News/Toronto-GTA
{mosimage}TORONTO - As 10,000 Tamils gathered on University Avenue to mourn their unknown dead with a candlelit vigil, the Tamil Catholic Community of Toronto swung into action to launch a campaign to raise $100,000 to help hundreds of thousands of internally displaced refugees scattered in government-run "welfare centres. "At the same time the Canadian Jesuits International have launched their own campaign to raise $100,000 for Tamil refugees. And the Canadian Council of Churches is demanding that Canada pressure Sri Lanka to allow open and free access to refugee camps for aid workers and the press.
Jude Aloysius of the Tamil Catholic Community believes all kinds of Canadians will get behind efforts to help refugees in Sri Lanka.
"This is outside the political forum," Aloysius said. "Canadians are very much in tune and they are very passionate about helping people who are in need."
Jude Aloysius of the Tamil Catholic Community believes all kinds of Canadians will get behind efforts to help refugees in Sri Lanka.
"This is outside the political forum," Aloysius said. "Canadians are very much in tune and they are very passionate about helping people who are in need."
Dead Sea Scrolls help understand biblical texts
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Not long after the time of Christ, a mysterious, ancient community carefully placed rolled manuscripts in clay jars and stored them in caves that remained forgotten in the desert for two millennia.
It is widely believed the scrolls were written by a fringe religious group called Essenes, but there is no proof of that or, indeed, irrefutable proof that the Essenes actually existed.
It is widely believed the scrolls were written by a fringe religious group called Essenes, but there is no proof of that or, indeed, irrefutable proof that the Essenes actually existed.
Toronto's O鈥機onnor House saved, for now
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - voted unanimously against an application by the Toronto District Catholic School Board to demolish the historic home of the late Senator Frank O鈥機onnor.
The May 20 decision came as a relief to community members who have been raising money to restore the home, but as a setback to the board which is responsible for the old farm house.
The May 20 decision came as a relief to community members who have been raising money to restore the home, but as a setback to the board which is responsible for the old farm house.
Tridentine priests seek Toronto parish
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - A priestly fraternity dedicated to preservation of the pre-Vatican II Tridentine Mass is seeking permission to set up a parish in Toronto.
has proposed to Archbishop Thomas Collins that the order would create a parish served by two priests offering all the sacraments according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. The Toronto personal parish would also serve as a base for the fraternity鱿鱼视频app work in the dioceses of St. Catharines and London.
has proposed to Archbishop Thomas Collins that the order would create a parish served by two priests offering all the sacraments according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. The Toronto personal parish would also serve as a base for the fraternity鱿鱼视频app work in the dioceses of St. Catharines and London.
Catholic share the faith at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Nearly a thousand Catholics flooded Toronto's Dundas Square on May 17, rosaries in hand, heads bowed or arms raised for their most public event since World Youth Day 2002.
"It's hard to put into words," said Paul Klotz, a parishioner of St. Michael's Cathedral. "(Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins) showed us that in praying a little and reading a little you can learn so much more than by just reading the Bible (by itself)."
"It's hard to put into words," said Paul Klotz, a parishioner of St. Michael's Cathedral. "(Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins) showed us that in praying a little and reading a little you can learn so much more than by just reading the Bible (by itself)."
Food bank pleads for Toronto churches' support
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - There happens to be a recession going on and the Toronto Area Interfaith Council thinks the city鱿鱼视频app churches, mosques, synagogues and temples ought to be doing something about it.
At the third annual TAIC breakfast with Toronto鱿鱼视频app mayor, the interfaith council unveiled a program to encourage faith communities to collect food for food banks and to open pathways to employment, social services and housing through the 211 system.
At the third annual TAIC breakfast with Toronto鱿鱼视频app mayor, the interfaith council unveiled a program to encourage faith communities to collect food for food banks and to open pathways to employment, social services and housing through the 211 system.
ShareLife well on its way to meet goal
By Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - After the second ShareLife Sunday May 2-3, the charitable fundraising arm of the Toronto archdiocese is halfway through its parish campaign and more than halfway to reaching its goal of $12 million.
So far, more than $7.1 million has been raised by Toronto parishes, said Arthur Peters, ShareLife鱿鱼视频app executive director. He hopes to raise the remaining $5 million to effectively support those in need through its 33 charitable agencies.
So far, more than $7.1 million has been raised by Toronto parishes, said Arthur Peters, ShareLife鱿鱼视频app executive director. He hopes to raise the remaining $5 million to effectively support those in need through its 33 charitable agencies.
Toronto Tamils seek stronger church voice in condemning Sri Lankan conflict
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
TORONTO - Toronto鱿鱼视频app large Tamil Catholic community is grateful for the $600,000 the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace has sent to Caritas Sri Lanka, but wants the church in Canada to do more.
The Jaffna-based arm of Caritas, the international Catholic relief organization, will use the Development and Peace money to aid at least 170,000 internally displaced refugees in government-run camps. Many Toronto Tamils have family trapped in the camps in wartorn Sri Lanka and are asking for more spiritual and material solidarity from the church in Canada.
The Jaffna-based arm of Caritas, the international Catholic relief organization, will use the Development and Peace money to aid at least 170,000 internally displaced refugees in government-run camps. Many Toronto Tamils have family trapped in the camps in wartorn Sri Lanka and are asking for more spiritual and material solidarity from the church in Canada.
Toronto ordains seven new priests
By Valeria French, Youth Speak NewsTORONTO - Friends and family packed St. Michael鱿鱼视频app Cathedral May 9 to support, pray for and celebrate with the seven men ordained to the priesthood to serve the archdiocese of Toronto.
鈥淎ll together we as a people of God, we pray to all the angels and saints that God鱿鱼视频app blessings be upon them, that they be good and faithful priests,鈥� Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins said during his homily. 鈥淚t is a moment of total surrender to the Lord and that is what the priesthood is meant to be. It is to say 鈥榟ere I am Lord, I鈥檝e come to do your will.鈥� 鈥�
RCIA grads take leap of faith
By Sheila Dabu Nonato, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Instead of putting her faith in the markets, newly baptized Catholic Julia Oung says she鱿鱼视频app rediscovered her faith in God.
Losing all of her life savings last year led to a dark period in Oung鱿鱼视频app life. The Toronto accountant didn鈥檛 anticipate the economic downturn that would wipe out her pension.
But amid her worries and tears, Oung says she was drawn to the Catholic Church.
Losing all of her life savings last year led to a dark period in Oung鱿鱼视频app life. The Toronto accountant didn鈥檛 anticipate the economic downturn that would wipe out her pension.
But amid her worries and tears, Oung says she was drawn to the Catholic Church.
Religion has a role in secular society
By Michael Swan, The Catholic Register
{mosimage}TORONTO - Religions and religious people need to claim their right to contribute to society in both words and actions, Archbishop Thomas Collins told an audience of Jews and Christians gathered for the 23rd annual Neighbourhood Interfaith Group dinner April 23.
In the north Toronto synagogue of the Adath Israel Congregation, Collins urged Christians and Jews not to accept a marginal role in secular society.
鈥淲e are citizens and have more than earned our right to contribute to the democratic conversation,鈥� the Toronto archbishop said.
In the north Toronto synagogue of the Adath Israel Congregation, Collins urged Christians and Jews not to accept a marginal role in secular society.
鈥淲e are citizens and have more than earned our right to contribute to the democratic conversation,鈥� the Toronto archbishop said.