Everyday For Life Canada: September 2014

Utica parish keeps an old faith tradition alive

On September 26, the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian. I travelled this past weekend to Utica, New York State to the parish of St. Anthony and St. Agnes Church. The community there marks this religious day with weekend Masses, music, food, song, prayers. dances and two processions. One is a candlelight procession on Saturday evening and the other takes place after the celebration of the last Mass on Sunday. The church has an outdoor shrine so Masses can be celebrated both in the church and outside for the thousands of pilgrims that come with cars and buses each year from Canada and the Northeastern part of the United Sates.

The local streets are temporarily closed and the faithful can walk together praying the Rosary and singing hymns of praise and devotion.

Sep

Here's why we need to vote responsibly for trustees

Do you want to know part of what ails Catholic and public education in Ontario? All you have to do is read what a retired superintendent has expressed in a letter to a newspaper. The superintendent wants people to vote, but only if they agree with his views and those of the nanny state.

Sep

Are our parishes true places of living the faith?

Is your parish the place you go to Mass on Sunday for an hour and pretty well forget about it until next Sunday? Have our churches been reduced to dispensing sacraments and little else? Do we go to church because of a wedding, funeral or merely because it's Easter or Christmas? Do we go to our parishes for these celebrations and then for the rest of the year the church becomes just another, underused empty building?

I ask these questions only to suggest that if our churches were better places o

Sep

Agent Provocateur: in any language it's "undercover" wear to exploit

Recently I found out from watching an interview on the Business News Network that Toronto's Bloor Street has its own Agent Provocateur store. The French name may sound appealing, but It’s a store that sells very racy and expensive lingerie. They have a number of stores in Canada and the rest of the world, as well as an online presence.

Sep

Canada's Sharia Law: Liberal style

Abortion and "reproductive rights" will continue to be the Liberal Party's official position. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said, in a recent interview aired on CBC, that all party candidates cannot be pro-life and pro-family. Moreover, once elected they must vote against any legislation that would in any way limit the culture of death.

Regardless of one's personal beliefs Trudeau has made it very clear that abortion trumps every other right.

Sep

On October 27 elect trustees that will defend and protect Catholic education

Ontario's next Municipal Elections will take place on October 27, 2014. Parents, especially those with children in the school system, should pay particular attention to the persons they elect as their trustees in both the Catholic and public boards. Voters will choose city mayors, councillors and school board trustees. If Ontarians want trustees to protect the role of parents in education, they must make sure the candidates they select will represent their views.

Sep

A timely book to deepen and understand Christian life

Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, (now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), was published in German in 1968. The English translation by Michael J. Miller came out in 1969. This an excellent book for anyone who wants to better understand the faith and the reasons for believing. This is not just a book but a meditation about faith. Cardinal Ratzinger writes about the story of Christianity, the meaning of faith and the importance of the Catholic Church.

Sep

Jesus in the City: what a wonderful and refreshing event

Did you know that the Jesus in the City Parade was held this past Saturday thorough the streets of downtown Toronto? Probably not if you only listen to the mainstream media. Yes, there was a parade and close to 15,000 people walked to the final destination at Queen's Park. The parade has been a city event since 1999. There was concern at one point that the parade would not take place this year.

Sep

Activate your children's pontential for goodness and greatness

In a previous post, we said that parents should not forget to put faith in their children's back to school supplies. As children return to school for another year, they face many moral challenges put there by the schools and the government. You would think that the Ministry of Education and school boards could be trusted to protect children from moral harm, but instead it's those who are in charge of education that must be made accountable and closely monitored.

Sep

Doctor's "miraculous" Ebola cure reveals what ails the nation

Dr. Kent Brantly while working in Libera contracted Ebola. He was there as a missionary for Samaritan's Purse. Soon after he got the deadly virus disease, he was taken back to the United States for medical treatment. After his rather speedy recovery, he made a very moving press release saying among other things that he was forever thankful and grateful to all those who cared for him at Emory University Hospital and back in Liberia, but most importantly he was thankful to God for saving his life.