Rendering of the future St. Vincent’s Heather long-term care home. The Archdiocese of Vancouver and Providence Health Care are contributing the land for the 240-bed residence on the former St. Vincent’s Hospital site. (Providence Health Care photo)
By Paul Schratz When St. Vincent’s Hospital was shuttered in 2004, Catholic health officials promised it wasn’t the end of Catholic health care on the site. On Wednesday that vision became a reality with the long-awaited news that a 13-storey long-term seniors residence will be built on the former hospital property. The new St. Vincent’s...
Rendering of the future Zappone Manor at 5956 176A St. in Cloverdale, one of two Catholic-supported housing projects announced last week. The Archdiocese of Vancouver and Providence Health Care are also contributing land for the new St. Vincent’s Heather long-term care home. (Columbus Homes photo)
By Nicholas Elders The Lower Mainland’s critical housing shortage received a Catholic infusion last week with the Knights of Columbus, Providence Health Care, and the Archdiocese of Vancouver contributing land and money to senior housing projects that will deliver more than 300 beds. In their first new senior housing project in decades, the Knights announced...
Pope Francis visits the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica and prayed for the souls of the deceased popes who are buried there on All Souls’ Day, November 2. VATICAN MEDIA
By Nicholas Elders A keen pastoral ingenuity, mixed with a renewed emphasis on our responsibilities to the poor and marginalized, are the hallmarks of Pope Francis’ papacy, Archbishop J. Michael Miller says. In an interview with The B.C. Catholic to discuss Francis’ 10 years as Pope, Archbishop Miller said Francis’ chief contribution to the Church...
Lisa Rumpel’s book Arise Shine & Live: On Resilience, Faith, and Bipolar Disorder is a collection of reflections about living life with mental illness and the healing that is possible with time and faith. (Submitted photos)
By Nicholas Elbers Finishing a book is a major milestone for any writer, let alone someone who has struggled with mental illness throughout her life. B.C. Catholic columnist Lisa Rumpel has done just that. Drawing from her five years of B.C. Catholic columns, Rumpel’s book Arise Shine & Live: On Resilience, Faith, and Bipolar Disorder is a...
Father Don Larson sprinkles holy water on a furry friend at a blessing of the pets hosted by the Pawsome Helpers Club at Queen of All Saints Elementary in Coquitlam. (Gema Chavez photos)
By Nicholas Elbers When Queen of All Saints teacher Gema Chavez was looking for ways to help students learn about care for God’s creation, the idea of a pet-friendly animal welfare club seemed a natural fit. Now the Coquitlam school’s Pawsome SPCA Helpers Club is not only a hit with the students, it’s been featured...
Kamloops Bishop Joseph Nguyen meeting with Pope Francis in 2016. British Columbia bishops paid tribute to Francis on the 10th anniversary of his pontificate. (Diocese of Kamloops file photo)
By Nicholas Elbers On the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate, bishops from across B.C. and Canada offered reflections on the Pope’s significance and the gifts he has given to the Church. Victoria Bishop Gary Gordon touched on a commonly recognized theme, saying he appreciates Pope Francis’ concern for the poor and marginalized. “I have...
Sister Denece Billesberger, Directress of Novices for the Sisters of the Child Jesus, with Sister Heather Charest, the order’s newest novice. It was during a mission trip to Haiti that her life changed, prompting her to ask herself, “What am I doing?” She will profess her vows with the Sisters of the Child Jesus later this month. (Terry O’Neill photos)
By Terry O’Neill Listen to that voice within. Listen to the voice of God calling you. This is a usual part of the advice given to men and women seeking guidance about a religious vocation. For many on the path of discernment, it’s difficult to hear that voice – to hear it amid the distracting...
By Paul Schratz If the Church in North America is a canvas, Barb Dowding is one of the artists helping to paint it, and that includes capturing all its subtleties, from the abstract to the realist. The special assistant to Archbishop Miller was part of an 18-person synod writing team of individuals appointed by the...
Holy Cross Vice Principal Jeff Cabralda leads student musicians providing music for the Catholic Educators’ Conference and Mass. (Nicholas Elbers photos)
By Nicholas Elbers Catholic School teachers attending the annual Catholic Educators Conference were called to pursue truth first in their work towards reconciliation with Indigenous people as a potentially painful and necessary part of the healing process. “My dream is that our speakers at this year’s conference will further help to inform and transform our...
A monk walks down a hallway toward Father Dunstan Massey’s The Temptation of St. Benedict. The work was the first of Father Massey’s frescos completed in 1974. (Nicholas Elbers photos)
By Nicholas Elbers It’s hard to imagine Westminster Abbey without Father Dunstan Massey’s artistic fingerprints brushed and carved over and into seemingly every surface. Throughout the corridors, halls, and church of the Mission abbey, paintings and carvings bear the distinctive style of the Benedictine monk and prolific artist who passed away Dec. 26 at the...
