SaskaPriest

Homily from Feb. 19, 2012: I'm playing slotback for the Riders [ 10:46 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is my homily from February 19, 2012, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Readings: Isaiah 43.18-22,24-25; Psalm 41.1-4,12-13; 2 Corinthians 1.18-22; Mark 2.1-12

We’d love to have you join us for Mass! Click here for the parish Mass schedule.

(At least until Ash Wednesday. Then it turns to purple.)

There has been a lot of action off the field for the CFL in general and the Roughriders in particular the past few days! The free agency period opened up on Wednesday. In recent days the Riders have signed two talented Canadian offensive linemen, a Canadian DB, import running backs — among others. The Canadian O-linemen in particular should help a lot!

On the downside, the Riders lost several players. Cary Koch was signed by Edmonton and star receiver Andy Fantuz went to play closer to home, in Hamilton. Finally, Gene Makowsky, one of the best O-linemen to ever play the game, retired. He is now a member of the Saskatchewan Legislature. Thanks for the memories, Geno!

(Makowsky is the big guy who inspired the name of this web site in the above clip…)

Since moving out to Watson, I have been using (and mostly enjoying) Bell TV over satellite. The PVR works great, the digital HD quality is superb (I’d say, even better than Shaw cable was in Saskatoon), and the channel choice has been great.

Until now.

I recently received this notice in the mail:

Effective April 19, 2012, the Salt and Light channel will no longer be part of the Bell TV channel lineup and you will no longer be charged the $2.50 monthly fee for this channel.

Salt and Light TV is a Canadian, Catholic channel which produces a lot of fantastic, original content and also broadcasts major Catholic events. For an example of what they do, check out the recently-released documentary, “Put Out Into The Deep”. I’ll certainly miss it from the lineup.

On Bell’s part, I’m not sure what the thinking is. They have so many redundant channels that I cannot imagine that bandwidth is the issue. I have, by my count, at least 3-4 each of the major US networks (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox) in high definition (HD). I have about the same number of each in standard definition (SD). I have two TSN HD feeds. Two each of the various regional Sportsnet feeds in HD. Discovery World HD appears twice, as does TLC HD and National Geographic HD. And, again, there are duplicates of almost all of this in SD. There is even a high definition channel that is dedicated to a freaking aquarium.

There is clearly ample bandwidth available on their satellite feed for a uniquely Canadian SD channel.

But if Catholics in Canada want a Canadian-produced network in SD that is loaded with Canadian content (hello, CRTC!), we can’t get it on Bell (or Shaw satellite, for that matter).

What’s up with that?

Bell, please do the right thing and restore Salt and Light TV!

A few years ago my alma mater – St. Joseph Seminary and Newman Theological College in Edmonton – were required to move and rebuild due to a massive highway project. The new seminary and college buildings are now on the grounds of the pastoral centre for the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

And they are beautiful! Salt and Light TV produced a documentary about the new seminary and its mission in the life of the church. You can now view this inspirational documentary online:

Homily from Feb. 12, 2012: God save the Queen! [ 9:10 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here is my homily from February 12, 2012, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Readings: Leviticus 13.1-2,45-46; Psalm 32; 1 Corinthians 10.23-11.1; Mark 1.40-45

We’d love to have you join us for Mass! Click here for the parish Mass schedule.

The incredible Fr. Robert Barron comments on evangelization and the need for joy, which springs forth from our friendship with Jesus Christ. Check it out!