From January 10 to 15, 2015, the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and Co-Treasurer of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), will participate in the annual meeting of the Coordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land. The meeting’s theme this year is “Suffering and Vulnerable People in the Holy Land”. The international gathering involves representatives from Conferences of Bishops in Europe and North America who meet with the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS). Bishop Gendron will be accompanied by Mr. Carl Hétu, National Director of CNEWA-Canada. After their meeting in the Holy Land, the two Canadian delegates will visit Jordan and Lebanon.

Link to the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released a new document entitled “The Missionary Dynamic of the Parish Today“. Written from the current Canadian context, the text emphasizes that “spreading faith in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of humanity, is the Church’s fundamental and primary mission” (no. 1). The reflection is primarily for pastors and those who serve in parishes, but also for all Catholics who wish to understand better the role of the parish in the Church’s mission. The Commission notes that “it is through the parish that most Canadians experience the Catholic Church.”

The Bishops of the Commission are aware of the diversity of parish realities across the country, as well as the common challenges they face. The response required to these varied challenges, however, is the same: being missionary parishes which evangelize. The text explains how Canadian parishes can live out their call to evangelization by means of missionary, catechetical, and pastoral activity.

The Bishops declare that “as a concrete sign of the Church’s presence in society, parishes should be places for a new dialogue to occur between contemporary culture and the Gospel of Christ; and for a profound encounter between Christ, the Living Word, and those who have yet to meet him” (no. 9). All of this will require a profound conversion on the part of people and communities, part of what Pope Francis has called “the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are.”

This text complements the Commission’s recent work, “The Essential Elements of Evangelization Today“, which was published in 2013.

Printed copies of the document are on sale from CCCB Publications (telephone 1-800-769-1147 or email publi@cccb.ca). 

Link to the Document (PDF)

The Year of Consecrated Life will be inaugurated on November 29, 2014, with a Prayer Vigil in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome, and will end on February 2, 2016, with the celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life. The launch will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the publication of Perfectae Caritatis, the Second Vatican Council Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, promulgated on October 28, 1965. Pope Francis announced in November 2013 the Church will have a special year of 14 months dedicated to the consecrated life, extending throughout all of 2015. To mark its beginning, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has released a letter to consecrated men and women entitled “Rejoice”. Dioceses and religious communities in Canada and throughout the world are organizing events and initiatives as part of the year, in addition to the international celebrations and meetings which will be held in Rome.

The Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) has posted on the home page of its Website a new section entitled “Year of Consecrated Life”. The first news posted is the Message from the Most Reverend Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, to the consecrated men and women of the country. In the new section of the CRC Website there will be news, videos, a bibliography, and reports on religious life. The video message of the current Executive Director of the CRC, Father Yvon Pomerleau, O.P., is available, as well as the video message of Sister Rita Larivée, S.S.A., President of the CRC. Both discussed the importance of celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life and present the principal activities which are planned by the CRC.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has invited the CRC to establish a joint committee that will recommend possible ways to celebrate the Year for Consecrated Life in Canada. The CCCB has also created a special section in the home page of its Website to offer news on the work of the joint committee and to provide links to the websites of the Holy See, the CRC and religious communities in Canada, as well as to help publicize diocesan celebrations from across Canada. Among those are pastoral letters by the Most Reverend Anthony Mancini, Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth and CCCB Co-Treasurer, and the Most Reverend Dorylas Moreau, Bishop of Rouyn-Noranda, for the opening of the Year of Consecrated Life.

Link to the letter of the Congregation

Link to the logo

Link to the letter of the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada

Link to the letter by Archbishop Anthony Mancini

Link to the letter by Bishop Dorylas Moreau (in French only)

The Year of Consecrated Life is being celebrated from the vigil of the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2014, until the World Day for Consecrated Life, February 2, 2016. Pope Francis had announced in November 2013 this special initiative which will focus on the consecrated life. Extending throughout all of 2015, the year is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on and celebrate the unique role and importance that consecrated life has in the Church.

The consecrated life includes all men and women who vow or promise to consecrate their lives to God and to provide a unique public witness as members of religious communities, apostolic societies, secular institutes, and consecrated virgins.

Dioceses and religious communities in Canada and throughout the world are organizing events and initiatives as part of the year, in addition to the international celebrations and meetings which will be held in Rome. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has invited the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) to establish a joint committee that will recommend possible ways to celebrate the Year for Consecrated Life in Canada. In this special webpage, the CCCB announces news on the work of the joint committee and provides links to the websites of the Holy See, the CRC and religious communities in Canada, as well as to help publicize diocesan celebrations from across Canada.

• Link to the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis To ALL CONSECRATED PEOPLE 
• Message by the CCCB President on the consecrated life, February 2, 2015
• Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, January 2015 
• Link to the logo
• Link to the letter “Rejoice” by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
• Link to the letter by the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada
• Joint CCCB-CRC Ad hoc Committee
  –Prayer for our Sisters and Brothers in Consecrated Life (PDF)
• Link to the website of the Canadian Religious Conference
• Symposium in Quebec City on Consecrated Life – Laval University (October 26-27, 2015)
• Activities and diocesan celebrations across Canada:

–Letter by Bishop Dorylas Moreau of Rouyn-Noranda (in French only)
–Letter by Archbishop Anthony Mancini of Halifax-Yarmouth
–Letter by Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal
–Pastoral Letter by Bishop Ronald Fabbro, C.S.B., of London
–Pastoral Letter by Bishop Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., of Hamilton
–Archdiocese of Vancouver: monthly days of silence and prayer will take place throughout the Archdiocese. 
–Archdiocese of Montreal: 24 HOURS FOR CONSECRATED LIFE (January 31 – February 1) 
–Archdiocese of Toronto: Special Mass – World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life (February 1)
–Archdiocese of Ottawa: Special Mass with consecrated women and men, January 31, 2015, St Paul University Chapel 
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Sr Lucie Hamel speaks about Consecrated Life (video) 
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Sr Bernice Daratha, O.S.U., shares grateful memories (video)
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Sr. Jemimah Wanjiku, A.S.N. (Assumption Sisters of Nairobi), reflecting on Consecrated Life (video)
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Another great reflection on Consecrated Life, with words in both French and English from Sr. Dolores Bussière (video)
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Fr. Mark Blom, O.M.I., reflects on the gift of consecrated life (video) 
–Diocese of Saskatoon: Fr. Steve Morrisey, CSsR, and Sr. Louise Hinz, OSU, who both regularly help with the back door ministry, speak about their service, about the call to religious life and the example of St. Alphonsus and St. Angela (video)
–Diocese of Prince George: Religious honored by Diocese (Northern Catholic News, Spring 2015, Page 2)
–Diocese of Hamilton: Religious Communities Dinner (June 2, 2015)
–Archdiocese of Toronto – Models of Freedom and Joy: Sisters of Life (video) 
–Diocese of Hamilton – Consecrated Life: Awake and Alive (video)

• Activities in the religious communities across Canada
  –Jesuits – English Canada Province: Taizé Prayer and Panel discussion, February 2, 2015, at 7:00 pm., Regis College, Toronto
  –Association celebrates Year of Consecrated Life – Archdiocese of Regina 
• Lives and spirituality of a number of Canadian Saints and Blesseds: 
  Saint Brother André Bessette:
  Link to the biography of Saint Brother André (PDF) 
  Link to CCCB catechetical resources in English
  Links to OCQ catechetical resources in French and English
  Link to Salt + Light TV resources in English and French (PDF)

  Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys:
  Link to the biography of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys (PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the Website of the Congregation of Notre Dame
  Link to a video marking Marguerite Bourgeoys’s 395th birthday (April 17)

  Saint Kateri Tekakwitha:
  Link to the biography of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English
  Link to the St. Francis Xavier Mission in Kahnawake
  Link to Salt + Light TV resources
  

  Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin:

  Link to the biography of Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin (PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English
  Link to the prayer to Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin
  Link to the website of the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Anne

  Blessed Élisabeth Turgeon:
  

  Link to the biography of Blessed Élisabeth Turgeon (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the Congregation for the beatification 
  Link to the video archives of the beatification 
  Link to the Education Teaching Centre of the Congregation (materials available in English, French and Spanish)

  Saint Marie of the Incarnation: 
  

  Link to the biography of Saint Marie of the Incarnation (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the of The Ursulines Canadian Union

  Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis:
  

  Link to the biography of Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the Centre of Marie-Léonie Paradis

  Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine:
  

  Link to the biography of Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the Centre of Catherine of Saint Augustine 

  Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky

  Link to the biography of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr’s Shrine 
  Link to a pamphlet of the Martyr’s Shrine (PDF) 

  Blessed Frederic Janssoone
  Link to the biography of Blessed Frederic Janssoone (PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of Blessed Frederic Janssoone

  Blessed Dina Bélanger
  Link to the biography of Blessed Dina Bélanger (PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English
  Link to the website of her Congregation (in French only) 

  Blessed Émilie Tavernier-Gamelin 
  Link to the biography of Émilie Tavernier-Gamelin (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of her Congregation

  The Canadian Martyrs
  Link to the biography of the Canadian Martyrs(PDF)
  Link to catechetical resources in English
  Link to the website of the Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs 

  Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher
  Link to the biography of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the Congregation 

  Saint Marguerite d’Youville 
  Link to the biography of Saint Marguerite d’Youville (PDF) 
  Link to catechetical resources in English 
  Link to the website of the of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal
  
  

• Other links
  –Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the World – By Saint John Paul II, March 25, 1996

(CCCB-Ottawa)… A delegation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is currently in Rome, November 10 to 20, 2014, for the annual meetings with the offices of the Holy See. The Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and CCCB President, is leading the Canadian delegation, which also includes the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and CCCB Vice President, and Mr. Bede Hubbard, English-language Assistant General Secretary, representing Msgr. Patrick Powers, P.H., CCCB General Secretary. During their visit, they will be received by Pope Francis in a private audience on November 15.

In light of the past year of the life of the Church in Canada, the 2014 Annual Visit will be a time of thanksgiving for the CCCB and a chance to express to the Holy Father the deep appreciation of the Bishops of the country for recognizing Bishop François de Laval and Mother Marie of the Incarnation as Saints of the Universal Church. Both were important founders of the Church in Canada. The celebrations surrounding the 350th anniversary of the canonical erection of the Parish of Notre Dame de Québec, as well as the opening of the Holy Door, have given the Church in Canada the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the examples of the two new Saints in evangelizing North America.

While in Rome, the CCCB delegation will meet with more than a dozen dicasteries of the Holy See. These include the Secretariat of State, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for Clergy, the Congregation of the Oriental Churches, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, and the Pontifical Council for the Family.

On November 9, 2014, at St. James Anglican Cathedral, Toronto, will be the official launch of “A Church in Dialogue: Towards the Restoration of Unity among Christians”, recently released by the Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The launch will involve an ecumenical prayer service and lectures starting at 7:00 p.m., jointly organized by the Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue of Canada (ARC) and the Anglican – Roman Catholic Bishops’ dialogue of Canada (ARC-B). The event will be broadcast live on Salt + Light Television Network and live streamed through their website which can also be viewed on the CCCB homepage. The ecumenical prayer service will be co-presided by the four Co-Chairs of the two dialogues: The Most Reverend Donald Bolen (ARC) and The Most Reverend Gary Gordon (ARC-B) along with their Anglican colleagues, The Right Reverend Linda Nicholls, Area Bishop of Trent-Durham (ARC), and The Right Reverend Barry B. Clarke, Anglican Bishop of Montreal (ARC-B).

Among the Catholic Bishops who will also be in attendance are: His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, The Most Reverend Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish, The Most Reverend François Lapierre, P.M.E., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe, The Most Reverend Albert Thévenot, M.Afr., Bishop of Prince Albert, and The Most Reverend John S. Pazak, C.Ss.R., Eparchial Bishop for the Slovaks of the Byzantine Rite in Canada.

The lectures accompanying the ecumenical prayer service and launch of the CCCB document will be by two guest speakers: Dr. Michael Attridge from the Faculty of Theology of the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, and Dr. Alan Hayes of Wycliffe College, Toronto. The concluding remarks will be by Dr. Harry McSorley, Professor Emeritus at St. Michael’s College.

The publication and launch of “A Church in Dialogue: Towards the Restoration of Unity among Christians” are part of a series of initiatives by the CCCB to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio.

 Schedule of Salt + Light TV for the rebroadcasting of the event (all Eastern Time):

-Sunday, November 9 at 11:00 pm
-Monday, November 10 at Noon
-Tuesday, November 11 at 8:30 pm
-Wednesday, November 12 at 12:30 am (early morning Wednesday) and 1:00 pm

(CCCB – Ottawa)… To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio in November, 2014, (1964-2014), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), through its Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue, has published the following document: A Church in Dialogue: Towards the Restoration of Unity among Christians. This publication provides an in-depth presentation of the Church’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue and is intended for those already involved in, and familiar with, ecumenical work. This new resource is available on the CCCB website as a downloadable PDF which can be printed and distributed without charge.

In the concluding remarks of the document, the Bishops state: “We are called to be a Church in dialogue because God has entered into a redeeming life-giving dialogue with the world, and sends us forth in his name. The disunity and dissension within the Body of Christ is a contradiction and undermining of the message we proclaim.” The Bishops continue by noting that “the anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the ways that we have grown together in these five decades, and to consider how we are being called to deepen our commitment to journey together with other Christians today on the path to full ecclesial unity. There is much reason to rejoice.”

This document complements an earlier publication released in August 2014 entitled: “A Church in Dialogue: Catholic Ecumenical Commitment” which is intended for parishes, colleges, and high schools as well as discussion groups and can still be ordered via CCCB publications at 1-800-769-1147 or online at www.cccbpublications.ca 

(CCCB – Ottawa)… Pope Francis will preside at the opening of the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization. The ceremony will take place in Rome on October 5, 2014, in Saint Peter’s Square. The Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), will be present. He is the only Bishop of Canada to be a member of the Synod.

The Synod will meet until October 19, 2014. Altogether, there will be 191 Synod Fathers, including the CCCB President, 16 experts, 38 auditors from whom there will be 14 couples from all the continents, and eight delegates from other Christian denominations. In addition, the Holy See has appointed Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., CEO of Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation, as the press secretary for English-speaking media during the Synod.

During the 2014 CCCB Plenary Assembly this past September, the Bishops of Canada reflected on the Instrumentum laboris for the Synod. A panel of four Bishops spoke on the preparatory document from the following perspectives: multicultural urban, the Most Reverend Daniel Miehm, Auxiliary Bishop of Hamilton; Indigenous, the Most Reverend Murray Chatlain, Archbishop of Keewatin – Le Pas; Francophone, the Most Reverend Denis Grondin, Auxiliary Bishop of Québec; and traditional rural, the Most Reverend Valéry Vienneau, Archbishop of Moncton.

Later during the Plenary Assembly, CCCB President Archbishop Durocher invited all the Bishops to offer suggestions for his written intervention at the Synod, as well as on other points that might be considered during the Synod. All interventions and discussions at the Synod will be confidential, in order to ensure full freedom and frankness of expression.

A Vatican news conference on October 3 outlined how the Extraordinary Assembly will work. The General Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, said that each day there will be a briefing in the Holy See Press Office, with the participation of various Synod Fathers, as well as daily bulletins and also a Twitter service to transmit brief summaries of the most important news in real time. This Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod will be followed next year with an Ordinary Assembly at which a larger gathering of Bishops will reflect on “The vocation and the mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world”.

Salt + Light TV will offer a special daily coverage of the Synod, including the Opening and the Closing Mass. The final Mass will also include the Beatification of Pope Paul VI. The Holy See is posting a special Webpage which will carry footage of all the celebrations and news conference that will be broadcast by the Vatican Television Network (CTV).

Link to the Instrumentum laboris

Link to the Holy See’s special Webpage

Link to the Salt + Light schedule

With the support and collaboration of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) today, October 3, 2014, launched a national Campaign for Palliative and Home Care, and against Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. The campaign’s theme is “Life-Giving Love”. A special website is dedicated to the campaign.

The Catholic Bishops of Canada have repeatedly called for positive steps to secure truly compassionate palliative care options for all Canadians. In his video presentation for the new campaign, the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the CCCB, notes that with growing general demands for legislation to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, “it becomes all the more urgent to respond to the call by the Second Vatican Council for a formed, informed, committed laity in the midst of our world.”

The campaign was announced during the recent 2014 Plenary Assembly of the CCCB. The outgoing Chairman of COLF, the Most Reverend Noël Simard, Bishop of Valleyfield, together with the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and new Chairman of COLF, announced that after consulting the CCCB Executive, COLF decided to proceed with this initiative.

For the national campaign, COLF is offering various resources which include the video message from CCCB President Archbishop Durocher, a leaflet, a prayer card for life, and suggested prayers of the faithful. All resources are available at no cost on the new website. The Conference’s support of the campaign is part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Life and Family which the Bishops of Canada approved in 2011. The CCCB webpage for the national pastoral initiative already includes a special section with resources and links to other websites on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Link to the special Website
Link to video message by the CCCB President
Link to COLF’s Media release

The Apostolic Nunciature to Canada announced on September 8, 2014, that the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples has appointed the Rev. Kieran Kilcommons as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Whitehorse. The former Bishop of Whitehorse, the Most Reverend Gary Gordon, was appointed Bishop of Victoria by the Holy Father on June 14, 2014, and then served as Apostolic Administrator of Whitehorse until installed as Bishop of Victoria on August 28, 2014.