Features

Red tape cut on generic AIDS drugs

mikes@catholicregister.org (Michael Swan, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:38:15 -0500

{mosimage}Adding Canadian-made generic drugs to the mix of affordable HIV and AIDS treatments could be good news for Africa, but it��Ƶapp probably not enough to make a serious dent in the disease which kills more than two million people each year, says a Canadian Jesuit who works on AIDS in Africa.

“If Canadian sources are going to provide second-line generics at an affordable price — something few or no others are doing — it would be a reason for hope in Africa,” Jesuit Father Michael Czerny, executive director of the , told The Catholic Register in an e-mail, adding, however, that “Universal access to antiretrovirals (ARVs) is still a distant dream.”

Helping patients face a 'good death'

sheilad@catholicregister.org (Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:34:53 -0500

{mosimage}TORONTO - A 13-year-old girl is battling cancer, but after nine years of treatment, her doctor has run out of medication options to beat the illness and help her stay alive.

An 85-year old woman suffers internal bleeding after taking medication for a long-term skin condition and asks her doctor to stop treatment and “let her die.”

Venerable Mary Ward's path of sainthood

carolyng@catholicregister.org (Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:23:08 -0500

{mosimage}TORONTO - A congregation founded 400 years ago received a surprise ending last month to its year-long anniversary celebration.

On Dec. 19, Pope Benedict XVI recognized the “heroic virtues” of Sr. Mary Ward, the English founder of the — also known as the Loretto Sisters — declaring her “venerable.”

2009 In Review

crstaff@catholicregister.org (Catholic Register Staff) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:22:27 -0500

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A review of the past year from the pages of The Catholic Register.

Catholic groups make promise to sponsor world refugees

mikes@catholicregister.org (Michael Swan, The Catholic Register) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:13:28 -0500

{mosimage}At a retreat centre just east of Toronto, a promise has been made on behalf of Canadian Catholics to the 10.5 million refugees around the world. At the first ever National Catholic Conference on Refugee Sponsorship, Jan. 13-15, 80 representatives of dioceses from Prince George, B.C. to Cornerbrook, Nfld., promised that the world��Ƶapp refugees would no longer be just more misery on the evening news.

From now on, refugees will matter to Catholic parishes and religious orders, and Catholic communities will sponsor refugees in greater numbers.

Immigration and Muliculturalism Minister Jason Kenney has already taken Catholic refugee workers at their word, increasing the target for Iraqi refugees sponsored out of Damascus, Syria from 1,300 to 2,500 this year.

Bishop must mirror Jesus, says archbishop Collins

sheilad@catholicregister.org (Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:29:50 -0500

TORONTO - Toronto��Ƶapp Archbishop Thomas Collins says being a bishop means being a good spiritual father and shepherd of the community.

Collins is entering his third year as archbishop of Canada��Ƶapp largest archdiocese.

Ordinations bring change to managing of archdiocese

sheilad@catholicregister.org (Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:03:50 -0500

{mosimage}TORONTO - As the brotherhood of bishops for the archdiocese of Toronto grows, it will bring change to how the archdiocese is managed by its shepherds.

Before the ordinations on Jan. 12 and 13, respectively, of Bishop William McGrattan and Bishop Vincent Nguyen, Toronto��Ƶapp three auxiliary bishops looked after three distinct geographical regions of the widespread archdiocese comprising more than 220 parishes. Now that there are four auxiliaries, the pie has been divided into four regions with the creation of a new eastern region.

Bishop Nguyen's coat of arms

crstaff@catholicregister.org (Catholic Register Staff) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:01:43 -0500

{mosimage}The shield of Bishop Vincent Nguyen��Ƶapp coat of arms is on a standard bearing a cross with the five wounds of Christ.

The shield is divided into two main sections. The top section is based on the Book of Revelations 7:9, where the multitude of martyrs, with palm branches in their hands, stand before the throne of the Lamb. The drop of blood flanked by two palm branches has special family significance for Nguyen as his great-great-grandfather is one of the Vietnamese Martyrs.

Admiration for Bishop Nguyen crosses all borders

mikes@catholicregister.org (Michael Swan, The Catholic Register) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:00:19 -0500

{mosimage}TORONTO - Beginning about 5 p.m. Jan. 13 it was correct to address Fr. Vincent Nguyen as “your grace,” the customary address for bishops in the Catholic Church. But it is not incorrect to call the 43-year-old auxiliary bishop of Toronto “anh.”

In Vietnamese “anh” means “elder brother.” In any Vietnamese family the relationship of love, responsibility and authority between younger and elder siblings is never forgotten. In a family of faith, we are bound by the same obligations, said Nguyen.

Bishop McGrattan's coat of arms

crstaff@catholicregister.org (Catholic Register Staff) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:57:41 -0500

{mosimage}The field of the shield is divided into sections by a heraldic division called a saltire enhanced. This reflects the form of the traditional arms of the name McGrattan.

In the “X” is also seen the Greek letter Chi which is the first letter in the Greek for Christ.