WCR This Week

The bishops of Alberta and Northwest Territories have issued pastoral guidelines on how to accompany divorced and remarried Catholics to ensure they are reintegrated into the Church. This accompaniment, however, does not include allowing divorced and remarried couples to receive Holy Communion without a decree of nullity from the marriage tribunal. "It may happen that, through media, friends or family, couples have been led to understand that there has been a change in practice by the Church, such that now the reception of Holy Communion at Mass by persons who are divorced and civilly remarried is possible if they simply have a conversation with a priest," said the document, signed by six bishops.

At a joyful celebration attended by clergy from various parts of Canada as well as the new bishops' former parishioners, Basilian Father Robert Kasun, former pastor at Edmonton's St. Alphonsus and St. Clare parishes, was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Toronto Archdiocese. Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins, a former archbishop of Edmonton, presided at the Sept. 12 ordination. St. Joseph Basilica exploded in applause to congratulate the humble new bishop, who is slowly accepting his call to higher office.

EDMONTON - The Bishops of Alberta and Northwest Territories have issued pastoral guidelines for clergy dealing with Catholics who are considering euthanasia or assisted suicide. The complex document explains eligibility to sacraments such as Penance and Anointing of the Sick. It also discusses whether Catholics who have chosen to die by euthanasia or assisted suicide should receive a Catholic funeral. "In our day a priest may encounter a penitent who has officially requested physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia," the document says.

A small group of Edmonton Christians took part in an ecumenical prayer walk on the grounds of the Pastoral Administration Offices to observe the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation Sept. 1 The group began the walk at St. Francis de Sales Chapel and stopped four times for prayer along the way, including a stop in front of the large statue of Christ the Teacher, west of Newman Theological College, and another in front of the statue of St. Francis of Assisi, just south of the college.

With psalms praising the marvels of God's creation and prayers begging God's help to end the selfishness that destroys the earth and harms the poor, Pope Francis led vespers for the Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. During the evening service Sept. 1 in St. Peter's Basilica, the pope prayed to God, "Pour out your spirit of wisdom upon us so that we would safeguard the gifts of your providence for the good of each person and every generation."

VATICAN CITY - Calling for concrete actions that benefit human life and the environment, Pope Francis proposed adding the care and protection of creation to the traditional list of corporal and spiritual works of mercy. As a spiritual work of mercy, the pope said, care for creation requires "a grateful contemplation of God's world."

Brother Joseph Glaab's journey to donning the Franciscans' robe and way of life was a weaving of choices and circumstances. The 55-year-old man made his final vows Aug. 19 in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cochrane. The roots of his faith were planted during his childhood. Born in Guelph, Ont., to Joseph Sr. and Mary Glaab, he is the eldest of seven children.

Parents, students and teachers beamed with excitement as they arrived at St. Brendan Elementary/Junior High Catholic School for the first day of classes. The new principal, Dale Astill, welcomed almost everybody with a handshake and a wide smile. Most looked with admiration at the $20-million building, which was built over the past two years as a replacement school for the now-closed St. Kevin and St. James schools.

Returning to the classroom after four months away is providing a sense of normalcy to the Catholic education community in Fort McMurray. "It was such a warm day, lots of hugs, lots of smiles, lots of reconnecting" when school resumed on Sept. 6, said Leslie McPherson, co-principal of Father Turcotte Catholic School in the city that was threatened with extinction in the spring when a raging wildfire forced the evacuation of the city's inhabitants.

Michael Moya could not understand why his body was covered with red dots. He was a healthy 25-year-old co-op engineering student. It was August 2011 and he was concentrating on his work. So he ignored the spots. "But one Friday morning I started to feel dizzy," Moya said to the audience at the Sept. 10 Edmonton charismatic prayer breakfast.