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…
Passion Sunday 2023 Homily The week before last I was in Ottawa for a few days. My time there coincided with the visit from the President of the United States. He arrived in an immense motorcade as people looked on. I can tell you that the town was abuzz with…
In fidelity to the mandate received from Christ, the Catholic Church strives to promote universal fraternity and respect for the dignity of every human being. For this reason, in the course of history the Popes have condemned acts of violence, oppression, social injustice and slavery, including those committed against indigenous…
Growing up, there always seemed to be TV shows which centered on the story of a family. I remember watching shows like Family Ties, Family Matters, and Growing Pains, in which we laughed (and cried) at the ups and downs of family life. In shows that featured broken families (Full…