������Ƶapp

TORONTO - It������Ƶapp been nine years since Toronto������Ƶapp Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School community lost Meagan Bebenek.

But the five-year-old junior kindergarten student has left a lasting legacy which was commemorated in the April 27 “,” an annual event started after Meagan������Ƶapp death from brain cancer.

TORONTO - From a clinical psychologist who treats and researches sex abusers to a social worker who has spent 22 years protecting children in the child welfare system, the archdiocese of Toronto now has a team ready to thoroughly review its policies in cases of priestly sex abuse.

“I’ve asked people to come to the first meeting (during the second week of May) with their suggestions and difficulties and so on,” said archdiocese of Toronto judicial vicar Fr. Brian Clough. “They’re bringing different backgrounds and different viewpoints and we’re going to have to listen.”

The story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest martyred in a Nazi death camp, is being stamped on the memories of more than 100 students and their teachers from the school named after him through hands-on visits to Poland, New York City and contact with Holocaust survivors.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Secondary School in Aurora, Ont., opened its doors to students in September, and celebrated its official grand opening with special guests and a solemn blessing by Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Nguyen April 28.

TORONTO - For the past 15 years, Sr. June Dwyer, 72, has been helping women escape the cycle of addiction and violence at Nazareth House, a transitional home in downtown Toronto for women and their newborns.

But the Sister of St. Joseph couldn’t believe her ears when she learned she would receive the YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction Award for Health and Healing on May 12 for doing her job.

TORONTO - Canada������Ƶapp Maltese communities will roll out the red carpet this month for a special visit by Maltese Archbishop Paul Cremona, O.P.

Cremona was to first visit Windsor, London and Michigan from April 30-May 3 before spending May 7-14 in Toronto, home to the largest Maltese-Canadian population.

“This is an opportunity for the community to have their faith renewed and confirmed by his presence,” said Fr. Carmelo Borg, MSSP, pastor at Toronto������Ƶapp only Maltese parish, St. Paul the Apostle Church.

TORONTO - The archdiocese of Toronto is giving 20-per-cent less to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace this year because ShareLife fell short of its fundraising goal last year and the recession has hit local Catholic agencies with increased demand for services.

The ShareLife advisory board cut its allocation to Development and Peace to $900,000 this year, a $225,000 reduction from last year������Ƶapp contribution of $1.125 million.

TORONTO - More than $233,000 was raised by the Caritas Project������Ƶapp 16th annual telethon on April 25.

Although the goal of $250,000 was not attained, Caritas’ associate executive director Ramin Deravian said Caritas hopes to hits its target as it is still accepting donations until the end of April.

The telethon was broadcast on CHIN TV and the Telelatino Network. It kicked off with a pre-taped message from Toronto������Ƶapp Archbishop Thomas Collins. The broadcast also featured words of support from Peterborough Bishop Nicola de Angelis.

TORONTO - Report On Business declares the recession is over. Down at the food bank it������Ƶapp just getting up a head of steam.

“There are more people going to food banks and less food being donated, both by individuals as well as our corporate partners,” Ontario Association of Food Banks executive director Adam Spence told The Catholic Register. “Those two items come together to make it a very challenging time for food banks.”

TORONTO - In the wake of the abuse scandal rocking the worldwide Church, Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins will convene a committee of experts to examine and update the archdiocese������Ƶapp  protocols for dealing with priestly misconduct.

Collins made the announcement in a pastoral letter read at Masses in parishes throughout the archdiocese the weekend of April 17-18.

TORONTO - Some supporters of Nathan Phillips Square������Ƶapp Peace Garden say moving one of Toronto������Ƶapp monuments to peace away from the centre of the square as part of a facelift is like pushing to the side the message of nuclear disarmament.

The move is part of the City of Toronto������Ƶapp $42.7-million, two-year Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization Plan.

Order of Canada recipient Setsuko Thurlow, who survived the 1945 Hiroshima nuclear bombing as a 13-year-old, says she������Ƶapp “disappointed” about the relocation.