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…
The Easter Vigil Mass is the longest Mass of the year: there is a bonfire, the Paschal candle, the Exultant, the dramatic contrast of candles in a dark church, nine different readings, and much more. Join us for a podcast discussion with Archbishop Smith as he shares about the ancient…
“And returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and…
At first glance, the Fifth Commandment seems like the simplest commandment… don’t kill anybody or act as an accomplice to a murder. This article should be as simple as reading that “God alone is Lord over life and death. Except in the case of legitimate self defence of oneself or…