Catholic Focus: McLuhan is the Message

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Deacon Pedro

He coined the phrases “global village” and “the medium is the message” and he predicted the internet in 1962. He is called the greatest media theorist of our age, he is definitely one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Join Deacon Pedro and his guest, Simon Rogers, the archivist of Special Collections at […]

Me Before You

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Deacon Pedro

That’s the title of a new film that just opened last weekend to mixed reviews. It stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin in a romance with a bit of a twist. Clarke plays Louisa “Lou” Clark, who takes a job as the caregiver to Will Traynor (Claflin), a former daredevil who is now a quadriplegic […]

Catholic Focus – End-of-Life Issues: Ending the Pain

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Deacon Pedro

Lisa Daniels lives with extreme, debilitating, chronic pain. She suffers greatly. Her suffering is irremediable. There is no cure. Many people who support the idea of medically assisted dying do so on the basis that some people, like Lisa, live with unbearable, intolerable pain. Can all pain be managed? How are we to respond to […]

Human Life Matters on Catholic Focus

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Deacon Pedro

I first heard of Mark Pickup, 10 years ago when we were working on Turning the Tide. At the time, it was not possible to interview Mark for the documentary. He would have been a great addition to the film. Mark was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 30. He is one of Canada’s most […]

The Joy of Love on Catholic Focus

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Deacon Pedro

On April 8, 2016, Pope Francis released the long-awaited post-synodal exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (the Joy of Love), on the family. A few days later, Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton joined me to explore various themes from the document, as well as to share his experiences in journeying with families through the many challenges they face. We […]

The most interesting man in the world

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Cheridan Sanders

Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Karol Wojtyla meet at the Vatican. Paul VI, who served in Poland during his early priesthood, held the future Pope John Paul II in high regard. (CNS file photo) No doubt you’ve seen those cheesy beer ads about ‘the most interesting man in the world’. For the record, Pope John […]

Divine reno? 5 tips from a pro on becoming a missional parish

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Cheridan Sanders

Have you ever sat in mass and prayed really hard – “please God, please. Let this be over soon!” Somewhere between the grumpy greeter, the off-key cantor, the lackluster homily and your own unenthusiastic recitation of the Creed, you realize that there’s something terribly wrong with this picture. I don’t want to be here! Is […]

Pope John Paul II – a legacy of holiness

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Cheridan Sanders

Pope John Paul II was in many respects a pope of firsts: the first pope to visit the White House, the first pope to visit Cuba, and the most widely traveled Pope in history. As one of the longest reigning popes in the history of the Church, his influence will be felt for generations. Join […]

Lino Rulli on Catholic Focus

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Deacon Pedro

Pope John Paul II once said that “The Gospel lives always in conversation with culture, for the Eternal Word never ceases to be present to the Church and to humanity. If the Church holds back from culture, the Gospel itself falls silent.” (Address to the participants in the plenary meeting of the pontifical council for […]

Safe haven for refugees

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Kris Dmytrenko

The Meera’s look like any other family at the ethnically diverse parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Brampton, Ontario. They warmly greet fellow parishioners as they arrive for Mass, as if they have been here a lifetime. But just a few weeks prior, they were stuck in one of the most dangerous countries on […]