CCCB President in Mexico with other Canadian Bishops for a meeting on the New Evangelization for the Americas

Monday, November 18, 2013

From 16 to 19 November, 2013, some 300 representatives from various countries, including more than 85 Cardinals and Bishops, 60 priests, as well as consecrated persons and laity from the American continent, have met in the square of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe to participate in a pilgrimage and meeting, “Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the New Evangelization in the American Continent”. In his video address broadcast to the meeting on 16 November, Pope Francis said missionary outreach is “the paradigm for all pastoral action”, adding that “It is vital for the Church not to close in on itself.”

A number of Canadian Bishops are among the delegates to the meeting, including: the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB); the Most Reverend Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec City and Primate of the Church in Canada; the Most Reverend Luc Cyr, Archbishop of Sherbrooke; the Most Reverend Pierre-André Fournier, Archbishop of Rimouski and President of the Assembly of Québec Catholic Bishops; the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J., Archbishop of Ottawa; and the Most Reverend Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R., Ukrainian Catholic Eparchial Bishop of Saskatoon. Archbishop Durocher made a presentation on the new evangelization in Canada.

This meeting was organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Knights of Columbus, and the Higher Institute of Guadalupan Studies. The objectives are to increase the involvement of the Churches of the Americas in a “continental mission”; entrust this continental mission to the merciful love of God, under the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary; shed light on the continental mission from the perspective of the pontificate of Pope Francis, with particular reference to his Encyclical Lumen Fidei; share the new ardour, the new methods, and the expressions of the new evangelization; share reflections and experiences; foster ecclesial and Guadalupan bonds between the Churches of the American continent; and prepare to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe this coming December 12.