

COUPLE COUNSELLING
This service is offered to couples where issues of woman abuse may have been identified at intake. It is a one-session assessment, taking up to two hours. The goals are to determine safety and to make recommendations regarding which services would be appropriate.

FAMILY COUNSELLING
Where issues of woman abuse have been identified and the parents have separated, services to the mother and children are usually offered through the Here to Help group program. Screening is done to assess for suitability.

GROUPS FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN

Safe to Share Women Support Group
Understanding Abuse
Here to Help

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN
This is a peer based support service provided by trained volunteer mentors to assist women receiving counselling for the impact of abuse. The service may be provided individually to the women to assist in breaking their isolation or in speaking engagements to the community to heighten awareness of woman abuse.

PROGRAMS HELPING MEN END ABUSE
Choosing to Change
Being a Dad

It's clear that CFS Toronto has chosen to lead the way in providing support to those afflicted by the scourge of abuse in our community. We can all do our part - if you know of someone in an abusive relationship or who has been a victim of abuse, refer them to Catholic Family Services.

One phone call or inquiry could be the first step required to address an issue that may have gone on for weeks, months or even years. Every individual deserves to live in an abuse free environment. To those who have been afflicted by abuse, we have a responsibility to ensure that there are no more days living in darkness. In a very special way, Catholic Family Services is that beacon of hope for a new tomorrow. For all that they do, we give thanks.

Address of Archbishop Thomas Collins - 32nd Annual Archbishop's Dinner

2011-10-27T21:45:00.006-04:00

Address by His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto 32nd Annual Archbishop’s Dinner – October 27, 2011 Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto

This evening, as we come together for this great annual dinner in support of so many worthy causes, our joy is tempered by our sadness at the recent death of His Eminence, Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, who so faithfully served our family of faith as its spiritual leader from 1990 until 2007, and who now has completed his earthly journey. We continue to benefit from the blessings that flowed from his wise leadership, and I in particular will always be grateful for his warm welcome when I came from Edmonton to succeed him here as Archbishop. May his soul, and the souls of all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Once, when I was facing a difficult pastoral issue, a few years after I was ordained a bishop, I remarked jokingly to a senior bishop: “They didn’t teach this in bishop school.” He replied: “For a bishop, each day is bishop school.” That certainly is true, as the best school is experience, if we wisely reflected upon it in the light of the stars we steer by, faith and reason. When I was ordained a bishop, 14 years ago, personal study and prayer, and consultation with others, especially other bishops, formed the foundation for growth in the episcopal ministry. But for the last 10 years there actually has been a “bishop school”: a conference in Rome to which newly ordained bishops are invited each September by the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, currently the former Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, Cardinal Marc Ouellet.

Last month I finally got to attend Bishops’ School. Cardinal Ouellet asked me to lead some informal discussion sessions with the 25 new bishops who were English speaking, from the United States, England, Holland, Gibraltar, Australia, and the Philippines. These discussion groups are meant to supplement the talks by various people from the different departments of the Vatican, which make up most of the program. I was delighted to engage in conversation with the new bishops, and to try to share with them some of the practical lessons I have learned over the years. As always in such situations, you learn more than you teach.

The high point of the week was the visit of all the 115 new bishops to the Pope, who was staying at his residence at Castel Gandolfo, outside of Rome. The Holy Father spoke to all of us of the responsibilities of a bishop. Cardinal Ouellet presented to him a copy of a new book in which were gathered the first ten years of talks by Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict to the new bishops. It is a treasure of pastoral wisdom.

We look forward to three great events next year in the life of the Catholic Church.

In June the 50th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin. Many who are here this evening participated in the Eucharistic Congress in Quebec in 2008. Eucharistic Congresses are gatherings of people from around the world who come together at the invitation of the Pope to deepen their appreciation of the Holy Eucharist. They have been going on for many years, and one even is mentioned in the first of the Father Brown detective stories by G.K. Chesterton, written at the beginning of the 20th century.

They are not as spectacular or as dramatic as World Youth Days, such as the wonderful one recently held in Madrid, in which hundreds of thousands of young people came together with the Pope to celebrate their faith. What a sign of hope that is for the life of the Church.

A Eucharistic Congress is smaller and more subdued, focused on sessions in which teachings on the faith are combined with the testimony of those who have witnessed to their faith. In addition, there are smaller workshops on particular themes, as well as other ways of deepening our appreciation for the great gift of the Eucharist.

We should pray for the success of the Dublin Eucharistic Congress: may it be a rich blessing for the people of Ireland, and for those who come to Ireland from around the world. Just this week I met with Father Doran, the Director of the Dublin Eucharistic Congress, who briefed me on what will be happening. I will be going to Dublin next year, along with others from the Archdiocese. I certainly encourage you to consider joining us. You can find information about the Eucharistic Congress on our Toronto Archdiocesan website, or from Father Pat O’Dea, who is our liaison person.

The second great event next year will be the Synod on the New Evangelization, in which Pope Benedict has called together bishops, and many others, to reflect on the path ahead for the Church in this increasingly secularized world. I have been a delegate to two Synods, the one on the Eucharist, in 2005, and the one on the Middle East, in 2010. At our dinner last year I spoke of how participation in that synod helped me to become more aware of the sufferings faced by Christians in that part of the world. Our archdiocesan refugee efforts are one way in which we seek to assist those who are suffering, and I am grateful for those who are seeking to help those who must flee from their homeland.

The theme of next year’s Synod deals with issues that in some ways are closer to home, for we in this part of the world are very familiar with the challenges of secularization.

The Popes from time to time assign a theme to a year, as recently in the Year of the Priest, or before that the Year of St Paul. This is a useful device that allows all of the members of the Church to focus together on one aspect of their faith, so that they can come to appreciate it more fully, and translate it into action more effectively. “One thing at a time” is wise advice. Pope Benedict, in conjunction with the Synod on the New Evangelization, has proclaimed a Year of Faith, to run from October 11th, 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, until November 24th, 2013, the Feast of Christ the King.

Since we have a year to prepare for the Year of Faith, we will have the opportunity to plan ways in which we can make it more fruitful. In facing the challenges of a secular society, Catholics, and our brothers and sisters of other faiths have many opportunities for working together, and the Year of Faith can be an occasion for that. Though we may disagree on particular and important matters of faith, we all agree on the importance of a vision of the providence of God as the only proper context for confronting our daily struggles in this world. This is true in the ecumenical relationships among Christians, who seek to fulfil the will of Jesus that all his disciples be one, but it is also true in a different way in the co-operation between Christians and those of other religious traditions.

I especially note with great appreciation the presence this evening of many good friends and neighbours from other faith traditions. In our community we have an excellent history of co-operative efforts to respect one another’s beliefs, to pray together, and to work together to contribute to the good of our whole society. This is an important point, often forgotten or neglected in the public forum of the media or politics: when someone is vulnerable, or suffering, it is people of faith who are usually the first to respond.

We can think of the great medical and social service institutions founded by people of faith, and still energized by faith. But in so many other, more hidden ways, the motivating and guiding force of faith has enriched our whole society, through individual examples of generous service, and through the activities of our faith communities, to make justice and charity real on our streets. For hundreds of years people of faith have quietly brought healing and life through a hidden web of love. This is sometimes not understood. In the secularized city, it is faith that very often brings love, and in doing so brings hope to the vulnerable. We are all called to witness to that through lives of service. The many small service organizations that benefit from the proceeds of this dinner do that every day, invisible amid the distracting bustle of the secular world.

While Catholics prepare for the Year of Faith by seeking to find ways to deepen their Catholic faith, this is also an occasion for all people of faith in our community to find ways to work together more effectively, so that their actions may be more fruitful, and so that their voices may be heard.

One important way within the Catholic community in which we can help deepen our faith is by strengthening the formation of our priests. We are blessed with many seminaries for religious orders, and also for diocesan priests. Four of them work together in the formation of priests for the Archdiocese of Toronto: Serra House and St. Philip’s Seminary, and Redemptoris Mater Seminary and St. Augustine’s Seminary.

After several years of preparation, this year we have begun a special program known as the “Spiritual Year” at St. Augustine’s. The intention of the program is to provide those preparing for the priesthood, before they become immersed in the study of Theology, with a whole year in which they can put aside for a while the intense academic routine, which can become a distraction that allows a person to dodge the deeper personal questions, so that one can deepen their life of prayer, and their commitment to Jesus. It is a kind of extended retreat over 10 months, and recalls the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public ministry, and the period that St. Paul spent in prayer before beginning his.

It is a time to drill down to the bedrock. Freed from the academic hurdles that can sometimes distract, the seminarians in the spiritual year systematically read the whole Bible from cover to cover, and also several spiritual masterpieces of our tradition of faith, and the documents of the Second Vatican Council. They ponder them privately, and discuss them together. They live in a special part of the seminary whose heart is a small chapel that I recently blessed.

An interesting point, and one that always draws comment: they engage in a media fast – for almost all of the week they put aside email, radio, blackberries, iphones, ipads, television, twitter, facebook, newspapers and so on. One wise young seminarian from another seminary that has instituted a spiritual year remarked to me, when I asked him about his experience: after the spiritual year, I now use my computer; before the spiritual year it used me.

The participants in the year become more familiar with the musical, literary, and other cultural aspects of their faith, and participate in several retreats, including a year-long form of the Jesuit 30 day retreat. A very important point: for about a month they will be sent out, two by two, with very few resources, to personally serve the poorest of the poor.

Our whole archdiocese is in the early stages of a systematic reflection upon how we can better strengthen our parish communities and our institutions, so as to serve better those who are already engaged in the practice of their faith, while at the same time reaching out to those who are not. This, of course, is a key element of the New Evangelization. We are concentrating on the careful development of a flexible but focused pastoral plan that will help us all to act more wisely, and which will also reveal more clearly the material challenges that need to be addressed if we are to be true to our mission as a community of faith.

We always look to the example of those who walk by faith, for faith is communicated not by words so much as by example. As Pope Paul VI once noted, people will listen to witnesses more than to teachers, and will only listen to teachers who are also witnesses. Last year, we celebrated the canonization of a great and humble man of faith, St. André of Montreal. This year, we call to mind another great hero, beatified last May, Blessed John Paul II. He had many natural gifts of intellect and personality, which were particular to him, and which he shared generously with those whom he served. But as with Brother André, so with Pope John Paul, natural gifts are not what really matters. The porter and the pope were both examples of faith in action, faith deeply rooted in prayer.

Pope John Paul serenely witnessed to his faith through much suffering, and throughout his life, and especially in his youth, he personally experienced what happens when people inflict war and desolation on their brothers and sisters, who in the absence of the vision of faith become mere objects to be exploited. In the midst of that experience of evil he was led ever more deeply into contemplation of the love of God, and was thus prepared for his ministry as bishop and Pope.

His teachings, and especially his Theology of the Body, are a permanent gift of immense benefit to us all. I earnestly invite everyone to study prayerfully the teachings of Pope John Paul, especially the Theology of the Body. We need very much in these days to deepen our awareness of the dignity of the human person, and Pope John Paul helps us to do that.

When a person is so prayerfully immersed in the life of faith, nurtured by prayer, he or she is able to confront the harsh challenges of our modern world serenely and effectively, as did Pope John Paul. He bracketed his papal ministry with two quotes from Jesus that reveal the hopeful energy that comes from real faith: “Be not afraid”, and “Put out into the deep”.

All who live by faith are called to recognize accurately the evil that so often infects our world, and brings violence, and suffering, and the coldness of rejection, but to do so with the hope that comes from a vision of faith, the vision of God’s providence, which energizes us to serve with love in the midst of the trials of life. My favourite hymn, O God Beyond all Praising, expresses well the spirit of joyful, persistent, and fruitful faith that marked the lives of St André and Blessed Pope John Paul, and that should mark our lives as well:

“And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,
We’ll triumph through our sorrows, and rise to bless you still:

To marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.”

1,650 Expected for 32nd Archbishop's Dinner - Oct. 27

2011-10-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year once again, where parishes, corporations and political leaders come together for the 32nd annual Archbishop's Dinner. Below you'll find the official press release for Thursday night's event.

TORONTO (October 26, 2011) – His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will welcome 1,650 guests to the 32nd annual Archbishop’s Dinner, Thursday, October 27, 2011 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building).

Thirty-two years ago, Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter, believed that business, political and religious organizations in the Archdiocese of Toronto should come together in fellowship, ever mindful of our mutual responsibility to strengthen the communities in which we work, live and worship.

The event has grown to become Canada’s largest annual dinner, with thousands joining in the celebration each year. Approximately 40 dignitaries will be seated at the head table, with representatives from the Vatican, federal, provincial and municipal leaders in attendance. With the passing in August 2011 of Archbishop Emeritus, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, the dinner is now referred to as the Archbishop’s Dinner.

Confirmed head table guests include:

His Excellency, Most Reverend Pedro Lopez Quintana, Papal Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to Canada
The Right Honourable John Turner, Former Prime Minister of Canada
Member of Provincial Parliament, Vaughan - Greg Sorbara
Her Worship, Hazel McCallion, Mayor of Mississauga
Archbishop Colin Johnson, Anglican Archbishop of Toronto

Chair of this year’s Archbishop's Dinner is John Cassaday, President & CEO of Corus Entertainment. The evening begins with a reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m and will conclude with a keynote address by Archbishop Thomas Collins.

The event is primarily a community dinner with fundraising a secondary goal. Over the years, the dinner has raised more than $5.6 million, with funds allocated to charitable organizations not fully funded by traditional sources. Last year, 30 local charities were the beneficiaries of the dinner proceeds.

The Archdiocese of Toronto is one of the most diverse dioceses in North America, serving as the spiritual home to 1.9 million Catholics, celebrating Mass in more than 30 languages each week at 225 parishes.

New Roman Missal FAQ's

2011-10-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

As we continue to prepare for the implementation of the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal (November 27), here are some answers to some frequently asked questions. Remember you can access additional information on the new Roman Missal through our special online space that can be accessed here.

What is the Roman Missal?

English-speaking, Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world will soon be using a new translation of the Roman Missal as part of our worship. The Roman Missal is the ritual book used by the priest or bishop during the Mass, which contains all the Mass texts prayed by both the clergy and the people during the celebration of Eucharist. In Canada, this liturgical book has been called the Sacramentary since the publication of the 1st edition in 1974. With the promulgation of a 3rd edition of the Roman Missal in 2000 by Blessed John Paul II, efforts have been well underway to translate the texts contained in this ritual book into English. The title of this newest edition will be the Roman Missal.

Why is there are new translation of the Roman Missal?

During the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers permitted the Mass to be celebrated in the language of the people. Subsequently, there was a rapid process of translating the Mass from Latin into the many languages found throughout world. This enabled the people to more easily understand and to participate more fully in the celebration of the Mass. It was generally agreed that, in due time, the original translation of the Missal would need to be revisited. The promulgation of a 3rd edition of the Roman Missal in 2000 provided a new opportunity to retranslate the original Latin text into English. Forty years of study and reflection have led the translators to use a different standard for translating the ritual texts. We will begin to use this new translation on the 1st Sunday of Advent 2011.

Is the Mass changing with the new translation of the Roman Missal?

No, the Mass is not changing from the Order of the Mass (Novus Ordo) promulgated after the Second Vatican Council. The 3rd edition of the Roman Missal is based on the original Latin text from the Holy See, which is the way we celebrate Mass today. The structure of our Mass remains the same. Additional prayers have been added to this newest edition, such as: the many, new feast days of saints canonised by Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, more prefaces, and additional Masses for various needs and intentions. While the way we celebrate Mass is not changing, the “sound” of the Mass will be different. Translators have used a more formal approach when translating the ritual texts from Latin into English. As a result, we will notice changes to sentence structure, greater use of scripture references, and some words will replace others that have become familiar. Also, many options found in the 2nd edition will no longer be contained in the 3rd edition due to the more literal, translation methods being employed.

How does this translation differ from the current edition?

The translation rules have changed through which the original Latin text (the editio typica) of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal has been translated into English. An editio typica is a “master copy” of a ritual text produced by the Holy See. It is written in Latin and is meant to be translated into the vernacular by episcopal conferences throughout the world. Earlier editions were translated following the instruction on the translation of liturgical texts called “Comme le Prevoit,” which was issued by the Consilium in 1969. The principle of translation advocated in “Comme le Prevoit” is known as the principle of “dynamic equivalence.” Following this method, translators were concerned not only with the meaning in the original Latin form, but also about how the translated text would be understood by the community for which it was being translated. The 1st and 2nd English editions of the Roman Missal were not word for word translations of the original text, but were also shaped with attentiveness to common characteristics of the receiving language, such as: style, idioms and colloquialisms.

The new translation of the 3rd edition uses a different approach based on the instruction “Liturgiam Authenticam” issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in 2001. The principle of translation advocated by the Congregation in this instruction is called “formal equivalence”. The emphasis is on a word-for-word translation, that is, more direct from the original Latin text. It is hoped that this will preserve a heightened, sacred style in English by maintaining, as much as possible, the structure of the original Latin text, and ensure accuracy between the two languages so that nothing gets “lost in translation.”

Who has been involved in the translation process?

The International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) has been responsible for translating the Roman Missal from Latin into English. The translated texts were presented in various stages to the English-speaking conferences of Catholic Bishops for approval, comment, clarification, modification, etc. A consultative group of English-speaking bishops called the Vox Clara Committee was formed in 2002 to assist with the implementation of the instruction “Liturgiam Authenticam” and to advise the Holy See's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments during the translation process.

When will we use the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal in Canada?

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has received recognitio (final approval) from the Holy See for all sections of the English translation of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal for use in Canada. The Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has agreed that the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, will be the date for the implementation of this new English translation of the Roman Missal across Canada.

Archbishop Collins has authorized that parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto may begin to learn the new, sung mass settings and employ them in the liturgy as of September 25, 2011. Other than these settings, the newly translated prayers (collects, prefaces, etc.) of the Missal may not be used without specific permission before the First Sunday of Advent. After the implementation date, the current 2nd edition of the Roman Missal will no longer be used.

What about changes to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal?

In 2002, a new General Instruction of the Roman Missal was produced. It will be implemented at the same time as the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal in Canada. The General Instruction acts as a guideline for the celebration of the Eucharist. There have been some clarifications and adjustments made to this document in order to ensure the fruitful participation of the faithful in the Eucharist. You can access a copy of the revised GIRM here.

When will a published copy of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal be available?

Each conference of bishops is responsible for the publication of the ritual books for use in their country. Some conferences rely on independent publishers to assist them in the exacting work of publishing. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops will produce the new ritual text for use in Canada through their publishing house: CCCB Publications Service. Shipping of orders has commenced throughout the country.

What will the implementation process look like in the Archdiocese of Toronto?

In the Archdiocese of Toronto, the clergy have had seminars on the new translation of the Roman Missal and the General Instruction. In September 2011, all priests, deacons, and lay pastoral assistants received materials to assist with introducing the revised texts to their parishioners. Parishes may begin to gradually introduce the sung Mass settings during the Mass from September 25th and over the next few months. Workshops for lay leaders and those involved in music ministry will occur throughout the fall months. The implementation date for the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal is the 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. Between January and June 2012, there will be opportunities for reflection on our celebration of the Eucharist in order to deepen our appreciation of these new translations and the transformative power the Eucharist has in our lives.

Pope Benedict Announces the "Year of Faith"

2011-10-17T16:09:00.006-04:00

Below you will find the official statement from the Vatican Information Service regarding Pope Benedict XVI's announcement of the Year of Faith which will run from October 2012 - November 2013.

BENEDICT XVI ANNOUNCES THE "YEAR OF FAITH"

VATICAN CITY, 16 OCT 2011 (VIS) - During Mass this morning in the Vatican Basilica, celebrated to mark the end of an international meeting on new evangelisation organised by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, Benedict XVI announced that he was calling a forthcoming "Year of Faith".

The Year will begin on 11 October 2012, fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II, and will come to an end on 24 November 2013, Feast of Christ the King. Its aim "is to give renewed energy to the Church's mission to lead men and women out of the desert in which they so often find themselves, and towards the place of life, towards friendship with Christ who gives us life in all its fullness". The Year will likewise be an opportunity "to strengthen our faith in Christ and joyfully to announce Him to the men and women of our time", the Pope said.

Commenting on this Sunday's readings, the Holy Father explained that the mission of the Church must be considered in the light of "the theological meaning of history. Epoch-making events, the rise and fall of great powers, all lie under the supreme dominion of God. No earthly power can take His place. The theology of history is an essential aspect of the new evangelisation, because the men and women of our time, following the tragic period of the totalitarian empires of the twentieth century, need to rediscover a global vision of the world and history. They need a truly free and peaceful vision, the vision which Vatican Council II transmitted in its documents and which my predecessors, Servant of God Paul VI and Blessed John Paul II, illustrated with their Magisterium".

"In order to be effective evangelisation needs the strength of the Spirit, which enlivens the message and infuses the person who bears it with the 'full conviction' of which St. Paul speaks. ... New evangelisers are called to be the first to walk along the Path which is Christ, in order to lead others to the beauty of the life-giving Gospel. On this Path we are never alone, but always in company; it is an experience of communion and fraternity which is offered to everyone we meet, bringing them to share in our experience of Christ and His Church. Thus, witness associated with announcement can open the hearts of those who seek the truth, helping them discover the meaning of their own lives".

Finally the Holy Father turned his attention to the Gospel episode of the tribute to be paid to the emperor. Jesus command to "give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's", he said, "is rich in anthropological significance and cannot be reduced only to the political sphere. The Church, then, does not limit herself to reminding men and women of the just distinction between the authority of Caesar and that of God, between the political and religious spheres. The mission of the Church, like that of Christ, is essentially that of speaking about God, evoking His sovereignty, calling everyone - and especially Christians who have lost their identity - of God's rights over that which belongs to Him:
our lives".

New Roman Missal Translation - Why do we need one?

2011-10-12T07:02:00.000-04:00

We continue to reflect on the third translation of the Roman Missal, which will take effect in parishes throughout the United States and Canada on the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.

First - to ensure we're all on the same page, some have asked "What's the Roman Missal?" Well you may have heard it previously referred to as the "Sacramentary", a book that is placed on the altar, containing the prayers for Mass. As part of the changes in the translation of this book, the Vatican has asked that we refer to it now as the Roman Missal. We still have a second book that is placed at the ambo (where the readings are proclaimed) - that book is called the Lectionary and contains the scripture readings that we use whenever Mass is celebrated.

Until the early 1960's, Mass was celebrated in Latin throughout the world. At the Second Vatican Council it was agreed that the Mass could be celebrated in the "language of the people", and in 1970 Pope Paul VI approved the official Latin text that would be used. This was then translated into different languages to be used throughout the world. It proved to be a huge task which was completed in a very short time. However, because it was done so quickly, some of the richness of the original Latin prayers was, quite literally, 'lost in translation'. It was agreed that a further translation was necessary.

The new translation would keep the original words, meaning and style of the Latin as far as possible. The new translation also means a new edition of the Missal which will include some additional text such as, prayers for the saints who have been added by the Church to the liturgical calendar.

Why a New Translation?

Why can't things just stay the same? Why is everything always the same?

Human beings both like and dislike change at the same time. We are comfortable with what is familiar but at the same time if nothing changes we become frustrated. This tension spills from everyday things even into the spiritual life and our being Christians.

Many of us are so familiar with Mass that we can just about say it with our eyes shut. Change, therefore, is bound to be a bit of a shock to the system. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it can provide growth and new life. Also, it is easy to forget there was a time that we celebrated Mass in a very different way and over the years we have used different translations of what are originally Latin prayers.

Sometimes translations aim to produce a close 'word for word' version. This is a good way of doing it but sometimes the language can feel quite different to the way we normally speak or write. Another way of translating is to express the gist of the meaning in more everyday English.

So here we are with a new translation and we have to ask ourselves 'why?' Why a new translation? Why don't we just stick with what we know?

The present translation was not intended to be permanent. As they worked on it the scholars wrote a version that aimed to provide a good sense of the original Latin without giving a word for word exactness. It was understood that it would have to be looked at again. As time passed, it was felt that some ideas found in the original prayers have not come across as well as could be hoped. There are some lovely expressions in our present version yet there are some profound and beautiful ideas that remain hidden. There are lots of quotations from the scriptures woven into the words of the Mass that can be easily missed. It would be wrong to dismiss what we have been using but at the same time we must acknowledge that it is not perfect.

Work on a new translation has gone on for many years. In that time there has been a change in approach to the project. Now the aim is to produce something as close as possible to the original Latin and try to hang on to more of the rich insights hidden there. It will seem very different and this gives us an opportunity to look again at what we are really saying at Mass. It opens to us ideas that can help our faith grow. It is hoped that as we think about the changes our understanding will deepen and that our prayer at Mass will take on even more meaning.

For more reflections on the new translation of the Roman Missal, visit our online space devoted to the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal. The content above includes home grown material as well as reflections generously provided by the Liturgy Office of the Bishops' Conference to accompany the introduction of the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal - 2011 Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.

Being open in our minds and hearts can help us draw ever closer to God. As we come to experience the new translation, may we continue to be Renewed in Worship, Renewed in Christ.

What Thanksgiving Is All About...

2011-10-07T07:00:00.003-04:00

From a young age, I can still remember joining the rest of my family and heading down for what would become an almost annual tradition of volunteering a the Good Shepherd Refuge, a local soup kitchen, to help with the distribution of their Thanksgiving meal.

You really feel a lot more thankful about your abundant holiday meal after helping those less fortunate. It’s about helping out and bonding as a family. A visit down to the Good Shepherd Refuge also will tell you a thing or two about the "homeless" in the city of Toronto, likely shattering the stereotype that many have of those who are in need of a hot meal and kind word on any given day, or in this case, a holiday.

Some of my most memorable Thanksgivings have been down at the Good Shepherd. One year we had four generations of family helping out - from my 85 year old grandmother to 9 year old niece - it was quite the gang. Whether it was refilling coffee, serving green beans or seating guests for their meal, every year helped increase that attitude of gratitude that is so often missing in our world today.

I've always enjoyed chatting with those who come to the Good Shepherd Refuge. At first, I had the idea that those “looking for a meal” would be disheveled, ragged, smelly and living on the street. A look around our “restaurant” any given year would reflect those from all walks of life, every age group, men, women, children, families, those who looked well off as well as those who were calling the street home.

There was “Barbara”, who told me that she’d been on disability for the last several years and just had her benefits cut off. When I asked her if she had a place to stay that night, she replied, “Of course, just gotta get a good meal in me and I’m not a big cook at Thanksgiving.”

She was probably thirty-five years old, walked with a cane but certainly maintained her dignity. She asked me quietly if she could have one of the flowers displayed with the pumpkins and corn husks against the wall. I reached for one and she told me, “Give me the one that’s bent over. Somebody’s gotta care for the flowers that aren’t as pretty.”

Oh the flowers we’ve met over the years serving Thanksgiving meals. They all bloom at different times, some may appear more as weeds, others roses and still more forget me nots - each one bringing their own ray of sunshine to those assembled for the special meal.

I met “Rick”, who told me he was a university student that spent a “little too much on books and booze.” Of course he had a place to stay and was a little hesitant about getting a free meal but figured, “They’re here for me so I came.”

The man who needed assistance eating because he was on the street with no arms, the ‘regulars’ one recognizes from year to year, carrying all that they own on their back or in a garbage bag. They were polite and even helped let us know when there was a free seat next to them. These people deserve and many carry with them a certain dignity and pride that is heartwarming. Yes, they’ve waited in line for a free meal but they’re still people making it through each day, facing their own challenges, whether they be on the street, in a shelter or in a basement apartment somewhere.

In recent years, we've served more than 1000 meals in a 3 hour period. Many finish their meal, get up and proceed to join the line outside once again. I can recall one gentleman walking through the lineup four times.

I can still recall the late Cardinal Ambrozic remarking at a Mass for volunteers throughout the Archdiocese that “we are not helping the poor and marginalized. It is they who are helping us by being in our presence and giving us the chance to see the face of Jesus alive in each of them.”

He’s right. We’re better people because the homeless give us the opportunity to help give back. They’re Moms and Dads, students, those with mental and physical challenges, the broken, the lonely. In many ways, they're a reflection of ourselves.

So this Thanksgiving as we pray in gratitude for the many blessings bestowed upon us, let's take a moment to remember the broken, the lonely, the suffering. Especially for those who will be alone this Thanksgiving.

Over the years, there have been many flowers in our Thanksgiving display – we watered some to give them sustenance, others had roots that were malnourished. Yet our celebration would not have been the same without each flower, each meal served, each smile exchanged.

Something happens each October – summer becomes fall, leaves change color and I begin to realize more and more each year what Thanksgiving is all about...

Canadian Gov't To Open Office of Religious Freedom

2011-10-04T12:01:00.009-04:00

It seems that most every day we see a story globally about violence related to religious movements, causes or motivation. While we have our own challenges in Canada, we are entitled to religious freedom and to, for the most part, express our views in the public square.

This week in Ottawa, representatives from many diverse religions gathered in the nation's capital to dialogue with our federal government as they embark on a new initiative: an Office of Religious Freedom. I was privileged to be part of that dialogue and while the office is still in its infancy stages, it was nice to see consultation with those "on the ground" so to speak from the early days of this process.

Speakers representing a wide array of faith communities had a chance to voice their opinions on what they envision such an office to represent, to highlight current global challenges where religious voices are threatened with violence and to remind the government that any office espousing the right to religious freedom globally needs to ensure that this right and privilege is freely provided in our own country. Among those gathered included the brother of murdered Pakistani political leader, Shahbaz Bhatti.

We also had a chance to hear from those involved in such initiatives in the United States - the pros and cons of the challenges they faced in launching such an office.

Below you'll find the address to delegates from Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable John Baird. At present, the initiative is intended to fall under the direction of Foreign Affairs. Let's all pray that the new Office of Religious Freedom provides tangible, measurable results and that religious leaders will continue to be an important part of the evolution moving forward.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to join you this morning. This is an opportunity to exchange ideas on a key priority for our government: establishing an Office of Religious Freedom.

We announced our intention to do so in the Speech from the Throne on June 3. And I repeated our commitment most recently at the United Nations General Assembly this past week in New York.

This office will be created to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief, consistent with core Canadian values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Most importantly, it will demonstrate that Canada truly is a free society.

Canadians enjoy the rights and privileges that come with living in a free and democratic society in which human rights are respected. We are also keenly aware of the struggles that religious minorities face around the world.

That is why, whatever the circumstances, Canada will continue to speak out, and take principled positions. As I said in my address at the United Nations General Assembly, we will not just go along to get along. We will stand for what is principled and just, regardless of whether it is popular, convenient or expedient.

All human rights are essential, of course, but today, we come together for a special purpose.

History has shown us that religious freedom and democratic freedom are inseparable. As Franklin Roosevelt observed on the eve of global war:

“Where freedom of religion has been attacked, the attack has come from sources opposed to democracy.

“Where democracy has been overthrown, the spirit of free worship has disappeared.

“And where religion and democracy have vanished, good faith and reason in international affairs have given way to strident ambition and brute force.”

Societies that protect religious freedom are more likely to protect all other fundamental freedoms. They are typically more stable and more prosperous societies. This view has been reinforced in consultations I’ve had around the world so far.

I honestly believe it is critically important that Canada is uniquely placed to protect and promote religious freedom around the world.

We are a country of many ethnicities and religions, but we all share one humanity—one of tolerance, one of acceptance, one of peace and security.

Canada has spoken out against violations of freedom around the world.

I’ve voiced strong concern about serious violations of the rights of Iranian citizens to practice Christianity, including those facing charges of apostasy. I spoke up for the Bahá’í community, which continues to face difficulties in Iran with its leaders being imprisoned on unfounded charges.

I spoke out on the discrimination by the Burmese regime against Muslims and Buddhists.

I stand with Roman Catholic priests and other Christian clergy and their laity, as they are driven underground to worship in China while their leaders are detained. And our government has raised the issues of Tibetans, Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners at the United Nations.

We stood in solidarity with Pakistan’s Shahbaz Bhatti and Salman Taseer, who were assassinated by extremists for speaking out against unjust blasphemy laws.

We have called for accountability for the violence faced by the Ahmiddya community in different parts of the world.

We were the first major country to speak out about the attacks against Egyptian Coptics following the events in Nag Hammadi, and we deplored the New Year’s Eve attacks in Alexandria.

And in Iraq, where al Qaeda has driven out many Christians and minorities, we implemented a program to resettle refugees.

This year, our government created an award, the John Diefenbaker Defender of Human Rights and Freedom Award, to recognize individuals who show exceptional leadership in defending human rights and freedoms.

It was former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker who, during his time in office, championed human rights both in Canada and around the world. On the day he introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights in Parliament, he spoke these words:

“I am a Canadian, …, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and mankind.”

I pledge to continue this tradition. But I of course can’t do this alone.

And we as a country are compelled to get this right.

That’s why I’m glad each of you is here to share your expertise, insights and experiences. I’m extremely pleased at the calibre of people gathered here.

I know this is a challenging task, but, then again, Canadians stand for what is right, not what is easy, so I have no doubt we here today are up to that challenge.

It is our common duty to defend the rights of the afflicted, and to give voice to the voiceless.

Our positions will not soften, our determination will not lessen, and our voices will not be diminished until all citizens can enjoy the freedoms and rights we hold to be universal and true.

Through our combined efforts, I am confident that the Office of Religious Freedom can help do just that.

Thank you all for being here.

Archbishop Collins' Homily at 2011 Red Mass

2011-09-29T09:06:00.003-04:00

Each year, those engaged in the legal profession - judges, lawyers, those who teach law, students and others, gather to celebrate the Red Mass. This Eucharistic celebration is meant to provide pastoral care for those involved in these professions and to request guidance from the Holy Spirit in making the important decisions that come with such responsibilities. The first Red Mass was held in the Cathedral of Paris in 1245 and the tradition continues in many dioceses around the world today.

Below you will find the homily given by Archbishop Collins at the September 22nd liturgy. Whether you're in the legal profession or not, there's words of wisdom for all of us.

I: Peace for the Restless heart

Once, when in New York City, I made a special point of going to the Frick Gallery to see the famous Holbein painting of St Thomas More. It is astonishing to come upon it suddenly as one turns the corner and enters the beautiful room where it is found, on the left side of the fireplace. There it was. But on the other side of the fireplace, staring across at Thomas More, is another portrait by Holbein of More’s nemesis: Henry VIII’s minister, Thomas Cromwell.

Both men were successful in their political careers, both were hard working, talented, and ambitious, and both were executed on the order of the King, a hazard in Henry’s court.

The guide suggested that the two works of art revealed that Holbein clearly liked More, and did not like Cromwell. That may have been true. But the more significant difference between these two men, also reflected in the paintings, is that More was a man who was inwardly at peace, while Cromwell was not.

This was evident in the way in which they prepared for their deaths. Both were naturally frightened, but while Cromwell’s last messages to Henry reveal a desperate desire to avoid his doom, Thomas More’s writings in the tower reveal a man who had long before found a deeper peace than was available to those caught up in the vicious political manoeuvring of the Tudor court. It was More whose heart was at peace, and the other powerful figures of his day are remembered now, if at all, only because of the role they played in the life of this great man of integrity.

Thomas More was a lawyer, a judge, and a politician. Over a thousand years before he lived another great saint, Saint Augustine, not a lawyer, but a master of rhetoric, which was the chief qualification of a lawyer in his day, expressed the secret of the inner peace that allowed Thomas More to escape the traps that ensnared Cromwell, and Richard Rich, and King Henry himself. Augustine writes at the beginning of his Confessions: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

All of us need to find the inner serenity that allows us to see clearly and to live rightly, with integrity, amid the turmoil of society and the inner tempests that are part of the human condition, confronting the fears that can paralyze and the vices that can destroy. But it is especially those, like Thomas More within civil society, like Augustine within the Church, who are stewards of the common good, who need to temper their ambition and their passion for achievement, and who need to master those drives within them that can rip them apart if left unchecked, by finding the secret of the heart that is at peace.

A life on the surface is untenable in the long run, especially for those who are entrusted with responsibility for others. The storms on the surface can only destroy unless a person has found the inner peace that is experienced in the midst of anxiety and suffering by one who goes deep.

II: Readings

The readings at today’s Mass are the ones used at every Catholic Church in the world today. The first, from the prophet Haggai, comes from a time when the people had returned from exile in Babylon. They had escaped a great disaster, and now were caught up in the busyness of rebuilding their community. They had worked hard, and the prophet remarks on how they now lived in luxurious panelled homes. But he challenges them for their selfish absorption in their own success; they were people who for all their busyness were unsatisfied: you have “sown much, and harvested little; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them in a bag with holes.” The prophet calls them to get beyond the limited scope of their panelled homes and their successful material lives: to build a temple for the Lord where they can find the context of divine will and love which gives meaning to life. They will always be unsatisfied unless they look for and find the secret of a heart at peace.

In the Gospel, we see King Herod, a man who is bewitched by the illusion of control. He rules the kingdom, and almost everyone within it, but he cannot control John the Baptist, who like Thomas More speaks to the king with the serene courage of a prophet. For all his mastery of most things in his life, Herod is not at peace: he is perplexed by John, and he is perplexed by Jesus, as Henry VIII was perplexed by Thomas More, but not by Cromwell or by the other courtiers whose shallow motivations he had mastered. Herod recognizes something astonishing in those who have attained the inner depth of serenity that has escaped him. It was John and Jesus, not Herod, who left a lasting mark on their own time and on history, as it is More, not Henry, who guides us still.

Herod cannot resist the attraction of one whose heart is at peace: he says “who is this about whom I hear such things? And he kept trying to see him.” Thomas More exercised that same salutary power over Henry VIII, who loved to spend time with him, and over Erasmus, and over any who met him then, or who meet him now, and whose lives have been enriched by the encounter. The power exercised by Herod and Henry was merely destructive, and ephemeral. The power for good of a person whose heart is at peace is fruitful and permanent.

III: In Our Lives: Peace for the Restless heart

As we celebrate this Red Mass, we consider the red colour of fire that speaks of the Holy Spirit of God, whose guidance we need, and in whom we find peace for our restless hearts. And we consider the red blood of martyrdom, for those like John the Baptist and Thomas More, who were truly alive during their brief passage through this world, were willing to suffer earthly death ahead of schedule – for we all die, and the martyr simply is willing to die a bit sooner - if that were the cost of the integrity that rises from a heart that is at peace.

Whether or not we are called to die as martyrs, we are all called to live as witnesses to a heart at peace, a heart that has found its rest in God. A shallow life, swept up in vain and anxious busyness - that is not a fruitful option.

So we need to find the source of inner peace, and we especially need to do so if we are responsible for others.

A: Sabbath: a personal need

Inner turmoil is personally destructive: A restless heart needs Sabbath, to be refreshed, and to be able to discover the source of the serenity that is the foundation for a life of fruitful service.

We should all keep in mind that in the first pages of the Bible, in the instructions from our manufacturer, we find that even God takes Sabbath time. Six days of creation; one day off. That is a good proportion for us as well. Busy, busy, busy - in the six days of our busyness we can delude ourselves that our dignity and worth come from our success, or from the illusion of control that can grip our minds.

No. What I am in the sight of God, that I am indeed; no more, no less. Realization of that was the secret of Thomas More.

The faster the wheel is spinning, the more the hub must be secure. All people need Sabbath time, to stop, to look, and to listen.

More worked hard, but he spent time in prayer, and he spent time in joyful relaxation with his family and with his friends. He was truly wise, and he teaches us still.

B: We need to be at peace ourselves, if we are to bring peace to others

There is a disconcerting but sensible element in the training of pastoral counsellors. They are challenged to acknowledge and come to terms with their own inner struggles, for if they are not basically at peace with themselves, they will be of no use to those who they try to assist.

It is like the wise advice of the airline safety drill: first put on the oxygen mask yourself, before trying to help someone else.

So too, for those in any position of responsibility. There is a value if those who are responsible in some way for the whole community experience the stresses and cares of their fellow citizens. To be aloof from the struggles of the human condition is in fact impossible, and even if we try it is not wise: those who exercise authority need to know the sufferings of those they serve.

But for all of that, we need fundamentally to be at peace. If our hearts are restless, then we will not be able to be of any good to others, and our own inner struggles will be transmitted to those whom we are called to serve, and destroy our effectiveness as stewards of the common good.

This is why priests are told to get to confession frequently, and to spend at least an hour in prayer each day.

Archimedes in ancient times said: give me a place whereon to stand and I will move the world. To do good for others, we need a stable fulcrum in our lives.

This is why St Thomas More was truly effective as a lawyer, judge, and politician: he was an undivided man, at peace with God and with himself. Each day, and each week, he went deep, and devoted precious time – all the more precious for a busy person – to be attentive to the sources of life.

Thomas More spent long hours in prayer, and had a special place of prayer built at his home in Chelsea, so that he could become rooted, so that he could become anchored, so that he would have the fulcrum that made him a man at peace and an effective servant of the common good. He went out from there, no stranger to fear, as his letters and writings from prison indicate, for he was a frail human, but one who acted rightly and persevered to the end because his roots were deep.

C: The Prospect of Death is a sure remedy for a restless heart

As the old saying goes, death is God’s way of telling us to slow down. This may seem morbid, but it is not. Life is short, and it has a purpose. The more I am attentive to the limits of my brief journey through this world, the more at peace I can be within, and the more inclined I will be to weigh things rightly and to act justly towards those I meet on this earthly journey. So much of the violence, of the greed, of the enmity that destroys the frail web of community is born of a restricted vision in which people do not see how vain are the things they struggle for in this life.

As the psalmist says: “Lord, teach me the shortness of life, that I may gain wisdom of heart.”

And Samuel Johnson was right when he remarked, in an observation on the workings of the legal profession: “The prospect of being hanged in a fortnight concentrates the mind wonderfully.”

So all of us need a salutary awareness of the brevity of life, and so imitate Thomas More, whose writings are filled with references to this theme. When he was in the tower he wrote: “Give me thy grace, good Lord, to set the world at nought; to set my mind fast upon thee, and not to hang upon the blast of men’s mouths; ... to have the last thing in remembrance, to have ever afore mine eye my death that is ever at hand; to make death no stranger to me.”

Such thoughts are to be expected in prison, in one awaiting execution, but they form a significant element in the texture of Thomas More’s prayer from the days of his earthly success. As we look at the great Holbein portrait of More in his robes of state, we know what Holbein did not know, and what no one else but More’s daughter Margeret knew: that to remind him of the vanity of the baubles of this world, Thomas More, as a penitential practice, was wearing a hair shirt beneath those gorgeous robes.

He could put things in perspective; we need to as well, if we are to be at peace, as he was, and not get distracted by those things that are nothing but dust. Life is short, too short to be wasted on the anxious striving and vain delights that trapped Cromwell, and Henry, and Herod.

We need to live deeply, and to see clearly, and to live rightly, as did the great Thomas More, the man for all seasons, the man whose heart was at peace.

3 Year Old Recites Apostles Creed - Heartwarming Video!

2011-09-23T13:25:00.000-04:00

Meet Matthew Schesnuik. He's a 3 year old who attends St. Monica's Parish in Toronto. Young Matthew is a guy who enjoys his prayers - he likes to follow along at Mass and has learned the Apostles Creed, Gloria, Our Father & Hail Mary.

Matthew worked on his pronunciation of the Creed every night for many weeks before going to bed. He was asked to lend 'his voice' to a special recording of the Apostles Creed that would go along with a campaign from the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office of Development to encourage Catholics to remember the church in their Will.

The goal? To remind parishioners of the history that stands behind them and how a gift in their Will creates a lasting legacy for the next generation of Catholics. If you're interested in learning more, check out the Development Office website.

Hopefully the next generation will continue to pass on the message of hope and redemption that we don't hear as much as we should in a world that could use a little more of a "pick me up".

Two versions of the video appear in this space - above, the raw footage of Matthew (sitting beside his dad, Quentin, Manager of Planned Giving & Personal Gifts for the Archdiocese) reciting the Creed. The second (below) is Matthew's voice along with pictures bringing the Apostles Creed to life from children participating in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in parishes across the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Thanks to ShareLife Schools Coordinator Tim Lee Loy and John Dawson of the Office of Catholic Youth for their help in putting this together.

Oh and by the way, Matthew has already decided what he wants to be when he grows up. Spiderman, a Catholic priest or a fireman. Time will tell...

Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Visit to Germany

2011-09-22T09:00:00.002-04:00

For those keeping track of the Pontiff's travels, this week the Holy Father returns to Germany (his homeland) for the 3rd time since being elected Pontiff in 2005. The September 22-25 visit will be the first state visit and his inaugural pilgrimage to Berlin as Pope.

A full itinerary is in store for the 4 day apostolic voyage, with plenty of focus on interfaith relations, with meetings scheduled with the Jewish & Muslim communities as well as dialogue with German Evangelicals and an ecumenical celebration at an Augustinian monastery in Erfurt, where Martin Luther, known as the father of the Protestant Reformation, lived for almost 15 years. If you're looking for further anaylysis of what to expect, you can read Vatican correspondent John Allen's take on how things may unfold.

See below the Vatican's official itinerary for the German visit. You can follow the Papal Visit through Salt & Light's extensive television coverage. For all the details, visit them online here.

We pray for a safe and fruitful apostolic voyage as the Holy Father return to his homeland.

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO GERMANY
22-25 SEPTEMBER 2011

Thursday, 22 September 2011
Rome
8:15
Departure by plane from Rome Ciampino Airport for Berlin

Berlin
10:30
Arrival at Berlin Tegel International Airport

Official welcoming at Berlin Tegel International Airport

11:15
Welcoming ceremony at Bellevue Castle

Courtesy visit to the Federal President at Bellevue Castle

12:50
Official meeting with the Federal Chancellor at the headquarters of the German Episcopal Conference, next to the Catholic Academy

13:30
Luncheon with the Papal Entourage at the Catholic Academy

16:15
Visit to the Federal Parliament in the Reichstag Building

17:15
Meeting with representatives of the Jewish Community in a room of the Reichstag Building

18:30
Holy Mass in the Olympiastadion

Friday, 23 September 2011
7:15 Private Mass in the chapel of Apostolic Nunciature of Berlin

9:00
Meeting with representatives of the Muslim Community in the reception room of the Apostolic Nunciature of Berlin

10:00
Departure by plane from the Berlin Tegel International Airport for Erfurt

Erfurt
10:45
Arrival at Erfurt Airport

11:15
Visit to St. Mary's Cathedral

11:45
Meeting with representatives of the German Evangelical Church Council in the Chapter Hall of the Augustinian Convent

12:20
Ecumenical Celebration in the church of the Augustinian Convent

13:20
Luncheon with the Papal Entourage in Erfurt seminary

16:45
Departure by helicopter from Erfurt Airport for Etzelsbach

Etzelsbach
17:30
Arrival at Etzelsbach heliport

17:45
Marian Vespers at the Wallfahrtskapelle in Etzelsbach

19:00
Departure by helicopter from Etzelsbach heliport for Erfurt

Erfurt
19:40
Arrival at Erfurt Airport

Saturday, 24 September 2011
9:00
Holy Mass at Domplatz in Erfurt

11:50
Departure by plane from Erfurt Airport for Lahr

Lahr
12:50
Arrival at Lahr Airport

Freiburg im Breisgau
14:00
Visit to the Cathedral of Freiburg im Breisgau

14:15
Greetings to the citizens at Münsterplatz

16:50
Meeting with the former Chancellor Helmut Kohl in the Seminary

17:15
Meeting with representatives of the Orthodox Churches in the Seminary Hörsaal

17:45
Meeting with seminarians at St Charles Borromeo Seminary Chapel

18:15
Meeting with the Council of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK) in the Seminary Hörsaal
19:00
Prayer vigil with the young people at the trade fair grounds

Sunday, 25 September 2011
10:00
Holy Mass in the touristic airport of Freiburg im Breisgau

Recitation of the Angelus Domini in the touristic airport of Freiburg im Breisgau

12:45
Luncheon with members of the German Episcopal Conference and the Papal Entourage in the Seminary

16:20
Meeting with judges of the Federal Constitutional Court in the Seminary Hörsaal

17:00
Meeting with a group of Catholics active in the Church and society in the Konzerthaus

Lahr
18:45
Farewell ceremony at Lahr Airport

19:15
Departure by plane from Lahr Airport for Rome

Rome
20:45
Arrival at Rome/Ciampino Airport

Roman Missal Workshops - Some Done, Some to Come...

2011-09-15T16:17:00.010-04:00

The back to school season is in full swing and it's not just our students that are hitting the books once again. Over the last two weeks, four regional meetings have taken place throughout the Archdiocese where more than 500 clergy, lay pastoral associates and school board representatives have come together to discuss the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), due to be implemented in parishes on the first Sunday of Advent (November 27).

A whole new set of resources for parishes and personal use have been made available to our parishes, all of which are downloadable from the Archdiocesan Roman Missal website. Further updates will be made available online in the days to come and we're doing the best to combine a mixture of homegrown resources with those already available, not to mention some great sharing of resources for those in our schools.

If you're interested in learning more about the Roman Missal, there's no shortage of info out there for you to tap into. In addition, the Archdiocesan Office of Formation for Discipleship is also leading a number of regional workshops taking place in the next number of weeks. Here's a quick look at the complete roster of what's being offered for lay leaders who wish to learn more: (there is no pre-registration required for the lay workshops)

Thurs., September 15 7:30 - 9:30 pm St. Patrick's, Toronto
Tues., September 20 7:30 - 9:30 pm Holy Family, Whitby
Tues., September 20 7:30 - 9:30pm St. John Vianney, Barrie
Wed., September 21 7:30 - 9:30 pm St. John Fisher, Brampton
Thurs., September 22 2:00 - 4:00 pm St. Monica's, Toronto
Mon., September 26 7:30 - 9:30 pm St. Gregory, Etobicoke
Tues., September 27 7:30 - 9:30 pm Our Lady of Grace, Aurora
Sat., October 1 10:00 - 12 noon St. Andrew Kim, North York
Sat., October 1 10:30 - 12 noon St. Margaret's, Midland (Canadian Martyrs’ Room)
Wed., October 5 7:30 - 9:30 pm Annunciation Parish, Toronto

In addition, workshops for those involved in parish music ministry are also being held regionally at the following locations: (note these workshops are NOT a repeat of the workshop held for close to 500 musicians in May 2011 - pre-registration for these workshops IS required and you can download a registration form here)

September 22:
St. Margaret Parish, Midland, 7 – 9:30 pm

September 24:
St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, 10 am – 1 pm

October 1:
St. John Chrysostom Parish, Newmarket, 10 am – 12:30 pm

October 15:
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Mississauga, 10 am – 1 pm

October 22:
St. Mary's Parish, Barrie, 10 am – 1 pm

October 29:
St. Leo's Parish, Brooklin, 10 am – 1 pm

Thanks to all those clergy, parish staff and school board reps who attended the gatherings. They were filled with fruitful discussion, questions and reflection. We hope to include answers to many of the frequently asked questions from those meetings on the Roman Missal website shortly.

For parishioners, if you haven't already heard about the changes in your own parish, get ready for a healthy dose of information from your faith community as well as these pages and our website. We'll do our best to educate and inform as we journey together on this wonderful opportunity to renew our appreciation and understanding of the Eucharist.

Message from Pope Benedict on 10th Anniversary of 9/11

2011-09-11T09:15:00.003-04:00

In a message to Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. bishops, Pope Benedict remarked, "I join you in commending the thousands of victims to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones."

The Holy Father told Archbishop Dolan, "I extend my most affectionate greetings to you, your brother bishops and all those entrusted to your pastoral care, and I gladly impart my apostolic blessing as a pledge of peace and serenity in the Lord."

The message, dated Sept. 11, was released Sept. 9 in Washington.

"The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators' claim to be acting in God's name," Pope Benedict said. "Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism."

He added, "Every human life is precious in God's sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere."

Pope Benedict said, "The American people are to be commended for the courage and generosity that they showed in the rescue operations and for their resilience in moving forward with hope and confidence. It is my fervent prayer that a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and will create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future."

2011/2012 Lectio Divina with Archbishop Collins Begins September 11

2011-09-07T10:12:00.009-04:00

Archbishop Collins will begin his monthly Lectio Divina (divine reading) at St. Michael's Cathedral this Sunday, September 11. A tradition he began as Archbishop of Edmonton, His Grace will focus the 2011/2012 series on the New Evangelization, drawing on scripture passages that highlight what is meant by being a witness to Christ, bringing the Good News into the world.

Lectio begins each month with evening prayer at 7 p.m. followed by Lectio Divina from 7:30 p.m. - approx. 8:15 p.m.

A well known passage will kick things off in September, The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35). The rest of the 2011/2012 dates can be found here.

If you haven't experienced Lectio Divina before, it's certainly worth stopping by. You can visit our Lectio website to get more background on the tradition, which includes reading a scripture passage and then reflecting on a few lines at a time, layer by layer. Silence is a key component to the practice - "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."

No doubt many are consumed by a very busy and hectic September with plenty of activities gearing up again. In the midst of it all, Lectio Divina provides an opportunity for a period of prayer, silence and reflection. Not a bad way to kick off the "New Fall Year" or as you'll see Pope Benedict refer below to as a new "spiritual springtime"...

If you can't make it in person, Salt & Light Television broadcasts the evenings in the days following each monthly gathering. We also have an archive of evenings on our website that you can access as well either by podcast or video.

As the Holy Father, Pope Benedict said back in 2005:

"I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina: the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to him with trusting openness of heart (cf. Dei Verbum, n.25) If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime."

- Pope Benedict XVI , September 2005

Full Text of Archbishop Collins' Homily - Funeral of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic

2011-08-31T17:13:00.022-04:00

Below you will find the full text of the homily delivered by Archbishop Thomas Collins during the August 31 Funeral Mass for Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, 9th Archbishop of Toronto:

As we gather to mourn Cardinal Ambrozic, and to celebrate this Funeral Mass for the repose of his soul, our consciousness of the Providence of God, and our faith in the Risen Lord, brings us consolation and hope in this time of sorrow.

Death reminds us all of the fragility of earthly life, and of our need to place our hope in the Lord alone, he who guides us on our pilgrimage through this vale of tears to the house of the heavenly Father. When we come together in the solemn rites of mourning of the Church, of our family of faith, we are ourselves strengthened through the Word of God, and through the Eucharist, and through our renewed awareness that when the time comes for each of us to die, we too will come before the Lord supported by the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Cardinal Ambrozic died the day before the feast of St Monica, the mother of St Augustine, patron of the seminary which was such an important part of his life. In his Confessions, Augustine writes of the death of his mother, and tells us that as Monica was dying, she made only one request of her son: “One thing only do I ask of you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord, wherever you may be.”

Today we remember Cardinal Ambrozic at the altar of the Lord, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which he himself offered as a priest for more than 56 years. The Christian wisdom of St Monica guides us today, as it has guided Christians down through the ages. We are not simply left bereaved, with only a memory of one whom we have loved; our Christian faith, the faith of Monica, dispels illusion, illuminates the reality of death, fills us with hope in the resurrection, and invites us to express our love effectively through prayer, especially in the Holy Eucharist, at the altar of the Lord.

In each Eucharist we are joined to the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ Our Lord; at a funeral Mass we are especially conscious that because of that death and resurrection, the stark and painful reality of death, which none of us escapes, is revealed to the eyes that see reality more clearly through faith, to be not a wall at the end of our life on earth, but rather a gateway to new life, to the fullness of life, in the kingdom of God no longer hidden, but experienced with the communion of saints in the heavenly Jerusalem.

It has long been the custom of Christians to mark the passage of time, morning, noon, and night, during our daily pilgrimage towards the new Jerusalem, with the Angelus, the prayer that speaks of the coming of the Lord into our midst, and of our response in obedience to His will. The Angelus ends with the words: “Pour forth, we beseech you O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ your son was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.”

Amid the turmoil of this world, and our own struggles to find our way home to the house of the Father, we need sure guidance, a vision of the world beyond this life, and of the way in which, step by step, we can take up our own daily crosses and follow Christ to the glory of his resurrection. As a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus, Cardinal Ambrozic followed that path to the resurrection, a path that at times meant a share in human suffering, as Our Lord himself endured suffering during his own passage through this world, in order truly to be for us Emmanuel – God with us.

But Cardinal Ambrozic was called not only to be a disciple, but also to be an apostle, and a pastor of God’s people, to serve them day by day through wise leadership and through stewardship of the vision of Divine Providence which gives us hope, and inspires us to love. Without vision, the people perish. We need vision, especially because we live in a world of great turmoil, and of much suffering, and of many distractions, where it is at times hard to see the hand of God.

Isaiah lived in such a world as well, and in the first reading of today’s Mass we hear how in his day, so many years ago, God gave him the vision to fulfil his vocation as spiritual leader of his people by helping them to see beyond their sorrows to the hope which is found in God’s provident love:

“On this mountain, the Lord Sabaoth will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations. The Lord God will destroy death forever; he will wipe away the tears from every cheek.” These words console us in this time of sorrow, but they also remind us of the mission of spiritual leader which Cardinal Ambrozic so faithfully exercised for so many years in his vocation as priest and bishop.

Today we thank God for the blessings of his ministry among us, as he shared the vision that gives meaning to life, and that gives hope on the earthly journey. Through his apostolic ministry, in a world that often does not pay attention to the divine message of salvation, the Cardinal, like Isaiah, proclaimed: “See, this is our God, in whom we hope for salvation.”'

For a disciple of Christ, and surely for an apostle of Christ, the vision of hope is made manifest above all in the love of Jesus. The Cardinal chose as his motto the simple ancient Christian proclamation: “Jesus is Lord.” In Jesus we find consolation in sorrow, and hope in the midst of the daily struggle.

As St Paul says in the second reading of today’s Mass: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.”

One who lives by the motto “Jesus is Lord”, as did the Cardinal, as should we all, is given a perspective that makes it possible to see clearly what is real and what is not. All the stormy waves on the surface of the sea cannot overwhelm one who is governed by the deep conviction that “Jesus is Lord.” From that conviction comes the wisdom to see the truth, and the courage to proclaim it. Life, even a long life by earthly standards, is too short for any of one of us to waste it on what is superficial. The Cardinal was deep, not superficial, because of his simple dedication to Jesus, the Lord.

He once wrote:

“It is Jesus to whom we look.
It is Jesus whom we imitate.
It is Jesus whom we follow.
It is Jesus who is with us so we can be with him.
Yes, we work with others.
Yes, we learn from others.
But in Jesus we find our ultimate identity and purpose.
He is the Alpha and the Omega for each one of us and for every human being.”

As we celebrate this Holy Eucharist, and at this solemn moment reflect more deeply than we usually do, amid the distracting bustle of life, on the things that matter, and on the things that do not, on what is profound and on what is superficial, we do well to ponder the guiding principle of Cardinal Ambrozic’s life: “Jesus is Lord.” He lived according to that as a disciple, and proclaimed that as an apostle and pastor. It is the simple vision of the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

That vision is expressed bluntly in the opening words of the Gospel of Mark, most straightforward of all the Gospels, to which Cardinal Ambrozic specially dedicated his scholarly work: “The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” There is nothing fancy in that, but in those words we find direction for life. In dutiful service, we are daily to follow Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Cardinal received many honours during his life, and played an important role in the universal Church as a Cardinal, most notably in his participation in the Conclave that elected Pope Benedict. In 2002 he welcomed the world to Toronto at World Youth Day. But the vision of hope that he lived and proclaimed was expressed more quietly and more profoundly through a life of daily fidelity to his mission as disciple, pastor, and apostle. He once wrote of what he expected in a priest: “I look for a simple readiness to sacrifice, a simple readiness to give of oneself .”

Whatever one’s vocation, that simple spirit of unobtrusive fidelity is the best way to proclaim: “Jesus is Lord.” The Lord is found not in the thunder or in the lightning, but in the still small voice of a sacrificial life.

In today’s Gospel, from the Gospel of Mark, we read of the way in which Jesus the Lord ended his time on earth in suffering, but as Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome sorrowfully approach the tomb to offer him the customary rites of burial, they see a young man who confounds and comforts them with the words: “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.” Jesus is Lord, not a past memory but a living presence, he who rules the universe and pleads for us before the Heavenly Father as our great High Priest to whose service Cardinal Ambrozic dedicated his life.

Today we pray that as we sadly ponder the reality of earthly death we may gain wisdom of heart, to see more clearly how we should fill each precious moment of our own brief passage through this world with the love of God and of neighbour, with quiet, faithful service, every step of the way.

We pray for Cardinal Ambrozic, for God’s mercy upon him, and for the repose of his soul.

We thank God for the gift of the Cardinal’s earthly life, for his love of family and friends, for his sacrificial service as a priest of Jesus Christ. He does not merely live on in memory, for he is with the Lord, but we do remember him with love, and seek to live more truly as Christians by imitating his selfless dedication.

Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Photos: National Post, Reuters

Thousands of Catholics gather to bid farewell to Cardinal Ambrozic

2011-08-31T10:15:00.008-04:00

Toronto’s Catholic community says goodbye to Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic

TORONTO (31 August 2011) – Thousands of Catholics have gathered today to pay their final respects in a Mass of Christian Burial (funeral) for the ninth Archbishop of Toronto. Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic died August 26, 2011 at the age of 81, following a lengthy illness with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

In a telegram to Archbishop Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, read during the funeral Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral this morning, Pope Benedict XVI wrote:

“I recall with gratitude the Cardinal’s dedication and service to the Church in his adopted country. I join you and all who mourn him, including the members of the late Cardinal’s family, in commending his noble soul to the infinite mercy of God our loving Father.”

Aloysius Ambrozic first came to Canada as a young man from Slovenia, via a series of refugee camps, following the Second World War. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Toronto on June 4, 1955 and served Catholics in this region for 56 years as a priest, bishop and archbishop. He completed a Doctorate in Theology (1970), was Dean of Studies at St. Augustine’s Seminary (1971-76). He was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto in 1976, was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Toronto in 1986 and succeeded Emmett Cardinal Carter as 9th Archbishop of Toronto on March 17, 1990. Pope John Paul II invested him as Cardinal on January 19, 1998.

Cardinal Ambrozic served on a number of Vatican committees related to immigration, culture, worship and the economy. He also hosted the largest gathering of Catholic youth in Canadian history, World Youth Day 2002, that culminated in the celebration of Mass by Pope John Paul II at Downsview Park for more than 750,000 pilgrims.

Among the dignitaries and church officials who confirmed their attendance prior to the funeral included: Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, Archbishop of Montreal; Msgr. Luca Lorusso, representing the Vatican in Canada; Most Rev. Anton Stres, President, Slovenian Bishops’ Conference; Hon. James Flaherty, Federal Minister of Finance; Lt.-Gov. of Ontario, David Onley; Hon. John Wilkinson, Provincial Minister of Environment; Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford; and Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion.

Papal Telegram on Death of Cardinal Ambrozic

2011-08-28T21:26:00.008-04:00

Below you will find the text of a telegram sent by Pope Benedict XVI to Archbishop Thomas Collins, on the passing of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic.

THE MOST REVEREND THOMAS COLLINS, ARCHBISHOP OF TORONTO:

I WAS DEEPLY SADDENED TO HEAR OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL ALOYSIUS AMBROZIC, ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF TORONTO. I OFFER YOU, THE CLERGY, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES AND THE ASSURANCE OF MY PRAYERS.

I RECALL WITH GRATITUDE THE CARDINAL'S DEDICATION AND SERVICE TO THE CHURCH IN HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY. I JOIN YOU AND ALL WHO MOURN HIM, INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE LATE CARDINAL'S FAMILY, IN COMMENDING HIS NOBLE SOUL TO THE INFINITE MERCY OF GOD OUR LOVING FATHER.

TO ALL ASSEMBLED FOR THE SOLEMN FUNERAL RITES, I CORDIALLY IMPART MY APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF PEACE AND CONSOLATION IN THE LORD.

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

Visitation & Funeral Details for Cardinal Ambrozic

2011-08-27T12:32:00.007-04:00

Thanks to all those who have taken the time to send their condolences to the Ambrozic family and the Archdiocese on the passing of Cardinal Ambrozic. Details have now been confirmed for His Eminence's visitation and funeral Mass.

The body of Cardinal Ambrozic will arrive at St. Michael's Cathedral on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. At that time the Rite of Reception will be held.

His Eminence will lie in state for visitation at the cathedral Tuesday afternoon from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. with the Office for the Dead being celebrated at 8:30 p.m. All Tuesday events are open to the public who are most welcome to visit the cathedral to pay their respects.

The funeral Mass for Cardinal Ambrozic will take place on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Cathedral. Due to renovations currently underway at the cathedral, expected participation by up to 500 priests, family, friends, etc. there will be extremely limited public seating available.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to pay tribute to the Cardinal are invited to donate to one of His Eminence's favourite charities, the Shepherds' Trust.

Catholic community mourns the loss of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic

2011-08-26T11:18:00.007-04:00

Catholic Community Mourns the Loss of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic

Toronto (August 26, 2011). With great sadness, the Archdiocese announces that His Eminence, Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, retired Archbishop of Toronto, died earlier today, after a lengthy illness, at the age of 81. The late Cardinal was a priest for 56 years, bishop for 35 years and served as 9th Archbishop of Toronto from 1990 to 2006.

Aloysius Ambrozic was born in 1930 in Dobrova, Slovenia, the second of seven children. In May 1945, the entire family fled to Austria, living in several refugee camps, where the young Ambrozic completed his high school education. In September 1948, the family immigrated to Canada and settled near Markham, Ontario. Shortly afterwards, Aloysius Ambrozic entered St. Augustine’s Seminary, a spiritual home he would return to often as a student, professor, bishop, archbishop and cardinal.

After almost 21 years as a diocesan priest, Fr. Ambrozic was named an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Toronto in 1976. Bishop Ambozic served alongside Archbishop Philip Pocock and Emmett Cardinal Carter, before his appointment as Archbishop of Toronto on March 17, 1990. In January 1998, Pope John Paul II nominated him as Cardinal, a position that resulted in his participation in the conclave of 2005 that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Cardinal Ambrozic served on a number of Vatican committees related to immigration, culture, worship and the economy. He also hosted the largest gathering of Catholic youth in Canadian history, World Youth Day 2002, that culminated in the celebration of Mass by Pope John Paul II at Downsview Park for more than 750,000 pilgrims.

The Cardinal’s legacy is commemorated in several places throughout the GTA, including Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School in Brampton as well as the Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence, the long-term care facility in Scarborough, where the Cardinal spent his final months.

Archbishop Thomas Collins, the cardinal’s successor as Archbishop of Toronto, offered his condolences to the Ambrozic family and Catholics across the Archdiocese:

“Cardinal Ambrozic's tremendous contributions to the spiritual life of the faithful of our Archdiocese and the heritage of his wisdom, his knowledge, and his love of the priesthood will remain with us all.”

The Cardinal will lie in state at St. Michael’s Cathedral for a public viewing, dates and times to be determined. His funeral Mass will also take place at the Cathedral, the mother church of the Archdiocese.

An online tribute to Cardinal Ambrozic including photos, a complete biography and other relevant information can be found at: www.archtoronto.org.

An Unexpected Pilgrimage...

2011-08-24T07:05:00.004-04:00

Fresh off the buzz of World Youth Day, pilgrims from across the Archdiocese return home this week with the memories of WYD deeply marinated into their souls. This pilgrimage, with its various ups and downs, is one that they will never forget.

If you had a chance to follow a few of the suggested blogs on our local pilgrim travels, you may learn that many if not all of the Archdiocesan pilgrims experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows, most notably, being turned away from the evening vigil. Local police sealed many of the entrances with estimates indicating as many as 250,000 pilgrims didn't make it into the airfield that would become home for 24 hours.

After all the fundraising, spiritual formation, days in the diocese, early days of WYD, no doubt this was a real point of frustration for the young people. Many tweeted or blogged about their disappointment. It's pretty interesting if you stop for a second to consider that there was 40 degree celsius heat, a freak rainstorm complete with lightning that prompted the Holy Father to cut short his remarks and yet these folks were DISAPPOINTED they weren't in the middle of it all? Sounds kind of crazy doesn't it?

Yes, pilgrimage takes on new meaning when you're in the midst of it. The spirit that is present when you're with one million of your closest friends, watching the Holy Father speed by on the Popemobile, the feeling of unity with other Catholics, it's all contagious.

Yet I suspect that disappointment will find fruits in other ways. It may take days, weeks or months but in hindsight, I have no doubt these young pilgrims will take away something positive from the initial disappointment.

Returning to their hotel, the Archdiocesan folks made the best of things and Pilgrim of the Week award definitely went out to Bishop William McGrattan, one of our auxiliaries who made it into the vigil site only to leave when he learned that, for the others, there was "no room at the inn." His Excellency made his way back from the airfield to track down the Toronto pilgrims and accompany them to their accommodation.

The next morning he celebrated Mass for the young people and when it came time for the homily, blackberry in hand, he shared the message of the Holy Father with the pilgrims. Who said technology didn't have its benefits?

Yet it got me to thinking - when we're on pilgrimage, we're on a journey - most times we know the destination we're heading towards. How often in our lives, though, do we start off heading in one direction only to end up in a completely different spot. Whether it be our careers, vocations or other difficult decisions in life, perhaps God is gently tapping us on the shoulder and saying, "wrong way". Even when we don't completely understand or accept it, we veer off course only to learn later that the final destination was actually where we were intended to be.

So for all those who experienced the frustration of not getting to the summit so to speak, perhaps the view you had in the end was just as beautiful. Thanks to all the pilgrims, leaders, clergy and bishops who accompanied our young people on this journey. The bond will forever remain among those who experienced Madrid 2011.

If you haven't already had a chance to read some of the Holy Father's talks, take the time. There's much wisdom in what Pope Benedict had to say in Madrid. Sometimes we need to hear it or read it once, twice, rinse, spin and repeat.

So as we often say, the only constant is change - this proved true once again for World Youth Day 2011. But in the end, the greatest challenges may turn out to be the moments that will remain with you as milestones in your spiritual journey.

After all, there's another story about no room at the inn and that turned out to be pretty special...

Photo: Vanessa Santilli

Full Papal Text - Final Mass - WYD Madrid 2011

2011-08-21T09:39:00.004-04:00

Below you will find the text from both the greeting before Mass and the homily of Pope Benedict XVI at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid. At the end of Mass, the Pontiff also announced that the next WYD would take place in two years time, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The two year change is likely due to the fact that Brazil is hosting soccer's World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016.

FINAL MASS

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid
Sunday, 21 August 2011

Dear Young Friends:

I have been thinking a lot about you during this time in which we have been separated. I hope you have been able to get some sleep in spite of the weather. I am sure that since dawn you have raised up your eyes more than once, and not only your eyes but above all your hearts, turning this occasion into prayer. God turns all things into good. With this confidence and trusting in the Lord who never abandons us, let us begin our Eucharistic celebration, full of enthusiasm and strong in our faith.

***

HOMILY

Dear Young People,

In this celebration of the Eucharist we have reached the high point of this World Youth Day. Seeing you here, gathered in such great numbers from all parts of the world, fills my heart with joy. I think of the special love with which Jesus is looking upon you. Yes, the Lord loves you and calls you his friends (cf. Jn 15:15). He goes out to meet you and he wants to accompany you on your journey, to open

the door to a life of fulfilment and to give you a share in his own closeness to the Father. For our part, we have come to know the immensity of his love and we want to respond generously to his love by sharing with others the joy we have received. Certainly, there are many people today who feel attracted by the figure of Christ and want to know him better. They realize that he is the answer to so many of our deepest concerns. But who is he really? How can someone who lived on this earth so long ago have anything in common with me today?

The Gospel we have just heard (cf. Mt 16:13-20) suggests two different ways of knowing Christ. The first is an impersonal knowledge, one based on current opinion. When Jesus asks: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”, the disciples answer: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. In other words, Christ is seen as yet another religious figure, like those who came before him. Then Jesus turns to the disciples and asks them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter responds with what is the first confession of faith: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Faith is more than just empirical or historical facts; it is an ability to grasp the mystery of Christ’s person in all its depth.

Yet faith is not the result of human effort, of human reasoning, but rather a gift of God: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven”. Faith starts with God, who opens his heart to us and invites us to share in his own divine life. Faith does not simply provide information about who Christ is; rather, it entails a personal relationship with Christ, a surrender of our whole person, with all our understanding, will and feelings, to God’s self-revelation. So Jesus’ question: “But who do you say that I am?”, is ultimately a challenge to the disciples to make a personal decision in his regard. Faith in Christ and discipleship are strictly interconnected.

And, since faith involves following the Master, it must become constantly stronger, deeper and more mature, to the extent that it leads to a closer and more intense relationship with Jesus. Peter and the other disciples also had to grow in this way, until their encounter with the Risen Lord opened their eyes to the fullness of faith.

Dear young people, today Christ is asking you the same question which he asked the Apostles: “Who do you say that I am?” Respond to him with generosity and courage, as befits young hearts like your own. Say to him: “Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, who have given your life for me. I want to follow you faithfully and to be led by your word. You know me and you love me. I place my trust in you and I put my whole life into your hands. I want you to be the power that strengthens me and the joy which never leaves me”.

Jesus’ responds to Peter’s confession by speaking of the Church: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church”. What do these words mean? Jesus builds the Church on the rock of the faith of Peter, who confesses that Christ is God.

The Church, then, is not simply a human institution, like any other. Rather, she is closely joined to God. Christ himself speaks of her as “his” Church. Christ cannot be separated from the Church any more than the head can be separated from the body (cf. 1 Cor 12:12). The Church does not draw her life from herself, but from the Lord.

Dear young friends, as the Successor of Peter, let me urge you to strengthen this faith which has been handed down to us from the time of the Apostles. Make Christ, the Son of God, the centre of your life. But let me also remind you that following Jesus in faith means walking at his side in the communion of the Church. We cannot follow Jesus on our own. Anyone who would be tempted to do so “on his own”, or to approach the life of faith with that kind of individualism so prevalent today, will risk never truly encountering Jesus, or will end up following a counterfeit Jesus.

Having faith means drawing support from the faith of your brothers and sisters, even as your own faith serves as a support for the faith of others. I ask you, dear friends, to love the Church which brought you to birth in the faith, which helped you to grow in the knowledge of Christ and which led you to discover the beauty of his love. Growing in friendship with Christ necessarily means recognizing the importance of joyful participation in the life of your parishes, communities and movements, as well as the celebration of Sunday Mass, frequent reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation, and the cultivation of personal prayer and meditation on God’s word.

Friendship with Jesus will also lead you to bear witness to the faith wherever you are, even when it meets with rejection or indifference. We cannot encounter Christ and not want to make him known to others. So do not keep Christ to yourselves! Share with others the joy of your faith. The world needs the witness of your faith, it surely needs God. I think that the presence here of so many young people, coming from all over the world, is a wonderful proof of the fruitfulness of Christ’s command to the Church: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). You too have been given the extraordinary task of being disciples and missionaries of Christ in other lands and countries filled with young people who are looking for something greater and, because their heart tells them that more authentic values do exist, they do not let themselves be seduced by the empty promises of a lifestyle which has no room for God.

Dear young people, I pray for you with heartfelt affection. I commend all of you to the Virgin Mary and I ask her to accompany you always by her maternal intercession and to teach you how to remain faithful to God’s word. I ask you to pray for the Pope, so that, as the Successor of Peter, he may always confirm his brothers and sisters in the faith. May all of us in the Church, pastors and faithful alike, draw closer to the Lord each day. May we grow in holiness of life and be effective witnesses to the truth that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Saviour of all mankind and the living source of our hope. Amen.

Full Papal Text - Evening Vigil @ WYD Madrid 2011

2011-08-20T22:43:00.004-04:00

With one million pilgrims gathered for the traditional evening prayer vigil at Cuatro Vientos Airport in Madrid, the Holy Father joined them for prayers Saturday night. An unexpected thunder storm (with lightning) forced the Holy Father to cut short his speech. Below you'll find the full text as prepared by the Holy Father. His truncated message essentially consisted of greeting pilgrims in the various language groups.

Scorching heat during the day, "baptized" pilgrims by night, let's pray for clear skies Sunday morning.

PRAYER VIGIL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Cuatro Vientos Air Base, Madrid
Saturday, 20 August 2011

Dear Young Friends,

I greet all of you, especially the young people who have asked me their questions, and I thank them for the sincerity with which they set forth their concerns, that express the longing which all of you have to achieve something great in life, something which can bring you fulfilment and happiness.

How can a young person be true to the faith and yet continue to aspire to high ideals in today’s society? In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus gives us an answer to this urgent question: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love” (Jn 15:9).

Yes, dear friends, God loves us. This is the great truth of our life; it is what makes everything else meaningful. We are not the product of blind chance or absurdity; instead our life originates as part of a loving plan of God. To abide in his love, then, means living a life rooted in faith, since faith is more than the mere acceptance of certain abstract truths: it is an intimate relationship with Christ, who enables us to open our hearts to this mystery of love and to live as men and women conscious of being loved by God.

If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true happiness and joy. Faith does not run counter to your highest ideals; on the contrary, it elevates and perfects those ideals. Dear young people, do not be satisfied with anything less than Truth and Love, do not be content with anything less than Christ.

Nowadays, although the dominant culture of relativism all around us has given up on the search for truth, even if it is the highest aspiration of the human spirit, we need to speak with courage and humility of the universal significance of Christ as the Saviour of humanity and the source of hope for our lives. He who took upon himself our afflictions, is well acquainted with the mystery of human suffering and manifests his loving presence in those who suffer. They in their turn, united to the passion of Christ, share closely in his work of redemption. Furthermore, our disinterested attention towards the sick and the forgotten will always be a humble and warm testimony of God’s compassionate regard.

Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world.

During this prayer vigil, I urge you to ask God to help you find your vocation in society and in the Church, and to persevere in that vocation with joy and fidelity. It is a good thing to open our hearts to Christ’s call and to follow with courage and generosity the path he maps out for us.

The Lord calls many people to marriage, in which a man and a woman, in becoming one flesh (cf. Gen 2:24), find fulfilment in a profound life of communion. It is a prospect that is both bright and demanding. It is a project for true love which is daily renewed and deepened by sharing joys and sorrows, one marked by complete self-giving. For this reason, to acknowledge the beauty and goodness of marriage is to realize that only a setting of fidelity and indissolubility, along with openness to God’s gift of life, is adequate to the grandeur and dignity of marital love.

Christ calls others to follow him more closely in the priesthood or in consecrated life. It is hard to put into words the happiness you feel when you know that Jesus seeks you, trusts in you, and with his unmistakable voice also says to you: “Follow me!” (cf. Mk 2:14).

Dear young people, if you wish to discover and to live faithfully the form of life to which the Lord is calling each of you, you must remain in his love as his friends. And how do we preserve friendship except through frequent contact, conversation, being together in good times and bad? Saint Teresa of Jesus used to say that prayer is just such “friendly contact, often spending time alone with the one who we know loves us” (cf. Autobiography, 8).

And so I now ask you to “abide” in the adoration of Christ, truly present in the Eucharist. I ask you to enter into conversation with him, to bring before him your questions and to listen to his voice. Dear friends, I pray for you with all my heart. And I ask you to pray for me. Tonight let us ask the Lord to grant that, attracted by the beauty of his love, we may always live faithfully as his disciples. Amen.

[French] Dear young French-speakers, be proud of the gift of faith which you have received, as it will illumine your life at every moment. Draw strength from the faith of your neighbours, from the faith of the Church! Through faith we are grounded in Christ. Gather with others to deepen it, be faithful to the celebration of the Eucharist, the mystery of faith par excellence. Christ alone can respond to your aspirations. Let yourselves be seized by God, so that your presence in the Church will give her new life!

[English] Dear young people, in these moments of silence before the Blessed Sacrament, let us raise our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, the Lord of our lives and of the future. May he pour out his Spirit upon us and upon the whole Church, that we may be a beacon of freedom, reconciliation and peace for the whole world.

[German] Dear young Christians from the German-speaking countries! Deep in our hearts we yearn for what is grand and beautiful in life. Do not let your desires and aspirations dissipate, but ground them in Jesus Christ. He himself is the sure foundation, the point of reference, for building up your life.

[Italian] I now turn to the Italian-speaking young people. Dear friends, this vigil will remain as an unforgettable experience in your lives. Guard the flame which God has lit in your hearts tonight. Never let it go out, renew it each day, share it with your contemporaries who live in darkness and who are seeking a light for their way. Thank you! Until tomorrow morning!

[Portuguese] My dear friends, I invite each of you to enter into a personal dialogue with Christ, sharing with him your hesitations and above all listening to his voice. The Lord is here and he is calling you! Young friends, it is good to hear within us the word of Jesus and to follow in his footsteps. Ask the Lord to help you to discover your vocation in life and in the Church, and to persevere in it with joy and fidelity, knowing that he never abandons you or betrays you! He remains with us until the end of the world.

[Polish] Dear young friends from Poland! This prayer vigil is filled with the presence of Christ. Grounded in his love, draw near to him with the flame of your faith. He will fill your hearts with his life. Build your lives on Christ and on his Gospel. I willingly bless all of you.

* * *

Final greeting of the Holy Father

Dear Young Friends,

Before I leave you, let me say good night to all of you. Rest well. Thank you for the sacrifice you are making and which I know you are offering generously to the Lord. We will meet again, God willing, at the celebration of Mass tomorrow. I will see all of you there. Thank you very much.

Photos: World Youth Day 2011

Full Papal Text - Mass with 4,500 Seminarians - WYD 2011 Madrid

2011-08-20T10:21:00.005-04:00

Below you will find the english translation of the Pope's homily to 4,500 seminarians at World Youth Day 2011 on Saturday, August 20.

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, Madrid
Saturday, 20 August 2011

Your Eminence the Archbishop of Madrid,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Priests and Religious,
Dear Rectors and Formators,
Dear Seminarians,
Dear Friends,

I am very pleased to celebrate Holy Mass with you who aspire to be Christ’s priests for the service of the Church and of man, and I thank you for the kind words with which you welcomed me. Today, this holy cathedral church of Santa María La Real de la Almudena is like a great Upper Room, where the Lord greatly desires to celebrate the Passover with you who wish one day to preside in his name at the mysteries of salvation. Looking at you, I again see proof of how Christ continues to call young disciples and to make them his apostles, thus keeping alive the mission of the Church and the offer of the Gospel to the world. As seminarians you are on the path towards a sacred goal: to continue the mission which Christ received from the Father. Called by him, you have followed his voice and, attracted by his loving gaze, you now advance towards the sacred ministry. Fix your eyes upon him who through his incarnation is the supreme revelation of God to the world and who through his resurrection faithfully fulfills his promise. Give thanks to him for this sign of favour in which he holds each one of you.

The first reading which we heard shows us Christ as the new and eternal priest who made of himself a perfect offering. The response to the psalm may be aptly applied to him since, at his coming into the world, he said to the Father, “Here I am to do your will” (cf. Ps 39:8). He tried to please him in all things: in his words and actions, along the way or welcoming sinners. His life was one of service and his longing was a constant prayer, placing himself in the name of all before the Father as the first-born son of many brothers and sisters. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews states that, by a single offering, he brought to perfection for all time those of us who are called to share his sonship (cf. Heb 10:14).

The Eucharist, whose institution is mentioned in the Gospel just proclaimed (cf. Lk 22:14-20), is the real expression of that unconditional offering of Jesus for all, even for those who betrayed him. It was the offering of his body and blood for the life of mankind and for the forgiveness of sins. His blood, a sign of life, was given to us by God as a covenant, so that we might apply the force of his life wherever death reigns due to our sins, and thus destroy it. Christ’s body broken and his blood outpoured – the surrender of his freedom – became through these Eucharistic signs the new source of mankind’s redeemed freedom. In Christ, we have the promise of definitive redemption and the certain hope of future blessings. Through Christ we know that we are not walking towards the abyss, the silence of nothingness or death, but are rather pilgrims on the way to a promised land, on the way to him who is our end and our beginning.

Dear friends, you are preparing yourselves to become apostles with Christ and like Christ, and to accompany your fellow men and women along their journey as companions and servants.

How should you behave during these years of preparation? First of all, they should be years of interior silence, of unceasing prayer, of constant study and of gradual insertion into the pastoral activity and structures of the Church. A Church which is community and institution, family and mission, the creation of Christ through his Holy Spirit, as well as the result of those of us who shape it through our holiness and our sins. God, who does not hesitate to make of the poor and of sinners his friends and instruments for the redemption of the human race, willed it so. The holiness of the Church is above all the objective holiness of the very person of Christ, of his Gospel and his sacraments, the holiness of that power from on high which enlivens and impels it. We have to be saints so as not to create a contradiction between the sign that we are and the reality that we wish to signify.

Meditate well upon this mystery of the Church, living the years of your formation in deep joy, humbly, clear-mindedly and with radical fidelity to the Gospel, in an affectionate relation to the time spent and the people among whom you live. No one chooses the place or the people to whom he is sent, and every time has its own challenges; but in every age God gives the right grace to face and overcome those challenges with love and realism. That is why, no matter the circumstances in which he finds and however difficult they may be, the priest must grow in all kinds of good works, keeping alive within him the words spoken on his Ordination day, by which he was exhorted to model his life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.

To be modeled on Christ, dear seminarians, is to be identified ever more closely with him who, for our sake, became servant, priest and victim. To be modeled on him is in fact the task upon which the priest spends his entire life. We already know that it is beyond us and we will not fully succeed but, as St Paul says, we run towards the goal, hoping to reach it (cf. Phil 3:12-14).

That said, Christ the High Priest is also the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep, even giving his life for them (cf. Jn 10:11). In order to liken yourselves to the Lord in this as well, your heart must mature while in seminary, remaining completely open to the Master. This openness, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, inspires the decision to live in celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and, leaving aside the world’s goods, live in austerity of life and sincere obedience, without pretence.

Ask him to let you imitate him in his perfect charity towards all, so that you do not shun the excluded and sinners, but help them convert and return to the right path. Ask him to teach you how to be close to the sick and the poor in simplicity and generosity. Face this challenge without anxiety or mediocrity, but rather as a beautiful way of living our human life in gratuitousness and service, as witnesses of God made man, messengers of the supreme dignity of the human person and therefore its unconditional defenders. Relying on his love, do not be intimidated by surroundings that would exclude God and in which power, wealth and pleasure are frequently the main criteria ruling people’s lives. You may be shunned along with others who propose higher goals or who unmask the false gods before whom many now bow down. That will be the moment when a life deeply rooted in Christ will clearly be seen as something new and it will powerfully attract those who truly search for God, truth and justice.

Under the guidance of your formators, open your hearts to the light of the Lord, to see if this path which demands courage and authenticity is for you. Approach the priesthood only if you are firmly convinced that God is calling you to be his ministers, and if you are completely determined to exercise it in obedience to the Church’s precepts.

With this confidence, learn from him who described himself as meek and humble of heart, leaving behind all earthly desire for his sake so that, rather than pursuing your own good, you build up your brothers and sisters by the way you live, as did the patron saint of the diocesan clergy of Spain, St John of Avila. Moved by his example, look above all to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests. She will know how to mould your hearts according to the model of Christ, her divine Son, and she will teach you how to treasure for ever all that he gained on Calvary for the salvation of the world. Amen.

Full Papal Text - Way of the Cross - WYD 2011 - Madrid

2011-08-19T14:47:00.008-04:00

Below you will find the english translation of Pope Benedict's address to pilgrims gathered in Madrid for World Youth Day 2011, following the Stations of the Cross, August 19, 2011.

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
MADRID - 19.08.2011 - 19:30
Plaza de Cibeles
Via Crucis
Official translation

Dear Young People,

We have celebrated this Way of the Cross with fervour and devotion, following Christ along the path of his passion and death. The commentaries of the Little Sisters of the Cross, who serve the poor and most needy, have helped us enter into the mystery of Christ’s glorious Cross, wherein is found God’s true wisdom which judges the world and judges those who consider themselves wise (cf. 1 Cor 1:17-19). We have also been assisted on this journey to Calvary by our contemplation of these wonderful images from the religious patrimony of the Spanish dioceses.

In these images, faith and art combine so as to penetrate our heart and summon us to conversion. When faith’s gaze is pure and authentic, beauty places itself at its service and is able to depict the mysteries of our salvation in such a way as to move us profoundly and transform our hearts, as Saint Teresa of Jesus herself experienced while contemplating an image of the wounded Christ (cf. Autobiography, 9:1).

As we were making our way with Jesus towards the place of his sacrifice on Mount Calvary, the words of Saint Paul came to mind: “Christ loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). In the face of such disinterested love, we find ourselves asking, filled with wonder and gratitude: What can we do for him? What response shall we give him? Saint John puts it succinctly: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3:16).

Christ’s passion urges us to take upon our own shoulders the sufferings of the world, in the certainty that God is not distant or far removed from man and his troubles. On the contrary, he became one of us “in order to suffer with man in an utterly real way — in flesh and blood ... hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering with us; hence con-solatio is present in all suffering, the consolation of God's compassionate love — and so the star of hope rises” (Spe Salvi, 39).

Dear young friends, may Christ’s love for us increase your joy and encourage you to go in search of those less fortunate. You are open to the idea of sharing your lives with others, so be sure not to pass by on the other side in the face of human suffering, for it is here that God expects you to give of your very best: your capacity for love and compassion.

The different forms of suffering that have unfolded before our eyes in the course of this Way of the Cross are the Lord’s way of summoning us to spend our lives following in his footsteps and becoming signs of his consolation and salvation. “To suffer with the other and for others; to suffer for the sake of truth and justice; to suffer out of love and in order to become a person who truly loves — these are fundamental elements of humanity, and to abandon them would destroy man himself” (ibid.).

Let us eagerly welcome these teachings and put them into practice. Let us look upon Christ, hanging on the harsh wood of the Cross, and let us ask him to teach us this mysterious wisdom of the Cross, by which man lives. The Cross was not a sign of failure, but an expression of self-giving in love that extends even to the supreme sacrifice of one’s life. The Father wanted to show his love for us through the embrace of his crucified Son: crucified out of love. The Cross, by its shape and its meaning, represents this love of both the Father and the Son for men. Here we recognize the icon of supreme love, which teaches us to love what God loves and in the way that he loves: this is the Good News that gives hope to the world.

Let us turn our gaze now to the Virgin Mary, who was given to us on Calvary to be our Mother, and let us ask her to sustain us with her loving protection along the path of life, particularly when we pass through the night of suffering, so that we may be able to remain steadfast, as she did, at the foot of the Cross.

Photos: World Youth Day 2011

Full Papal Text - Meeting with young women religious - WYD Madrid

2011-08-19T08:55:00.003-04:00

Below is the english translation of the Holy Father's talk to young women religious on August 19 in Madrid, Spain as part of World Youth Day 2011.

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL - 19.08.2011 - 11:30
Patio de los Reyes
Meeting with women religious
Official translation

Dear Young Women Religious,

As part of the World Youth Day which we are celebrating in Madrid, I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet you who have consecrated your youth to the Lord, and I thank you for the kind greeting you have given me. I also thank the Archbishop of Madrid, who arranged for this meeting in the evocative setting of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Its famous library preserves important editions of the sacred Scriptures and the monastic rules of various religious families, yet your own lives of fidelity to the calling you have received is itself a precious means of preserving the word of the Lord, which resounds in your various spiritual traditions.

Dear Sisters, every charism is an evangelical word which the Holy Spirit recalls to the Church’s memory (cf. Jn 14:26). It is not by accident that consecrated life “is born from hearing the word of God and embracing the Gospel as its rule of life. A life devoted to following Christ in his chastity, poverty and obedience becomes a living ‘exegesis’ of God’s word… Every charism and every rule springs from it and seeks to be an expression of it, thus opening up new pathways of Christian living marked by the radicalism of the Gospel” (Verbum Domini, 83).

This Gospel radicalism means being “rooted and built up in Christ, and firm in the faith” (cf. Col 2:7). In the consecrated life, this means going to the very root of the love of Jesus Christ with an undivided heart, putting nothing ahead of this love (cf. SAINT BENEDICT, Rule, IV, 21) and being completely devoted to him, the Bridegroom, as were the Saints, like Rose of Lima and Rafael Arnáiz, the young patrons of this World Youth Day.

Your lives must testify to the personal encounter with Christ which has nourished your consecration, and to all the transforming power of that encounter. This is all the more important today when “we see a certain ‘eclipse of God’ taking place, a kind of amnesia which, albeit not an outright rejection of Christianity, is nonetheless a denial of the treasure of our faith, a denial that could lead to the loss of our deepest identity” (Message for the 2011 World Youth Day, 1). In a world of relativism and mediocrity, we need that radicalism to which your consecration, as a way of belonging to the God who is loved above all things, bears witness.

This Gospel radicalism proper to the consecrated life finds expression in filial communion with the Church, the home of the children of God, built by Christ: communion with her Pastors who set forth in the Lord’s name the deposit of faith received from the apostles, the ecclesial Magisterium and the Christian tradition; communion with your own religious families as you gratefully preserve their authentic spiritual patrimony while valuing other charisms; and communion with other members of the Church, such as the laity, who are called to make their own specific calling a testimony to the one Gospel of the Lord.

Finally, Gospel radicalism finds expression in the mission God has chosen to entrust to us: from the contemplative life, which welcomes into its cloisters the word of God in eloquent silence and adores his beauty in the solitude which he alone fills, to the different paths of the apostolic life, in whose furrows the seed of the Gospel bears fruit in the education of children and young people, the care of the sick and elderly, the pastoral care of families, commitment to respect for life, witness to the truth and the proclamation of peace and charity, mission work and the new evangelization, and so many other sectors of the Church’s apostolate.

Dear Sisters, this is the witness of holiness to which God is calling you, as you follow Jesus Christ closely and unconditionally in consecration, communion and mission. The Church needs your youthful fidelity, rooted and built up in Christ. Thank you for your generous, total and perpetual “yes” to the call of the Loved One. I pray that the Virgin Mary may sustain and accompany your consecrated youth, with the lively desire that it will challenge, nourish and illumine all young people.

With these sentiments, I ask God to repay abundantly the generous contribution which consecrated life has made to this World Youth Day. In his name, and with great gratitude, I give you my affectionate blessing.

Photo: World Youth Day 2011

Full Papal Text - Welcome ceremony with young people - WYD Madrid

2011-08-18T16:12:00.004-04:00

Below you'll find the address of Pope Benedict XVI to the youth gathered for the welcome ceremony with the Holy Father at World Youth Day Madrid, August 18, 2011

HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
MADRID - 18.08.2011 - 19:30
Plaza de Cibeles
Welcoming celebration by the young people - Speech
Official translation

Dear Friends,

Thank you for the kind words addressed to me by the young people representing the five continents. And I salute with affection all of you gathered here, young people from Oceania, Africa, America, Asia and Europe; and also those unable to be here. I always keep you very much in my heart and pray for you. God has given me the grace to see and hear you for myself and, as we gather together, to listen to his word.

In the reading which has just been proclaimed, we heard a passage from the Gospel which talks of welcoming the words of Jesus and putting them into practice. There are words which serve only to amuse, as fleeting as an empty breeze; others, to an extent, inform us; those of Jesus, on the other hand, must reach our hearts, take root and bloom there all our lives. If not, they remain empty and become ephemeral. They do not bring us to him and, as a result, Christ stays remote, just one voice among the many others around us which are so familiar.

Furthermore, the Master who speaks teaches, not something learned from others, but that which he himself is, the only one who truly knows the path of man towards God, because he is the one who opened it up for us, he made it so that we might have authentic lives, lives which are always worth living, in every circumstance, and which not even death can destroy. The Gospel continues, explaining these things with the evocative image of someone who builds on solid rock, resistant to the onslaught of adversity, and in contrast to someone who builds on sand - we would say today in what appears a paradise - but which collapses with the first gust of wind and falls into ruins.

Dear young people, listen closely to the words of the Lord, that they may be for you “spirit and life” (Jn 6:63), roots which nourish your being, a rule of life which likens us - poor in spirit, thirsting for justice, merciful, pure in heart, lovers of peace - to the person of Christ. Listen regularly every day as if he were the one friend who does not deceive, the one with whom we wish to share the path of life. Of course, you know that when we do not walk beside Christ our guide, we get lost on other paths, like the path of our blind and selfish impulses, or the path of flattering but self-serving suggestions, deceiving and fickle, which leave emptiness and frustration in their wake.

Use these days to know Christ better and to make sure that, rooted in him, your enthusiasm and happiness, your desire to go further, to reach the heights, even God himself, always hold a sure future, because the fullness of life has already been placed within you. Let that life grow with divine grace, generously and without half-measures, as you remain steadfast in your aim for holiness. And, in the face of our weaknesses which sometimes overwhelm us, we can rely on the mercy of the Lord who is always ready to help us again and who offers us pardon in the sacrament of Penance.

If you build on solid rock, not only your life will be solid and stable, but it will also help project the light of Christ shining upon those of your own age and upon the whole of humanity, presenting a valid alternative to all those who have fallen short, because the essentials in their lives were inconsistent; to all those who are content to follow fashionable ideas, they take shelter in the here and now, forgetting true justice, or they take refuge in their own opinions instead of seeking the simple truth.

Indeed, there are many who, creating their own gods, believe they need no roots or foundations other than themselves. They take it upon themselves to decide what is true or not, what is good and evil, what is just and unjust; who should live and who can be sacrificed in the interests of other preferences; leaving each step to chance, with no clear path, letting themselves be led by the whim of each moment. These temptations are always lying in wait. It is important not to give in to them because, in reality, they lead to something so evanescent, like an existence with no horizons, a liberty without God.

We, on the other hand, know well that we have been created free, in the image of God, precisely so that we might be in the forefront of the search for truth and goodness, responsible for our actions, not mere blind executives, but creative co-workers in the task of cultivating and beautifying the work of creation. God is looking for a responsible interlocutor, someone who can dialogue with him and love him. Through Christ we can truly succeed and, established in him, we give wings to our freedom. Is this not the great reason for our joy? Isn’t this the firm ground upon which to build the civilization of love and life, capable of humanizing all of us?

Dear friends: be prudent and wise, build your lives upon the firm foundation which is Christ. This wisdom and prudence will guide your steps, nothing will make you fear and peace will reign in your hearts. Then you will be blessed and happy and your happiness will influence others. They will wonder what the secret of your life is and they will discover that the rock which underpins the entire building and upon which rests your whole existence is the very person of Christ, your friend, brother and Lord, the Son of God incarnate, who gives meaning to all the universe.

He died for us all, rising that we might have life, and now, from the throne of the Father, he accompanies all men and women, watching continually over each one of us.

I commend the fruits of this World Youth Day to the most holy Virgin Mary, who said “Yes” to the will of God, and teaches us a unique example of fidelity to her divine son, whom she followed to his death upon the Cross. Let us meditate upon this more deeply in the Stations of the Cross. And let us pray that, like her, our “Yes” to Christ today may also be an unconditional “Yes” to his friendship, both at the end of this Day and throughout our entire lives. Thank you very much.

Photos: World Youth Day 2011

Pope Arrives in Madrid for World Youth Day!

2011-08-18T09:43:00.007-04:00

Shortly before noon Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Madrid, Spain to join the hundreds of thousands gathered for World Youth Day 2011. As is his traditional custom, the Holy Father held a mini press conference on board his flight from Italy to Spain, answering a number of questions posed by journalists. You can find a complete transcript of his remarks here.

In his first address at Barajas airport in Madrid, the Holy Father challenged the young people gathered for WYD's to "let nothing and no one take away your peace; do not be ashamed of the Lord." The Pope also spoke of the numerous challenges facing young people in the world today and the need to find God in the midst of the chaos. One example of his advice to the young pilgrims:

"With God beside them, they will possess light to walk by and reasons to hope, unrestrained before their highest ideals, which will motivate their generous commitment to build a society where human dignity and true brotherhood are respected...World Youth Day brings us a message of hope like a pure and youthful breeze, with rejuvenating scents which fill us with confidence before the future of the Church and the world."

You can read the entire text of the Holy Father's address at the airport here.

Later today (1:30 p.m. EST or 7:30 p.m. in Madrid), the Holy Father will address hundreds of thousands of World Youth Day pilgrims at Plaza de Cibeles.

Meanwhile, pilgrims are participating in catechetical sessions which, for many, are highlights of the WYD experience. Bishops from around the world have the chance to connect with young people, bridging the gap between church hierarchy and young people. You can catch a reflection by Toronto pilgrim Stefanie Romano on Wednesday's catechesis here.

If you've been trying to access the WYD official website, patience is the key. In addition to extremely high traffic volumes, hackers have got to the site prompting numerous delays and making it necessary for organizers to pull down the website periodically. Those who have been to WYD know, the only constant is change and glitches both large and small are to be expected.
As the Canadian pilgrims and others around the world brave daily temperatures in the 30's (celsius) keep them in their prayers as the grand celebrations begin to unfold. The Holy Father described the youth of the world as a "pure and youthful breeze" - let's hope that spirit keeps them cool in the days ahead...

Your Guide To Following World Youth Day 2011

2011-08-15T07:00:00.007-04:00

It's been just over 9 years since Canada and Toronto welcomed hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world for the celebration of World Youth Day (WYD) 2002. While the action this summer takes place literally across the ocean, several time zones and thousands of km's away, it may be somewhat challenging to get into the spirit of WYD 2011 in Madrid, Spain, taking place August 16-21.

That said, if you'd like to take a "virtual pilgrimage" it won't be hard to spend countless hours following the excitement of one of the largest Catholic events you'll see in your lifetime. So for those looking for their WYD 2011 "fix" here's how you can stay on top of the proceedings:

Official World Youth Day 2011 Site - the official spot for the latest info as the event unfolds and plenty of background information for journalists, Catholic youth or the young at heart interested in following the action. Fun features include an interactive world map where you can zoom in to your country of choice to see how many are registered. You can also check out the multimedia archive that includes downloads of official theme songs for WYD past and present along with lyric pages in case you want to sing along.Salt & Light Television - World Youth Day Central - Canada's Catholic television station has a full docket of coverage planned both through their television channel and a special portal set up for WYD, complete with blogging, multi-media and pilgrim reflections. A special section of the site WYDTV will allow online visitors the chance to "sit in" on celebrations with up to 15,000 Canadian pilgrims, hear lectures (Religious Freedom and the Media), listen to concerts and, of course, witness footage from the Papal events in Spain.

Toronto pilgrim blogs:

With almost 100 pilgrims participating in the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office of Catholic Youth pilgrimage to World Youth Day and hundreds more traveling with their own parish groups, you'll want to capture a flavour of what it's like for these young people as WYD unfolds before their eyes. Two blogs worth following will help you stay connected to the pilgrim experience in Spain:

1) Vanessa Santilli - Youth Speak News Editor and journalist for the Catholic Register, Vanessa is participating in her first pilgrim experience, traveling with the Youth Office and its contingent. Vanessa will be blogging and tweeting from Madrid so be sure to follow her on twitter or track her blog throughout the week. A special website from the Register has been created so you can follow all of Vanessa's reflections on WYD. You can follow her tweets here.

2) Stefanie Romano - A 3 time WYD veteran from Woodbridge, Stefanie is keeping an online journal/blog of her experiences in Madrid as one of the leaders of the Office of Catholic Youth pilgrimage. A young adult passionate about her Catholic faith, she's already included some challenging experiences faced by the delegation, delays, long travel days and moments of inspiration, elation and deflation. You can find Stefanie's blog here.

Of course, we'll do our best to tweet or update highlights from the event in this blog space as well. Suffice it to say, we're in good hands with the many resources at our disposal to highlight this celebration of faith for the global church.

Let's not forget in addition to the half million pilgrims in attendance, it will be most interesting to hear what the Pontiff has to say to the youth of the world and, by default, the rest of us listening in. His talks at recent WYD's have been insightful, inspiring and thought-provoking.

Don't forget if you're staying in the city, the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Youth is holding its annual youth rally up at the Martyrs' Shrine to coincide with WYD weekend, August 19-21. The weekend will mirror the WYD experience with catechesis for high school aged and young adult pilgrims, evening prayer, adoration, fun activities and a Sunday morning Mass at the Shrine. You can find more details here.

There's every reason we should all be engaged in this unique event. No doubt many parishioners contributed to fundraising efforts, others offering prayers for a safe and rewarding pilgrimage. I can still recall my first WYD in Rome 2000, about to arrive in St. Peter's Square for opening ceremonies with a million people.

The heat was blistering and as we approached the square we moved through a residential area. An elderly lady of about 80 appeared on her balcony and when the pilgrims chanted "acqua" for water, she disappeared into her tiny apartment, only to appear moments later with what had to be a dixie cup. She proceeded to pour it from her fourth floor balcony onto thousands of pilgrims below, with maybe 10 of them catching any drops at all.

Yet she returned to her apartment at least half a dozen times before I walked past, gently dousing pilgrims with each baptism.

Yes, that's what WYD's are all about. Whether you're a pilgrim, senior watching on the tube, riding the subway with a chorus of off-key pilgrims, we're all a part of WYD. So to all who will participate, baptize, pray and contribute to the week's festivities, celebrate every moment and bless each other along the way. You may even find a dixie cup along the way...

Photo: Tim Lee Loy, WYD 2011

6,000 Canadians, 500,000 Pilgrims, One Pope.

2011-08-09T11:20:00.003-04:00

The official Archdiocesan delegation departed for their pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2011 on Sunday, preparing for what many refer to as the "Catholic Olympics", the largest gathering of young people held every few years.

World Youth Day 2011 gets underway August 16-21 and more than 500,000 pilgrims from around the world are expected to attend. The Toronto pilgrims will spend a few days in Rome before heading to a smaller community outside of Madrid to participate in the Days in the Diocese, an opportunity to encounter local youth leading up to WYD celebrations.

A tale of the tape so to speak for Canadian involvement in this year inlcludes the following:

**23 Canadian bishops have registered to attend this year's WYD and they represent dioceses literally from coast to coast. Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto William McGrattan is flying the colours for our diocese, accompanying the delegation of close to 100 pilgrims traveling with the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Youth. Five Canadian bishops will offer catechetical sessions at WYD - in french, Archbishop Lacroix (Quebec City), Bishop Durocher (Cornwall/Alexandria) and Bishop Gendron (Saint-Jean Longueuil) and english catechesis will be offered by Archbishop Miller (Vancouver) and Archbishop Smith (Edmonton).

**6,000 Canadian pilgrims are registered to attend World Youth Day 2011. Aside from the several hundred Archdiocesan pilgrims from the greater Toronto Area, the Archdiocese of Vancouver has more 510 pilgrims enroute, the Archdiocese of Edmonton 470 and the Archdiocese of Montreal has more than 1,000 registered from throughout Quebec.

**Leading the way in overall registration (no surprise) are many European countries with their close proximity to Spain. Italy has more than 90,000 pilgrims registered with host country Spain coming in at about 83,000, France with 50,000 the USA with 30,000, Germany with 16,000 and Australia, host of World Youth Day 2008 sending 4,300pilgrims across the ocean.

**Registration is open to those 15-30 years old with the average age of the WYD pilgrim coming in at 23.9 years old. The split at present is 43% female, 57% male.

**In addition to numerous local gatherings and activities among Archdiocesan pilgrims, North American delegates will have an opportunity to gather in a special space dubbed, "Love and Life Site: An Oasis at World Youth Day 2011". The setting will be one of Madrid's premier sports and concert stadiums with seating for up 15,000 and, most imporantly, in Madrid's hot summer, will be fully air conditioned.

The space is a joint sponsorship between the Knights of Columbus, Sisters of Life, Holy Cross Family Ministries and Salt & Light Television. One may recall the atmosphere at Exhibition Place during WYD 2002 to draw a reasonable comparison.

For the first time in WYD history, there will be a celebration for all Canadian pilgrims, to be held on August 16, complete with morning prayer, music, testimonies and greetings from Archbishop Prendergast, Archbishop Smith and the Canadian Ambassador to Spain. In short, this is a big deal!

For those who may need a little background on WYD's, the events were the brainchild of the late Blessed Pope John Paul II, who, in 1984, decided to invite the youth of the world to come together to celebrate their faith, diversity and all that the church has to offer. WYD's include teaching sessions from bishops around the world offered in language groups (english, spanish, chinese, etc.). This also provides a chance for bishops to hear from the youth of the church and for the young people to get to know their bishops a bit better.

Activities aside from catechesis include a youth festival, highlighting cultural, musical, theatrical and other artistic presentations with literally hundreds of events taking place during WYD.

Many Canadians will remember the journey of the WYD Cross in our own country,akin to the Olympic Flame of the event, criss crossing Canada in the lead-up to WYD 2002. The cross has traveled throughout the world to places of faith and places where the spark of hope may be needed. It's been to prisons, night clubs, seniors centre, city halls, malls and countless churches and other historical sites.

It's often been said the event is so big that even the Pope is a guest, arriving at key moments to energize and engage the masses, leaving pearls of wisdom for pilgrims to reflect on both at WYD and beyond. Many a vocation seed has been planted at World Youth Day. If you attend the annual Ordinandi Dinner in Toronto, you'll hear the stories of many seminarians inspired by what they experienced at past WYD's.

Pope Benedict will preside at the Stations of the Cross (August 19) as well as the evening prayer vigil on Saturday (August 20) and the closing Mass (August 21) which will take place at the Cuatro Vientos airfield in Madrid. The Holy Father will also celebrate a mass for seminarians and meet with young religious sisters and more than 1,000 young university professors during his time in Madrid.

Having attended the last four World Youth Days, I can attest that it's an experience unlike any other and that each WYD has its own unique challenges and opportunities. We've got plenty of local pilgrims on the ground who will help provide insights on their experiences as they unfold. Over the next week, we'll fill you in on how to track the various blogs, tweets and other social media as the event unfolds.

So as final preparations are underway, we offer our thoughts and prayers for all who will be planning and participating in this historical pilgrimage. And for anyone on the ground in Spain, in addition to prayers and your rosary, don't forget that water bottle. The river of faith will be flowing - make sure to drink those waters literally whenever possible!

Photos: WYD 2011

600 Women on the Way to Toronto...

2011-08-04T16:02:00.015-04:00

More than 600 women from across Canada will be making their way to Toronto in the coming days to take part in this year's Catholic Women's League National Convention which takes place August 14-17. For many parishes, the CWL are a staple, for almost a century providing support to strengthen the faith communities in which they live. Some will joke that the "ladies" are all about tea and cookies - I can certainly attest to enjoying their hospitality after many funerals. However, they are so much more than that...

The CWL of 2011 is about a lot more than receptions in church halls, although their presence and support of families who have just lost loved ones is a tremendous example of compassion and outreach. A quick read of one of their recent issues of their official publication, "The Canadian League", included stories tackling numerous hot button issues including child poverty, corporate responsibility of Canadian mining companies, palliative care, hospice, prostitution and other important resolutions brought forward by CWL members.

The publication also highlights the intense work being done at the local level by councils thorughout the country. These are women of action and they're not afraid to step forward, bringing along with them the voices of tens of thousands of members from across Canada. You can learn more about the CWL through their national website here or for Ontarians through the provincial web presence here.

In fact, every year a delegation travels to Ottawa to meet with our political leaders to discuss issues of great relevance. The 2010 visit included meetings with the Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance as well as numerous other Chiefs of Staff, opposition members and other government officials. Now that's some substance to sink your teeth into.

In action for over 90 years in Canada, the CWL continues to be one of the most visible and engaged lay movements in the country. Their manadate is clear, as outlined on their national website:

The objectives of the League shall be to unite Catholic women of Canada:

to achieve individual and collective spiritual development.
to promote the teachings of the Catholic church.
to exemplify the Christian ideal in home and family life.
to protect the sanctity of human life.
to enhance the role of women in church and society.
to recognize the human dignity of all people everywhere.
to uphold and defend Christian education and values in the modern world.
to contribute to the understanding and growth of religious freedom, social justice, peace and harmony.

Of particular note for CWL councils in the Archdiocese of Toronto is their intense commitment to prayer, especially in the area of vocations. Each year at the annual Ordinandi Dinner, a "spiritual bouquet" is presented to the semiarians on the cusp of priesthood with literally tens of thousands of rosaries, novenas, countless hours of eucharistic adoration and other prayers offered for their vocation. No doubt these prayers are going on throughout the country in other dioceses as well.

For this year's national gathering in Toronto, keynote speakers will include Dr. Nancy Reeves, a registered clinical psychologist, spiritual director, best selling author and internationally respected workshop facilitator. She will be joined by Linnea Good who is called the “contemporary musical voice of the emerging church in Canada. They will speak on the topic: “The poor have good news brought to them."In addition to educational and business sessions the delegates will come together in prayer and fellowship at two of Toronto’s historic churches with the opening Eucharistic celebration at St. Paul’s Basilica and the closing Mass taking place at St Michael’s Cathedral.

Planning has been underway for more than a year on this conference and our prayers and best wishes go out to all involved. Added to the stress of convention planning is the fact that in the last couple of weeks, the CWL National office endured a fire that temporarily prevented staff from operating out of their national base in Winnipeg.

We can't underestimate the powerful impact the CWL continues to have on our local and national church. Let's hope their drive to recruit new members and encourage young women to join the "League" is answered with a resounding "yes" from coast to coast.

So if you happen to be in downtown Toronto August 14-17 and run into the 600+ strong, extend your thanks for all that they continue to do. While I can't guarantee there will be any cookies, you can be sure there will be plenty of faith driven women committed to making a difference and walking the talk, serving as the hands and feet of Christ in our communities.

Now that's a recipe for success!

Woodbridge Pastor Passes on at Age 42

2011-08-03T10:06:00.010-04:00

It seems that these pages have been filled with sad news the last little while with news of several deaths in the Catholic community. It's with a heavy heart that we report on the passing of a beloved pastor in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Father Jose Maria Naranjo Silva, P.O.C.R., an Ardorini Father who served as Associate Pastor, Administrator and, since 2009, Pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Woodbridge, succumbed to cancer after a fierce fight against the disease the last several months. He passed away Sunday, July 31, surrounded by his brother Father Isamael, Father Rony Grayda and other close friends. At age 42, Father Jose was called from this life far too soon but we know he has found his eternal reward at home with our Lord.

Fr. Jose also faithfully served as the Canadian National Chaplain of the Spanish Cursillo Movement and Chaplain for seasonal Mexican workers labouring in the Holland Marsh lands.

St. Margaret Mary parish has some brief biographical material on their website. A brief excerpt appears below:

Born in Colombia, one of ten siblings (two who became Ardorini priets), he came to Canada in 1994. His call to the priesthood was unexpected - with two priests in the family, Father Jose had just applied to university in the hope of becoming an electronic engineer. Yet through this local prayer group he found the joy of meeting God and sharing it with others.

Father Jose studied Philosophy at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Garzon and Theology in Toronto at the Toronto School of Theology. He then went back to Colombia in 2000 to be ordained in the presence of his family. He returned to Toronto to serve at St. Thomas Aquinas for one year and consequently in Colombia again for seven months. On his return to Canada in 2002 he was assigned to St. Margaret Mary Church.

Father Jose's passion beyond his religious calling included technology and music. in recent years he also took lessons to play the organ. He was an avid reader especially on subjects dealing with spirituality. Father Jose found immense satisfaction counselling those in distress. He always focused on a spiritual solution and rejoiced in helping his charges find the right path.

For those wishing to pay their respects, details are as follows:

Visitation: Wednesday, August 3 from 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Woodbridge. A special service in spanish will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening with mass to follow at 7 p.m. Fr. Jose's funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Parish - 8500 Islington Ave., Woodbridge. The official obituary can be viewed here.

Our prayers go out to Fr. Jose's familiy and friends and particularly the parish community in Woodbridge who have journeyed with him since 2002. There is no doubt that his legacy will continue to live on in the lives of all those he touched through his passion for faith, care for others and love of the priesthood.

Rest in peace good and faithful servant.

Catholic Crystal in California?

2011-07-29T11:42:00.005-04:00

It's no secret that church communities are looking "outside the box" for ways to accommodate the needs of its congregations. An interesting story the last few days has emerged out of the Diocese of Orange, California, with the diocese putting in a formal bid to purchase the Rev. Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral.

Whether you're a person of faith or not, you'd be hard pressed not to have seen some of the "Hour of Power" broadcasts that began in 1970. The "Crystal Cathedral", with its glass walls and ceiling was dedicated in September of 1980. About a year ago, word came down that the Crystal Cathedral was seeking bankruptcy protection after a contentious transition in leadership since Rev. Shuller retired a few years back.

Enter the Diocese of Orange and Bishop Tod Brown. In a recent statement on their website, the diocese explained its rationale in exploring the unique option, billed as a "lay inspired effort to seek a pragmatic alternative to construction of a new cathedral":

"With interest and concern, Bishop Brown has followed the news of the ongoing Crystal Cathedral Ministries (CCM) bankruptcy proceedings and is concerned for the future of the landmark church remaining a functional part of the liturgical landscape for the region.

The Diocese of Orange does not currently have an adequate cathedral to meet the needs of its 1.2 million Catholics in Orange County, the 11th largest diocese in the nation. "While we continue to develop plans for a cathedral in Santa Ana, it is prudent to evaluate the opportunity to engage in the pending auction of this property and to mitigate the chance that it cease to function as a place of worship, if acquired by others," says Bishop Brown."

Since expressing initial interest, this past week the diocese stepped up to the plate, literally with an offer of $50 million. In addition to the church structure, the diocese is also exploring the possibility of shifting its diocesan operations to the campus. Additional offers have come so it will be interesting to see how neogtiations unfold.

The diocese estimates the cost of a new cathedral to be well over $100 million. Crystal Cathedral Ministries is still operating so that throws a whole other set of considerations (and emotions) into the mix.

We've heard of Catholic dioceses selling properties in the past - this is an interesting role reversal that will no doubt prompt plenty of attention across the continent in the days to come.

Photo: USA Today

Bishop Marchand of Timmins Called Home To God...

2011-07-26T09:17:00.011-04:00

Sad news this week out of the Diocese of Timmins, Ontario where Bishop Paul Marchand passed away at the age of 74. On the cusp of retiring, a period of his life he often spoke of looking forward to with great joy, sadly the late bishop won't be able to enjoy that retirement with family and friends yet we take comfort in knowing he has moved on to his eternal reward.

The late bishop has connections to the Archdiocese of Toronto, his birthplace being Lafontaine, Ontario, a francophone community that is one of the northern most points of our Archdiocese, with some of the bishop's family still residing there.

Bishop Marchand was a priest of the Montfortain Fathers (S.M.M.), known for their work in preaching especially through parish retreats. It was a similar environment where Bishop Marchand spent his last hours.

Having celebrated mass at a Montfortain summer camp near Montreal, Sunday morning, organizers were concerned when the bishop didn't arrive for lunch. They checked on him in his room where he was peacefully laying on his bed, having been called home to God.

A bishop whose last formal act was celebrating the Eucharist - one might say that it was a most fitting bookend to a life of service and ministry.

Bishop Marchand was the former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, first named to the episcopate in 1993. After serving almost six years in Ottawa, he was named the 6th bishop of Timmins in 1999.

The late bishop faced some tough challenges in a diocese that saw many of its people moving out of the community, decreased attendance at parishes and a reduction in the number of vocations. In an interview shortly after his arrival in Timmins he spoke of the challenges facing the church and the need for the Catholic community to join together in their common mission:

"We won't ever come back to that, two or three priests per parish," he said. "We don't want to abolish parishes but we will have to work differently with less priests ... I compare the church to a boat. The boat is floating in quite a storm, with things the way they are nowadays, and we must learn how to row the boat together — we must take into account the person in front of us and the person behind us. To do what we have to do, we must row together."

Despite his hope and prayer to not have to consolidate parishes, in 2003, after much anguish, Bishop Marchand made the difficult decision to close five churches. Yet he will be remembered for his peaceful nature and tremendous love of the church, having served one year shy of his golden anniversary (50 years) in the priesthood.

The bishop's funeral will take place noon Friday, July 29 at St. Anthony's Cathedral in Timmins. The wake takes place in the same location Thursday from 2-9 p.m. and Friday morning 10 a.m. to noon.

In his boat, guiding the way and encouraging all to pull together, we offer our prayers and thanks for this captain of the ship. May he be surrounded by calm waters for all of eternity.

Street Patrol: Food & Friendship for Toronto's Homeless

2011-07-18T07:30:00.001-04:00

The summer months bring with it the opportunity for many to get a little rest and relaxation, stepping away from work to enjoy some family time, a vacation away or even a "staycation".

If you're looking for an experience of service to add to your summer agenda, consider the annual Street Patrol. Since 1995, young people and the young at heart have been faithfully making the rounds in Toronto's downtown core, bringing food and fellowship to Toronto's homeless. The program is spear-headed by Lucio Abbruzzese, a young teacher who has dedicated literally thousands of hours to serving the marginalized.

Lucio gathers with groups at St. Patrick's Parish (Dundas & McCaul St.) each Wednesday in the summer months. The evenings start at home or a friend's house where you'll prepare sandwiches - peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese or other favourite delicacy, packing the prepared morsels along with box drinks, fruit and perhaps some cookies. Then small groups of volunteers make their way on predetermined routes to offer a kind word and the fruits of their labour to those who call the street home.

I happened to be on the first Street Patrol that Lucio went on back in 1995. I can still recall asking him afterwards, "How did it go?" as we were on separate routes that evening? A sombre Lucio seeemed disappointed and recounted how his sandwiches didn't excactly receive a rousing endorsement? Giving of his time and talent, Lucio offered one of his first sandwiches to a homeless man who took one bite and promptly spit the contents onto the road with a few **##@* directed in Lucio's direction.

The seminarian stepped in and promptly rebuked the homeless man saying, "Here's a young guy who's made sandwiches and offering them to you out of the goodness of his heart. That's no way to say thank you."

Walking away the seminarian and Lucio had a chance to converse.

Seminarian: "Sorry about that Lucio, don't think this is always the case. Most people are appreciative of what we do. By the way what kind of sandwiches did you make?"

Lucio: "Eggplant. And it was fresh from the garden."

Seminarian: "Next time you may want to go with ham and cheese."

And so began a journey that has continued for more than 25 years for Lucio and friends who have traversed the downtown core faithfully to serve the least of our brothers and sisters.

If you're interested in experiencing the Street Patrol, you can view all the information, frequently asked questions and other pertinent details online here. The ministry runs during the summer months every Wednesday evening and periodically at other times throughout the year.

Thanks to Lucio and all who continue to give of their time and talent, quietly and without fanfare to make a difference in our Archdiocese. May God bless them and their important work.

The hands and feet of Christ are taking to the streets of Toronto this summer. Will you join them?

Photos: Street Patrol

Papal Tweet Launches Vatican News Portal

2011-07-11T07:10:00.001-04:00

For those who often suggest that the Vatican isn't using modern technology to communicate to the flock, consider this: over the past week, we've seen the Holy Father sending his first tweet (using an IPad no less), a news portal with all things Vatican has been launched and feedback continues to roll in from the Vatican's recent meeting with bloggers. Not too shabby.

If you'd like to get your daily Catholic fix direct from Rome, then be sure to bookmark news.va which brings together content from L'Osservatore Roman, Vatican Radio, Vatican Television, the Vatican Press Office and the missionary news agency Fides. It also links to social media tools like YouTube and Flickr - in other words, you'll want to bookmark this one. Since the launch, more than 70,000 folks on Twitter have signed on to "follow" the tweets from the news portal.

The Vatican continues to recognize the need to expand its reach into the world of new communication technologies, playing catch up but at the same time devoting extensive resources to bringing together the "voice" of the official church in one space. Of course people can still access the traditional Vatican website www.vatican.va which contains hundreds of thousands of pages of information in many different languages.

While Pope Benedict has made his way to Castel Gandolfo for his summer vacation, he'll need to rest up for what is gearing up to be a huge gathering in Spain for World Youth Day this August. For those not familiar with Vatican business, things essentially shut down in August in Rome. The heat forces folks to the ocean to cool off and you won't see a daily press office transmission unless there's breaking news or it's part of communication around World Youth Day.

Speaking of World Youth Day and social media, just a few days ago, the WYD office launched an ambitious initiative to get 1 million followers on social media engaged in WYD celebrations. At 317,000 there's an already impressive number of people tracking the latest with just about a month to go before things officially get underway.

This will most certainly be the most social media friendly WYD's of all time, allowing people to stop in virtually and experience events through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs and other relevant tools.

Wouldn't it be interesting to have a young person shadow the Pontiff throughout his travels, tweeting or filming small vignettes of some of those "unplugged" moments with the Holy Father? You just never know how things will unfold...

Meanwhile, courtesy of news.va if you want to see the Pope on his first day of vacation, click below. Rest up Holy Father, Spain is gearing up for a celebration like no other!!

Archdiocese Preps for Dublin Eucharistic Congress

2011-07-05T14:06:00.011-04:00

For those who are interested in learning more about the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), the Archdiocese has just released details on the diocesan pilgrimage for those who want to make their way to the Emerald Isle in June of next year.

120 spaces have been reserved for our Archdiocese with two packages offered, one which is for the duration of the Congress and a second which includes an additional week to tour religious and historical sights.

You can access all the details on a newly created mini-website which can be found here.

Archbishop Collins will also be hosting pre and post IEC gatherings in Toronto for all local pilgrims attending the IEC.

Many will remember the historic days that took place in Quebec City just a few years ago, a week filled with lots of rain but baptismal in that many found a renewed appreciation and love of their faith.

For more info on the IEC events, background info and prayer resources leading up to the celebration, you can check it all out on the official 2012 IEC website here.

Deadline for the Archdiocesan pilgrimage (registration and first deposit) is November 1, 2011.

Fr. Pat O'Dea, pastor of St. Marguerite D'Youville Parish (Brampton) is heading up the team organizing the 2012 IECE events. Fr. Pat is a veteran of World Youth Days and the 2008 IEC among other experiences.

To all those who are involved in the preparation of the 2012 IEC, we offer our prayers and best wishes - planning such a massive undertaking is no easy feat. To the three patron saints of the IEC, St Columbanus, St. Mary MacKillop and Blessed Margaret Ball, help us along the way as another pilgrimage begins...

Graphic: Archdiocese of Toronto

Pope Benedict XVI - 60 Years A Priest!

2011-06-29T07:15:00.003-04:00

On June 29, 1951 a young Joseph Ratzinger became Fr. Ratizinger, ordained to the priesthood after years of study in Munich, Germany. The young Ratzinger, who we know today as Pope Benedict XVI grew up with a father who was a policeman and a mother who, before marriage, worked as a cook in a number of hotels.

Joseph Ratzinger's youthful years were not easy, experiencing the Nazi regime and a hostile attitude towards people of faith, especially Catholics. The future pope has told the story of witnessing Nazis beating the parish priest prior to the celebration of the Eucharist.

We don't have a crystal ball to see what's around the corner but it was clear that God had a plan for Fr. Ratzinger who went on to become a well known and respected professor of theology, providing notable contributions to the Second Vatican Council.

Much has been written regarding his contributions to the church as Archbishop and later Cardinal, well known in the Roman Curia, most notably as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, among other high profile positions.

As Catholics, we see Pope Benedict XVI as the Vicar of Christ for our family of faith - it may be difficult to picture him as a young priest, an empty book with chapters of ministry and pastoral service waiting to be written. Now we know that this book is indeed filled with pages upon pages of service, counsel, prayer and witness - all elements that each one of us is called to as people of faith.

On the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, perhaps we can best leave it to the Pontiff himself to share his own reflections on the importance of priests in our world. Below you'll find an excerpt from his letter to seminarians, released in October of 2010. It's a good reminder to us all - in a world that may suggest otherwise, there is still plenty of room for the priesthood:

"When in December 1944 I was drafted for military service, the company commander asked each of us what we planned to do in the future. I answered that I wanted to become a Catholic priest. The lieutenant replied: “Then you ought to look for something else. In the new Germany priests are no longer needed”.

I knew that this “new Germany” was already coming to an end, and that, after the enormous devastation which that madness had brought upon the country, priests would be needed more than ever. Today the situation is completely changed. In different ways, though, many people nowadays also think that the Catholic priesthood is not a “job” for the future, but one that belongs more to the past.

You, dear friends, have decided to enter the seminary and to prepare for priestly ministry in the Catholic Church in spite of such opinions and objections. You have done a good thing. Because people will always have need of God, even in an age marked by technical mastery of the world and globalization: they will always need the God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, the God who gathers us together in the universal Church in order to learn with him and through him life’s true meaning and in order to uphold and apply the standards of true humanity.

Where people no longer perceive God, life grows empty; nothing is ever enough. People then seek escape in euphoria and violence; these are the very things that increasingly threaten young people. God is alive. He has created every one of us and he knows us all. He is so great that he has time for the little things in our lives: “Every hair of your head is numbered”. God is alive, and he needs people to serve him and bring him to others. It does makes sense to become a priest: the world needs priests, pastors, today, tomorrow and always, until the end of time."

So to the 24 year old discerning today, we need you. And lots more like you. To Pope Benedict XVI we say thank you for saying yes to the call and for 60 years of shepherding your flock, from Germany to Rome and to our entire global faith community. Happy Anniversary, Grazie & Danke!

Photos: CNN, Archdiocese of Toronto

Roman Missal Updates

2011-06-26T21:31:00.001-04:00

This September will see plenty of action when it comes to the implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal, with the bulk of pastoral preparation beginning at that time. At present, parishes have been provided with a number of resources should they wish to get started on educating their parishioners, music ministers and all those who will be impacted by this historic change.

Bishop John Boissonneau, Vicar of Liturgy and Chair of the Archdiocesan Roman Missal Implementation Committee sent communication last week to all parishes in the Archdiocese providing numerous updates to help fill in some of the gaps in response to questions that have been coming in. Part of the challenge is waiting for final approval on certain issues as well as resources from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

At the Catholic Media Convention in Pittsburgh last week, I had the chance to attend a most interesting workshop on the new translation from the USCCB Director of Liturgy. We face similar challenges on both sides of the border and the United States and Canada are both beginning official implementation of the new Roman Missal on the same date, the first Sunday of Advent in late November 2011.

Some excerpts from Bishop Boissonneau's communique to parishes can be found below for those who may be interested in learning a little more about plans for the fall:

1. We have been informed by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) that both the English translation of the revised Roman Missal and General Instruction (GIRM) will take effect in dioceses throughout Canada on the First Sunday of Advent (November 27/28, 2011). Archbishop Collins has authorized that parishes may begin to learn the new, sung mass settings and employ them in the liturgy as of September 25, 2011. Other than these settings, the newly translated prayers (collects, prefaces, etc.) of the Missal may not be used without specific permission before the First Sunday of Advent.

2. Four musical settings have been approved by the Bishops for use in Canada: three commissioned by the CCCB and the “Chants of the Roman Missal” by the ICEL (International Commission on English in the Liturgy). Thus, in addition to the setting which will be found in the Missal, the CCCB also approved these settings as presented in “Celebrate in Song”:

"Mass Setting A" by Fr. Geoffrey Angeles,
"Mass Setting B" (Mass of the Holy Family) by John Dawson,
"Mass Setting C" by Michel Guimont.

To help provide a spirit of unity and collaboration for all those involved in assisting our parishioners in full and active participation in the Eucharist, we are inviting parishes to utilize two settings during the first year of implementation of the new Roman Missal. We must be fully aware that all other settings presently being used are not to be employed in the parishes after the First Sunday of Advent because they do not reflect the new translation. This will be a significant change for choirs and cantors.

You are invited to choose from a) ICEL Chants setting and b) one of the approved three CCCB sung settings. You can hear the settings by visiting our resources page of the Archdiocesan Roman Missal site: www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.

This will allow parishioners, music ministers and clergy to collaborate on teaching and implementing musical settings that will become familiar to congregations at all masses. Please note: all the mass settings presently being used at parish liturgies need to be replaced by the new authorized settings effective the First Sunday of Advent 2011. The desire for a unity of musical settings in your parish may be challenging but your guidance and encouragement will make this exercise of decision-making a positive moment in liturgical renewal.

4. We are aware that parishes have received other musical settings, including those from the United States. In order to foster unity, we ask all parishes to use the mass settings from the CCCB for the first year of implementation. Your cooperation is appreciated in adopting this approach in your parish.

Thank you to all those who participated in the recent workshop related to the music settings presented in “Celebrate in Song” and approved for use in Canada. More than 450 people were in attendance for the gathering, a wonderful response to the first of many planned sessions with parish musicians..

The communication also included a link for those parishes wishing to delve into more in depth study this summer regarding the Roman Missal, with suggested resources available to review at www.archtoronto.org/romanmissal/resources.htm.

You can be assured that parishioners will be hearing plenty of information about the new translation this fall, with bulletin inserts, pew cards, catechesis and other "hands on" information regarding this historic moment of evangelization and catechesis for North America.

The important thing for all to keep in mind is that we're not just changing some of the words that are used in the celebration of mass, we hope the experience will provide an opportunity for Eucharistic renewal, to allow all Catholics to reflect on how we can all engage in more active participation in the pinnacle of our faith journey as we gather as a faith community each week.

This transition will not be an easy one so feel free to get the prayers rollin' early for all involved in bringing the new translation to life!

Stay tuned as you'll be hearing a whole lot more both in these pages, the Archdiocesan website and your own parish in the months ahead!

Communicators Gather in Pittsburgh #cmc11

2011-06-22T15:33:00.001-04:00

This week in Pittsburgh, hundreds of Catholic communicators from North America (with at least one from Australia and Italy) have come together for the annual Catholic Media Convention. 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the CPA, the main sponsor of the event.

There's also a good number of Canadians present for the convention, which was held in Toronto just a few years back. About 20 of us are doing our best to represent the true north strong and free, with Canadian communicators from both sides of the country and all points in between present.

The Canadian contingent held a session Tuesday to kick things off as we discussed a most interesting topic, The Rules of Engagement in the Blogosphere, essentially an open conversation about the role of blogs and other social media, how we interact with them, use them ourselves and their contributions to the greater Catholic community.

I was part of a panel that included Deb Gyapong (journalist, author and blogger) as well as John Thavis who is a veteran of the Vatican press corps, covering issues for Catholic News Service from Rome. It provided an opportunity to share some great insights from different perspectives (diocesan, journalist & independent bloggers). John was also able to provide some first hand reporting based from his participation in the Vatican's recent mini-conference on blogging.

One interesting discussion centered around the use of published material in blogs. Is it ethical for bloggers to pull articles that are published and reprint them in full on their own blog when newspapers and news service outlets are paying staff to write the pieces as well as charging other publications to reprint them? If people are "pulling them for free" can these news services continue to sustain themselves? A similar argument was made about pictures. Recognizing this can't be enforced is a huge problem but is there a "code of conduct" or certain bar of expectations that should be leveled for bloggers out there?

All in all, a great exchange between panelists and those in attendance for the session. As social media is constantly in flux, there are no definitive answers, rather strategies and sharing that provided important insights from a variety of perspectives.

Some of the most helpful "moments" are found during the informal discussions on the convention floor between sessions. As participants represent a wide range of vocations (from Catholic publications to Communications Directors, some wearing both hats) you tend to get a few pointers, free advice or some plain old venting in your travels. Consider it a support group of sorts...

Msgr. Paul Tighe from the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in Rome is also present in Pittsburgh - great to see Vatican representation on the ground here to get a pulse on the opportunities and challenges facing Catholic communicators in 2011.

Personal development, fellowship, prayer and strategic thinking - not a bad combination and a wealth of knowledge coming together this week in Steeler country...

Location:Pittsburgh, PA

A Communicator Called Home to God...

2011-06-20T14:19:00.032-04:00

On a sombre note, it's with great sadness that we mourn the passing of a colleague in communication this week. Mary Jo Deighan, who served faithfully as the Manager of Communications for the Toronto Catholic District School Board for many years, succumbed to cancer this past Friday. Mary Jo battled the disease on and off for the last couple of years. She faced her diagnosis with as much of a positive attitude, prayerful disposition and good cheer than could ever be expected.

We intersect regularly with our colleagues in communication at the five english Catholic school boards in the Archdiocese. It's important to maintain regular contact with these communication channels as so much of our work overlaps and we collectively work together to nurture the home, school and parish triad.

During difficult days for the TCDSB, Mary Jo battled not only complex communication issues but her own personal health challenges yet always had time for colleagues and maintained a watching brief on issues as long as was possible. I can still recall with embarassment reaching her by cell phone on an "urgent" matter only to learn that she was in the midst of a chemotherapy treatment, IV in arm and cheerfully reassuring me that it was no problem to call as her treatments went on for the better part of the day and it was an opportunity to catch up on phone calls and emails.

With Catholic Education at the forefront of many discussions in our own Catholic family or to the community beyond our family of faith, we are constantly looking for the success stories, the good news to share, the examples to point to of those who are strengthening our community and the overall system. Mary Jo is one such example of this lived faith in action.

At the end of the day, in our publicly funded Catholic system, we hope that our graduates will embrace the following traits, what we refer to as the Expectations of the Catholic Graduate:

A Discerning Believer Formed in the Catholic Faith Community
An Effective Communicator
A Reflective and Creative Thinker
A Self-Directed, Responsible, Life-Long Learner
A Collaborative Contributor
A Caring Family Member
A Responsible Citizen

As spokesperson (among many other duties) for the TCDSB, Mary Jo embodied the attributes the board sought in its graduates in all of her actions. Gone too young at the age of 54, we mourn her loss but know that she is now at peace, directing communications of a different sort, surrounded by love, free of pain and filled with joy.

Our condolences go out to her family as well as the TCDSB community and all those who mourn her loss.

Working in Catholic communications presents its own set of great challenges. Yet we are blessed by those we encounter in this field - those who have a passion for their work, see their day to day tasks not as a job but a ministry; those who truly believe that faith is infused in the work they do. When you can begin a meeting with a prayer and sometimes end it with a hug, you know you're in a circle of trust.

As communicators, we field plenty of calls. Mary Jo's last call was the most precious - for now, she is home.

Dad & Father...Thank You.

2011-06-14T11:18:00.018-04:00

Father's Day is upon us. Yes, it's that time of year when Hallmark salivates at the prospect of selling millions of cards and propane suppliers hail the increased sale of bbq tanks for the Sunday afternoon celebrations that will likely ensue!

Just remember that Sunday morning also gives us a chance to thank the other "fathers" in our lives: priests who faithfully serve the flock each week in parishes around the world. In the Archdiocese of Toronto reside more than 800 priests: half serve as diocesan clergy while the other half represent religious communities and are usually a little more nomadic in nature.

This spiritual squad of 800 serve a Catholic population of 1.8 million in the Archdiocese. Now that's what you call an extended family.

You can also draw many parallels between "Dad" and "Fr. John" - both likely have experienced sleepless nights, up to care for the flock at all hours or worrying about the family for whom they provide. They befriend others who assist us in strengthening the community around us and they sometimes have to make tough decisions, ones which we don't always understand but ultimately are meant with the "big" picture in mind.

When I think of my own journey, I also draw parallels between Dad and Father by reflecting on key life decisions, talks, prayer and advice that has been invaluable as I've navigated the ups and downs of life. Both my own dad and priests I've come to know as friends have provided the fatherly insight that is most welcome, a sober second thought in unique or challenging circumstances.

Dad and Father have provided those pearls of wisdom, stood alongside us as a loved one struggles through illness, demonstrated by example the values of honesty, charity and love.
Whether it be as a young one or not so young one, you just feel the world is a little less intimidating with Dad or Father beside you.

Since early days in the history of our Church, the title "Father" has been used for religious leaders. Bishops, our shepherds of the flock and teachers of the faith, were given the title "Father." Until about the year 400, a bishop was called "papa" for Father - at that time, the title was left solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English we settled on the word "pope." At any Wednesday audience at the Vatican, you'll hear chants of Il Papa resound throughout St. Peter's Square.

It's often said that we don't take the time to say thank you to those close to us, sadly, at times, until it's too late to do so. In that spirit, this weekend, whether it's Dad or Father, take a moment to say thank you for the many blessings these men have brought to our lives. They deserve to hear those words now - it doesn't cost a penny but can change the day from overcast to sunny skies.

To all the dads, dads-in-law, dads in spirit and all the priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and popes we've been honoured to call "Father", we say thank you for making an impact on us that you may never realize. Yet, as shepherd of hearts and souls, your legacy will live on in so many whom you've impacted around you!

So while you may not all get a Hallmark card this weekend you've got our life-long respect, admiration and gratitude. Thanks to this little warm fuzzy, you won't be getting any dress socks...that may be the best news of all!

St. Joseph, patron saint of Fathers, pray for us!

Graphic: desktoppublishing.com