The annual Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada will be held on 26 and 27 September 2020. In his message to pastors and other collaborators in pastoral ministries, the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), reflected on the impact of the Coronavirus on the Church in Canada and society at large.

“For a knowledge of peace” is the working translation of a new Italian book from the Vatican Publishing House. In a preface to the book, Pope Francis encourages collaboration between the Church and universities for a world without war and violence.

At Sunday’s midday Angelus prayer, Pope Francis reflects on the day’s Gospel of the parable of the unmerciful servant saying if we do not strive to forgive and love, neither will we be forgiven and loved.

We are gradually becoming accustomed to hearing about COVID, somewhat like the mission of the Church. Fr. Raul Garcia, a 74-year-old priest serving as assistant at Rosemont’s Saint-Esprit Parish, reminds us, through his example, that going to the peripheries and touching people’s lives like a flame of love is what’s most needed, amid COVID or not!

Archbishop Christian Lépine will celebrate Mass in memory of those deceased this past year with no known next of kin, to be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2 p.m. at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral. The Mass will be concelebrated by Father Claude Paradis, friend of the homeless, in collaboration with the management and staff of Repos Saint-François d'Assise.