After almost four years of consultation, the Edmonton Archdiocese is releasing new standards for preparing children and youth for the sacraments. The 100-page binder effectively harmonizes sacramental education and preparation across parishes and schools in the archdiocese. One aim of the standards is to ensure no child falls through the cracks when it is time to receive sacramental preparation, says Kathleen Nguyen, sacramental education coordinator for the Edmonton Archdiocese.

Reading Pope Francis' exhortation on the family is like having a discussion at the kitchen table with your grandfather, says Archbishop Richard Smith. The apostolic exhortation - Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of the Family) - is like being able to "talk openly with a man who already understands your problems and your weaknesses," the archbishop said in an interview. "The pope has a beautiful way of expressing in accessible language what is on the mind of the Church," he said.

OTTAWA – News that Health Canada expects to make an abortion drug available in July has pro-life groups and doctors concerned. "We're deeply saddened that this is going to become available to Canadian girls and women," said Campaign Life Coalition's Ottawa lobbyist Johanne Brownrigg. "We're concerned girls and women in isolated communities will think of this as an answer to a difficult situation and in fact complicate their own health."

When Jeri and Chuck Marple's eighth child Mary was born at 22 weeks gestation, the choice of life or death was set before them. Doctors said if Mary survived, she had a 90 per cent chance of having severe cerebral palsy. They suggested disconnecting Mary's lifeline and respirator because she would be a burden to them, and it was not fair to them or to society.

Archbishop Richard Smith issued a passionate call to arms in the ongoing fight against physician-assisted suicide. "We are witness in this country to extraordinary events which are not of God's doing - the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia," he said. Smith issued his challenge to an attentive audience at St. Charles Church April 14. The education seminar was the last of the five-part Every Life Matters series created by the Edmonton Archdiocese.

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM GREECE – The news media has focused so much on the question of Communion for the divorced and remarried that they skewed the public's perception of the 2014 and 2015 meetings of the Synod of Bishops, says Pope Francis. The pope told reporters he has been "annoyed" and "saddened" by the over-emphasis. "Don't they understand that the family throughout the world is in crisis?" he asked.

World Youth Day is a family affair for the young pilgrims from St. Dominic Savio Parish in Edmonton. "Just over half the group is related to me, one way or another," said Kiara Smyth, 23, a leader of the group of 13 heading to this year's pilgrimage in Kraków, Poland. "I've got a big family." Spending time with her friends and relatives as they gear up for this year's WYD has been nice, said Smyth. But some young Catholics feel alone in their faith.

The influential role of the Catholic Women's League of Canada in social action was affirmed at the recent 94th annual Edmonton archdiocesan convention. The theme for this year's convention, which took place April 22 to 24 at Holy Family Church in St. Albert, was With One Heart, One Voice, One Mission Be the Face of Mercy. Speakers, including Archbishop Richard Smith, who praised the CWL's ability to secure audiences with premiers and prime ministers, urged the sisters of the league to be the face of mercy, the eyes of mercy and the hands of mercy.

Catechesis, or the teaching of the faith, is a life-long process of initial conversion, formation, education, growing, reflecting, praying, learning, pondering and ongoing conversation. Its aim is to lead all God's people to an ever-deepening relationship with God. So says Susan Barylo, director of catechesis and faith formation for the Edmonton Archdiocese. She along with Kathleen Nguyen, director of sacramental education, led a catechist in-service at the Pastoral and Administration Offices April 23.

On her way to the Catholic Women's League Archdiocese of Edmonton convention, one of Elsie Paul's favourite songs came up on the radio. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," the Métis/Cree elder sang along. "I thought, 'Wow! What a good reminder!" said Paul, who spoke on the topic Be the Face of Mercy: Through our Indigenous Sisters with Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie. >"So there's lessons all the time, everywhere," she said.