The 2019 Federal Election Guide, prepared by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace and published in the name of the Permanent Council, has been formatted for online sharing and includes hyperlinks directing the reader to further resources on various issues important to Catholics. The Guide's content offers a reflection on key ethical and moral issues that voters, especially Catholics, may want to consider.

Voting as Catholics: 2019 Federal Election Guide

In anticipation of the upcoming canonization of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, to be celebrated on Sunday, 13 October 2019, in Rome, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) have issued a joint statement of thanksgiving to mark the occasion. The statement is signed by the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and President of the CCCB, and Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate of the ACC.

Joint Statement on the Canonization of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman

Yesterday, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Father Bart van Roijen, Bishop of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador. At the time of his appointment, the Bishop-elect was serving as Vicar General of the Diocese of Nelson.

Bishop-elect van Roijen was born in Diemen, the Netherlands on 4 August 1965 and immigrated to Canada at the age of eight with his family. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Saskatchewan (1986) and a Master of Divinity from the University of Western Ontario (1989). He then pursued teacher training through the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary (1990-1992) and worked as the Diocesan Director of Religious Education for the former Diocese of Gravelbourg (1992-1995). Following the completion of his seminary formation, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Nelson on 25 April 1997. Subsequent to his ordination, he served as pastor in a number of parishes and missions in British Columbia as well as the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. He likewise held a number of appointments for the Diocese of Nelson including Vocations Director, Chair of the Priest Council, Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program, and most recently, Vicar General. His episcopal ordination will take place on 12 December 2019, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Redeemer and Immaculate Conception in Corner Brook, NL.

The Most Reverend Gérard Tremblay, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Montréal, died on 28 September 2019, one month prior to his 101st birthday.

Bishop Tremblay was born on 27 October 1918 in Montréal and was ordained a priest 16 June 1946 following the completion of his theological formation at the Grand séminaire de Montréal. He then pursued further studies in spirituality, theology and catechesis. Before being appointed Bishop, he taught at Collège André-Grasset and the Grand séminaire de Montréal and likewise served in various pastoral capacities at parishes within Montréal and in neighbouring dioceses. He was also the Second General Consultor for the Sulpician Province of Canada from 1970 to 1976. On 20 March 1981, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Montréal, in which capacity he served for ten years.

On 1 September 2019, Pope Francis announced the names of thirteen new cardinals to be created at a public consistory in the month of October. Among the appointees was Father Michael Czerny, S.J. of Canada. Cardinal-designate Czerny will officially be elevated to the College of Cardinals during the Ordinary Public Consistory to take place tomorrow on Saturday 5 October 2019 and following his ordination to the episcopacy today. Coverage of the Consistory will be available through the Vatican News website https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html and YouTube channel.

Cornwall, Ontario – The Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) elected the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg, as its next President, and the Most Reverend Raymond Poisson, Bishop of St-Jérôme, as its next Vice President.

Archbishop Richard Gagnon succeeds the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil as President at the conclusion of the 2019 Plenary Assembly. Archbishop Gagnon, was born in 1948 in Lethbridge, Alberta. After seminary studies at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. He was named Bishop of Victoria in 2004 and appointed Archbishop of Winnipeg in October 2013. He has served from 2007 to 2008 on the CCCB Permanent Council as the regional representative of the Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops and from 2017 to 2019 as the CCCB Vice-President.

Cornwall, Ontario – Today marked the final full day of meetings for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) Plenary Assembly.

The day began with the annual meeting of the English Sector Bishops. As with their colleagues from the French Sector, this meeting brings together Bishops from predominantly English-speaking dioceses and eparchies to receive information on liturgical, catechetical and other pastoral matters which are closely tied to language and culture. Of note, Bishops received an update on preparations for the forthcoming CCCB hymnal, Music for Catholic Worship.

As approved by the Bishops, the Statement on Nuclear Weapons was released today. Among other notable things, the statement calls on the Government of Canada to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

As a follow-up to a meeting held prior to the Plenary Assembly with Bishops and victims-survivors of sexual abuse, a delegation of Bishops accepted an invitation to attend a screening of a documentary film on sexual abuse playing in Cornwall. In doing so, the Bishops expressed their intention to acknowledge the victims who would be gathered for this event, their suffering, and their desire for healing and transformation. The CCCB remains committed to seeking new ways to build bridges with victims-survivors, learning from their experiences and wisdom, so that such tragedies never happen again.

Cornwall, Ontario – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) gathered for the Plenary Assembly, approved and is now issuing the Statement on Nuclear Weapons. This release also coincides with the United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. In recent years, with major powers having increased their reliance on nuclear deterrence and having begun the modernization of their nuclear arsenals, through this statement, the Catholic Bishops of Canada speak out in full support of Pope Francis' strong condemnation of nuclear weapons. Bishops make a special appeal to the Government of Canada to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. They also call on Canada, through changes in its own policies and practices, to persist in its efforts to bring NATO into conformity with the treaty.

Cornwall, Ontario – The third day of the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) continued with discussions on a variety of pastoral matters.

Bishops received and discussed the annual report of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council as well as various Indigenous initiatives. They were also provided information on and updates from prison ministry, the delegates to the recent international conference organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture on the decommissioning of churches and their reuse, and the delegates to the upcoming 2020 International Eucharistic Congress.

Today, the plenary included the annual meeting of the French Sector. This meeting brings together Bishops from predominantly French-speaking dioceses and eparchies to receive information on liturgical, catechetical and other pastoral matters which are closely tied to language and culture. Of note, the Bishops received an update on the anticipated French translation of the Roman Missal. The meeting of the English Sector is scheduled for Thursday, 26 September 2019.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) continues to post possible homily ideas and prayers of the faithful to help link the Sunday liturgy with the national pastoral initiative for life and family. The proposed texts for the month of October 2019 include suggestions from the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 6 October to the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 27 October. As usual, the suggestions for homilies and prayers can be easily adapted for family prayer, as well as for personal prayer or for use with other groups or organizations. The texts for the month of October are available on the special Life and Family webpage, under the section "Documents and activities proposed by the CCCB".

Cornwall, Ontario - On the second day of the 2019 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishops, observers and guests listened to two dynamic panel presentations.

Guest panelists shared their experiences and involvement with three recent events: XV Ordinary General Assembly on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment in Rome (October 2018), World Youth Day in Panama (January 2019) and the 11th International Youth Forum in Rome (June 2019). Archbishop Luc Cyr (French Sector representative) and Bishop Steven Jensen (English Sector representative) shared brief remarks regarding their participation as two of the CCCB delegates to the XV Ordinary General Assembly, highlighting the fruitful intergenerational discussions between Bishops and youth delegates, insightful knowledge about the state of young people and the Church around the world, and the pivotal role of Bishops to help guide the accompaniment of youth in their dioceses. Likewise, two youth delegates to the 11th International Youth Forum spoke about their involvement as part of the Church. Their role as protagonists, or advocates, is essential to realize the teachings elaborated in Christus Vivit into a vibrant and transformational Church. The final panelist spoke about the continuing importance of World Youth Day as an event to help young people deepen and grow their faith.

Cornwall, Ontario – Today marked the opening day of the Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). CCCB President, Bishop Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., presided over a celebration of the Eucharist and welcomed approximately 90 Bishops, observers and special guests for the gathering in Cornwall, Ontario. The meeting is the occasion for Bishops to discern, discuss, and deliberate on ecclesial matters of national importance.