News/Canada
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Kamloops Bishop David Monroe is making a speedy recovery from a vicious assault when he was attacked Oct. 22 in the rectory of Sacred Heart Cathedral.The bishop suffered severe head and body injuries after he opened the door to the rectory to the man who attacked him.
The bishops鈥� sisters have been in Kamloops since hearing of the attack the next day.
Bessette clan united by saint in the family
By Carolyn Girard, Catholic Register Special
MONTREAL - It was a huge reunion for St. Brother Andr茅鱿鱼视频app family as more than 400 relatives came from near and far to attend a Mass and special gathering at St. Joseph鱿鱼视频app Oratory on Oct. 31 to mark the rise to sainthood of their humble brethren. It was another influx of people to an already busy shrine, which had received an estimated 9,000 pilgrims the previous day, as pilgrims were in town for an Oct. 30 celebratory Mass at Olympic Stadium in honour of St. Brother Andr茅 being elevated to sainthood Oct. 17.
Montreal honours St. Brother Andr茅
By Carolyn Girard, Catholic Register Special
MONTREAL - Montreal鱿鱼视频app Olympic Stadium came alive on Oct. 30 with nearly 50,000 scarf-waving pilgrims from across Canada and the United States attending a special Mass in celebration of Canada鱿鱼视频app newest saint.鈥淏rother Andr茅 was convinced that God could use him to accomplish wonderful things,鈥� said Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, in a homily mostly delivered in French. 鈥淔or many decades, people came to him as a worker of wonders. It never went to his head.鈥�
D & P 'disturbed' by defeat of responsible mining bill
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
OTTAWA - The defeat of a bill calling on Canadian mining companies to higher standards while operating abroad is disappointing to the Canadian bishops' development agency. The called it "disturbing" that the responsible mining bill was defeated in the House of Commons Oct. 27.
Canada's Immigration Minister seeks Church aid for Iraqi refugees
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney is holding the gate open for Iraqi refugees another two years, and asking churches again for help.By extending the program aimed at Iraqi refugees, Canada could welcome another 8,000 Iraqi refugees in 2012 and 2013. They would join approximately 12,000 Iraqis who will have come to Canada between 2009 and 2011.
Addressing the churches and other faith-based sponsorship agreement holders, Kenney told a Toronto news conference, 鈥淚鈥檓 asking you to get engaged. Do more. Raise more funds. Sponsor more refugees.鈥�
Canadian Bishops push Prime Minister for national anti-poverty strategy
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
In an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada鱿鱼视频app bishops are calling for the the federal government to develop a national anti-poverty strategy.
鈥淲e invite Canadians today to join us in calling on our federal government to emulate the efforts of many provincial governments and develop a national anti-poverty strategy,鈥� said the Oct. 15 letter from the .
鈥淭oday, most new wealth is going to those who already have more than enough. Inequality is increasing in Canada. The growing rich-poor gap is threatening the economic and political power of our middle class and our treasured participatory democracy.鈥�
鈥淲e invite Canadians today to join us in calling on our federal government to emulate the efforts of many provincial governments and develop a national anti-poverty strategy,鈥� said the Oct. 15 letter from the .鈥淭oday, most new wealth is going to those who already have more than enough. Inequality is increasing in Canada. The growing rich-poor gap is threatening the economic and political power of our middle class and our treasured participatory democracy.鈥�
Kamloops' Bishop Monroe remains in intensive care after assault
By Laureen McMahon, Canadian Catholic NewsKAMLOOPS - Kamloops Bishop David Monroe suffered severe head and body injuries when he was attacked Oct. 22 by a man he was comforting in the rectory of Sacred Heart Cathedral.
At press time, Monroe was in serious but stable condition at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
鈥淚t was the most brutal beating I have ever seen,鈥� said Kamloops Vicar General Msgr. Jerry Desmond, 聽who administered the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to the bishop two hours after he was admitted to hospital.
Police were called to Sacred Heart Cathedral when the bishop was found bleeding profusely in the rectory after admitting a man apparently unknown to him. At around 10 p.m., the alleged assailant encountered a parishioner outside the cathedral next to the rectory and requested a priest. Monroe admitted the man to the rectory by the front door and led him into the kitchen.
Kamloops bishop in intensive care after beating
By Paul Schratz, Canadian Catholic News
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Kamloops Bishop David Monroe, 69, has been removed from the Intensive Care Unit of Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital, where he continues to recover after being viciously beaten at Sacred Heart Cathedral Oct. 22.Fr. Vincent Asomugha said on Oct. 24 that Monroe remains in intensive care in a "step-down unit." There is no indication when the bishop will be leaving the hospital. Reports said he suffered severe trauma to the face and head and other cuts and injuries.
"He recognizes people and can say his name but that is about it," Msgr. Jerry Desmond told the Vancouver Sun. "It's that serious."
The attack in the cathedral rectory took place about 10:15 p.m., and Kamloops RCMP arrested a 30-year-old man several hours later. He was to appear in court Oct. 25 to face assault-related charges.
Catholic aid for Pakistan flood relief hits $6 million
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Canadian Catholics have raised more than $3 million to help flood victims in Pakistan while the has been chosen to help deliver $2 million in extra emergency flood relief.The $3 million raised for Development and Peace by Oct. 13 is eligible for matching funds from the federal government, transforming it into $6 million worth of aid.
Toronto parishes played a big part in the fund-raising drive, putting $463,000 in 鱿鱼视频app emergency relief account in time for federal matching grants. Money has continued to trickle in after the Oct. 13 deadline, and ShareLife reported $466,113 in funds for Pakistan as of Oct. 18.
D&P, life and family issues on tap at CCCB plenary
By Deborah Gyapong, Canadian Catholic News
OTTAWA - Life and family issues and the are among the hot issues Canada鱿鱼视频app bishops will tackle at their annual plenary Oct. 25-29.The secretary general of the expects a positive result and a 鈥渘ew climate of confidence鈥� once the bishops respond to the recommendations of two special ad hoc committees.
鈥淏oth committees have worked extremely well and they have excellent results to report,鈥� said Msgr. Pat Powers.
Australian Saint's roots run to Nova Scotia
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - When Blessed Mary MacKillop is canonized Oct. 17 by Pope Benedict XVI, her life and good works will not only be commemorated in her homeland of Australia. Canadian relatives will celebrate the occasion with joy and prayer for a rebellious saint with family ties to Nova Scotia. At the Holy Redeemer Convent in Sydney, N.S., a special Mass in honour of 鈥圓ustralia鱿鱼视频app first saint will be attended by her distant cousin, Sr. Margaret MacKillop, of the Congregation of Notre Dame. MacKillop, 96, says she鱿鱼视频app overjoyed to have a saint in the family.