Finding My Song

Hannah Marazzi

January 27, 2017

Music is the way Pinchas Gutter, a Holocaust survivor, meets the world. His song helped Hannah Marazzi find hers – in places heavy with the memory of suffering, where words fail and prayer falters.

In addition to the gift of his own story and presence, Pinchas in many ways gave me back the gift of music, and in many ways my own voice And so, for the first time as an adult, I heard my own voice rise, alone over the wind in the trees, a prayer in my own words, to my own God I will always remembe...

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Grouching Miser, Hidden Dragon

Raymond J. de Souza

January 26, 2017

Doing well in business, from both a Christian and financial point of view, ought to include doing good. How does Kevin O'Leary shape up? 

“After 30 years of being an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that business is about people Then, in an insightful and sympathetic passage, John Paul II defines a business as a personal reality before it is a commercial one Last week’s entry of businessman Kevin O’Leary into the leadership race for the Con...

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Façades and Values

Gideon Strauss

January 25, 2017

This week author Gideon Strauss brings us an alternate perspective on the ongoing conversation occurring in Outremont over the borough referendum campaign supporting a ban on new places of worship on Bernard Avenue.

Living just a few steps away from Bernard Avenue, Murdock is one of my neighbours in Outremont, and she cares passionately about the borough Her concern for the character of Outremont moved her to work for the borough referendum campaign supporting a ban on new places of worship on Bernard Avenue ...

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Time to Bury the Bulls of Donation

Douglas Farrow

January 20, 2017

Writer Douglas Farrow offers comment and critique on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Just here let me ask the members of the present commission a question:  If the doctrine of discovery really is a theological doctrine, why, in recommendations 45.1 and 47, are they asking the Canadian state to issue a formal repudiation of it? Do they want the state to make its own theological or an...

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Reading Between the Lines - January 20, 2017

Peter Stockland

January 20, 2017

From time to time, Publisher Peter Stockland will bring Convivium readers an in-between-the-lines reading of the week's past headlines. Read for a glimpse into the subtext of our latest media roundup. 

Whatever the explanation, as veteran Quebec journalist Nancy Wood wrote recently on CBC.ca, it’s time for Justin Trudeau to remember he’s not just acting a part On the Montreal Gazette's "The trend of people living alone is more acute in Quebec than in most of North America": ...

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Empathy

Raymond J. de Souza

January 19, 2017

Father Raymond J de Souza takes a look at empathy in the broader context of today's entertainment industry and socio-political sphere. 

Donald Trump has been in show business most of his adult life At first the show was the business of Manhattan real estate, from which he quickly moved to the business of ostentatious luxury living, onward to the business of reality television and finally to elected politics Meryl Streep, receiving a...

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Hasidic Joy in Outremont

Gideon Strauss

January 18, 2017

Each week Gideon Strauss brings fresh perspective as he explores the unique intersections of faith and tradition in his new neighbourhood of Outremont, Montreal. 

The study of the Jewish scriptures and their interpretation is not only of intellectual or ethical value to the Hasidic Jews of Outremont They are drawn to the renowned warmth of the Montreal Hasidic community: a warmth that Weiss ascribes in part to the reality that Montreal has the coldest weather...

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Hasidic Joy in Outremont

Gideon Strauss

January 18, 2017

Each week Gideon Strauss brings fresh perspective both to Convivium and our Thread of 1000 Stories series as he explores the unique intersections of faith and tradition in his new neighbourhood of Outremont, Montreal. 

The study of the Jewish scriptures and their interpretation is not only of intellectual or ethical value to the Hasidic Jews of Outremont They are drawn to the renowned warmth of the Montreal Hasidic community: a warmth that Weiss ascribes in part to the reality that Montreal has the coldest weather...

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Elfin Lakes

Alida Thomas

January 16, 2017

In the midst of noise: calm. In the midst of frenzy: space. In the midst of ambition and movement and work: rest. 

In the midst of frenzy: space ...

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Between Power Or Love

Tim McCauley

January 16, 2017

Writer, Tim McCauley comments on the importance of our heart's response to suffering, and gives Convivium readers a perspective on the debate over "mercy killing."

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David Toycen

Nigel Hannaford

January 13, 2017

Over his 42-year career with World Vision Canada, David Toycen led the organization to raise more than $4 billion to assist some of the world’s most vulnerable children, families and communities. 

In 1994 Toycen was named Executive Vice President and in 1996, when Don Scott, then President and CEO of World Vision Canada, announced his retirement, Toycen, after a selection process, gladly stepped into the role Upon graduating from Fuller, Toycen entered full time service with World Vision U.S....

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Finding Faith in Hidden Figures

Peter Stockland

January 13, 2017

Publisher Peter Stockland reviews recently released film Hidden Figures and examines the nature of a forgiveness that continues to honour pain and hard truths. 

The faith at the heart of Hidden Figures, however, is very much a gift of the black church, of the Christianity taught to and made infinitely richer by black slaves and their descendants, of the Christian struggle to inform justice with charity that moved Martin Luther King Jr Its beauty is it treat...

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Bridging and Building Communities

Dennis Ouellette

January 12, 2017

Dennis Ouellette shares highlights from his time as a pilot, visiting remote communities in northern Canada.

“A further special moment was spending time talking with the pastor of one of the churches in Norway House, Manitoba where LAMP holds a VBS “It is only by your continued financial and prayer support that these special moments continue in communities all over northern Canada, reaching and touching th...

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Re-evaluating Russia

Raymond J. de Souza

January 12, 2017

Father Raymond J de Souza delivers an analysis of Prime Minister Trudeau's promotion of Chrystia Freeland to foreign minister and Russia's position on the world stage. 

Should the Trump administration seek to normalize Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Canada will not follow under Freeland On Russia, Freeland should amplify Canada’s voice which, depending on Trump’s direction, may be urgently needed ...

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Thinking About Law

Peter Stockland

January 11, 2017

Although Cardus has been attentive to legal issues for years, this week marks the launch of a formal research program called Cardus Law. Convivium sat down the Executive Director Ray Pennings and program director Andrew Bennett to find out how will seek to raise the bar on public understanding of law in Canada. 

So what does it look like? How do we understand Section 2(a) of the Charter? And in the 35 years since the signing of the Charter, how has that fundamental freedom been understood not only by the courts, but also within that court of public opinion? Do we have a different understanding of religious ...

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