The four episcopal delegates elected by the Bishops of Canada to attend the XVth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment have reached the midway point of the assembly. Each of the Canadian delegates was called upon to deliver an address on an aspect of the overall theme. The interventions of the four Canadian Bishops, presented in the language of delivery, are found below.

• The Most Rev. Luc Cyr, Archbishop of Sherbrooke (Français)
• The Most Rev. Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil (Français)
• The Most Rev. Stephen Arthur Jensen, Bishop of Prince George (English)
• The Most Rev. Thomas Dowd, Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal (English)

In addition, His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada was named by the Holy Father as a participant to the Synod. For the duration of the Synod, Cardinal Lacroix was likewise elected to be a member of the Commission of Information representing the American Continent. In this capacity, Cardinal Lacroix prepared a short video addressed to young people sharing his impressions on the first part of the Synod. Cardinal Lacroix's video is available through the following link: https://www.facebook.com/synod2018/videos/285897262261836/

To highlight the 92^nd World Mission Sunday, 21 October 2018, the Most Reverend Vincent Nguyen, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto and ponens with the Pontifical Mission Societies for English Canada, and the Most Reverend André Gazaille, Bishop of Nicolet and ponens with the Pontifical Mission Societies for French Canada, have each prepared a message to help promote the national collection.

This past May, the Holy See released the Message of the Holy Father for the 2018 World Mission Sunday. In his Message, Together with young people, let us bring the Gospel to all, the Holy Father writes: "Every man and woman is a mission; that is the reason for our life on this earth. To be attracted and to be sent are two movements that our hearts, especially when we are young, feel as interior forces of love; they hold out promise for our future and they give direction in our lives."

Link to Pope Francis' Message
Link to the message from Bishop Nguyen
Link to the message from Bishop Gazaille

The Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement to mark the canonization of Blessed Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Montini) and Blessed Oscar Romero. Their canonization, along with five others, was celebrated on 14 October 2018 in Rome.

Statement on the Canonization of Blessed Paul VI and Blessed Oscar Romero

Pope Francis named 23 new members to the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in an announcement published on October 6, 2018. Among the new members appointed is Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada. This brings the total number of members of the Dicastery to 28 inclusive of Cardinals, Bishops, persons in consecrated life, married couples and individual members of the laity. As part of the same announcement, 26 people were named as consultors to the Dicastery. In 2016, Pope Francis established the Dicastery by combining the former Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. This past May he updated its statutes, with more emphasis on youth and young adult ministry, the role of women in the Church and society, and on marriage preparation programs as well as outreach to couples.

In addition to this new appointment, Cardinal Lacroix also serves as a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; and the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Link to information about the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life

The Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has written a message to the present and past members of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council, marking its 20th anniversary.

An important initiative of the Conference, the establishment of the Council was first approved in principle by the Plenary Assembly in 1996; it then became operational in 1998. Originally called the Council for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion, and until earlier this summer, the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, the responsibilities of the Council in advising the CCCB have been significantly expanded; its membership of Indigenous Catholics, as well as the number of Bishops serving on the Council, has also increased.

Link to the letter (PDF)

(New October 11, 2018) Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council: 20 years in retrospect (video)

CCCB today has released a Statement on the Right to Safe Drinking Water by the Commission for Justice and Peace. The Statement examines from the perspective of Scripture and Catholic Social Doctrine the right to water, the problem of its privatization for corporate profit, and the ongoing issue of unsafe drinking water in some Indigenous communities in Canada. Earlier this month, Pope Francis focused on water in his Message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, 1 September 2018. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2018-2028 as the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.

Link to the Statement on the Right to Safe Drinking Water

Additional information

• The Holy Father's Message for this year's World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
• Website for the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028

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 2018 include suggestions from the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 7 October, to the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 28 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 September are available on the special Life and Family webpage, under the section "Documents and activities proposed by the CCCB".

Ottawa – Beginning today, in Catholic dioceses/eparchies across Canada, Bishops will issue locally the updated and expanded national guidelines for the protection of minors in Canada. Entitled Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation, this document of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) was unanimously adopted by the Bishops of Canada on September 27 during their 2018 annual Plenary Assembly. Since then, Bishops have taken time to familiarize themselves with its contents and to consider with their diocesan/eparchial staff how to ensure its implementation in their dioceses/eparchies as well as how best to inform and educate clergy, members of religious communities and lay personnel.

First and foremost, this document focuses on minors and vulnerable adults, whom Canada's Bishops wish to protect from sexual violence. In addition to a clear delineation of procedures in cases of sexual abuse, it puts forward 69 recommendations inspired by nine lessons which Bishops have learned through their collective experiences over the past quarter century. Chief among these is that victims must come first. The document seeks not only to provide guidance for diocesan/eparchial protocols and policies as well as those for religious communities, but to stimulate a cultural transformation in attitudes about sexual abuse. The new guidelines apply to all Catholic clergy (Bishops, priests and deacons), as well as members of religious communities and also lay personnel who are working in Catholic parishes or Church organizations.

The 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment began today in Rome. The Synod will continue until October 28.

The Canadian delegates elected by the Bishops of Canada and confirmed by the Holy Father are: The Most Rev. Luc Cyr, Archbishop of Sherbrooke; The Most Rev. Thomas Dowd, Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal; The Most Rev. Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil; and The Most Rev. Stephen Arthur Jensen, Bishop of Prince George. The Most Rev. Brian J. Bayda, Ukrainian Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon is attending as the elected member of the Synod of the Greek Ukrainian Catholic Church;. His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada was named by the Holy Father as an attendee. In addition, His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops as head of a Roman dicastery and as a member of the Ordinary Council of the Synod will attend.

Ms. Emilie Callan (text and radio program in French) and Mr. Julian Paparella (article in English) were named to participate as auditors. Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., CEO of Salt + Light Catholic Television was appointed as English Language Media Attaché.

Cornwall, Ontario – The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) concluded the annual Plenary Assembly in Cornwall, Ontario today. Bishops convened for a final morning session to receive reports and updates from Conference Commissions as well as northern Bishops, the regional assemblies (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Western), the Eastern Churches, the Military Ordinariate of Canada and the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.

At the close of the meeting, the bishops agreed to convene in one year's time for the 2019 Plenary Assembly from September 23 to 27, 2019.

Cornwall, Ontario – The annual week-long assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) continued today at Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ontario. In parallel to the English Sector meeting yesterday, Bishops from the French Sector gathered to receive information on liturgical, catechetical and other matters closely tied to language and culture.

The day began with a special Celebration of the Eucharist for the healing of victims of sexual abuse and the forgiveness of sins. Later, Bishops listened to a moving testimonial from a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, as well as from a Bishop who has been on a journey of healing and justice with survivors in his diocese. This set the tone for a lengthy discussion on the topic of safeguarding pastoral environments during which the Bishops received updated and expanded national guidelines entitled Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Call to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation. Following words of appreciation for the members of the ad hoc committee who contributed to the document's production, as well as professionals consulted in the process, the Bishops resolved unanimously to accept and commit to its implementation in their dioceses/eparchies.

Cornwall, Ontario – Today marked the mid-way point of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) annual Plenary Assembly with ongoing discussion on a number of pastoral matters.

The Bishops resumed discussion of their pastoral relationship with Indigenous Peoples. In the spirit of embarking on a shared journey of healing and reconciliation, they considered the insights from the sharing circles held earlier this year in which they listened to the stories, concerns, and hopes of Indigenous Peoples across the country. The Bishops also received an update on the activities of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP)-Caritas Canada.

The third day of the plenary included the annual meeting of the English Sector. This meeting brings together Bishops from English dioceses to receive information on liturgical, catechetical and other matters which are closely tied to language and culture. The meeting of the French Sector is scheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2018.