Faith Connections

Bean Seeds

Rob — Thu, 25 May 2017 18:26:10 +0000

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Mike Walker, a theologian of disability at the University of Toronto and a member of the Student Christian Movement of Canada, writes about our Easter retreat:

I appreciated several things about the retreat, especially the in-depth conversations, our day-long focus on non-violence, and our bean plants, which we received at the end of the day as gifts from one of our presenters.

Faith, Justice, Do-It-Yourself

Rob — Tue, 09 May 2017 15:35:58 +0000

Eugenia Lui, a young adult who attended our Easter season retreat, writes about her experience:

As a Catholic who recently went back to church after an absence for more than 10 years, I was looking for something significant to 'jump start' my faith again, so when I saw the Faith Connections' retreat being advertised, I signed up for it right away. I was quite nervous as I was attending myself and I've never been to anything religious outside of regular Sunday mass before. However, I felt at home the moment I walked into the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre where the retreat was held on Saturday, April 22nd, which was coincidentally Earth Day.

Welcoming Kataryna, our new Program Director

Rob — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 20:08:58 +0000

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Sister Mechtilde O’Mara, Ministry Director, and Leanne Kloppenborg, Administrator, are delighted to welcome Kataryna Kuzar as our new Program Director for Faith Connections. She brings her enthusiasm for young adult ministry, as well as her administrative and event planning experience, to our work. We look forward to a wonderful collaboration.

Food, Family, Faith Retreat Weekend

Rob — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 19:36:45 +0000

Event Date:

June 23, 2017 - 5:00pm - June 25, 2017 - 1:00pm

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Faith Connections and Development and Peace invite you to join us for a weekend to celebrate the food we harvest and eat, the immediate global family we care for, and all the faith God gave us to sustain it all!

SLHour: Portraits of Faith

Rob — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 22:41:21 +0000

Salt + Light Media says, "Do you think young people are not in Church? Think again, This week we speak with Sr. Mechtilde O’Mara, CSJ and Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt of Faith Connections, about young portraits of faith..."

EASTER SEASON RETREAT: Faith, Justice, Do-It-Yourself

Rob — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 20:08:51 +0000

Event Date:

April 22, 2017 - 10:00am - 5:30pm

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Faith Connections, Student Christian Movement of Canada, and Christian Peacemaker Teams invite young adults 18-39 to an Easter Season Retreat: Faith, Justice, Do-It-Yourself.

A Farewell to Vanessa

Rob — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 15:58:55 +0000

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Dear Friends of Faith Connections,

Vanessa Nicholas-Schmidt, the Program Director of Faith Connections, has accepted a position as the Manager of Mission and Values at Providence Healthcare beginning March 20, 2017. Though we are saddened at her leaving, Vanessa goes with our blessing and our prayers for her and her family as she navigates this transition. The presence and collaboration of our volunteers is even more necessary in the days ahead.

We at Faith Connections will miss our valued colleague and dear friend as we reflect on the many gifts she has brought to this ministry: intelligence, joy, creativity, theological expertise, organizational and administrative skills. And that is just the beginning of the list!

Understanding the Joy of Love

Rob — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:09:22 +0000

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The first Theology on Tap of 2017, held at the Duke of York, was packed. The crowd of young adults were eager to hear Fr. Tom Rosica’s reflections on Amoris Laetitia – “Understanding the Joy of Love” (2016). This is the Pope’s Pastoral Letter which came out of the 2014-2015 Synod of Bishops. Fr. Tom gave a quick summary of the origins of synods (a word which comes from Latin meaning to “walk together”). Since Vatican II (1960s) these synods have taken place every 4 years with cardinals, bishops, lay people and consecrated coming together to reflect on the life of the church worldwide. At the most recent synod, the focus was on the family: marriage, children, elderly, divorce, infertility, etc.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Rob — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 11:00:00 +0000

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” is Jan 18-25, 2017.
We invite you to pray in solidarity with all Christians:

Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we thank you for this week of prayer for Christian Unity,
for being together as Christians
and for the different ways
we have experienced your presence.
Let us always praise your holy name together
so that we may continue to grow in unity and reconciliation.

In our work for unity may we be people of reconciliation and peace:
“Where there is hatred, may we sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.”

We pray this in the name of Christ, whose love compels us.

Amen

Lenten Listening: A Busy Person's Retreat

Rob — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 20:58:57 +0000

Event Date:

March 1, 2017 - 6:30pm - 9:00pm

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Faith Connections, Regis College, and the Toronto Archdiocese Vocation Directors Association invite you to Lenten Listening: A Busy Person's Retreat, for young adults (18-39).

An opportunity for young adults from different areas of the Archdiocese of Toronto to experience the gift of Spiritual Accompaniment this Lent!