Catalyst

Once upon a time there was a man named Boaz. You may have heard of him. Boaz lived in ancient Israel at the time of the judges. It was a time of increasing violence against women, tribal warfare and increasing economic hardship, for there had been a famine in the land.

As a result, it was also a time of poverty. There were women who had been widowed; there were men who had been injured too much to work; and there were refugees coming to the land. Read more »

People living in poverty struggle with many immediate needs: food, clothing, housing, furniture, laundry, skills, and employment.  Across the country, community organizations are actively providing basic resources, skills training and services to help meet these needs. Read more »

A sign of faithfulness to God was always understood by the people of Israel and later by Christians as compliance with the Biblical injunction to care for the widows, orphans and aliens. Today, this Biblical reference can refer to the approximately 250,000 immigrants who come to our shores each year, plus refugee claimants, and over 200,000 temporary and seasonal workers. Read more »

I grew up in a working-poor, Irish Catholic family in St. John's Newfoundland in the 1950s. This in a way says it all, and it has shaped me. But I have tried not to let it define me as a person, as I am so much more. And I have worked hard not to let my background limit me. Read more »

As a youngster growing up in Saint John and being Catholic it was customary, even when the schools were closed because of snow, to go to Mass every morning during Lent.

I recently found myself again praying at noon during the month of March, this time in front of the Ontario Legislature. The Ontario budget was coming down at the end of March, and we stood there in prayer, theological reflection and vigil, advocating that poverty reduction be a major way to stimulate the economy in these recessionary times. It was a Lenten moment for me. Read more »