Deacons will serve in areas of need, such as ministry to prisoners and to migrants, says director
Father Bart van Roijen
The southern interior is preparing to carry out Catholic outreach throughout the community with the introduction of a new permanent diaconate program. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum in the foyer of the House of Commons. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
The president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has told the Immigration Minister delays in refugee arrivals is hurting the private sponsorship program. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Terri Schiavo suffered a serious brain injury and died in 2005 after her feeding tube was removed
Pro-life activists Natalie Sonnen (right) and Monica Roddis (second from
right) welcome Bobby Schindler and his wife to a LifeCanada fundraiser.
Schindler is the brother of Terry Schiavo, a woman who died of
starvation and dehydration in 2005. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C.
Catholic.
Family members of a woman who starved to death 12 years ago are still raising the alarm about what they call a "deteriorating" health-care system and culture. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Ontario bishops concerned about threat to conscience rights
Bishop Ronald Fabbro of London, Ont.
The Ontario Catholic bishops have agreed to raise awareness of the threat to health professionals' conscience rights in their dioceses. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Albertos Polizogopoulos (left) at the Supreme Court of Canada during the
hearing of arguments in the Taylor case in 2014. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
Legal costs have soared in a legal challenge of the Ontario physicians' college policy to force doctors to make abortion and euthanasia referrals. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Saints are close friends who speak to God on your behalf, says Padua friar
The devoted and the curious flock to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
in Coquitlam to venerate first-class relics of St. Anthony of Padua.
Josh Tng / The B.C. Catholic.
Relics of a 13th-century friar drew many people to the doors of a Coquitlam church. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Bishops withdraw from the social justice coalition Kairos
Bishop Douglas Crosby
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops will no longer be part of Kairos, a social justice coalition of groups of various faiths. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Michele Boulva, shown here in her office in Ottawa, will leave the
Catholic Organization for Life and Family, which she has directed for
nearly 13 years, in December. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
For Michele Boulva, director of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), families play a crucial role in the new evangelization and in the renewal of society. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Neocatechumenal Way members begin regular catechesis sessions at Simon Fraser University
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way gather at Simon Fraser University's
Freedom Square for Vespers Sept. 25. Marie Laliberte / Special to The
B.C. Catholic.
A Catholic spiritual renewal group is bringing the good news to university students. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
'Amoris Laetitia' offers paths to growth: cardinal
Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada spoke at the CCCB plenary on Amoris Laetitia. Deborah Gyapong / CCN.
Pope Francis's document "Amoris Laetitia" on family love concerns paths to spiritual growth, not doctrinal change, says Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Archdiocese has processed about 250 arrivals from Syria, Iraq, Liberia, and Eritrea this year
Three Syrian refugees meet members of Our Lady of Mercy Parish during a
welcome dinner at the parish in September. Photo submitted.
The hype about sponsoring refugees is fading from mainstream news, but churches are still working hard to pull foreigners to safety. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Prolife activists divided on whether all prolife Tory candidates deserve support
Former Speaker of the House Andrew Scheer, a Catholic father of five. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
Prolife activists are divided on whether all three prolife candidates are worthy of support in the Conservative keadership race. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Bishop Joseph Nguyen of Kamloops, who was ordained this summer, traveled to Rome for what some have affectionately called "bishop school."
There, he met Pope Francis.
Bishop Nguyen is a former refugee from Vietnam. He was ordained a priest in Vancouver, where he served the church for many years before Pope Francis called him to the episcopacy. Read more about him here.
Expert questions wisdom of trying to influence climate
Michael Hart, author of "Hubris: The Troubling Science, Economics, and Politics of Climate Change," questions the wisdom of trying to halt global warming. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Four communities participate in Masses, baptisms, and memorial prayer services
Father John Tritschler baptizes a young child in Holy Cross Church,
which is more than 100 years old, in the community of Skookumchuck
(Skatin). Photo submitted to BCC.
Harrison, B.C., offers resort hotels, gracious dining and hot springs, boating, swimming, fishing, and splendid views of Harrison Lake and the surrounding mountains. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
newly posted:
Cardus Family study reveals marriage is good for your health
Andrea Mrozek is the director of Cardus Family, the former Institute of Marriage and Family Canada. Deborah Gyapong / (CCN).
Cardus Family has released a new study revealing marriage is related to a host of better health outcomes in everything from cancer and heart disease to improved mental health. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
More than one year after Pope Francis's landmark encyclical, Laudato Si', its teachings will be highlighted at SFU. "Laudato Si' (On Care for our Common Home) is a landmark encyclical in the social doctrine of the Church," said Father Fernando Mignone, the SFU chaplain. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Catholic health-care centres under pressure to participate in euthanasia process
Cardinal Collins and Larry Worthen represented the Coalition for
HealthCARE and Conscience before the Parliamentary Committee on
Physician-Assisted Dying this year. Deborah Gyapong / (CCN).
An incident involving a man who was refused assessment for euthanasia at a Catholic hospital in Vancouver has increased pressure on all faith-based institutions to violate their principles. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Father Garry LaBoucane, pastor of two Downtown Eastside parishes, receives community award
Tom Cooper (left), head of the Vancouver-based Christian organization
City in Focus, presents an award to Father Garry LaBoucane and three
others. Photos submitted to BCC.
A First Nations priest who serves three Catholic centres in the Downtown Eastside has received recognition. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will release a new sexual abuse document in early 2017, said president Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, the CCCB president, and will make its first ad limina visits to Rome in 11 years starting in March. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Ghanaian man destroys saint statues in four churches
Italian police have arrested a 39-year-old man for destroying several historic statues and causing panic among tourists and the faithful in four churches.
The man entered Saint Praxedes Basilica Sept. 30 around 7:30 p.m., destroying a statue of Saint Praxedes and then beheading a miniature of Saint Anthony.
The pastor, Father Pedro Savelli, explained to Catholic News Agency, "Right away I thought it was an attack by ISIS. The man was outside himself, but thank God we were able to get him out before he could destroy everything. He said children cannot be taught to believe, using sacred images as we do."
Movie poster for The Vessel, featuring Martin Sheen. (Photo Credit: The Vessel)
Does your ideal evening involve movies, Martin Sheen, and Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB? If so, the archdiocese has the event for you. Join the Archbishop and other members of the archdiocese in the screening of The Vessel, an intense movie about the revival of a town whose passions were long forgotten.
The evening will be held at Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas, Vancouver, on Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Tickets are $13.
For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
MLA Mary Polak (left), Langley mayor Ted Schaffer, Advokate executive
director Jared White, longtime pro-lifer Cathy Hetzler, and Advokate
president Michael Horner snip a ribbon to officially open Hope for Women
Langley. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic.
A new pregnancy care centre has just popped up in the heart of downtown Langley. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
CCCB unlikely to issue national guidelines on pastoral approach to euthanasia
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is unlikely to issue national pastoral guidelines on how to accompany Catholics considering euthanasia, Bishop Douglas Crosby of Hamilton, the CCCB president, said. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Archbishop Carney alumni perform together at restaurants
Jamie De Guia (left), Kalen Dofher, Steven Pringle, and Anthony Maljevac
combine their instrumental strengths as Clavinova Nights. Special to
The B.C. Catholic / Dipidro Photography.
"Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars." The jazz song, commonly associated with Frank Sinatra, flowed smoothly from the instruments of four young men. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
It is easy to offend if you don't understand the culture, says bishop
Keewatin-Le Pas Archbishop Murray Chatlain speaks in a panel at the CCCB
plenary meeting in Cornwall, Ont. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin -- Le Pas told his fellow bishops Sept. 27 it is easy to offend and to be offended when one does not understand cultural differences. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Sarah Ruggier and Clayton Imoo. Josh Tng / The B.C. Catholic.
"You're at the airport and someone greets you," said Sarah Ruggier. "They're saying they're glad you've come, but are displaying a closed body posture: their arms are crossed, they are facing away. You think to yourself, where do I stand with this person? Is something wrong?" For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Dutch cardinal urges Canada's bishops to refute false euthanasia arguments
Dutch Cardinal Willem Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht, says Canadian bishops should continue to refute false arguments for euthanasia and advance true palliative care. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
St. Thomas Aquinas graduate overcomes severe injuries to win wrestling national championship
Karah Bulaqui stands on the stairs at Simon Fraser University, which she
attends. Bulaqui survived a car accident on the road to the university
in October 2014. Josh Tng / The B.C. Catholic.
It's been 23 months since Karah Bulaqui survived a terrifying car crash travelling up Burnaby Mountain. But today, she drives up the mountain to attend Simon Fraser University without letting the accident control her, in part because of her faith and spirit. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
More than 80 bishops gathered in Cornall, Ont. for the annual plenary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Canada's Catholic Bishops highlighted the impact and challenges of euthanasia at their annual gathering Sept. 26-30. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Guatemalans and Mexicans form band to give back to community
Israel Rabinal (left), Laureano Sen, Eduardo Hernandez, Selvin Ordonez,
Lucio Tocohua, Eliseo Gongora, and Rosario Musso perform at Augustine
House. Photo submitted.
A seniors' residence in Delta is receiving visits from an unlikely troupe of performers. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Supreme Court Justice speaks on humility to lawyers' guild
Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown speaks to the annual banquet of the
Saint Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Ottawa. Deborah Gyapong (CCN).
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Russell Brown spoke to Christian lawyers Sept. 22 on the importance of humility to find the right balance of mercy and justice. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
Supreme Court Justice speaks on humility to lawyers' guild
Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown spoke to the annual banquet of the
Saint Thomas More Lawyers' Guild of Ottawa Sept. 22 on the role of
humility in finding the right balance between justice and mercy. Deborah
Gyapong (CCN)
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Russell Brown spoke to Christian lawyers Sept. 22 on the importance of humility to find the right balance of mercy and justice. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.
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