The Busy Catholic

Survivors describe grief in 'Aftermath of Murder'

2013-05-24T10:53:00.001-07:00

Video series captures stories of loss due to homicide and it gives back to those still suffering Christopher Ducharme, founder of B.C. Victims of Homicide, and Jo-Ann Turner-Crean, past president of the B.C. Bereavement Helpline, say they recognized the need to provide support for people coping with the death of a loved one. Photo contributed to BCC. Cristina Pastia didn't know the goodbye

St. Paul's singles to celebrate 35th anniversary

2013-05-23T14:43:00.001-07:00

Club invites adults for a dinner and dance A couple dances the tango in St. Peter's Square three days after the election of Pope Francis, March 16.(Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic) The St. Paul's Catholic Singles Club will celebrate their 35th anniversary with a dinner and dance May 25. Couples will join for a joyous evening in the Sunrise Community Hall (1950 Windermere Street) in

Where enemies come together

2013-05-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Pope says those who disagree meet doing good works A nun walks near the Basilica of St. Francis in the early morning in Assisi, Italy. Pope Francis will visit the birthplace of his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, on the saint's feast day, Oct. 4. CNS photo / Paul Haring. Every human person, despite his or her beliefs can do good, and a sharing in good works is the prime place for

Pope Francis reportedly performs exorcism

2013-05-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Video footage during a Sunday Mass raises questions Video screenshot of what has been described as an exorcism. The Associated Press. Pipe organs and gasping can be heard in the footage captured at the Vatican by Italian TV station TV2000; the video depicts Pope Francis laying his hands on the head of a young man in a wheelchair. The Italian media, and media corporations worldwide, have

New pastoral centre closer to construction

2013-05-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Offices, chapel, meeting spaces, and suites for priests all part of building plans Architect's model of new John Paul II Pastoral Centre. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic. The new John Paul II Pastoral Centre is a step closer to construction. The development application was approved by the City of Vancouver's Director of Planning May 2. For full story see The B.C. Catholic

Charting our direction from the Year of Faith forward

2013-05-22T09:45:00.002-07:00

Archbishop lays out goals for next three years Pope Francis calls us to live "daily situations with greater trust, to facing them with courage and determination," quotes Archbishop Miller in his letter. (Photo: CNS) Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, wrote a recent letter outlining the priorities for the Archdiocese for the next three years. They are: Growing a Culture of Vocation

200 miles an hour

2013-05-21T09:16:00.002-07:00

Pope praying for children, others struck by Oklahoma tornado Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and rescue workers dig through the rubble of Plaza Tower Elementary school. (CNS photo / Oklahoma National Guard handout via Reuters) Pope Francis sent condolences to those parents who lost their children in a tornado that killed around 100 people in Oklahoma. For full story see The B.C. Catholic

Rose Prince Pilgrimage to take place in Lejac

2013-05-17T14:16:00.001-07:00

All are invited to honour the memory of Rose Prince July 5-7 Pilgrims will have the chance to sing, learn, and pray for peace and healing together at the Rose Prince Lejac Pilgrimage. Aboriginal and non-aborginal communities are invited to join the ceremony. The three-day event will include meals, the Stations of the Cross, confessions, a candle procession, a healing Mass with

Walkers gather at Crossroads

2013-05-17T13:57:00.003-07:00

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Talitha Koum Society turns 13

2013-05-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

Whitehorse bishop attends transition house milestone Bishop Gary Gordon of Whitehorse addresses the gathering at Talitha Koum's anniversary celebration May 11 at St. Mary's in Vancouver. (Photo: Dkostynuik) The Talitha Koum Society celebrated its 13th birthday with a well-attended anniversary dinner fundraiser at St. Mary's in Vancouver May 11. Bishop Gary Gordon of Whitehorse gave a

Saint may have to wait

2013-05-17T08:59:00.007-07:00

Relations with China affect timing of Matteo Ricci cause A statue of Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci stands outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing in this 2007 photo. CNS photo / Nancy Wiechec. Approval for the beatification of the Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who ministered in China 500 years ago, depends to some degree on the Vatican's relations with China.

Ukrainian prelates gather for working group

2013-05-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

Bishop Ken Nowakowski of New West leads 'vibrant parish' renewal Bishop Ken Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster leads a Divine Liturgy in Lviv, Ukraine May 14.(Photo submitted.) Bishop Ken Nowakowski, the Eparch of New Westminster, led multiple sessions of the Working Group for the Strategic Development of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Brukhovitsi,

Pontificate in Blessed Virgin's hands

2013-05-16T08:57:00.002-07:00

Pope Francis and his work consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrims attend a candlelight vigil at the Marian shrine of Fatima in central Portugal. CNS photo / Rafael Marchante, Reuters. At the Holy Father's personal request, Cardinal Jose Polycarp, the Patriarch of Lisbon, consecrated the pontificate of Pope Francis to Our Lady of Fatima on her feast day. For full story see The B.C. Catholic

Pupils score funds for Brazilian soccer club

2013-05-15T10:43:00.003-07:00

St. Thomas Aquinas students kick-start donations of training gear, equipment to Sao Paolo Luke Harris (left), Kiara Machry, Lucas Wagorn, Amy Crawford, Brooke Marklund, and Matthew Callaghan, all Grade 8 students at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary who helped contribute, hold up soccer jerseys that will be donated to a group in Sao Paolo, Brazil, called the Soccer Club. Special to The

Pro-life cause continues to advance

2013-05-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

Director optimistic about outcomes of Motion 408 Conservative MP Mark Warawa speaks at the March for Life in Ottawa this year. His motion against sex-selective abortion was deemed non-votable in March. (Photo: CCN) Motion 408, Mark Warawa's non-binding motion against sex-selective abortion, was struck down by a House of Commons sub-committee in March. The MP decided to introduce a new bill

Cardinal Collins warns against gambling

2013-05-14T15:10:00.001-07:00

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One-child policy causes reign of terror

2013-05-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

Horror of female gendercide driven home during National March for Life Reggie Littlejohn speaks at the May 9 Rose Dinner. Deborah Gyapong / Canadian Catholic News. Deborah Gyapong of Canadian Catholic News reports that participants in this year's National March for Life May 9 came away equipped with a new awareness of the horrors of female "gendercide." For full story see The B.C. Catholic

Surprise! I'm really here!

2013-05-13T11:08:00.001-07:00

Popemobile trip surprises March for Life participants Pope Francis waves from the popemobile at the end of a canonization Mass. The same day, he appeared in his popemobile at the March for Life. CNS photo / Tony Gentile, Reuters. Pro-lifers who had just finished the third annual Italian March for Life on Sunday were surprised to see Pope Francis coming toward them in the popemobile. For

No to the wall

2013-05-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

U.S. bishops oppose re-routing of Israeli-Palestine separator Christian leaders pray in front of the Israeli separation wall near Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem, West Bank, in 2010. CNS photo / Debbie Hill. The U.S. bishops have criticized an Israeli plan to re-route a separation wall through the Cremisan Valley in the West Bank, claiming such a move would harm both Christian families and

Satisfy all desires

2013-05-09T08:37:00.001-07:00

God's living water does just that, Pope proclaims Pope Francis exchanges skull caps with a young girl after arriving for his weekly audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 8. CNS photo / Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo. The Holy Spirit is the "living water" that fulfills our lives because He tells us "we are loved by God," Pope Francis proclaimed. For full story see The B.C.

Seminarian to be ordained to diaconate

2013-05-08T14:25:00.001-07:00

All invited to celebrate with Nicholas Meisl May 10 Nicholas Meisl chats with Sister Mary Jacinta, OP, on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations April 21. Meisl was instituted in the ministry of acolyte that day. (Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic) Seminarian Nicholas Meisl will be ordained to the diaconate May 10. All are cordially invited. "My vocation is the greatest gift that God,

Recognizing 25 years

2013-05-08T10:54:00.004-07:00

Missionaries of Charity mark 25th anniversary of their arrival in Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, celebrates the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the Missionaries of Charity in Vancouver April 27. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic. Agnieszka Krawczynski of The B.C. Catholic newspaper reports that it has been 25 years since Mother Teresa and seven sisters arrived in

Who needs fetal stem cells?

2013-05-08T10:50:00.001-07:00

Doctor calls stem cell surgery on toddler revolutionary Kyoto University Professor Shinya Yamanaka of Japan in April 2009 and John Gurdon of Britain in London Oct. 8, 2012. The two shared the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for the discovery that adult cells can be reprogrammed back into stem-cells which can turn into any kind of tissue and may one day repair damaged organs. CNS photo

To kill or not to kill has become a question

2013-05-08T10:47:00.003-07:00

Opponents of euthanasia step up campaign in advance of May 18 March A crucifix is carried in procession across the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City during the Eucharistic Congress in 2008. There will be a march of a different kind in the city May 18. CNS photo / Mathieu Belanger, Reuters. Opponents of euthanasia have launched the "Killing is not Care" media campaign in Quebec in advance of

So-called 'Hipster Jesus' ads beckon in Brooklyn

2013-05-08T09:35:00.001-07:00

New York City diocese's campaign to show Church's 'cooler side' The Diocese of Brooklyn commissioned the "Original Hipster" ad, a tongue in cheek reference to Christ's radical message.(Photo credit: Diocese of Brooklyn) The Diocese of Brooklyn's new advertising blitz to bring the faithful back to the pews has caused a stir in the New York City borough. Newspapers such as The Wall Street