“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” One of the most heartbreaking moments In C.S. Lewis’ classic novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe occurs when Edmund Pevensie lies about what he and his younger sister, Lucy, have experienced in Narnia. It’s a difficult scene that Lewis…
When religion makes news headlines, it is often to discuss discrimination, violence, or scandal. However, hundreds of people of different faiths came together April 16 to discuss religious freedom and the challenges to it, to pledge support for Edmonton’s homeless, and to share together the joy of believing. Archbishop Richard…
Father Susai Jesu asks us to join in prayer for greater understanding and reconciliation flowing out of dialogue, listening from the heart, understanding, forgiveness and justice. Father Susai gave the Invocation, and the Prayer for Aboriginal Peoples at the 25th Edmonton Prayer Breakfast on April 19. This non-political event brings…
For the Symposium on Religious Freedom Religion for the Common Good Introductory Remarks Allow me to begin with a word of thanks. I am grateful not only for the invitation to spend time with you all in discussion of this very important topic of freedom of religion and its importance…
\”You shall not steal.\” Ocean’s Eleven tells the story of a gang of thieves led by George Clooney who get together to rob a Las Vegas casino of $160 million. It’s a memorable movie thanks to the ensemble cast, various plot twists, and the fact that you quickly find yourself…
Have you ever been confused about what actually happens in the Sacrament of Confirmation? On today’s episode of Upfront with the Archbishop, Archbishop Smith shares about confirmation, “the sacrament in search of a theology,” Confirmation as the \”missionary sacrament,\” the traditional order for receiving the Sacraments of initiation and what…
The creation stories from the book of Genesis tell us a lot about what it means to be human. We read in Genesis 1:26-27 that human beings are created in the image of God. We are the only being that God made in His image, and as such we are the…
After a three-year hiatus, the annual Downtown Outdoor Way of the Cross has returned to Edmonton. On April 7, Good Friday, between 100-150 people gathered in downtown Edmonton to participate in this annual tradition of carrying a wooden Cross throughout downtown Edmonton as the traditional devotion of the Way of…
On April 6, Archbishop Richard Smith celebrated the Mass of the Lord\’s Supper at St. Joseph\’s Cathedral Basilica. This liturgy commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and the beginning of the Easter Triduum. As part of this Mass, the congregation witnesses the washing of feet, where the main celebrant washes…
The Chrism Mass is an annual liturgy celebrated in the Church where the three anointing oils are consecrated by the Archbishop: The oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the oil of chrism. “Chrism” comes from the Greek word which means “anointing” or “to be set apart” and…