St. Mark’s College and the Center of Christian Engagement hosted Canada’s first international conference about Pope Francis. Dr. Nicholas Olkovich opens the third keynote speech by Dr. Catherine Clifford. (Nicholas Elbers photos)

Tough questions and convivial spirits: exploring the Francis legacy

A forum on Pope Francis’ papacy from a Canadian context was alive with dialogue and tough questions while also maintaining a celebratory mood as speakers from around the world gathered at St. Mark’s College to examine the significance of Francis’ pontificate.  About 40 speakers took part in Pope Francis and the Future of the Church:...

Hundreds of women gathered for women’s retreat at RockRidge Canyon where they heard from speakers Rachel Herbeck, Mary Lenaburg, Ali Hoffman, and Heather Khym. (Arleen D Souza photos)

Hundreds hear miracles of love at women’s retreat

It was love for the daughter who died in her arms that taught Mary Lenaburg about the love of God and also taught her how to love. Speaking to about 300 women at Life Restoration women’s retreat at RockRidge Canyon in Princeton, Lenaburg described the two miscarriages she and her husband experienced as well as...

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Carpenter has a heart for art

More than 30 years ago, Lloyd Sweet entered a confessional after being away from his faith for decades. To this day, he remembers the profound relief he felt when the priest hearing his confession simply responded, “Welcome home.” That compassion and the wiping away of a lifetime of sins moved Sweet to express his appreciation...

King Charles III sits on the throne after being crowned with St. Edward’s Crown by Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury during his coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London. (OSV News photo/Aaron Chown, Reuters)

PM replaces Royal Crown crosses with maple leaves and snowflakes

The Canadian Royal Crown redesign was recommended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is based on the bejewelled St. Edward’s Crown used at King Charles’ May 6 coronation as well as the slightly different Tudor Crown symbol.

A protest against assisted suicide in Maryland in February. Canada’s bishops have written a letter to the Canadian government saying the killing of patients with mental-health challenges “reneges on the collective social responsibility to provide treatment, support, and hope.” (OSV News photo/Kevin J. Parks, Catholic Review)

Expanding MAiD for mental illness ends all hope: Canadian bishops

In the letter released May 9, the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says that by enabling or assisting in suicide for these patients it “reneges on our collective social responsibility to provide persons living with mental-health challenges with treatment, support and hope through therapeutic interventions.”

Michelle Lui with her daughter Avery, who spent the first two weeks of her life in hospital after being growth restricted in the womb. The Canadian Martyrs parishioner says the message behind her new book is that “babies all thrive in their own ways, and life is beautiful as it is.” (Contributed photo).

‘Life is beautiful as it is’: baby’s hospital stay inspires Richmond mom’s book celebrating life

Lui’s passion to write was inspired by her experiences with her daughter, Avery, who was growth restricted in the womb and spent the first two weeks of her life in the BC Women’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit.  Lui hopes the colourful, animated story will help people – young and old – appreciate the sanctity of life as well as the importance of not making comparisons between children. 

Women and families struggling with financial challenges because of pro-life choices they’ve made are receiving a helping hand from North Shore Pro-Life. The organization wants to expand its financial aid program, which offers $500 a month to help individuals with struggles as a result of choosing not to use abortion or euthanasia. (Adobe photos)

North Shore pro-life program helps with the challenges of choosing life

A North Shore Pro-Life financial aid program that helps mothers and families make difficult life-affirming decisions is approaching its first anniversary, with organizers saying they want to make it available to more people in need. The Life Affirmation Program helps lessen the financial burden faced by mothers and families who choose life, either for their children or elderly relatives at risk of euthanasia.

Players and supporters of the Simon Fraser University football team at an April 13 rally at the Vancouver Law Courts to save the SFU football program. (Contributed photo)

Loss of SFU football program hits Vancouver Catholic schools hard

By Nicholas Elbers The April 4 announcement by Simon Fraser University to discontinue its football program effective immediately has Catholic school students, parents, and coaches upset that the decision will limit playing opportunities that past students have had. Since 2019 dozens of athletes from Notre Dame, Vancouver College, and St. Thomas More high schools have...

Cardinals Jean-Claude Hollerich and Mario Grech present the changes to the Synod composition at the Holy See Press Office Wednesday. A synodal Church is an opportunity to repair damaged trust, says Barb Dowding, the Vancouver contributor to the final North America document for the 2021-to-2024 synod. (Vatican Media)

For Vancouver’s Synod representative, this is an opportunity to rebuild trust

Although the changes to the Synod of Bishops introduced Wednesday by Pope Francis to allow lay people, including women, to enjoy voting rights at the assembly are of interest to Dowding, she’s more passionate about the final document’s emphasis on baptismal calling and dignity in a more synodal Church as an opportunity to repair damaged trust.

Argentine theologian Emilce Cuda, known as “the woman who knows how to read Pope Francis,” will speak at next week’s St. Mark’s College conference on the Pope’s legacy. More than 45 scholars from around the world will take part. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Shedding light on a complex Pope: St. Mark’s conference examines Francis’ unique legacy

The first international forum to explore Pope Francis’ papacy in a Canadian context will be held in Vancouver next week, drawing more than 45 speakers from around the world.

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