Statement from His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto
re: Appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada
July 1, 2008

Excerpts:
Canada's highest honour has been debased. Henry Morgentaler has been awarded the Order of Canada. We are all diminished. A community's worth is measured by the way it treats the most vulnerable, and no one is more vulnerable than in the first nine months of life's journey. No person may presume to judge the soul of Henry Morgentaler, but it cannot be denied that the effect of his life's work has been a deadly assault upon the most helpless amongst us.

I ask the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and all people of good will, to protest this act of dishonour. Write, phone, or e-mail the Governor General*, the Prime Minister, and your Member of Parliament. Ask that this action be revoked.

Read article at: http://www.archtoronto.org/pdf/morgentalerjuly1088.pdf

Contact
The Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean

By mail:
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Governor General of Canada

Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A1

By phone: (613) 993-8200
or toll-free at:1-800-465-6890
By fax: (613) 998-8760
By email: info@gg.ca

Ontario nursing homes not meeting standards
Updated Wed. Jul. 2 2008 3:28 PM ET
The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080702/ontario_nursing_homes

TORONTO -- The majority of Ontario's nursing homes have failed to meet basic standards set out by the province to preserve the rights of elderly residents, with some failing to bathe residents even twice a week, others leaving seniors sitting for hours in soiled diapers and still others unnecessarily restraining those in their care, an investigation by The Canadian Press reveals. Just over 60 per cent of homes across Ontario -- and up to 91 per cent in some Toronto suburban communities -- have been cited for violating some of the specific set of standards that ensure residents are well-fed, clean and free of pain, as well as dictating how homes care for incontinent residents and when they use restraints.

Almost three-quarters of Ontario's 616 nursing homes that have their inspection results posted online violated some of the 400 general standards set out by the province _ a proportion which hasn't changed significantly since 2004 when then-health minister George Smitherman promised a "revolution'' in the province's long-term care.

"We're talking about the majority of people not getting the minimum standard of care,'' said Pat Armstrong, York University professor and one of 12 national chairs in health services and nursing research. "In a sense, we've abandoned them.'' Many workers are embarrassed about the level of care they're able to provide because they know it's sub-standard, she added. "They're saying . . . don't put your mother here because the quality of care is so bad.''

New Parish Honours Sudanese Saint
http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/2017/849/
Friday, 27 June 2008
Written by Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register.

Fr. Mark Villanueva is the new pastor of St. Josephine Bakhita parish. The Mississauga parish is the newest in the archdiocese of Toronto. (Photo courtesy of Fr. Villanueva)

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - July 12 and 13 will mark the first Mass celebrations for St. Josephine Bakhita parish, the newest parish in the archdiocese of Toronto, at the western limits of Mississauga. Founding pastor Fr. Mark Achilles Villanueva said he is excited to see the Christian community develop under the name of the Sudanese saint. “We live in a multicultural society, but we look at the parishes and they are mostly (named after) European saints,” he said. “So I thought it would be good to have someone from Sudan.” Villanueva, who is from the Philippines, proposed the name of St. Josephine Bahkita to Archbishop Thomas Collins because he was personally inspired by the story of St. Josephine Bahkita at the beginning of his journey as a priest.

St. Josephine Bahkita, canonized in 2000, lived in the late 19th century in Sudan and was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. She was sold numerous times by various owners until she was bought and freed by an Italian consul and brought to Italy. A family that took her into their home helped her gain entry into an educational institute run by the Canossian Sisters, who provided her with basic knowledge of the Catholic faith. She later became a Catholic and joined the Canossian order.

St. Josephine Bakhita parish will celebrate Mass at St. Joan of Arc Secondary School until the congregation develops enough for a church to be built. It is being established to help alleviate overcrowding at two other Mississauga churches, St. John of the Cross and Merciful Redeemer, which are “bursting at the seams.”

Saturday Mass will be held every week at 5 p.m and Sunday Mass at 9 a.m, 11 a.m and 12:30 p.m. Mass in the school chapel will also be offered every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:45 a.m and every Wednesday and Friday evening at 7 p.m.

Martyrs' Shrine to host WYD events
Friday, 20 June 2008
http://www.catholicregister.org/content/view/1983/849/
Written by Catholic Register Staff,

TORONTO - Events and features for the World Youth Day 2008 Ontario Regional Celebration at the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ont., keep adding on. This event, organized by the Office of Catholic Youth, is meant to serve those unable to attend WYD festivities in Sydney Australia. It will take place July 17-20, and will host the icon of St. Paul. This icon was commissioned for the year of St. Paul by Archbishop Thomas Collins to be displayed in different parishes in the archdiocese of Toronto. Event organizer John Dawson said the icon will be displayed in a tent available for silent prayer and contemplation.

The MacHams, winning band of Radio Maria’s “Give Me a Voice!” music competition, will also make a guest appearance. The group has been invited to perform in Midland July 19, followed by a performance by the well-known Catholic worship band Critical Mass. The MacHams won Radio Maria’s June 7 competition against 14 other artists.

The Ontario event is expected to welcome 1,000 youth, who can expect to participate in Catechesis sessions, music, festival events, Reconciliation, Adoration, Mass and outdoor movie broadcast of events in Sydney on nine-metre screen.

Canadian Tamil Community Rallies to Thank Canada by Donating Blood

TORONTO, June 30 /CNW/ - This year, the Canadian Tamil Congress is coordinating an effort by Tamil Canadians across the region to thank their adopted country by giving blood. Tamil Canadians have signed on as the newest Partner for Life with Canadian Blood Services, and have challenged themselves to donate an astounding 5000 units of blood to give others the gift Canada gave them 25 years ago, the gift of a 'lifetime'.

The Canadian Tamil Congress recognizes the ongoing need for diverse ethnic communities to donate blood and urges the 250,000 Canadian Tamils living coast to coast, and fellow Canadians from all walks of life, to take part by donating blood this year.