Ottawa – On 4 December 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J., as Archbishop of the  Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall. He is succeeded by the Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse who has served as Coadjutor Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall since his appointment in May 2020. Archbishop Prendergast had earlier submitted his resignation when reaching the age limit of 75 as stipulated by Canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law.

Archbishop Damphousse was born on 19 March 1963 in Saint-Joseph, Manitoba. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1984 from the University College of Saint Boniface, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in theology in 1989 from Saint Paul University, Ottawa, and in 2002 obtained a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Teresianum in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 28 June 1991 for the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface and served in pastoral ministry in parishes throughout the Archdiocese before being named Rector of the Cathedral in 2008. On 28 June 2012, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall and ordained Bishop on 2 September 2012. On 12 November 2015, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie and installed on 13 January 2016. On 6 May 2020, with the amalgamation of the Archdiocese of Ottawa with the Diocese of Cornwall-Alexandria, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall and began his ministry on 16 June 2020.

Archbishop Prendergast was born 19 February 1944 in Montréal. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in philosophical studies from Fordham University in New York, followed by a Master of Divinity, Licentiate in Theology and later a Doctorate in Sacred Scripture from Regis College, the Jesuit Faculty of Theology at the University of Toronto. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1961 and was ordained a priest 10 June 1972. From 1967 to 1995 he taught a diverse range of subjects at several educational institutions, including Latin, Greek and religious studies at Loyola High School in Montréal (1967-1969), as well as New Testament studies at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax (1975-1981) and at Regis College (1981-1995). While at Regis College, from 1981 to 1987 he served as Rector and later from 1991 to 1995 as Dean. He was the Daniel Hannin Visiting Jesuit Professor at Campion College at the University of Regina (1988-1989) and the Catholic Biblical Association of America visiting professor at École biblique et archéologique française de Jerusalem (1994-1995). He likewise lectured at Campion College, the Vancouver School of Theology, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Newman Theological College in Edmonton, St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto and the Anishnabe Spiritual Centre in Espanola, Ontario. On 22 February 1995, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto and ordained 25 April 1995. On 30 June 1998, he was appointed Archbishop of Halifax and on 24 January 2002 also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth. On 14 May 2007, he was named Archbishop of Ottawa, and 27 April 2018 also appointed Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall. With the creation of the new Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall on 6 May 2020, he was appointed its first Archbishop. On 29 November 2020, he was named Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Hearst-Moosonee.

Prior to being appointed Bishop, Archbishop Prendergast served the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as a resource person at the Synod of Bishops on Priestly Formation in Rome (1990), as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue (1990-1995), as a member of the Ad hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse (1991-1992), and as the English Sector Executive Secretary for the Holy See’s Visitation of Canadian Seminaries (1992-1994). Following his episcopal ordination in 1995, he served as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue (1995-2000), as well as its Co-Chair (1995-1997). He likewise served as a member (1995-1997) and subsequently Chair (1997-1999) of the then Commission for Relations with Associations of Priests, Religious, and Laity, as member of the then Programmes and Priorities Committee (1997-1999) and the then Commission for Theology (1999-2003), as Bishop ponens with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities of Canada (1999-2005), as member of the Commission for Doctrine (2005-2011), member of the then Standing Committee for Communications (2011-2014), and member of the Standing Committee for Development and Peace (2014-2020). He also served on the CCCB Permanent Council as a Regional Representative (1999-2003, 2009-2011, and 2015-2019). He likewise served as a Board member (2000-2001) and later as Chairman (2001-2004) of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF).

On behalf of the Holy See, Archbishop Prendergast has served as its Pontifical Commissioner for the Sons of Mary (2003-2007), since 2005 as member of the Vox Clara Committee of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as Apostolic Visitator in Ireland (2010-2012), and since 2003 as a Director and later Chair, when appointed Archbishop of Ottawa, of CNEWA Canada (Catholic Near East Welfare Association), an agency of the Congregation for Oriental Churches.

A special Mass to mark Archbishop Prendergast’s 25 years of episcopal ordination was celebrated in Ottawa’s Notre Dame Cathedral-Basilica 3 December 2020, the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, with participation enabled online. The Inaugural Mass for the commencement of the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse will be celebrated on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2020, and will be livestreamed on the Archdiocese’s website at 7 pm (ET).

The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall has 132 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 454,515 served by 144 diocesan priests, as well as 105 priests, 12 Brothers and 467 Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life,  94 permanent deacons and 12 lay pastoral assistants.

Ottawa – On 29 November 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Robert Bourgon from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Hearst-Moosonee and appointed the Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J., Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, as Apostolic Administrator of Hearst-Moosonee.

Bishop Robert Bourgon was born on 10 March 1956, in Sudbury, Ontario, and studied at St. Peter’s Seminary in London. He obtained a Master’s of Divinity from Saint Paul University as well as a Master’s and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He was ordained to the priesthood on 8 May 1981 for the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie where he served as pastor in several of its parishes. In 1988, he became the Judicial Vicar of the Diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal and in 1990was appointed to the College of Consultors. In 1998, following the completion of his doctoral studies, he returned as the Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie and Associate Judicial Vicar for the Toronto Regional Matrimonial Tribunal. In 2000, he was named Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Affairs while retaining all previous duties in the Tribunal and in parishes of the Diocese. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie. On 2 February 2016, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Hearst and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Moosonee, and ordained 25 April 2016. On 3 December 2018, Pope Francis united the Diocese of Hearst with the Diocese of Moosonee, creating the new Diocese of Hearst-Moosonee and, at the same time, appointed Bishop Bourgon Bishop of Hearst-Moosonee.

As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Bourgon has served since 2017 as a member of the Commission for Justice and Peace, and since 1 January 2020 as Judicial Vicar of the Canadian Appeal Tribunal.

The Diocese of Hearst-Moosonee has 32 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 23,875 served by 21 diocesan priests, together with three priests, one Brother and three Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life, as well as three permanent deacons and three lay pastoral assistants.

Ottawa – On 28 November 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Father Ivan Camilleri Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto. At the time of his appointment, Bishop-elect Camilleri was serving as Chancellor of Spiritual Affairs, Vicar General, and Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Bishop-elect Camilleri was born in Sliema, Malta on 18 April 1969 and moved to Canada in 1980 with his family. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University and a Master of Business Administration from The Edinburgh Business School. He worked in finance prior to entering the seminary in 2001 where he obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity. He later pursued studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in 2011.

Bishop-elect Camilleri was ordained to the priesthood in on 12 May 2007 and began his pastoral ministry serving as an associate pastor. He likewise served as a sessional lecturer at St. Augustine’s Seminary and as a Judge at the Matrimonial Tribunal of Toronto.

The Archdiocese of Toronto has 249 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 2,107,967 served by 395 diocesan priests, 393 priests, 45 Brothers and 464 Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life, as well as 138 permanent deacons and 69 lay pastoral assistants.

Ottawa – Today, His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Anthony Mancini after 13 years as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, with the Most Reverend Brian Dunn thereby succeeding him as the Archbishop. Archbishop Dunn has been Coadjutor Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth since April 2019. Archbishop Mancini submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canon Law.

Archbishop Dunn was born on 8 January 1955 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from King’s College as well as a Master of Divinity from the University of Western Ontario. He was ordained to the priesthood on 28 August 1980 for the Diocese of Grand Falls where he served as pastor and in a number of other responsibilities, including Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor. In 1991, he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from Saint Paul University (Ottawa) and soon after became a lecturer in the Diploma Program for Theology and Ministry at the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax (1992-1999). Beginning in 2002, he served on the faculty of St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario, and became Dean of Studies at the seminary until 2008. During this same time period, Bishop Dunn also served as a lecturer in the Faculty of Canon Law at Saint Paul University (2003-2004 & 2007). He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie 16 July 2008 and ordained 9 October 2008. He was appointed Bishop of Antigonish on 21 November 2009 and installed 25 January 2010. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth on 12 April 2019.

Archbishop Mancini was born on 27 November 1945 in Italy. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Resurrection College at the University of Waterloo (1966) and a Licentiate in Theology Studies from the Grand Séminaire de Montréal (1970). He later pursued post-graduate studies in Ecumenical Theology at the University of Geneva (1971-1972) and completed his doctoral studies (Ph. D.) in Pastoral Theology at the Université de Montréal (1996). Following his studies in Geneva, he served as Assistant Director for the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism as well as Chaplain and Lecturer at Marianopolis College in Montréal. From 1977 to 1984, he served in pastoral ministry in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Montréal and assisted as a member of the Coordinating Team for the papal visit of Pope Saint John Paul II in Montréal (1983-1984). From 1986 to 1998, he was National Director of the Canadian Centre for Human Development (1986-1997) and concurrently Assistant to the Director of the Office du personnel pastoral (1992-1996) and then Director of the Office for English Pastoral Services (1996-1998) for the Archdiocese. In 1998, he was appointed as Vicar General and Co-ordinator for Administrative and Financial Services for the Archdiocese and served in this role until 2007. On 18 February 1999, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Montréal and ordained 25 March 1999. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as the Moderator of the Diocesan Curia from 2002 until 2007. On 17 October 2007, he was appointed Archbishop of Halifax and Apostolic Administrator of Yarmouth. With the establishment of the new Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth on 8 December 2011, he was appointed the first Archbishop of the new Archdiocese.

As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Archbishop Mancini served as a member of the then English Sector Commission for Liturgy (1999-2000) and the then English Sector Commission for Christian Education (2000-2003), Chairman of the then Standing Committee for Communications (2008-2011), and as a member of the Commission for Justice and Peace (2011-2014). He was Co-Treasurer of the CCCB from 2013 to 2017, during which time he was also a member of the Ad hoc Committee on CCCB Financing (2013-2016). He likewise chaired the Ad hoc Committee for the Protection of Minors (2013-2018), and was a member of the English Sector Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis (2019-2020). He was the CCCB delegate to the 2014 meeting in Rome of the Anglophone Conference on Safeguarding Children, served as the CCCB principal contact for the protection of minors with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (2015-2018), and was a CCCB delegate on Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle (2016-2017).

A Mass of Thanksgiving for the Ministry of Archbishop Emeritus Anthony Mancini and the Succession of Archbishop Brian Joseph Dunn as the 2^nd Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth on 27 November at 12:15 p.m. (Atlantic) and livestreamed from St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica. On 8 December at 12:15 p.m. (Atlantic) Archbishop Dunn will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Mass to be livestreamed from the Cathedral Basilica. The Mass, will likewise commemorate the 9th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth has 88 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 180,834 served by 68 diocesan priests, 11 priests and 95 Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life, as well as 42 permanent deacons.

Ottawa –  Today, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) announces a new online weekly video series created to help Canadian Catholic faithful to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Entitled Journey through Advent, the series is a joint project involving the CCCB’s Office national de liturgie, the National Liturgy Office, and the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis. The initiative was developed as a way, through the modern method of video messaging, to offer a resource that enriches faith formation during a time of joyful anticipation for the coming of the Lord and Saviour into the world.

The videos serve as an introduction to the liturgical Season and present reflections on the Gospel readings for each Sunday in Advent. The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and the Most Reverend Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Saint-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, provide spiritual and pastoral guidance on the readings that illustrate the true meaning of Christmas.

This video series is especially relevant given the COVID-19 pandemic that places limitations on in-person gatherings for faith communities. It is hoped that Journey through Advent will be a source of deep spiritual solace and insightful preparation for all.

The videos will be available on the CCCB website each Monday in advance of the upcoming Sunday celebration (23 November, 30 November 7 December and 14 December). To follow the series, the CCCB offers several ways to stay informed:

• 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 https://www.youtube.com/user/cccbadmin/;
• Follow the CCCB on Twitter @CCCB_CECC.

Ottawa – The national bilateral dialogue of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus met for its biannual meeting 16-17 November 2020 by videoconference due to the ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of the two-day online meeting, the Jewish and Catholic members reflected theologically and pastorally on COVID-19, its effects on their lives and their respective faith communities.  The dialogue members broke open the Book of Psalms to inspire their reflections of the pandemic, viewing it through the lens of faith, and focusing on the theme of “Ad Matai!?”, “How long!? found in psalms 6, 13, 62, 74 and others. A reoccurring theme was highlighted whereby, in part, the Psalmist prays for deliverance in the midst of a calamity, speaks of the faithfulness of God in the midst of waiting, reiterates trust and dependence on the Lord, and continually acknowledges the fragility and precariousness of the human condition.  Psalm 44 (43) was likewise chosen as a focal point for study wherein the Psalmist calls on God to act: “Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.” (Ps. 44 v. 26). In both instances, the dialogue members found the cry of the Psalmist fitting and familiar in light of the many contemporary challenges and questions arising from the pandemic and the difficulties it poses.

The dialogue also conducted a brief survey of some of the theological, spiritual, sacramental, biblical and moral responses to the pandemic published to date in popular magazines and journals. The Jewish and Catholic members found many similarities in these responses from both traditions, encompassing a broad range of viewpoints. Finally, the dialogue members shared with one another some of the more practical implications of the pandemic on the life of the parishes and synagogues in Canada. In addition to acknowledging the challenges, the dialogue members noted some emerging opportunities, which included broader outreach to their communities via videoconference and a rediscovered focus on the primary importance of family life.

While the pandemic has caused significant challenges for all peoples, the Jewish and Catholic dialogue members underscored the particular heartache and difficulty of those who were unable to grieve and mourn properly the recent deaths of loved ones due to the physical distancing requirements.

The next meeting of the national bilateral dialogue of the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is scheduled for the spring of 2021. Also, the dialogue is anticipating a joint-release of a resource in December 2020 entitled: “The Psalms: A Doorway to Jewish – Catholic Dialogue.” The resource will be free and made available on the respective websites of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

Ottawa – Today, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Father Wayne Lawrence Lobsinger Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton. At the time of his appointment, Bishop-elect Lobsinger was serving as the Episcopal Vicar for Consecrated Life of the Diocese of Hamilton.

Bishop-elect Lobsinger was born in Kitchener, Ontario, on 1 December 1966. Following his studies at St. Jerome’s University, Waterloo, Ontario, and St. Peter’s Seminary, London, Ontario, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton on 7 May 1994. Following his ordination, he  was associate pastor and then pastor of various parishes in the Diocese of Hamilton. He has likewise served on its Diocesan College of Consultors and its Diocesan Episcopal Board, as well as diocesan representative with the Canadian Federation of Presbyteral Councils, Chairman of the Diocesan Council of Priests, Chaplain for the Legion of Mary, and Spiritual Director of St. Peter’s Seminary.

His episcopal ordination is expected to take place at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton in early February 2021.

The Diocese of Hamilton has 146 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 658,690 served by 142 diocesan priests, 80 priests who are members of institutes of consecrated life, nine Brothers and 193 Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life, 48 permanent deacons, as well as 33 lay pastoral assistants.

On 18 November 2020, in anticipation of the meetings of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to study Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) submitted a Brief reinforcing its serious concerns regarding Bill C-7 and the steadfast opposition of the Catholic Bishops of Canada to euthanasia and assisted suicide and to its further expansion in Canada.

Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Bill C-7

As part of the work of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (CCCB) Commission for Justice and Peace, the Bishops of Canada identified a need to draw attention to the plight of the world’s persecuted Christians. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is Catholic and Pontifical organization concerned with the poor, oppressed or persecuted communities. Currently, more than 300 million of the world’s Christians are unable to freely live out their faith. They suffer from oppression or persecution.

To raise awareness of this oppression, the ACN’s Red Wednesday is an initiative aimed at highlighting the persecution and injustice suffered by Christians, while promoting respect and tolerance between people of different faith traditions. The ACN encourages people to take a stand for their faith, and more broadly, for religious freedom.

More information on the Red Wednesday initiative and suggested activities is available on the ACN website www.acn-canada.org.

On 9 November 2020, in response to the meetings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to study Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) submitted a Brief reinforcing its serious concerns regarding Bill C-7 and the steadfast opposition of the Catholic Bishops of Canada to euthanasia and assisted suicide and to its further expansion in Canada by Bill C-7. As said in the Brief sent to the Members of Parliament sitting on the Committee, “The proposed legislation of Bill C-7 remains deeply flawed, unjust, and morally pernicious. The Bishops of Canada continue to call on Catholics and all people of good will to make their voices heard in opposition to this Bill. Similarly, every Canadian legislator should recall that no law that permits the taking of innocent human life can ever be morally justified. Such a law would always violate the intrinsic dignity of the human person.”

Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on Bill C-7