Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Bishop's Back To School Message

Here is acopy of Bishop Ronald Fabbro's message to students and teachers in our Catholic Schools. By the way he is standing in first year philosophy classroom. I getting kinda existential...

Bishop's Back to School Message

Disney Genetics


Disney Lab Unveils Its Latest Line Of Genetically Engineered Child Stars

What Canadians Need to Consider Before Voting

Bishops Offer Guide on Key Issues

OTTAWA, Ontario, SEPT. 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The defense of human life from conception until natural death and finding peace in Afghanistan are among the issues Canadian bishops are urging Catholics to take into account when voting in October.

The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the Canadian bishops' conference released a four-page guide offering principles for Catholics to consider when they vote for Members of Parliament next month.

The bishops urge Catholics to "vote with discernment," to be better informed on the issues, and to make their voices heard by the candidates.

"[A] well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals," they affirmed.

The guide highlights four important issues to be kept in mind by Canadian voters: in the first place, respect for life and persons' dignity, as well as the preferential option for the poor.

The text also includes reflections on the war in Afghanistan, as Canada has troops there. Finally, the bishops urge consideration of the need for greater concern regarding the environment.

Speaking out

On another front, Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, is also speaking out regarding human dignity. He announced that he will return the Medal of the Order of Canada, which he received from the Canadian Parliament in 1996, as a sign of protest that the same medal was granted this year to abortionist Dr. Henry Morgentaler.

"To date, I thought the Order of Canada was granted to persons whose works had an ample consensus," the cardinal to explained Vatican Radio.

Cardinal Turcotte added that with this gesture, he had hoped the Canadian government would review its decision to recognize Morgentaler.

"This has not happened," the cardinal lamented, "and, given that my silence could be misinterpreted, my conscience obliges me to reaffirm my convictions on respect for life from the moment of conception."

Cardinal Turcotte is the third person to return the award as a sign of protest. Father Lucine Larre and Gilbert Finn, former lieutenant-governor of New Brunswick, took the same measure.

Although the cardinal said that his gesture must not be interpreted in an electoral key, he does hope that it "will help Catholics understand the importance of the defense of life."

Morgentaler, a Jew who survived the Holocaust and was a renown pro-abortion doctor of the 70s, succeeded in 1988 at having the Supreme Court abolish all legal limitations to abortion in the country.

What Canadians need to consider before voting - Bishops' Document

Monday, 15 September 2008

Front Fell Off



The election is upon us and this classic clip helps me cut through the rhetoric.

Thursday, 11 September 2008

Partical Physics Rap

WARNING THIS RAP SONG IS ONLY FOR GEEKS!!!


Strange that as a person of faith Quatum Physics really interest me. Here is a fun rap song from the thousand of scientist at CERN.

John Cleese makes it clear


Leave it to John Cleese to rebut a reductionistic theory for material determinism.

Strange that this world view drives so many people.

Saturday, 6 September 2008

Student Blessing


Student Blessing

Jesus,
fill our children with your peace,
teach our children how to pray,
show our children how to love.

—Prayer Services for Parishes

Bible in a Minute

Thursday, 4 September 2008

Youth Mass Update


The monthly youth lead mass has been delayed until Saturday October 18 at 5:00 pm. This will give more time to make it a prayerful experience for all. Young people will be offering all of the regular ministries at the 5:00 pm mass at St. Peter’s followed by a gathering in the hall. Pizza is planned for the first meeting. So please plan on attending. Youth are invited to call Marc Crane if you wish to share your musical gifts.

Youth Cafe Awareness Trip


Many of our highschool youth have expressed a desire to learn more about the developing world so that we may live in solidarity with them. It is hope that some of our youth can go together to experience the Dominican Republic. We will be partnering with an organization called Rayjon based in Sarnia.

Rayjon awareness trips take place every year - March break for the Dominican Republic trip. To become involved, you should attend the Trip Information session which occurs the first Sunday in October at Sacred Heart Church meeting rooms, Lecaron Ave. Sarnia, from 2-4 pm. This is the first step for anyone who is interested. The trip meetings start two weeks later and continue for 4-5 more meetings until the trip departs for either Haiti or the DR in January or March.

More Information
Application Form

Tuesday, 2 September 2008

Message to the CWL London

Labour Day Classic

Oskee Wee Wee
Oskee Wha Wha
Holy Mackinaw
Tigers ... Eat'em RAW!!

(Cheer by Vince Wirtz 1941 as adapted by Paul Weiler a.k.a. Pigskin Pete)

I write this as a begin my yearly pilgrimage to the Labour Day Classic football game between the Hamilton Tiger Cats and the Toronto Argonauts. Each year I get one CFL football game in with some of my brother priests and friends. It is a great time to sit back and become part of the screaming masses of Tiger Cats fans that come out to support their team. There is a strong sense of fraternity among the Ti-Cat fans as our team goes out to battle the big city corporate types in Toronto. It is expected that we will lose so it is even more of a triumph if we win. Everyone loves the underdog.

This battle between the steel town boys and the big city boatmen reflects a deeper battle of ordinary laborers and corporate business. On this Labour Day the stands were full of ordinary people worrying about the future as they begin to realize that they may not fit into the economic equation anymore. Autoworkers, steelworker and farm workers that were once the strength of Ontario’s economic engine are now seen as a drain on business. This runs so contrary so Catholic Social Teaching. For Catholics, people were not created for work as mere resources but work was created for people to perfect us.

Work is a good thing for man--a good thing for his humanity--because through work man not only transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed in a sense becomes "more a human being."

(Pope John Paul II, Encyclical on Human Work promulgated 14 September 1981)

As members of the Catholic Women’s League we are well aware of the dignity of human labor. The many activities the League engages in are opportunities for our members to give of themselves. The gift of each member is more important than the task at hand. Christ is present when we are allow to give of ourselves and we are perfected in his image when share our time and talents.

As we begin the work of the League in the coming year, may we echo the refrain of this ancient Eucharistic hymn:

Where the many work together,
They with Christ himself abide,
But the lonely workers also
Find him ever at their side.
Lo, the Prince of common welfare
Dwells within the market strife;
Lo, the bread of heaven is broken
In the sacrament of life.

(Magnificat, Vol. 10, No. 7, Pg. 29)