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Pope: a society can be judged by the way it treats its children
Pope Francis today turned his thoughts to the countless children across the world who live in poverty and need. Addressing the crowds in St. Peter’s Square gathered for the weekly General Audience, the Pope continued in his catechesis on the family, focusing this time on children. Pope Francis said that children are a great gift for humanity and for the Church. Recalling the many happy children he met during his recent journey to Asia brimming with life and enthusiasm, he said that on the other hand he thinks of the countless children throughout our world who are living in poverty and need. “A society can be judged by the way it treats its children” he said. The Pope said that children ...

St Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer
St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a popular prayer attributed to one of Ireland’s most beloved patron saints. According to tradition, St Patrick wrote it in 433 A.D. for divine protection before successfully converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity. (The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle). More recent scholarship suggests its author was anonymous. In any case, this prayer certainly reflects the spirit with which St. Patrick brought our faith to Ireland! St. Patrick’s Breastplate, also known as The Lorica (the cry of the deer), was popular enough to inspire a hymn based on this text as well. I arise today   I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of ...

Shalom promoted a retreat at Consolata Missionary Centre
From March 6 to 8, Shalom Catholic Community promoted an opened retreat at Consolata Missionary Centre. Under the theme “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! (Matthew 5:4) the community invited Portuguese speaking living in the Great Toronto Area to enjoy a different weekend where they could pray and learn more about the love of God. During these 3 days, the attendees had the chance to participate in a schedule consisting of talks, moments of prayer, praise and worship and daily Mass with Father Jean Thomas from the Community of Saint John, in Montreal, Quebec. The retreat began on the night of March 6 with a welcome dinner offered to the participants and the presentation of the ...

Ronaldo Pereira: a life worth living!
Ronaldo Pereira da Silveira was born on August 30th, 1970, in Fortaleza city (Brazil). He was a young man like many others but who had a great desire to change the world. He was studying Business and was taking care of his father’s companies. He was much involved in the Marxist ideology and became a communist till the day his mother took him to a prayer meeting. There, he had a personal experience with Jesus Christ that revolutionized his life.  At age 18, he decided to leave all behind and offer his life and his youth for the evangelization of other young people, by becoming a missionary at Shalom Catholic Community. Ronaldo use to say: “I want to give my life, ...

What Job Can Teach us About Fatherhood
When we think of Job, we think of suffering. And it is true—Job suffered far more than any of us can imagine. Despite the fact that he was completely innocent, he endured intense physical pain, lack of sleep, hunger, the loss of his enormous wealth, the death of all of his children, and the insults and criticisms of his wife and his fair-weather friends. This holy man can teach us many things, but today, I want to focus on another aspect of Job that is not talked about very often: his fatherhood. Job can teach us at least three characteristics of a righteous father. Righteous Fatherhood Job had ten children, seven sons and three daughters. In the very beginning of ...

Pope Francis: homily with announcement of Year of Mercy
Pope Francis presided over a penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday afternoon, during which he announced an extraordinary Jubilee dedicated to Divine Mercy. Below, please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of the Holy Father’s homily, in which he made the announcement. ******** This year as last, as we head into of the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we are gathered to celebrate the penitential liturgy. We are united with so many Christians, who, in every part of the world, have accepted the invitation to live this moment as a sign of the goodness of the Lord. The Sacrament of Reconciliation, in fact, allows us with confidence to draw near to the Father, in order to be certain of His ...

The courage to disappear
I know a woman who voluntarily disappeared. No! It’s not one of those thousands of names on a “missing person” police list. On the contrary! She disappeared so much that wasn’t reported in any list, not even in her own family genealogy. She knew that in order to disappear in such a way that she would never be found she needed help. She couldn’t disappear on her own and continue to live. She asked then for the necessary help and ever since was only seen and heard in really important matters. In some occasions, when her presence was vital, she simply disappeared. Would you have courage enough to disappear like that? To disappear in a way that no one else ...

Shades of Truth: Between Truth and Skepticism
On Monday, March 2, the film “Shades of Truth” was presented in Rome. Written and directed by Liana Marabini, it was produced by Condor Pictures. It is a film with an exceptional cast. Among others are Christopher Lambert, Marie-Christine Barrault, Giancarlo Giannini, Remo Girone, Gedeon Burkhard, and David Wall. It will be shown, outside the competition, during the Cannes Film Festival and, for 10 days, during the World Meeting of Families, planned for September 2015 at Philadelphia. The film tells the story of a journalist charged with conducting an investigation on Pius XII. At the beginning, he is very skeptical and critical; then he meets with witnesses and persons that challenge his preconceived thesis. In the course of several meetings, ...

European Youth Meeting in Avila
Avila, Spain, will be the hosting city of the I European Youth Meeting organized by the Spanish Episcopal Conference and its Youth Department. The event will be held from the 5th to 9th of August, 2015, and has as its theme “In difficult times, strong friends of God” (free translation). As the city celebrates this year the 5th Centenary of St Teresa of Avila, the organizers wanted to offer an event to be a sign of ecclesial communion around the life and spirituality of St Teresa of Avila, doctor of the Church. It will be a great opportunity to gather young people from all Europe to witness their faith in God and love for the Church. A personal encounter with Jesus Christ ...

Have you read Pope Francis’ message for you this Lent?
“Make your hearts firm” (Jas 5:8) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each communities and every believer. Above all it is a “time of grace” (2 Cor 6:2). God does not ask of us anything that he himself has not first given us. “We love because he first has loved us” (1 Jn  4:19). He is not aloof from us. Each one of us has a place in his heart. He knows us by name, he cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us. Usually, ...
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