Foundation of the Church’s social doctrine: A three-part symposium

Greetings in Christ, during this most holy of weeks.

Over the past few months we have received many emails wondering about future Civitas events. Thank you for your inquiries, support, and patience. We have taken some time to reflect on the purpose and goals of Civitas, and have decided to change and renew the format of our events for a number of reasons.

Firstly, we have found that there are other organizations in Toronto which offer events similar to our own. We would like to be in a position where we can better support each other’s events.

Secondly, we want to ensure that our events are financially viable both for our committee and our members.

Finally, and certainly the greatest motivation behind our change, is our desire to offer young professional Catholics the opportunity to better examine the foundation for the Civilization of Love, as well as provide some tools for building it in solidarity with one another.

Beginning in May, we will be running a three-part symposium, lead by Paul Tomory Sr, on the foundation of the Church’s social doctrine.

Paul Tomory Sr. is a professional engineer, father of seven, and founding member of the Catholic Teacher’s Guild. He has an avid interest in the social teachings of the Church, which he has studied extensively over the past 25 years.

Icon by Andrey Rublev, c. 1400 (Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

Structure: There will be recommended readings prior to each session. The sessions will each build on the other so we ask for a commitment to attend all three sessions (realizing of course that the unexpected does happen). These are not meant to be lectures – discussion is welcome and encouraged.

RSVP: Please do so by April 30, 2009 (civitas2007@yahoo.ca)
When: Saturdays May 9, May 23 and June 6 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Mount Pleasant Library
Cost: none, but BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee)

Topics:

Session 1: Introduction to the Social Doctrine of the Church: Defining the Human Person
Session 2: The Principle of Subsidiarity
Session 3: The Principle of Solidarity

Hungry for the Spirit: An evening of Music and Spiritual Reflection

Robert Galea

Salt + Light Television, together with the Office of Catholic Youth, Faith Connections and Civitas invites you to this special concert. It will feature music and reflection with Maltese Seminarian Robert Galea, with Andy Carey and John Dawson.

Robert Galea is currently studying for the priesthood in Melbourne, Australia after beginning seminary formation in Malta, his home country, in 2003. Robert has been dubbed the ‘singing seminarian’ by local and international press.

When: Friday, January 16, 6:30 Mass, 7:00 Concert, Refreshments and Tour
Where: Salt + Light TV Broadcast Centre, 114 Richmond St. East, Toronto, ON
RSVP: Raymond at 416.971.5353 Ext. 241
Limited Space!

In this blessed time of Christmas we at Civitas extend our warmest greetings to you and your families.

Stay Tuned for 2009 Events!

Thanks for visiting us. Stay tuned for information about upcoming Civitas events for 2009!

30K Walking Pilgrimage to Marylake, King City

Civitas is taking a break from our evening seminars for the summer. To prayerfully close out the year we invite you to join us on a 30 km, all day walking pilgrimage to Marylake in King City this Saturday, May 24. If you feel up to the challenge and would like to join us in prayer and fellowship please email civitas2007 [at] yahoo [dot] ca for further details.

The Culture of Life in Action – Changing Hearts and Minds

Join CIVITAS for an evening with Andrea Mrozek, the founding Director ProWomanProLife, a news and commentary blog on all things related to women’s rights and freedoms, life and abortion.

Topic: The Culture of Life in Action
Date: Monday April 14, 2008
Where: “Little Italy.” 7:00 Mass at St. Francis of Assisi (72 Mansfield Ave) followed by Andrea’s talk at Bar Italia at 8:00 (582 College St.)
Cost: $12 (includes finger food. Cash bar)

Andrea believes that strong, confident women are pro-woman when they are pro-life, and that being pro-life is a compassionate and pro-woman stand. She is convinced that a woman’s presence on this issue is imperative, so that young women can look up to female role models who understand that culture and climate we live in.

Andrea’s extensive journalistic experience includes working as a reporter in Prague, whie here in Canada she has worked Toronto Life Magazine and the Fraser Institute, and well as doing a stint as the associate editor at the Western Standard. She has also had articles published in the National Post, the Calgary Herald, the Montreal Gazette, and the Ottawa Citizen. Andrea currently puts her talents to work at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada as Manager of Research and Communications.

Please RSVP to civitas2007 [at] yahoo [dot] ca.

In Christ,
Civitas

“A Decade a Day for One Hundred Days” Rosary Campaign

Civitas invites you to join us in committing to pray A Decade a Day for One Hundred Days for the spiritual success of the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Quebec this June. Please remember the Congress specifically in your intentions in a decade of the Rosary everyday from March 15 to June 22 2008 (the last day of the Congress).

As a demonstration of our solidarity, we would like to present Cardinal Ouellet with a list of the people who have committed to A Decade a Day for One Hundred Days. Please let us know of your commitment so that we can include you in the number. Email decadeaday [at] yahoo [dot] ca. We will be sending out periodic reflections taken from the Eucharistic Congress website.

“As Archbishop of this Diocese, I am looking forward to sharing with you these days of faith and thanksgiving which will enable us to appreciate even more God’s gift of himself for the life of the world. I invite you to pray for the spiritual success of this great event in service to the new evangelization.”
- Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec

Eucharistic Congress Prayer
God our Father, look with favor on your Church to celebrate the International Eucharistic Congress in 2008. Help us to better welcome the gift of your Son Jesus in this memorial of his death and resurrection which nourishes our lives as your children and as brothers and sisters. Send forth your Holy Spirit that we may better appreciate this gift, and become messengers of the life brought by Jesus to our world searching for meaning. In following the example of Mary, woman of the Eucharist, may we always give thanks to you, and make a continual offering of ourselves to respond to your love and fulfill your will. We ask this through Christ, your Son our Lord.
Amen.

Evolution: Reconcilable with Christianity?

Evolution has been the most consistently controversial scientific theory of the past 200 years. Join CIVITAS on Monday, February 11 as Mr. Leslie Tomory examines why this is the case, and explains the nature of the debate by exploring various uses of the term ‘evolution’ in a way that will help reconcile theism with evolutionary theory.

Throughout his pontificate, Pope John Paul II was deeply concerned with arriving at a proper anthropology of man. This talk will offer some insight into what our late Holy Father meant when he stated, referring to a commonly held view that evolution and revelation oppose each other, that “truth cannot contradict truth.”

Topic: Evolution: Reconcilable with Christianity?
Date: Monday, Feb 11, 2008
Where: “Little Italy .” 7:00 Mass at St. Francis of Assisi ( 72 Mansfield Ave ) followed by Mr. Tomory’s talk at Bar Italia at 8:00 ( 582 College St .)
Cost: $12 (includes finger food. Cash bar)

In Christ,
Civitas

An Evening with Archbishop Collins

In his short time heading the Church in Toronto, Archbishop Collins has already made an impact as a man of joy who is eminently approachable and has a real heart for youth.

Archbishop Collins has said that one of the main challenges facing the Church in Canada is “evangelizing and developing the culture of life, and spreading the faith within our country.”

What better way to usher in the New Year than to listen to our new Archbishop’s insights on how we as young professionals can contribute to this mission we all share as followers of Christ.

Topic: Building JPII’s Civilization of Love in Canada
Date: Jan 7, 2008
Where: ‘Little Italy.’ 6:30 Mass at St. Francis of Assisi (72 Mansfield Ave) followed by socializing at Bar Italia (582 College St.) and then the Archbishop’s talk at 7:45.
Cost: $12 (includes finger food. Cash bar)

The Sisters of Life: Joyfully building a Civilization of Love

Toronto is blessed to have a new chapter of the dynamic, prayerful Sisters of Life in our city.

Join Civitas on December 13th to hear their incredible story, be inspired for their enthusiasm for the Gospel, and learn how to listen to God’s call in the midst of the din of the city.

When: December 13, 6:30 pm, beginning with mass.
Where: Location to be announced in a follow-up email

The Sisters of Life is a contemplative/ active religious community of women founded in 1991 in New York for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life.

Already blessed with 61 vocations the Sisters of Life carry out their missions with the heart of the Church and with the hope of revealing to those they serve the inherent goodness and beauty of their own lives, so that each person may see and experience the truth that they are an unrepeatable creation of the Master.

Please RSVP.

Civitas

Civitas Symposium

John Paul II’s Vision of the Civilization of Love

We’ve extended the deadline to register for the retreat by a few days as there are still a few spots remaining. Please respond ASAP if you would like to attend. We will continue to reserve places on a first come, first served basis due to the size of the retreat house.

Civitas invites you to a special one day retreat with our guest speakers and fellow young professionals to delve more deeply into this question:
What was Pope John Paul’s vision of the Civilization of Love
and what does it mean for us in our daily lives?

Date: September 22nd, 2007
Time: 8:30am – 3:00pm
Location: Blessed Pier Frassati House – 685 Finch Ave. W (Finch & Bathurst).
Cost: $40 (includes continental breakfast and catered lunch)
RSVP by: September 8th

Outline of the Day:
• Celebration of Holy Mass
• Session 1 – An Overview of the Civilization of Love
• Breakout session
• Catered Lunch
• Adoration and Meditation (The Universal Call to Holiness in the World)
• Session 2 – The Canadian Martyrs: Sacrificing All
• Civitas: Who are we?

Confessions will be heard at various points throughout the day.

Please RSVP ASAP as we only have a few spots left
civitas.toronto [at] yahoo [dot] ca or civitas2007 [at] yahoo [dot] ca

Note: Space is limited due to the size of the retreat house; places will be reserved on a first come first served basis.

In Christ,
The Civitas Committee