Pope Francis consecrates Russia and Ukraine, calls it a 'spiritual act' amid war

During a ceremony Friday at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis offered up a special prayer for Ukraine and Russia in connection with a Marian prophecy that’s over 100 years old.

The pope called on members of the church hierarchy, along with believers around the world, to join him in the consecration of Ukraine and Russia before an estimated crowd of 3,500, an act triggered by a 1917 apocalyptic vision of Mary to three children in the Portuguese city of Fatima.  

'Always had faith:' Métis delegates say Vatican visit a step to repair relationship

Métis leaders and residential school survivors say a trip to the Vatican to meet the Pope is as complicated as the history between their communities and the Roman Catholic Church itself. 

"We’ve always had faith," Angelina Crerar, 85, said in Edmonton in December. 

"We’ve never ever given up and we never ever will."

The residential school survivor became emotional explaining how her faith continues to give her strength. It also pushed her to join the Indigenous group heading to the Vatican.

Encouragement, hope, and practical help for Christian foster parents

There are great rewards that come along with being a foster parent, yet there are also great challenges that make them feel depleted, alone, and discouraged.

The many burdens of a foster parent's day- struggling children, difficult biological parents, and a broken system- are only compounded by the many burdens of a foster parent's heart -confusion, anxiety, heartache, anger, and fear.

Manitoban's book giving hope to kids in Ukraine

"You can't always know what God is going to do when you're working on a book so you just leave it in God's care and see where it goes," says a Manitoba author, unaware his children's book would be used during a time of crisis and war in Ukraine.

Paul Boge from Winnipeg is the author of the book, The Biggest Family in the World. It's is about Charles Mulli's life and how he grew up an abandoned orphan in Kenya, attained a mass amount of money, and then gave it all back to help, love, and raise orphans in Kenya. The illustrations were done by Winnipeg's own Faye Hall.