Everyday For Life Canada: 2011

A blessed and holy Christmas to everyone

(Note to our readers: With this entry, Everyday for Life Canada will take a Christmas break and return in the New Year. We wish you all a holy and blessed Christmas. Happy New Year to everyone!)

In his Christmas Message of 1959, Pope John XXIII offered a very insightful statement about achieving peace: His address urges us to work for peace of the heart, in our social relations and in the international sphere. At the time, the world was concerned about the build up of nuclear arms and that the crisis could lead to the destruction of the planet. The Pope's observations continue to be just as relevant today because the obstacles to peace, human malice and greed, remain the same. For human beings to experience a true conversion to peace, they must put Christ at the centre of their lives.

Dec

Make sure your family and friends see this life-saving video

A doctor friend of mine from Ottawa sent me the link to the video posted with this blog entry. She received it from a relative of hers who lives in the Czech Republic. The video, according to the makers, has saved many lives because it encourages viewers to refrain from drinking and driving. It was actually started in Victoria, Australia by TCA, the Transport Accident Commission. The group's aim is to educate the public about the personal costs of dangerous driving practices.

Dec

You cannot legislate love, care and acceptance into existence

It seems that in the province of Ontario for the last three years the Liberal government, with the help of the other parties, has tried to convince its citizens that love, respect and care of children in schools can be made real with policy/program memoranda such as the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. They are currently trying to do the same thing with Bill 13.

Dec

Thank God Andrea Bocelli's mother didn't believe in abortion

Just days ago, on Dec. 8, we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; we marked what is humanities greatest yes to life. It was the supreme yes to life because the Blessed Mother welcomed both human and divine life into our fallen world. She allowed herself to let the Word become flesh. Her will was completely in tune with God's will; she was ready to give birth to the Son of God.

Dec

Tell Premier McGuinty and the Liberals to withdraw Bill 13

(This is the letter I've sent to our Premier, Dalton McGuinty and to my MPP Laura Albanese.)

Dear Premier,

Bill 13 openly threatens religious freedom and violates parental rights. We don't need another law to combat bullying. I urge you to immediately withdraw or amend this unnecessary Bill. We don't want another piece of misguided legislation. We already have many regulations in place both in Public and Catholic schools to fight bullying. Parents want you to protect their rights in education.

Dec

St. Marcellin Champagnat: Let the saints guide our Catholic teaching and education

This morning I was fortunate to have been invited to be part of the Day of Reflection held at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church for teachers from two schools in the Toronto Catholic District Board School Board: St. Charles Garnier and St. Augustine.

The day was given over to thinking about the educational strategies used by St. Marcellin Champagnat. His Feast day is June 6, and he's the Patron of Education and Teachers. In 1955, Marcellin Champagnat was declared Blessed by Pope Pius XII.

Dec

Bill 13: It's bullying against parental rights and religious freedom

Today I attended a press conference at Queen's Park that the mainstream media will probably report little or nothing about it. Everyday for Life Canada thinks it's important for Christians and all Ontarians to know what happened. Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government continues to stand behind Bill 13, the recently proposed anti-bullying legislation and the Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy.

Dec

Parental rights continue to be violated in Ontario schools

The media in Ontario was quick to make Bill 13 a main issue in the news for the last few days. You have heard the message before: we need the law to combat bullying in schools. What the news left out is that the government and most of the mainstream media are now aggressively promoting, protecting and supporting laws to advance the homosexual lifestyle. In Ontario, we already have the Safe Schools Act and Bill 157 to fight bullying of any kind. But that isn't enough for this government.

Nov

The Good Samaritan and a culture of life

In another blog posting, I wrote about A Modern Day Good Samaritan Living in Toronto. The article was about the charity started by Dr. Andrew Simone and his wife Joan to help the hungry and poor children of the world. The organization is called, Canadian Food for Children. Just days ago, I received the summary of the shipments made and the total weight of the food, clothing, tools and other non-perishable items sent to different parts of the world in 2011.

Nov

Baby Jesus belongs everywhere and he comes for all of us

As we begin the Season of Advent to prepare for Christmas, Everyday for Life Canada wishes to share this inspirational video produced by Grassroots Films. The setting is New York City, but it could be Toronto, Rome or any other city. Bethlehem is eternal; it's everywhere and anywhere. The message is universal.