News briefs

Pope to bless 'Ark of the New Covenant'

The road to the Eucharistic Congress of 2008 in Quebec will soon begin in Rome. Pope Benedict XVI will kick things off by blessing the 'Ark of the New Covenant,' which will travel around Canada to help Canadians prepare. The ark, a chest covered with iconic images related to the Eucharist, will be blessed by the pope May 11 - 12 when the Quebec bishops make their five-yearly 'ad limina' visits to the Vatican. Up to 20,000 people are expected to gather in Quebec City June 15 - 22, 2008, to celebrate a Eucharistic Congress as part of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City's founding. At the upcoming blessing ceremony, Benedict will hear Jeremy Gabriel, a severely handicapped but gifted Quebec boy who has wanted to sing a hymn for the pope ever since the funeral of Pope John Paul II. -- Catholic Register

Anglicans protest residential student decision

Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has sent a letter asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to reconsider his government's recent decision not to give advance payments to elderly former students of residential schools before a revised agreement is finalized. The church, wrote Hutchison, "is deeply disappointed at this failure to meet the needs of the elderly former students of residential schools . . . We expected a more humane response to the needs of former students, some of whom are faithful members of the Anglican church." The government's decision reversed a provision in the revised Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement announced in November by the previous Liberal government that former students who are now 65 years of age or older are able to apply for an advance payment of $8,000. -- Anglican Journal

A Million Faces hope to Control Arms

Canada's Project Ploughshares -- along with organizations such as Amnesty International and Oxfam -- is one of the sponsors of the Control Arms campaign. Launched in 2003 in over 50 countries, the initiative calls for "urgent and coordinated action" to establish an international treaty to bring the worldwide small arms trade under control. In this country, organizers hope to collect the images of thousands of Canadians in support of the global 'Million-Faces Petition' which will be presented at a UN summit on small arms in June. So far, more than 750,000 people worldwide have contributed their portraits to the petition.

Canadian Bible Society sponsors Proclamation

The Canadian Bible Society is facilitating Proclamation, a conference on the practical use of the Bible in the actual life of the Church, as part of its centennial celebration. Special emphasis will be given to such topics as the Bible and the growth of the Church, the mission of the Church, the role of the artist, the teaching of children, the recruiting and training of leaders, conflict resolution and political action. The conference will be held on the Campus of Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia May 17-18 with a Service of Celebration May 16 at Wolfville Baptist Church.

Exploring Christianity

'Christianity Explored' is a course that takes participants through Mark's gospel in its entirety, over 10 nights. It has similarities to the Alpha course, taking a deeper look at the topics presented in the first three sessions of Alpha. David Short, rector of St John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver, called the course "the most effective lay-training event I have seen. Biblical, practical and compelling, the conference centred on Christ, not method, [and] equipped us . . . to share our faith to the glory of God." Leader Barry Cooper will appear on 100 Huntley Street May 15. His team will inaugurate the course May 13 at Community Fellowship Church in Waterloo, and at Oakridge Baptist Church in Vancouver May 16 - 17.

Faust at the Vancouver Opera

Vancouver Opera will present one of the most famous tales of sin and redemption in literary history April 27, 29 and May 2 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. In Charles Gounod's Faust, the bitter title character offers his soul to the Devil in return for youth and the love of the fair Marguerite; his folly leads to disaster for the young woman. As Satan celebrates his triumph, however, the compassion of God intervenes -- and celestial voices proclaim salvation. Considered one of the greatest 19th century operas, Gounod's work is described as "rich in characterization, dramatically exciting and exuberantly evocative."

CCODP to slash budget

In a planned pullback, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) is slashing its budget by 16 percent and reducing its workforce by as much as 23 percent. After running deficits the last five years to eliminate an $8 million accumulated surplus, the official development arm of the Catholic bishops of Canada will balance its books this year with $20 million in spending. The last $1.5 million in surpluses was spent last year. Up to 17 of the 73 full-time employees of CCODP will lose their jobs, some through early retirement; money has been reserved for retirement packages. The organization is negotiating a new funding agreement with the Canadian International Development Agency. -- Catholic Register

Verge Arts Series considers art vs. anxiety

'(Be)longing: Art & Identity in an Age of Anxiety' is the theme of the Verge Arts Series conference being held May 4 - 7 at Trinity Western University. Adam Krims of the University of Nottingham will speak on 'The Urban Ethos: Relating Identity, Space & Bodily Motion in Contemporary Cities'; UBC's Graeme Chalmers will address 'Artists as teachers in an Age of Anxiety'; and Asian Pacific arts expert M.A. Greenstein will present 'Pods, Webs & Neural Nets: From Chordate Artist to Global Brain.' Some 40 other speakers will present talks such as: 'From Rite to Representation & the Anatomy of Self-Reference'; 'The Power Circuit of Identity & Values'; 'Underneath the Mushroom Cloud Tree'; 'Music as Peace Propaganda'; 'Taiwanese Subjectivity & Tortured Dolls'; and 'Correlating Belonging & Becoming Through Raver Tribalism.'