On November 30th, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. We read about St. Andrew in John 1: 35-41: The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The…
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, will be commemorated as Red Wednesday, an annual day of solidarity with and for persecuted Christians worldwide. This event, organized nationally and internationally by Aid to the Church in Need (a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church), invites Christians to pray and fast, learn and raise…
Homily [1Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44] On Friday, I held my first meeting of what we are calling the Archbishop’s Student Advisory Council. It is comprised of twenty grade eleven and twelve students from all ten school divisions operating in the Archdiocese. The encounter with these…
Archbishop Richard Smith has been appointed to the board of Catholic Near East Welfare Association, the papal organization that responds to the needs of the Eastern churches. “It’s really a way in which the Pope, through this organization, can express his closeness and solidarity with the Eastern churches in communion…
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors released its first Annual Report on Safeguarding Oct. 29. The launch of the Annual Report is both a milestone and a work-in-progress. It is the first step towards a process of data gathering and reporting within the Catholic Church, which began as…
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Sacrament of Confirmation – Mary Help of Christians (Chinese) Parish Homily [Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52] I notice a lot of cameras here today. That isn’t surprising, because this is a very important day in your lives, and…
The fourth week of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops has kicked off. As Cardinal Mario Grech recalled during the Eucharistic Celebration of the Holy Spirit, “we have reached the final stretch of the journey of our Synodal Assembly, which gathers the fruits of a long journey that…
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Mass for the Saint Luke Physicians Guild Homily [Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45] As you know, we recently launched our pastoral priorities for the Archdiocese. Focused upon formation in the faith, they will unfold under the patronage of the…
Homily [Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45] As I mentioned at the opening of mass, today we are marking Catholic Education Sunday throughout the province. It is a moment to thank God for the gift of our schools and pray for their strengthening. To lead us in a…
Chief Wilton (Willie) Littlechild, internationally known human rights lawyer and advocate for truth and reconciliation, is the first indigenous recipient of the Kevin Carr Christian Leadership Award from Newman Theological College. Chief Littlechild was born and raised on the Ermineskin Cree Nation. He is a residential school survivor, a former…