October 18, 2021 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On Sunday, October 10th, Pope Francis celebrated Mass in St Peter’s Basilica for the solemn opening of the Synod of Bishops 2023, and thus initiated a process of communal discernment throughout the entire Church in preparation for that event. In a…
Twenty-Nineth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B Opening of the Archdiocesan Phase of the Synodal Process Homily [Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45] If you have been following Catholic news sources, you will know that last Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the Holy Father formally…
Here are the latest responses from Window readers. This page is updated regularly. Responses for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept 29, 2021 Window responses) From Christine Foisy-Erickson: I really appreciated receiving the Windows message with all of the National Day of T and R updates and links. I…
Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action # 59 asks church groups party to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, as well as the history and legacy of residential schools. Realizing the…
Mass for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Homily [Isaiah 43:5-7; Psalm 51; Ephesians 2:13-22; Luke 15:11-32] Last week, at the end of their plenary meeting, the Bishops of Canada issued a statement of apology to the Indigenous Peoples of this land. Now, my Indigenous friends have taught me…
Indigenous leaders in the Edmonton area gave powerful testimony as Canada marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Chief Arthur Rain of the Paul First Nation and Chief Tony Alexis and former Chief Rod Alexis from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation participated in a Sept. 25 ceremony at…
Canada’s Catholic bishops are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families and communities. With a target of $30 million, this financial commitment will include initiatives in every region of the country. The time period is up to five years.…
Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith has addressed lingering questions on the issues of both religious exemptions and conscience rights in light of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. In a Sept. 24 letter to the faithful, Archbishop Smith writes that some people have asked their priests to be exempted from mandatory vaccination on the…
There’s a story told of a mother, who one afternoon, made a visit to her parish Church with her young son. As they were in the Church, the sun was shining through the stained-glass windows just right so the Church was aglow with vivid colors all around. The boy was…
A 25-year-old Edmonton man has been sentenced for his role in disrupting Mass at Santa Maria Goretti church and briefly posting an obscenity-laden video online. On July 21, the suspect plead guilty to a charge of mischief to religious property – a hate crime under the Criminal Code – and…