Is it authentic? Does it matter?

Seeking the exact spot Jesus turned water into wine

The Catholic Church in Cana, under the care of the Franciscans.
(Photo: Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

In Cana, a small town with billboards and storefronts proclaiming a holy man turned water into wine on this turf, a winding road leads to a Catholic Church claiming to stand on the site of the miracle.

The church is a hot spot for weddings and marriage vow renewals. When we arrived in the afternoon, a nun on the grounds said there had already been two ceremonies that morning; white flowers still hung on the ends of the pews.

It’s built on a synagogue dated to the 4th century, our guide explained. Taking a staircase below ground level, we saw stone jars like the ones that held water in Jesus’ time, and the synagogue’s foundations, littered with paper bills and written prayers.

Inside the Greek Orthodox Church in Cana. (Photo:
Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

But, a short walk further down the same narrow street leads to a beautiful Greek Orthodox Church also claiming to be on the original site of the gospel event.

It, too, displays stone jars, this time alongside wonderful frescoes and icons of saints and the miraculous event. If it lacks anything in ancient synagogue remains, it makes up for in sacred art.

So, which is right?

Our Jewish tour guide couldn’t guarantee it, but said it’s more likely that the Catholic Church is on the original site as it stands on the leftovers of a synagogue, where weddings likely took place.

I think the more important question is: does it matter? It’s Cana! Somewhere around here, Jesus was traveling to His inaugural miracle that would set the stage for future performances.

Might as well take a trip to the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches: see and be transformed by the merits of both.

Peace flows in the Jordan River

Looks deceive in the Holy Land

Pilgrims gather on both sides of the Jordan River Nov. 15.
(Photo: Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

Today, our tour guide Ben David Tzion voiced something that had been on my mind since I’d first laid eyes on Israel’s landscape.

“For us, every bush is a forest, every stream is a river, and every hill is a mountain,” he said.

That made a lot of sense. We’d scoped out the Mounts by the names of Olives, Nebo, and Moriah, but their height was nothing compared to Grouse, Whistler, and peaks I’m familiar with back home.

Now, we were on our way to see the Jordan River, and Ben David warned us it might be a disappointment. The muddy stream, about six metres wide, was surrounded by pesky flies and took a long drive in the desert to reach. Flowing directly on the border between Israel and Jordan, it was watched from either bank by groups of soldiers.

But it was also the destination of various pilgrim groups, come to immerse themselves in the same waters John baptized Jesus in. While no one could prove this was the exact spot, or even near it, the faithful on both sides of the border still entered the water and left it feeling some spiritual renewal.

A Catholic priest blessed his group near the water, pausing at each gesture for a photo. A Jordanian, trying to climb out of the river, fell back in for a second dose of holy water.

The seemingly insignificant stream was made precious because of its history. Because the Holy Trinity revealed itself at a unique event in this river, multitudes of people would flock to it despite its lowly appearance.

Many other holy sites in Israel are like this. The Via Dolorosa is a pathway tradition claims Jesus took on the way to the cross, but few stations are easy to find.

And what of the soldiers? Standing dressed in full gear with weapons I've seen in movies slung over their shoulders, they chatted with pilgrims, posed for photos, and joked between each other. Their presence here emanated ease and security, not anxiety.

There is peace at the river.

English-speaking pilgrims chat with an Israeli soldier on the river bank.
(Photo: Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

A message sent to typhoon victims

Manila cardinal reaches out to survivors saying "You are not alone"

People pray at the Quiapo Church in Manila where Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called for a day of silence and fasting for solidarity with those affected. Photo:Antonio Gonsalves/CNA.

Antonio Gonsalves of the Catholic News Agency writes a story about a Manila cardinal's reaction to the disaster of Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle called for a day of silence and fasting for their fellow brothers and sisters affected by the storm. His "Day of Lament and Hope" with the theme of "Solidarity in Prayer" is set to be held on Nov. 16.

Cardinal Tagle continued to stress solidarity as he insisted "We are one with our suffering brothers and sisters.”

In his message addressed to the priests, religious and laity in the archdiocese of Manila, he asked that the day be observed through penance, prayer and fasting, as a way to be united with those suffering in the storm’s aftermath.

The cardinal will lead a Prayer Service and Holy Hour at 8 p.m. at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish church, in Paco, Manila, which is temporarily serving as the official church of the Archdiocese of Manila. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception remains closed for restoration efforts that began last year.

The prayer service will be held for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms in recorded history, which struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, leaving destruction in its wake.

The full story is available at the CNA website.

Sounds of the Holy Land

Men play drums and saxophones at the coming-of-age festival in Jerusalem's Old City for a
13-year-old Jewish boy (right). (Photo: Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

Bold and joyous melodies bounced off Jerusalem walls as Jewish families entered the Holy City celebrating the bar mitzvahs of their 13-year-old sons, something our tri-lingual tour guide tells us is typical of Thursdays.

Our group of four journalists watched them play saxophones, clarinets, and drums as they danced deeper into the city, past security checkpoints far less nerve-wracking than those at airports, to the Western Wall. This, the holiest site for Jews, is the remaining structure of the wall surrounding the temple, the cracks of which are stuffed with countless prayers written on slips of paper.

The Israeli festivities were not the only sounds echoing through Jerusalem. The Muslim call to prayer, daily at 2:20 since we arrived, reverberates through the beige architecture.

Deep, solemn voices, accompanied by rams’ horns, call their members to look toward the Temple Mount, where the Dome of the Rock stands. Our guide calls it Muslim’s third holiest site, thanks to a legend involving Muhammad riding a horse into heaven from that place.

The golden dome of the Dome of the Rock, seen from a steep road on the
Mount of Olives. (Photo: Agnieszka Krawczynski / the B.C. Catholic)

That hilltop has other claims to fame, like the place Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac, and where the Jewish temple, including the Holy of Holies, stood until its destruction by the Romans in 70 AD.
 
Christian voices make their mark in a more soft-spoken way. We found the majority of them on the Via Dolorosa, the route Catholic tradition claims Jesus took on His way to the crucifixion. Groups from Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, and other countries often carried a large wooden cross to the 12 stations while they prayed the rosary aloud in their mother tongues.

Winding down narrow roads, they hoped to get a look into what life was like here 2,000 years ago, complete with its beggars, vendors, carts, stray cats, and locals.

More to come in upcoming posts.

Funds help centre serve the vulnerable

The Door is Open serves food to, on average, 400 people a day

Archbishop Durocher (left) of Gatineau with Bishop Monroe of Kamloops at the Archbishop's Dinner Oct. 30. Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic.

Near the close of this Year of Faith, 800 Catholics opened wide the doors to charity and fellowship during the second annual Archbishop's Dinner. Funds raised at this year's social event will support the Door is Open, a drop-in centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Report on theology society both 'encouraging, saddening'

A spiritual theology professor has said that an internal report acknowledging the Catholic Theological Society of America excludes the more orthodox and the more conservative thinkers is regrettable, yet an opportunity for change in the group. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Hockey is so beautifully Catholic

If there is one thing Alyssa Bormes thinks hockey can teach us it is how to be better Catholics. That thought came to Bormes, author of the new book The Catechism of Hockey, about five years ago while lying in bed awaiting the first of four shoulder surgeries. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Archdiocesan charisms to mingle at Surrey parish

Abbot John Braganza, OSB, of Westminster Abbey will give the keynote speech

A sign for the Sant'Egidio Community is seen as Pope Francis arrives for a Pentecost prayer vigil with members of Catholic lay movements in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 18. An estimated 200,000 people from 150 movements attended the vigil. CNS photo / Paul Haring.

Pope Francis commended about 200,000 members of Catholic lay movements at a gathering on the eve of Pentecost. The Vancouver archdiocese is now preparing a similar, albeit much smaller, assembly. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

The Triumph is so popular Cineplex shuts it down

A documentary about the Medjugorje apparitions of the Virgin Mary has been so popular that Cineplex has suspended all future Canadian showings amid reports it is negotiating a distribution deal that may cut out a Catholic non-profit organization that has spent thousands of dollars to promote the film. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Baptism is a 'bath of regeneration,' says Pope

During his general audience, Pope Francis devoted his reflections to the sacrament of baptism, stating that it opens the door to a journey of faith, and helps to sustain us along the way. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Mary of Nazareth to come to Surrey

'The most stunning portrayal of the Virgin Mary on film'

Movie nights can be fun for everyone, and a parish in Vancouver will be providing just that as it hosts a premiere. Holy Family Parish will be sponsoring the Vancouver-area premiere of Mary of Nazareth Nov. 16 at the Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey at 3 and 7 p.m. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Significant increase noted in U.S. seminary populations

The United States is experiencing an increase in seminarian numbers. This is a national trend: there are about 3,700 seminarians in Catholic seminaries across the U.S., a 13-per-cent increase in the past decade. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Quebec Charter of Values could face federal challenge: Minister Kenney

As the Parti Quebecois introduced its long awaited Charter of Quebec Values in Quebec's National Assembly Dec. 7, Canada's main political parties denounced the project. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

The B.C. Catholic is in Israel

A tourist group gathers on a mount overlooking Jerusalem Nov. 13. (Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic)

The B.C. Catholic's Agnieszka Krawczynski is in Israel this week, writing stories about the sites she visits and the Year of Faith events taking place here Nov. 17.

Stay tuned to this blog for more updates.

Loss motivates young pro-life campaign director

Vancouver's director moved to action after lamenting friend's decision to have an abortion

Carmela Cruz, campaign director for 40 Days for Life, arrives at the B.C. Women's Hospital and Heath Centre for a prayer vigil. "It doesn't matter how you pray. It's going for the same fight, and that's the end of abortion," she said. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic.

One of the youngest members of the 40 Days for Life Committee in Vancouver is also its campaign director. Carmela Cruz, 21, heads the local branch of the pro-life initiative. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

CDF bars participation in events assuming truth of Medjugorje

At the direction of the Vatican's head for doctrine, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S. has written a letter stating that Catholics "are not permitted" to participate in meetings which take for granted that the supposed Marian apparitions in Medjugorje are credible. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

NDP MPs launch national palliative care initiative

Two New Democratic Party MPs have launched initiatives to address the gaps in access to good palliative care, long-term care, and home care. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Catholic Church has legal status in the Republic of Chad

Holy See and Chad's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sign agreement

Msgr. Jude Thaddeus Okolo (kneeling), now archbishop and apostolic nuncio to Chad,
bids farewell to Pope Benedict XVI after a ceremony in Australia in 2008. (Photo: CNS)

Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, apostolic nuncio to Chad, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, minister of Foreign Affairs, signed an agreement Nov. 6 that recognizes the legal status of the Catholic Church in the Republic of Chad.

According to Zenit, nearly 10 per cent of citizens of the African country are Roman Catholic.

For more, read the full article here.

Vatican announces themes for World Youth Days

Pontiff encourages youth to put Beatitudes in action

Pope Francis (with mitre on) celebrates Mass for the inauguration of his Petrine ministry March 19.
(Alistair Burns / The B.C. Catholic.)

The Vatican has announced the themes for the next three World Youth Days. All are taken from the Beatitudes:

29th World Youth Day, 2014
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3)

30th World Youth Day, 2015
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Mt 5:8)

31st World Youth Day, 2016 (Krakow, Poland)
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Mt 5:7)

Victoria prelate will move east to Manitoba

Pope Francis appoints Bishop Richard Gagnon seventh archbishop of Winnipeg

Bishop Richard Gagnon

An era has come to an end for Catholics in Victoria as their bishop prepares for a new role on the prairies. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Charity is the 'greatest richness' of Church, says Pope

During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis reflected on the importance of participating in the Church's spiritual goods in order to grow closer to God as a community in charity. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Conservative Party resolutions please social conservatives

Resolutions against gendercide, euthanasia, and prostitution passed at the 2013 Conservative Party Convention have pleased social conservatives. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Bishop receives feedback on draft policy for Yukon schools

'Substantially the document is not going to change': Bishop Gordon

Bishop Gary Gordon of Whitehorse shares a laugh with a native woman during a Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Vancouver in September. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic.

The Diocese of Whitehorse has released a new draft policy on same-sex attraction for Catholic schools, titled "One Heart: Ministering by Love." For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Pope celebrates joy of life with families

Pope Francis met with families from around the world in a celebration of the joy of family life, telling them that the sacraments provide real grace to aid in the challenges everyone faces. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Fear, not celibacy, holds men back from priesthood, says Detroit vocations director

Fear, not the demands of celibacy, holds men back from becoming Catholic priests, the Detroit archdiocese's director of priestly vocations told a conference of vocations directors here Oct. 28. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Office of Life, Marriage, & Family to provide services in Surrey

Professional counselling provides religious point of view for individuals, couples, and families

Volunteer mental health workers from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru hold counseling sessions Aug. 25 in a makeshift office in a tent camp for people who lost their homes in the Aug. 15, 2007, earthquake in Pisco, Peru. Counselling in Surrey by the Office of Life, Marriage, and Family is going to be in a permanent building. CNS photo by Walter Hupiu.

The Office of Life, Marriage, and Family is expanding beyond the Vancouver area, taking its professional counselling services to Surrey to serve clients there and in nearby cities. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Poll finds voters split on 'gay marriage'

A new survey reports that U.S. voters are evenly split on "gay marriage," with opposition strongest among those who view marriage primarily as a religious institution. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Quebec legislature approves euthanasia Bill 52 in principle

The Quebec legislative assembly approved euthanasia Bill 52 "in principle" by an 84-26 vote Oct. 29, but euthanasia opponents see positive signs. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Faith-based podcast offers helpful advice to parents

Stay-at-home dad Rob Maxwell reveals the most important three 'F's: fatherhood, faith, and flailing

Stay-at-home dad Rob Maxwell, a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, holds two of his five children. Photo submitted to The B.C. Catholic.

Being a father is not easy, so a Burnaby father of five is trying to provide some guidance from a Catholic point of view. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Iranian Christians face lashings for drinking communion wine

Four Iranian Christians were sentenced last week to 80 lashes each for drinking communion wine during a communion service at a non-Catholic house church. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Archbishop Weisgerber urges Canadians to take aboriginal justice seriously

As Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber prepares to retire he remains concerned about justice for aboriginal peoples. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

R-rated movies lessen importance of religion

Baylor University study finds that certain films affect faith for youth

A University in Waco, Tex. conducted a study showing that watching R-rated movies cuts down on church attendance, and decreases importance of faith for young people. Photo: Baylor University website.

A recently conducted survey by Baylor University in Waco, Tex., shows that viewing R-rated movies  leads to decreased church attendance as well as lower influence of faith among young people.

The survey included over 2000 subjects with varying degrees of faith and took place over the years 2003-2008.

A doctoral candidate at the university, Phil Davignon, said that "watching R-rated movies also did not have any effect on their 'selective acceptance' of their faith -- that is, whether they thought it was all right to 'pick and choose' teachings without accepting the faith as a whole." 

The article also includes statistics from the study.

Only 13.2 percent who indicated that their faith is "extremely important" to them claimed that none of the movies they watch are R-rated, while nearly 21 percent of those whose faith was "extremely important" said that most movies they view are rated R. Of those whose faith was "very important," 31 percent claimed that most of the movies they view are rated R.

While those percentages are lower than those whose faith is "not at all important," it still represents a sizable percentage of the respondents whose faith is important to them, Davignon said.

"Watching R-rated movies is prevalent among religious and non-religious young people," he said. "Nearly everyone watches them."

The  full story is available on the Baylor University website. 

Pope: Guard against deceit of the devil

Pope Francis says we must always be on guard

Photo Credit: Vatican Radio

In October, the Pope gave a homily at a Mass in Casa Santa Marta. He underlines that Christians cannot follow the victory of Jesus over evil "halfway," nor confuse or relativize truth in the battle against the devil.

Jesus casts out demons, and then someone offers explanations "to diminish the power of the Lord," he said. The Pope focused his homily on the day's Gospel and immediately underlined that there is always the temptation to want to diminish the figure of Jesus, as if he were "a healer at most" and so as not to take him "so seriously". It is an attitude, he observed, that has "reached our present day."

"There are some priests who, when they read this Gospel passage, this and others, say: 'But, Jesus healed a person with a mental illness'. They do not read this, no? It is true that at the time, they could confuse epilepsy with demonic possession; but it is also true that there was the devil! And we do not have the right to simplify the matter, as if to say: 'All of these (people) were not possessed; they were mentally ill'. No! The presence of the devil is on the first page of the Bible, and the Bible ends as well with the presence of the devil, with the victory of God over the devil."

For this reason, he warned, "we should not be naive". The Pope observed that the Lord gave us certain criteria to "discern" the presence of evil and to follow "the Christian way when there are temptations". And, he cautioned, this is not "exaggerating".

For full homily, see the Vatican Radio website.

NSA accused of pre-conclave espionage

The National Security Agency faces claims of spying at Vatican conclave

Pope Francis delivering a speech to the world's cardinals. The NSA is being accused of spying on the Pope before and during the conclave earlier this year. Photo: The Telegraph website.

Nick Squires writes an article for The Telegraph regarding the accusations being faced by the American National Security Agency.

An Italian weekly news magazine, Panorama, claims that the NSA monitored numerous phone calls made to and from the residence in Rome of the then Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio during the Vatican conclave last spring.

The information was provided by Cryptome, a website that gathers intelligence on surveillance and national security.

 
Archbishop Bergoglio was of interest to U.S. diplomats and intelligence agencies as far back as 2005, when he was mentioned as a possible candidate for the papacy after the death of John Paul II.

According to U.S. State Department cables released by WikiLeaks in March this year, the U.S. embassy to the Holy See drew up a profile of him, describing him as a “wise pastor” who had been praised for his “humility."

Brent Hardt, the embassy’s charge d’affaires, discussed the future Pope as one of 16 possible candidates, noting that he “has been reluctant to accept honours or hold high office and commutes to work on a bus.”

The full story is available on The Telegraph website.

Vancouver welcomes its first native priest

Father Garry LaBoucane to serve two parishes in the Downtown Eastside

Native parishioners beat drums and sing around Father Garry LaBoucane, OMI, during his installation Mass Oct. 20. "Aboriginal people feel comfortable around him," commented assistant pastor Father Aloys Luken, OMI. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic.

Sacred Heart Church and St. Paul's Parish in Vancouver have welcomed this archdiocese's first native priest. Father Garry LaBoucane, OMI, will lead the parishes that serve the Downtown Eastside: Sacred Heart as pastor; St. Paul's as administrator. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


Other stories recently posted to the site include:

Alabama joins EWTN in lawsuit against HHS mandate

EWTN Global Catholic Network has been joined by the state of Alabama in a new lawsuit against the Obama administration's contraception and sterilization mandate. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

Poll shows Bill 52 lacks public support

As the Quebec government examines euthanasia Bill 52, a new poll shows most Quebeckers do not favour its provisions for so-called "medical aid in dying." For
full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

See "Francis: The Pope from the New World"

An in-depth documentary film on the life of Pope Francis

Photo Credit: Knights of Columbus.

"Francis: The Pope from the New World" will be shown on the CNBC network on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern / 3:00 p.m. Pacific.

The documentary unveils the personality, passion and faith of the new Pope. Shot on location in Buenos Aires, and featuring interviews with close friends, collaborators, and his official biographer - this film traces the rise of Jorge Mario Bergolio.

The film is also being finalized for DVD and should be available on Amazon.com and other outlets by Christmas.

The Spanish-language version of "Francis: The Pope from the New World" will be ready soon.



Information on future broadcasts of the documentary will be available at their website.