News - November 2022 RSS Feed

All children should have the right to grow within their family, the right to study and also the right to education, says Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny. Talking about human rights for children is a Catholic response in a cruel world that sees more than 36 million children worldwide displaced from their home. Bethlehem’s Basilica of the Nativity dates to the fourth century. The Greeks, Armenians, and Latins (Roman Catholics) share the Basilica. Pope Francis during an interview with America magazine at the Vatican, talked about polarization in the church, the role of women, the ministry of bishops, and more.

Last month, 23 churches, alongside several local businesses and service groups, joined together for SOCKTOBER — a collection of socks for those in need within the Miramichi community and surpassed the goal. John Swales, a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a London, ON, priest doesn’t want Catholics to walk away from their Church over another round of abuse revelations emanating now from France. Moments of difficulty and desolation are opportunities for praying, drawing closer to Jesus and discerning the right path, Pope Francis said.

As Canada welcomes more immigration, there are concerns that the Church is not keeping up with the changing face of the people in the pews. Canada’s Ukrainian Catholic bishops are asking all Catholics for prayers, charitable giving and three days of fasting November 24 to 26 in solidarity with Ukrainians. As world leaders gathered at the U.N. climate conference to figure out how to deal with climate change, young climate activists found their voices through protests.

On November 6, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John joined nearly 30 young people from the Miramichi Region at the Middle Island Irish Historic Park in Miramichi for an afternoon of music, food, reflection, and fellowship. Father Robert “Bob” Bedard (1929-2011), a beloved advocate of the Canadian and global Catholic communities, is the subject of an upcoming documentary-drama from award-winning Catholic filmmaker Kevin Dunn. A society that does not give women the same rights and opportunities as men will become impoverished, Pope Francis said at the end of a four-day visit to Bahrain.

Pope Francis’ November prayer intentions are for children who suffer, that they be granted the security of family and opportunities for education. Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers are writing to the House of Commons committee on MAiD to warn against expansions of MAiD availability to marginalized and vulnerable Canadians including newborns deemed ‘unfit for life.’ Mother Teresa’s constant work for life with her Missionaries of Charity is documented in a Knights of Columbus-backed movie Mother Teresa: No Greater Love, with showings across Canada in November. Locally, Knights of Columbus councils continue to serve meals in support of community members. Parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish in Torbay, NL are working with the Saint John’s Archdiocese to raise $450,000 to save their church as a place of worship.