Religious News - Pope stresses duty to evangelize - ArcaMax Publishing

Religious News - Pope stresses duty to evangelize - ArcaMax Publishing: "Pope stresses duty to evangelize
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 24 'Nothing can release or free us' from the task of announcing the Gospel and 'nothing is more beautiful, urgent and important,' said Benedict XVI to a crowd of 30,000 gathered in Saint Peter's Square Sunday. He spoke of the true meaning of Christmas and again about the 'duty' of Christians, especially the Church, to evangelize, AsiaNews reported Sunday.

'Tomorrow night we shall celebrate the great mystery of Love that never ceases to amaze us, namely love that became man,' he said. The 'mission of the Church is to provide an answer to the words 'Come Lord Jesus'' so that through his coming 'our hearts may change and justice and peace infuse the world.'

'In a situation in which many faithful have no clear idea as to the reasons for evangelisation,' the recent document released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 'reminds us all that welcoming the Good News is by itself a way to signal that we were given salvation as a gift,' he said.

'There is nothing more beautiful, urgent and important than to freely return what we have freely received from God. Nothing can release or free us from this weighty task,' he said.

'Each Christian and each community should feel the joy of sharing with others the Good News, that God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son so that the world may be saved through him ... This is the true meaning of Christmas that we must always rediscover and live intensely,' he concluded"

Merry Christmas everyone

Enjoy a great day with all those that you love and cherish. (and all who care and cherish you ) It is a great day to celebrate your true feelings.Let true peace and goodwill prevail everyhere.

Religious News - Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold - ArcaMax Publishing

Religious News - Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold - ArcaMax Publishing: "Vatican welcomes Blair to Catholic fold
ROME, Vatican City, Dec. 22 The Vatican welcomed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to become a Roman Catholic. A spokesman said such an 'authoritative personality' choosing to join the Catholic Church 'could only give rise to joy and respect.'

The ex-PM was received into the Church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor. It comes as research shows Catholic churchgoers now outnumber Anglicans in the UK for the first time since the Reformation, BBC News online reported Saturday."

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Prayer a Powerful Healer

My aunt Eliza is our family's "pray-er" -- the one who routinely offers up prayers whenever any of us are ill or about to undergo a medical procedure. So far, everyone has recovered. We've often wondered how much Eliza's prayers had to do with that -- and now a new study reveals perhaps more than the skeptics in my family think. A review of 17 studies on the effects of intercessory prayer -- prayer that is offered for the benefit of another person -- showed net positive effects for people who received prayers for their medical or psychological problems. While some of the studies showed statistically significant positive effects for prayer and others did not, when the effects are averaged across all 17 studies, researchers found that intercessory prayer may indeed help people heal. In all but one of those studies, participants were divided into two groups with one group receiving prayer in addition to conventional treatment for their condition, and the other group receiving only conventional treatment. These studies were double-blind. In other words, neither patients nor health-care providers knew who was receiving prayer.

The range of health problems in the studies varied widely, including heart disease, AIDS, infertility, leukemia, arthritis and psychiatric disorders, to name a few. The prayers offered varied by type, the number of "intercessors" and by religious faith. Sometimes prayers were part of a regular church service or group prayer session, and in other instances individuals prayed on their own, in their own homes. Interestingly, the results showed no correlation between the religion of the intercessor, the type of prayer invoked, the number of intercessors or the specific medical condition of the participants. The criteria for inclusion in this study review were simple -- intercessory prayer had to have been used with a population of clients or patients and efficacy had to be measured, preferably using standardized measures and a double-blind randomized control methodology. I called study author David R. Hodge, PhD, assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, to ask him to elaborate on this fascinating work. According to Dr. Hodge, in seven of the 17 studies, those who received intercessory prayer demonstrated significant improvement compared with those who received standard treatment, devoid of prayer. In another five studies, he said that the trend favored the prayed-for group -- there were improvements, but the positive effects noted did not reach what are considered statistically significant levels. Then, when the results of all 17 studies were combined, there was indeed a small but significant overall positive finding for prayer. But Dr. Hodge added a cautionary note: Prayer appears to make a difference, but he does not advocate substituting prayer for medical treatment. Instead, prayer should be viewed as a supplement that may enhance positive effects.

So, should one pray for those who are ill?

Yes, if you or a loved one are inclined to do so. For that matter, you can pray for yourself and ask others to pitch in as well... because doing something supportive for someone such as saying a prayer for their well-being or health not only feels good, but may be healing, too.

Source(s): David R. Hodge, PhD, is assistant professor at Arizona State University and a senior nonresident fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society.

Ind. court restores prayers to capitol 11:05 AM, November 1

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 31 An appeals court panel Tuesday allowed prayers mentioning Jesus' name to be returned to the Indiana state legislature, tossing out a lawsuit two years ago that led to the prayers bing ruled unconstitutional. Social conservatives hailed the 2-1 decision by the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, although the justices avoided dealing directly with whether the prayers violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution as the lower court had ruled. The Indiana affiliate of the ACLU won the initial round in November 2005 when U.S. District Judge David F. Hamilton ruled prayers must be "non-sectarian" and must not mention "Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal." The majority ruled Tuesday that the four Indiana residents who brought the suit lacked standing because they had "not shown that the legislature has extracted from them tax dollars for the establishment and implantation" of a program that violates the Establishment Clause, Baptist Press reported Wednesday. Read More... Comment on this Story Printer Friendly Send Story to a Friend Top

Pope urges prayers for pro-life policies 11:05 AM, November 1
ROME, Vatican City, Nov. 1 Pope Benedict XVI announced his "general prayer intention" for November Wednesday: "That those dedicated to medical research and all those engaged in legislative activity may always have deep respect for human life, from its beginning to its natural conclusion." In his two-and-a-half years as Pontiff, Benedict consistently stressed the need for prayer to protect the sanctity of life and the family. His June prayer intent last year requested the Church to pray for Christian families, asking "That Christian families may lovingly welcome every child who comes into existence and surround the sick and the aged, who need care and assistance, with affection," LifeSiteNews.com reported Wednesday Read More...

Ecumenical action is a worthwhile activity. Get to know your religious neighbor.

Some fear homogenization, conversion

They also find that some religious groups worry that allowing their young people to get involved in council projects could open them up to conversion or to a "homogenizing" of religion. A Jewish group and a Muslim group have vetoed youth involvement. "There is a fear that mixing will diminish their kids in their faith tradition," Judy says. Yet "experience shows that when kids talk about their tradition with others, it strengthens their own faith because they've had to think about it more."

The new emphasis on youth is the outgrowth of a "visioning" project the council conducted in 2006, during which it interviewed 120 community leaders of greater Toledo on the area's most significant needs. The youth priority involves two projects: a Youth Film Festival and a Youth Service Learning Project. On Saturday nights, the film series brings teenagers together for food and a thought-provoking movie that allows for a discussion of values. This month's film is the Oscar-nominated "Whale Rider."

Inspired by the Interfaith Youth Core based in Chicago, the council has formed a multifaith youth core to engage in interfaith dialogue and community service projects, including the Habitat build. At the council's annual banquet on April 22, a panel of Catholic, Sikh, Unitarian, and Muslim youths described their faith-inspired motivations for serving others.

Funded solely by members and donations, the council is run by a 10-person board and has no paid staff. Yet it has grown from 20 founding members to a regular mailing list of 350. Woody and Judy (a retired electrical engineer and a high school technology instructor, respectively) are now focused on "growing leadership."

"My hope is for each faith group to realize the future of our country depends on ... sharing enough time in our own agendas to meet and mingle and understand the other person," Woody says. "Every faith group should say '10 percent of our scheduled time is going to be spent with people of other faiths.' Otherwise, they'll stay to themselves, and, all of a sudden, like global warming, we'll find we have a problem."

When people do mingle frequently, fresh ideas often germinate. This month, for example, a local rabbi, imam, and priest plan to offer classes that explore how the three monotheistic faiths understand "scripture, worship, and acts of kindness."

World: Pope urges solution to conflicts everywhere: "
Pope urges solution to conflicts everywhere
By MARIA SANMINIATELLI

Pope Benedict XVI raises a candle after lighting it at his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, during the inauguration of the Nativity scene, Sunday Dec. 24. (AP/Andrew Medichini)
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict on Monday urged a solution to conflicts across the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa, in a Christmas Day address that included an appeal for the poor, the exploited, and all those who suffer.
'With deep apprehension I think, on this festive day, of the Middle East, marked by so many grave crises and conflicts, and I express my hope that the way will be opened to a just and lasting peace,' Benedict said in his traditional 'Urbi et Orbi' speech - Latin for 'to the city and to the world.'
'I place in the hands of the divine Child of Bethlehem the indications of a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians, which we have witnessed in recent days, and the hope of further encouraging developments,' the pontiff added, speaking from a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square.
The Pope also mentioned violence in Lebanon, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Darfur and the whole of Africa, as Ethiopian fighter jets bombed airports in Somalia and more people died in suicide bombings in Iraq.
Under his predecessor, Pope John Paul, the Christmas Day message became an occasion to review progress and setbacks for humanity.
Benedict also noted that despite its modern-day successes, the world remains in desperate need of a saviour.
"

Other New Activities & Events this year

More interactive fun for everyone at the Parish

SECOND SATURDAY SOCIALS

Parishioners are invited to a causal supper in the parish hall,following the 5:00 pm. Mass on the ‘Second Saturdays’ listed below,
It’s a chance to socialize and, for those attending the movie, it’s an opportunity to get something to eat before we roll the film.

A free-will offering will help defray the expenses of the meal

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
Our St. Pius ‘Saturday Night at the Movies’ will begin at 6:45 pm.

A short introduction to the evening’s feature will highlight key points to watch for in the film. The movie begins at 7:00 pm. Complete with popcorn and a brief intermission. A brief discussion will conclude the evening.

• February 10, 2007 Chocolat
• April 14, 2007 I Confess
• May 12, 2007 Brother Sun, Sister Moon

Bill Foote and Fr. Murray will be facilitating these evenings.

Special Events at St.Pius

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
In addition to their regularly scheduled meetings, the following events are being sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in our parish:

• September 12, 2006 Open house gathering
• November 5, 2006 Father - Son Breakfast
• December 5, 2006 Christmas gathering
• February 20, 2007 Pancake Supper

Watch the weekly bulletin and this site for times and details.

Canada’s official faith -" For your thoughtful action"

A government resolution to re-enact the homosexual marriage debate was defeated in Parliament last week, by a vote of 175 to 123.

No one was surprised. The resolution was expected to fail. Prime Minister Harper was simply keeping a pledge to social conservatives that he’d reopen the question.

However, I think almost everyone accepted that the debate ended a year ago when Martin’s cabinet forced Bill C-38 through Parliament.

People of all formal religious faiths face a conundrum in political life. Laws and policies are based (unavoidably) on moral beliefs about right and wrong. Religious people believe that morals come from God through scripture. To them, certain moral aspects of politics and God can’t be separated.

But the vast majority of citizens (about 80%), though they probably vaguely believe in something called “God,” contentedly sleep in on Sunday, are biblically unread, pray only when desperate, and trust in their own innate moral intuitions.

As a result, Christians (and others) constantly find themselves in unwinnable policy battles.

Christians, like Jews, hold that all humans are made in the “image and likeness” of God. To understand the rights and responsibilities of Man, they say, we must know what God has told us about himself through scripture.

Unchurched people do not know the Bible or what Christians are talking about.

Nonbelievers agree that life is about “choices,” but reject the idea that any choice is universally right or wrong. To accept religious doctrine as authoritative would be to deny the authority of their own inborn moral sense.

The closest nonbelievers can get to any moral absolute is to say that nobody has a right to harm other individuals or society in general.

But just as religious people fail to live up to their own moral codes, so do nonbelievers fail to live up to theirs.

For example, any unbiased clinical assessment of the evidence easily shows that abortion, promiscuity and homosexuality are all harmful. They reduce the population, fracture families, and spread emotional despair, social distrust and physical disease.

But be careful about saying so. Expect to be widely denounced as intolerant.

What most people fail to see is that every political state has an official faith of some sort, and Canada is no exception. Our official faith is in the ideology of “progressivism.” It is the substitution of faith in government for faith in God.

Our great-grandparents, by and large, trusted in God and little in government. We’ve reversed that.

With marriage, for example, the Canadian state has now redefined the meaning of “family.” Nature and religion say it is the procreative union of male and female. Parliament and the courts have decided otherwise.

Most Canadians -- including many “fiscal” conservatives -- have accepted this progressive ideology over the past half-century.

It’s to Stephen Harper’s credit that he does not. He rejects “progressivism,” and has said all along that religious believers must remain a vital and welcome part of the conservative coalition.

This doesn’t mean he will commit political suicide fighting their battles for them. It does mean, however, that he will not assist and support their enemies. He will give social conservatives a fighting chance.

But winning these battles is up to them, not him. And it remains far from clear how they can do it.

Harper declares same-sex marriage issue closed : Top Stories : News : Sympatico / MSN: "Harper declares same-sex marriage issue closed
08/12/2006 9:51:57 AM


Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he will respect today's 175-123 vote against revisiting debate on same-sex marriage, and considers the matter closed.


CTV.ca News Staff

Members of Carleton University Students' Association rally against reopening the equal marriage debate on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (CP / Jonathan Hayward)

MPs voted 175-123 on Thursday against a Conservative motion calling for the government to introduce legislation restoring the traditional definition of marriage.
'We made a promise to have a free vote on this issue, we kept that promise, and obviously the vote was decisive and obviously we'll accept the democratic result of the people's representatives,' said Harper. 'I don't see reopening this question in the future.'
Conservative House Leader Rob Nicholson said he was disappointed with the result of the vote, but that it was still a healthy exercise in democracy.
'I support the traditional definition of marriage and I always have,' he said.
He also said the government has 'no plans' to introduce a defence of religions act, to protect religious institutions from being forced to marry same-sex couples.
Critics say such an act would be redundant since those rights are already protected under the Charter of Rights of Freedoms.
CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said Harper knew Thursday's motion wouldn't pass.
'In fact, the resolution -- even "

Merry Christmas  

Our St Pius Knights events

• A fraternity and fun fund raising event

Breakfast event was fun and well attended

Osprey Media. - Brantford Expositor: "Former Anglican minister becomes married Catholic priest

Michelle Ruby
Local News - Monday, November 20, 2006 Updated @ 11:28:46 PM

Rev. Bill Foote's office at St. Pius X Church is a comforting retreat lined with wooden cases packed with books of theology, its walls adorned with religious artwork.

Only a couple of framed snapshots tucked into a corner distinguish it from the typical quarters of a Catholic priest. The photos are of Foote's now grown daughters, images captured years ago when they were young girls.

And often present at Mass is Foote's wife, Margaret, whom he met when the two were attending the University of Western Ontario decades ago.

Foote, a former Anglican minister, is one of a handful of married clergymen who have been granted special permission by Pope Benedict to become Catholic priests. Foote believes there are fewer than 10 married priests who were former Anglican ministers in Canada, including one other within the Diocese of Hamilton to which St. Pius belongs. He estimates there are 75 in the United States and a couple of hundred in England.

There are thousands of priests across North America who have left the active priesthood in order to marry.

'It's an unusual situation,' Foote acknowledges of his new post. 'For some people, it has taken a little bit more explanation.
There were questions that needed to be responded to. But people have been very gracious. There has been no hostility, nothing but kindness.'

Born in Paris, Foote spent some of his childhood living in Brantford before moving with his family to Preston. He grew up in the United Church, but says the music, liturgy and sacramental nature of Angli"

Don't force clergy to marry gays: majority: "Don't force clergy to marry gays: majority
Same-sex marriage poll
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Font: * * * * Chris Wattie, National Post
Published: Monday, October 30, 2006
A majority of Canadians believe marriage commissioners should be allowed to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage if it is against their religious beliefs, according to a new public opinion poll.
A COMPAS poll conducted last week found 57% of those surveyed said officials who conduct generally secular wedding ceremonies should be allowed to 'not officiate at gay marriages,' provided there are enough marriage commissioners available for same-sex unions.
The Conservative government has proposed introducing a defence of religions act that would allow officials to refuse to perform gay marriages, protect the free speech of anti-gay religious leaders and protect organizations that refuse to do business with gays and lesbians.
The COMPAS poll suggested there would be significant public support for such a move, with 72% of those contacted for the survey saying that clergy should have the right not to marry a same-sex couple if it runs counter to their beliefs.
'Those numbers are at the level of overwhelming support,' said pollster Conrad Winn, the president of COMPAS. 'I mean, you can't get three-quarters of Canadians to agree on the weather.'"

Pope blasts Canadian laws: "VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI hit out Friday at Canada's laws allowing same-sex marriage and abortion, saying they result from Catholic politicians ignoring the values of their religion.
'In the name of `tolerance' your country has had to endure the folly of the redefinition of spouse, and in the name of `freedom of choice' it is confronted with the daily destruction of unborn children,' the pope told a group of bishops from Ontario.
Such laws, he said, are the result of 'the exclusion of God from the public sphere.'
He lamented that Catholic politicians yielded to 'ephemeral social trends and the spurious demands of opinion polls.'
Benedict has made the defense of traditional family values a major goal of his papacy, speaking out often on the issue.
During a trip to Spain in July, he challenged that country's Socialist government for instituting liberal reforms such as gay marriage and fast-track divorce."

When was the last time you were carried away with the sense of excitement -- when you felt so pumped up and involved that time just whizzed by? Your mind working in overdrive, and your spirits totally caught up in the moment… . If you can't remember, my friend, what you need is a dose of enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is a sense of inspiration. The word comes from the ancient Greek, meaning "the god within." It's connecting to your inner power and bringing energy and excitement to all you do – a feeling of being truly alive and working on all your cylinders. It's that "little something extra" that puts you ahead of the pack. An enthusiastic person is charismatic -- you can't help but respond to their enthusiasm and catch some of their "fire" as well. And an enthusiastic person is a successful person. As Walter Chrysler, the founder of Chrysler Motors, has said, "The real secret of success is enthusiasm. Enthusiasts are fighters. They have fortitude. They have staying qualities. Enthusiasm is the bottom of all progress. With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis."
If you're not getting as much out of life as you should, it's time to recharge your batteries with enthusiasm. Playing "as if" will help you to jump-start this process of developing your own inner fire. Even if you may not feel naturally enthusiastic, anytime you act "as if" you are, you start to take on that quality.
1. Check your posture. Are you slumped, with your shoulders drawn in, your head forward and down? Take a deep breath, draw your shoulders back and down, and imagine there is a string running through the top of your head, like a puppet, and you are being pulled upwards. Take another deep breath and say to yourself "I am vibrantly alive." And now smile.
2. Take an interest in something. Learn all you can about it. Dust off your curiosity and follow where it leads.
3. If you feel caught in a boring routine, stop for a moment and become aware of where you are and who you're with. Act "as if" this is the first time you've experienced this situation, and see things with fresh eyes.
4. Surround yourself with positive, enthusiastic people. After all, enthusiasm is contagious, and it's one "virus" you want to catch!
I'll leave you with some words that are the epitome of enthusiasm -- from the French writer Emile Zola -- "If you ask me what I came to do in this world…I will answer you: 'I am here to live out loud.'"

Words to live by -Knights

And a great time was had by all- Knights of Columbus Picnic June 2006

We thank all who made it a success especially the CWL. See you next year ! 

Our mandate is to have fun and fellowship with our christioan peers . Help us make our organization a vibrant relevant success.

"Your wishes and desires are powerful, and they may seem like the only things that matter. But don't let your eagerness force you to become too desperate. If you attach too much importance to things, you may push too hard to try to make them happen. Right now, you need to let things come to you; try to be patient and understand that events proceed on their own timeline. Things will change when and how they need to -- not one minute before"

And a great time was held by all. Knights of Columbus picnic Brant Park June 2006

Preparation for this family event

All the toys and whistles: PA system, face Painting, Racing , Water slide , barbecue pit, and pop corn maker









Splish splash