Articles — Fr. Raymond J. de Souza

When the going got tough due to COVID-19, Justin Trudeau showed his true authoritarian colours

Critics of Donald Trump have speculated that he might exploit the crisis to move in an authoritarian direction. Who would have thought that it would be Justin Trudeau, not Trump, who was the threat?

Newman House ManagerMarch 27, 2020Politics, National Post

Coronavirus Essentials: How the Church Is Applying Public-Health Directives

A global pandemic is hardly the time for acrimony and accusations in the Body of Christ. It is better to extend the benefit of the doubt and attempt to understand why such decisions were taken.

Newman House ManagerMarch 26, 2020Church Affairs, National Catholic Register

Beethoven, Spring and Nature

As spring has sprung, the Kingston Symphony’s melded-together performance of two vastly different compositions show that while man and nature often collide, God’s creation is still a garden.

Newman House ManagerMarch 26, 2020Culture, Convivium

Lent's long Gospels prepare us to be transformed at Easter

The Gospel accounts of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus are fundamental to our understanding of Lent.

Newman House ManagerMarch 26, 2020Faith, Catholic Herald

Italy Marks First ‘Dante Day’ Under Coronavirus Lockdown

Dante Day falls neither on the poet’s birthday nor death anniversary — it was chosen because Dante’s journey into the Inferno begins on Good Friday, and the traditional date of Good Friday is March 25.

Newman House ManagerMarch 25, 2020Faith

The helpers, stuck at home, who cannot help during the COVID-19 pandemic

Food banks tend to rely on many volunteers for the receiving, sorting, packing and distribution of food. What happens when 20 volunteers who worked together in one room are reduced to six in order to keep safe distances?

Newman House ManagerMarch 20, 2020Culture, National Post

Coronavirus, Sports, and Joy

The world’s playing fields have been emptied by pandemic but our God-given desire to play like Tom Brady can never be stilled.

Newman House ManagerMarch 20, 2020Culture, Convivium

When someone leaves the Church, how do we pastors respond?

The pastor goes after the lost and beseeches those who would depart. But what if the lost are determined not to come back?

Newman House ManagerMarch 19, 2020Faith, Catholic Herald

Catholic Principles and Practices in Time of Pandemic

Now that there is time to make sober adjustments, pastors might find creative ways to publicly continue the prayer of the Church.

Newman House ManagerMarch 16, 2020National Catholic Register, Church Affairs

Balancing safety and human interaction during a pandemic — and beyond

Safety and risk, openness and protection — that balance defines a culture. We have been knocked off balance for the foreseeable future. But how will things look when we get back up?

Newman House ManagerMarch 13, 2020Culture, National Post

A synod on synodality risks being self-referential

The seventh anniversary of Pope Francis falls at a time when the pontificate’s agenda has run into difficulty on two key issues – synodality and curial reform.

Newman House ManagerMarch 12, 2020Catholic Herald, Church Affairs

The Convivial Charms of Curling

Spending time at the Brier is a proud mix of citizenship, friendship and sporting glory.

Newman House ManagerMarch 10, 2020Culture, Convivium

The nature of devil’s sin still holds lesson for us

The devil rebelled against the created order of nature; he wanted to be the author of nature.

Newman House ManagerMarch 7, 2020Faith, Catholic Register

Audiences With the Pope Are Always Agreeable Occasions

It is extremely rare to find anyone who emerges from an audience with the Holy Father without a highly favorable impression and without thinking that the Holy Father shares his position.

Newman House ManagerMarch 6, 2020Church Affairs, National Catholic Register