Although Fr John and I were priests of different generations – he was ordained in 1966, I in 1991 – one thing we had in common was an experience of profound joy, when in March 2013, we witnessed the election of the first Pope from the global South: Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, now universally known as Pope Francis. In his recent encyclical letter on fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis proclaims:
At a recent diocesan catechetical conference, I was talking with two of the speakers, Mike and Louise. Mike was reading a book called “Multiple Intelligences”. Apparently, just as there is “intellectual” intelligence to help you understand concepts, there is also “emotional” intelligence, “spir
Those of you who have participated in the Scouting movement are no doubt familiar with this motto. Along with “do a good deed each day” and “do your duty to God and the Queen”, it is one of the moral principles on which a good Scout’s life is founded.
Back in the 1990s, the Canadian bishops issued a pastoral letter on the economy. After consulting with various experts, and seeing the suffering of their people, they crafted a statement reminding political and economic leaders of their responsibility towards the poor, the unemployed, and all wh
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, our readings speak to us of banquets and feasts. In the first reading, we hear Isaiah’s promise of “a feast of rich food and well-aged wines” for all peoples and nations. The Psalmist describes God as a Good Shepherd: One who leads us to abundant pastu
Most of us can relate quite easily to BOTH sons in the parable Jesus tells in today’s Gospel. There’s a part of us that is spontaneously generous and wants to say “Yes” to everything – but when the chips are down, and we have to confront our very real limits, we don’t always deliver the goods.
Today’s Gospel is a most challenging text indeed. The versions in Matthew and Luke’s gospels differ significantly. In Luke’s Gospel, it is “when Jesus was praying alone” that he turns and asks the disciples these questions about his identity. I wondered – if Jesus was supposed to be alone, wha
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