Niagara board, King鱿鱼视频app sign partnership to enhance faith learning
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic RegisterThe Niagara Catholic District School Board and King鱿鱼视频app University College at the University of Western Ontario have signed a partnership agreement to promote the life-long process of Catholic education.
The partnership reflects the Niagara Catholic board鱿鱼视频app focus on 鈥渂uilding a strong Catholic identity and community to nurture the distinctiveness of Catholic education,鈥� said John Crocco, the NCDSB鱿鱼视频app director of education.
Crocco said the agreement will provide faith formation for the adult faith community at King鱿鱼视频app College and the Niagara Catholic board, including individuals at the diocesan level.
Latin America's indigenous demand voice in use of their lands
By Barbara J. Fraser, Catholic News ServiceLIMA, Peru - Most of the environmental battles Brother Paul McAuley fights seem endless, mainly conflicts between indigenous communities and loggers operating on their lands or oil companies that have spilled toxic substances into their waterways.
Sometimes, however, there's a victory. In mid-October, the Peruvian government overturned a law that would have allowed water from one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River to be diverted to irrigate export agriculture operations on Peru's desert coast, a measure critics called a political-patronage boondoggle.
EDMONTON - Caring for the remains of those who have died is a serious business.
Today, however, not everyone sees things that way.
The current trend to cremation, for example, often means that the remains of a person do not always end up in a cemetery. Some people choose to scatter the ashes of their loved ones.
TORONTO - The future of getting buried is all about choice, but the more choices you have to make the greater the need for planning.
鈥淧re-planning your estate and final burial options is important,鈥� said Amy Profenna of Catholic Cemeteries, Archdiocese of Toronto.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e taking a lot of important decisions out of an emotionally stressful time (for your family).鈥�
The majority of Catholic Cemeteries funerals are still caskets buried in the ground. This may sound straight-forward, but there are still choices to be made, said Profenna.
There are very significant questions that Catholics must ask themselves at various times in their lives. Decisions that need to be made with long-term consequences. Among these, when a loved one passes from this life, should a Catholic cemetery be contacted for a burial place?
What are the reasons that we choose one cemetery over another? What distinguishes Catholic cemeteries from the other cemeteries in our area?
How do I want my estate money distributed at my death? Pose the question to yourself when you鈥檙e eating alone or taking a relaxed coffee break. How much to family? How much to charity? Any bequests to friends?
This little exercise will get you thinking... and maybe get you past any reluctance you now have about doing an official will. It might also lead to a revision of a will you already have in place.
鈥淭hen He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them the authority over the unclean spirits to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness鈥�
- (Matthew 10:1)
TORONTO - Pastoral care for the sick and the dying is a very important mission in the spiritual life of the Catholic Church. And just as it is important to plan for our earthly comforts, each of us should have a plan that encompasses our spiritual needs.
At St. Michael鱿鱼视频app Hospital, as the priest-chaplain appointed by the archbishop, I work in the department of spiritual care (formerly known as the chaplaincy department) as part of a team consisting of several staff chaplains from different faith traditions. As the priest-chaplain I provide spiritual care specifically to the Roman Catholic members.
Facebook can鈥檛 replace a human face, but it can bring it closer.
ShareLife, the charitable fundraising arm of the archdiocese of Toronto, relies on human faces to get its message out and bring dollars in. But social media 鈥� including Facebook and Twitter 鈥� are bringing in more and more dollars and reaching out to more and more donors.
鈥淪hareLife began as a grassroots movement with people canvassing door-to-door,鈥� said ShareLife communications manager Bill Steinburg.
Maximizing impact of your contributions through insurance
By Quentin Schesnuik, Catholic Register SpecialFew people realize that insurance can be used to make a substantial gift to their parish or favourite archdiocesan charity at a relatively low monthly cost.
Depending on your age, the amount of the policy and your tax bracket, a gift of insurance could cost you less than a dollar a day after tax.
Joint accounts may seem like a good idea but they come with problems
By Rosanne Rocchi, Catholic Register SpecialOne of the most frequently encountered situations in estate litigation involves the improper use of joint accounts.
Joint accounts are a useful tool but they can also be abused. In fact, lawyers have seen a sharp increase in litigation and disputes arising from the use of jointly held property.
To illustrate, let us assume a fictional Mrs. Smith who has four children. She has left all her assets to be divided equally among them after providing for a number of charitable bequests to her favourite charities. Keep her in mind as you read.
Holding Property Jointly
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When making a donation to the Church in your will, remember that what you leave behind doesn鈥檛 necessarily have to be monetary.
Non-cash gifts, referred to as gifts in kind, can include stamps, coins, art, musical instruments, real estate, an old car, jewellery, books or computers, according to information published on the archdiocese of Toronto鱿鱼视频app development office web site.
These may be gifts used in day-to-day parish activity that enhance spiritual development or help the Catholic community.
You can鈥檛 take them with you, so why not donate organs
By Vanessa Santilli-Raimondo, The Catholic RegisterTORONTO - Organ donation is a very Catholic act because it lives the Gospel values, said Deacon Michael Hayes.
Hayes is a living example. He himself is an organ donor who has donated 70 per cent of both his liver and a kidney to help others survive.
鈥淲hen our earthly days are done, you can take nothing with you which you鈥檝e received, only which you鈥檝e given,鈥� said Hayes, quoting St. Francis of Assisi.
TORONTO - A new archdiocese of Toronto 鈥淧lanned Giving鈥� poster campaign is using the Apostle鱿鱼视频app Creed to inspire legacy gifts to the Catholic Church.
It has a twist however. Instead of just words, the campaign features a poster of children鱿鱼视频app drawings which brings the Creed to life.
The poster encourages parishioners to consider legacy gifts in the form of donations through bequests or donations through an insurance policy or family endowment.
A well thought out estate plan can also include gifts made during your lifetime. Gifts of securities have a special advantage in that if gifted directly to your parish or favourite registered charity of choice, you will not have to pay any capital gains tax. But more importantly, a gift of securities can be a wonderful way of making the special gift you always wanted to.
One such gift was made by Ms. Mary Louis, a faithful parishioner at St. Anselm鱿鱼视频app parish in Toronto. (Her name has been changed to respect her anonymity). For more than 40 years, Mary spent much of her life caring for others.