OAPCE-Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education

Donate

Partners Resources

Family & Marriage Tips for the Christmas Season

Faith Activities, Partners Resources

FROM Teresa Hartnett, Director OF THE FAMILY MINISTRY OFFICE, The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton THE Parenting Tip #174 Christmas is a wonderful time of year! We see family, experience the joys of gift giving and receiving and have some time as a family just to be. It is however, more than any of these things, the celebration of the birth of Christ. In the hustle and bustle of the season we can forget to focus on this moment, where a child came into the world so that each of us could experience the profound gift of Salvation. This Christmas, enjoy all the fun stuff, but remember to focus, through stories, Mass, prayer and discussions, on the joy of Christ’s birth and the real reason for the season. Marriage Tip #154 Marriage is a journey that two people undertake with a plan to navigate life together. When researchers investigate what makes the journey both long and happy, many things come into play, but a strong one is repeated by most: “I married my best friend.” It is good to ask yourself then, are you being a good friend to your spouse? Do you spend time together, share parts of your day, invite them to share in an event with you, watch a movie together, or even a series that can become together time? Do you call once in awhile to say hello during the time you are not together and plan time for your spouse in your agenda – everyday? Are you patient when they make a mistake, are not perfect, or let you down? Friendships thrive and last in this kind of environment, so make friendship a foundation of your marriage.

Family & Marriage Tips for the Christmas Season Read More »

Does Your Church Offer the ALPHA Program?

Faith Activities, Partners Resources

What to know about the Alpha program Alpha is a series of group conversations that explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly and informal environment. It is compatible with the Catholic faith and is used by many parishes worldwide.  A typical Alpha session includes: How to inquire about the next Alpha course To find out if/when your Parish will next run an Alpha course, you can take one of the following steps: Ask for the Alpha Team: If a parish does host an Alpha course, you can ask to speak with the “Alpha Team” or the person running the program to learn more.

Does Your Church Offer the ALPHA Program? Read More »

Pilgrims of Hope

News & Events, Partners Resources

Pilgrims of Hope A Walk Through of the Making of a Jubilee Year” A recap of Guest Speaker: Dr. Josephine Lombardi. On Thursday, February 13th 2025, Dr. Lombardi presented to OAPCE Representatives from across the province in Ontario: “Pilgrims of Hope: A Walk Through of the Making of a Jubilee Year and all the graces associated with participating in this special Jubilee Year of Hope.” Dr. Josephine Lombardi led an insightful session on the Jubilee Year of Hope and its significance in the Catholic faith, covering its origins, meaning, and how to participate in its graces. She began by discussing the Virtue of Hope, referencing St. Paul’s teachings on the three virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity (the habit of loving). Hope, as emphasized by St. Paul in Romans 12:12, involves “rejoicing in hope” and cultivating joy to endure life’s inevitable waiting periods. Dr. Lombardi explained that joy helps us persevere in difficult times, while hope allows us to overcome discouragement. She quoted Pope Francis, who said, “Hope does not disappoint,” and reminded the audience that the Holy Spirit empowers us to become renewed in God’s love. In the Catholic tradition, the celebration of the Jubilee Year originated in 1300 with Pope Boniface VIII, marking a time for the faithful to seek unity with God and renew their relationship with Him. The most recent Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy occurred in 2015. During a Jubilee Year, the faithful are called to reflect on their journey of faith as part of a community, striving for deeper union with God. Dr. Lombardi explained the symbolism of the Holy Door, which represents Jesus as the door to salvation: “I am the door.” Passing through the Holy Door symbolizes seeking Christ and is an important pilgrimage act. Originally, only one Holy Door existed at the Basilica, but today there are multiple doors for people to pass through as a sign of their spiritual journey. The presentation also highlighted the importance of confession and indulgences. Dr. Lombardi explained that sorrow for sin brings grace, and through confession, we enter a state of grace. Indulgences, granted by the church, remove the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. She shared that in Aramaic, sin is referred to as “debt,” which is reflected in the language of the Lord’s Prayer, where the word “trespasses” is used. Dr. Lombardi emphasized that experiencing God’s mercy and forgiveness calls us to extend that same forgiveness to others. To participate fully in the Jubilee Year, Dr. Lombardi outlined several spiritual actions. These include making a pilgrimage to Rome to walk through the Holy Door, visiting one of the four major Basilicas, fasting, almsgiving, and visiting local cathedrals. She also encouraged learning more about Vatican II teachings and exploring local shrines and sacred sites in Ontario ( a list of these locations will be shared on our website). Dr. Lombardi concluded by emphasizing that the Year of Hope is an invitation to deepen our faith, receive God’s mercy, and extend forgiveness to others. By participating in acts of grace, we prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus. Her presentation offered meaningful insights into how Catholics can live with hope and joy during this sacred season of waiting.

Pilgrims of Hope Read More »

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops!

Partners Resources

Journey through Advent the series is a collaborative initiative of the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis, the National Liturgy Office, and the Office national de liturgie. This year’s reflections will be led by the Most Reverend Frank Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, and the Most Reverend René Guay, Bishop of Chicoutimi. The videos will guide viewers through the Advent season by offering reflections, enriched by spiritual and pastoral insights, on the Gospel readings proclaimed during each of the four Sundays of Advent. As we prepare for the Nativity of Our Lord, it is hoped that this year’s Journey through Advent videos will be a source of spiritual comfort, peace, and meaningful preparation for all who watch them. The videos will be uploaded one at a time on a weekly basis throughout Advent and will be available on the CCCB website each Monday in advance of the upcoming Sunday Eucharistic Celebration (25 November, 2 December, 9 December and 16 December). There are several ways to stay informed of these weekly updates: Bookmark the home page of the CCCB website https://www.cccb.ca/ Subscribe to the CCCB’s e-mail news service https://www.cccb.ca/news/subscribe/; Subscribe to the CCCB’s YouTube channel CCCB_CECC – YouTube Follow the CCCB on Twitter @CCCB_CECC. CCCB (@CCCB_CECC) / X (twitter.com) Subscribe to the newsletter of the CCCB Office for Evangelization and Catechesis. ‘Encounter’, by visiting https://www.cccb.ca/oec/encounter/

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops! Read More »

Institute for Catholic Education

Partners Resources

Institute for Catholic Education We are excited to share with all parents across the province the new Family Life Education curriculum for grades 1 – 8 in Catholic schools in Ontario from the Institute for Catholic Education. You can find the curriculum documents here as well Frequently Asked Questions – for Parents and Topics at a Glance – Support Resource. As partners with ICE, we fully support their curriculum and continue to advocate for all schools and school boards to use this resource to teach our children these important aspects in their lives.

Institute for Catholic Education Read More »

Bishops (CCCB) Release a Pastoral Letter on the Use of Social Media

Partners Resources

On the liturgical memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, and with the approval of the Permanent Council, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) released its Pastoral Letter on the use of social media titled: “Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious.” Acknowledging the prominent role social media has come to play at an individual and societal level, this timely Pastoral Letter considers the benefits and dangers of social media from the perspective of Catholic Social Teaching. It provides tools for moral reflection and self-examination, and suggests seven commitments by which to be guided for a more ethical use of social media: The Pastoral Letter concludes with Discussion Questions to stimulate deeper reflection individually or in group settings.

Bishops (CCCB) Release a Pastoral Letter on the Use of Social Media Read More »

The Joy of Love experienced by families

Partners Resources

The Joy of Love experienced by families Family Life Update  Dr. Anne Jamieson Institute for Catholic Education “The Joy of Love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church.” These are the words of Pope Francis in the opening line of his teaching Amoris Laetitia – On the Love of the Family in 2016, where he encouraged an approach to families that was marked by encounter, accompaniment, and tenderness. This beautiful approach is an important way that we meet students in Catholic Education in Ontario. Family Life Education focuses on families as a gift from God. It helps students explore what it means to be human, what God calls us to in loving relationships, and what our vocation is. Students learn about their own growth and development, and they learn that all stages of life are beautiful. The Institute for Catholic Education has been working on an update of the elementary Family Life Education curriculum. All curriculum in all subject areas gets reviewed and updated from time to time. The Family Life curriculum for grades 1 to 8 was last updated in 2012. We are grateful for the many discussions with partners in Catholic Education and focus groups with parents and students across the province that have helped us. Educators and theologians have worked on the update. The Bishops of Ontario approve the final document. The new Curriculum document should be ready later this year and will come into effect for the Fall of 2024. This will give everyone time to become familiar with the new document. New student books and other resources will be developed to meet this updated curriculum under the leadership of the Bishops of Ontario. This will take time, of course. In the meantime, teachers still have access to the Fully Alive program, which is the only program approved by the bishops for Family Life Education at this time.   We will post updates for parents on our website (www.iceont.ca).  Once the curriculum is available, there will be resources like Frequently Asked Questions and other pamphlets that will help parents learn more. We look forward to sharing updates over the next several months as more information becomes available. As Pope Francis has said, “the Christian proclamation on the family is good news indeed”! (Amoris Laetitia, 1)

The Joy of Love experienced by families Read More »

Copyright © 2025 OAPCE-Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education

Designed By: Websiteous

Scroll to Top