The French Sector Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Office national de liturgie are informing Canadian French-speaking dioceses, parishes, bookstores and religious communities that the revised European edition of the French-language Lectionary now on sale is not approved for use in Canada. Although approved for use in Europe (France, Belgium, Switzerland), the Holy See and the Canadian Bishops have not approved it for Canada. Instead, the Bishops of the CCCB French Sector have agreed the revised Lectionary for Canada should incorporate inclusive language. The new Canadian edition of the French-language Lectionary is expected to be available in about a year, once it has been canonically approved by the Bishops of Canada and received the recognitio of the Holy See.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada will be held in parishes across the country on September 27 and 28, 2014. In his letter to parishes, the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), states: “This year we have several reasons to celebrate our common journey in faith and evangelization. Pope Francis proclaimed two of the founders of the Church in Canada saints of the Universal Church: Bishop François de Laval and Mother Marie of the Incarnation. Many pilgrims are travelling to Quebec City for the 350th anniversary of the Parish Notre-Dame de Québec, North America’s first Catholic parish outside Spanish territories.”

Archbishop Durocher concludes his letter with the following invitation to all the faithful: “By contributing to the Collection, you collaborate with us in our ministry and in following the steps of Saint Francois de Laval and Saint Marie of the Incarnation who also gave a hand to helping the Gospel. Thank you for assuming your part in this wonderful project of evangelization and faith in your own region and throughout Canada.”

In order to promote the Collection and the work of the Episcopal Conference, the CCCB is making available an electronic version of the promotional kit on its website, www.cccb.ca. The electronic kit can be used by the parishes, Church media and diocesan communications services and includes the following documents:

• the letter from the CCCB President intended for pastors and collaborators in pastoral ministry;
• two short texts intended to be adapted or printed in parish bulletins on September 20 and 27, or distributed by other means of communication such as Websites and emails;
• suggested prayers of the faithful for the weekends of September 20 and 27;
• an overview of the projects, declarations and documents worked on by the CCCB over the course of the past year;
• the CCCB logo.

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The Standing Committee on Relations with Catholic Movements and Associations will be holding a Forum at the Auberge de la Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, September 12-14, 2014. Organized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and by invitation only, the Forum will bring together over 30 national Catholic movements and associations to share with one another and with Bishops about their activities as well as their experiences in evangelizing society.

The theme for this year’s Forum is The Door to Missionary Evangelization, with special emphasis on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. Resource persons have been invited to speak on the theme: Father Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., Chief Executive Officer of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, Mr. Brian McDonough, Director of the Social Action Office of the Archdiocese of Montréal, and representatives from two national movements who will share about their particular experiences as missionary evangelizers, La Famille Marie-Jeunesse and Catholic Christian Outreach.

On Sunday, September 14, participants will join in the celebration of the Pontifical Mass which the Archdiocese of Québec is organizing to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the parish Notre-Dame de Québec, the first Catholic parish canonically erected in North America outside Spanish territories.

The Standing Committee on Relations with Catholic Movements and Associations is responsible for assuring dialogue and links between the CCCB and national Catholic movements and associations in Canada. Every two or three years since 1996, the Bishops of Canada have convened forums with movements and associations from across the country to facilitate personal contacts and sharing with the Bishops and among the organizations themselves.

A delegation of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) August 16 – 26, 2014, is visiting projects supported by CCODP in Philippine communities that had been severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013. The delegation includes: the Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, C.S.B., Archbishop of Vancouver; the Most Reverend Jean-Louis Plouffe, Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie; Mr. Pat Kennedy, President of the National Council of Development and Peace; Mr. Arthur Peters, Executive Director of Share Life of the Archdiocese of Toronto; Mrs. Fran Lucas, National Chairperson of Community Life of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada; Sister Nida Fe Chavez, General Treasurer of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Toronto; and Dr. Patrick Fletcher, Senior Advisor for Theology and Social Doctrine with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The group is accompanied by three staff from Development and Peace: Executive Director Mr. Michael Casey; Programs Officer Mr. Jess Agustin; and Communications Officer Ms. Kelly Di Domenico.

Link to the CCODP Media release 
Report from Dr. Patrick Fletcher about a visit to a CCODP partner helping to organize a Philippine community of residents who have been living in shanties (PDF)

(CCCB – Ottawa)… To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio (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 a new popular resource, “A Church in Dialogue, Catholic Ecumenical Commitment“. This new CCCB resource is intended for parishes, colleges and high schools as well as discussion groups. It provides introductory information about the Catholic Church’s commitment to and involvement in ecumenism since the Second Vatican Council. The resource defines key terms and definitions which will assist those exploring ecumenism for the first time.

Printed copies of “A Church in Dialogue, Catholic Ecumenical Commitment” are available for purchase from CCCB Publications at 1-800-769-1147 or online at www.cccbpublications.ca. 

The CCCB, through its Commission, sponsors ecumenical dialogues with the Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Lutheran Church-Canada, the United Church of Canada, the Polish National Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Conference also participates as a full member in the Canadian Council of Churches and helps supports the work of the Canadian Center for Ecumenism.

Two of the ecumenical dialogues are co-sponsored by the CCCB and extend beyond Canada to all North America: the North American Orthodox – Catholic Theological Consultation, and the Polish National Catholic Church – Roman Catholic dialogue. Both were originally intended only for the USA but, at the invitation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the CCCB has also been involved for some years.

Reflecting on the past 50 years of ecumenical dialogue by the Bishops of Canada, the Commission notes: “We have grown greatly in our mutual understanding of one another. In some cases we have discovered that due to misunderstandings and polemics in the past, we had misjudged one another. We have uncovered surprising levels of common understanding and convergence in faith.”

The CCCB will later release another resource in the coming weeks to celebrate the Council’s Decree on Ecumenism. This second document is a more extensive and in- depth presentation of the Catholic Church’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue. It is an academic text intended primarily for clergy and academics as well as those involved in and familiar with ecumenical work. This more extensive document will be made available on the CCCB website as a PDF resource which can be downloaded and printed without charge.

PDF Version of A Church in Dialogue, Catholic Ecumenical Commitment 

Following the appeal by Pope Francis on August 7, 2014, and his Angelus message of July 20, the Holy See’s Secretariat of State has transmitted an urgent message to the world’s Catholic Bishops. In a letter received on August 8 by the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Bishops of Canada and their local Churches were invited “to unite with the Holy Father in steadfast prayer to invoke the gift of peace from the Holy Spirit.”

In a letter sent earlier on August 8, CCCB President Archbishop Durocher had already invited the Bishops of Canada to encourage their clergy, consecrated persons and all the faithful in their diocese to make an unceasing prayer for peace in Gaza, Iraq, and Syria, as well as throughout the Middle East. The President’s request cited the appeal to all the Church by Pope Francis on August 7 to “raise up with one voice a ceaseless prayer, imploring the Holy Spirit to send the gift of peace.” Also yesterday, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, issued a statement on the persecution of Iraqi Christians which the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, has described as a “crime against humanity”.

Catholic dioceses across Canada are already asking their parishes to include the Middle East situation in the Prayers of the Faithful. This is a solemn moment during the Eucharistic celebration when the needs of the Church and the world are recalled, and prayers offered for the sick and suffering as well as for Church and social leaders. In addition, some dioceses are inviting Catholics collaborate with other Canadians in urging members of Parliament to make the Middle East a priority for the Government of Canada. These priorities include doing more to provide Canadian emergency and reconstruction assistance, making it easier for Canadian communities to accept refugees, Canadian participation in international efforts to foster justice and peace in the region, and insisting that the world’s governments and societies respect freedom of conscience and religion as well as the rights of minorities.

In his statement, Cardinal Collins urged the Canadian government “to expand available spaces for Iraqi Christians seeking refuge in our country, and to remove any bureaucratic impediments to their reception.” In an invitation to the federal government and to all Canadians to “accelerate the process at once,” Cardinal Collins noted that the Archdiocese of Toronto is “the largest Canadian private sponsor of refugees from the region.” He said the Archdiocese stands “ready to welcome more, with parishes mobilized to facilitate sponsorship and settlement at a moment’s notice.” Following the Cardinal’s statement, the archdiocesan website invited Toronto-area Catholics to join “in prayer and advocacy efforts,” including a peaceful protest in the city’s downtown that is being organized by Catholic, Orthodox and Assyrian churches on Sunday, August 10, and to participate in an interfaith “Prayer for Peace” service with Cardinal Collins on Sunday, September 7, at Toronto’s St. Paul’s Basilica.

The CCCB and Canadian dioceses are also encouraging Catholics to support assistance and development agencies which are collecting funds for the suffering people of Iraq, Gaza and Syria. Three national Catholic agencies are supporting special projects in the region for emergency assistance and reconstruction: the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, CNEWA Canada, and Aid to the Church in Need. In addition to providing dioceses with a list of the special projects these Canadian agencies are sponsoring in the Middle East, the CCCB is also encouraging dioceses and Catholic organizations to use and share the information on the Middle East that is regularly provided by Caritas Internationalis. This international network of over 160 national Catholic charities serves the poor and needy of all faiths throughout the world. It also provides up-to-date reports on the Middle East on its website. These are available in English at http://www.caritas.org/where-we-are/middle-east-north-africa/, and in French at http://www.caritas.org/fr/ou-nous-trouver/mona/. 

Other dioceses throughout Canada have also announced projects focusing on the urgent needs of the Middle East. These include:

– An evening prayer vigil in Vancouver on Sunday, August 3, at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, to which Catholics, Protestants and non-Christians are welcome to pray for peace in Iraq, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and elsewhere in the Middle East, as well as in Ukraine and Russia. The Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, C.S.B., Archbishop of Vancouver, and the Iraqi community in the Archdiocese, are also asking Catholics to fast and pray for peace in Iraq.
– A special Mass in solidarity with Iraq’s Christians, which will be celebrated on Sunday, August 17, at Saint-Sacrement Church, Quebec City. This church is the Sanctuary for Peace of the Archdiocese of Québec. There will be prayer for the Middle East as well as all areas of the world which are living through violence and war.
– The Diocese of Hamilton is organizing a special Mass on October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi

(CCCB – Ottawa)… His Holiness Pope Francis today named the Most Reverend Gary Gordon as Bishop of Victoria. At the time of his appointment, he was Bishop of Whitehorse, Yukon. Bishop Gordon succeeds the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon who was appointed Archbishop of Winnipeg on October 28, 2013. Archbishop Gagnon served as Apostolic Administrator of Victoria until he was installed as Archbishop of Winnipeg on January 3, 2014. Since then, the Reverend John Laszczyk has been Diocesan Administrator of Victoria.

Born on June 10, 1957, in Burnaby, B.C., Bishop Gordon studied at the Seminary of Christ the King, Mission, B.C.; at St. Jerome College, University of Waterloo, Ontario; and at St. Peter’s Seminary, London, Ontario. Ordained to the priesthood on May 22, 1982, for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, he was named Bishop of Whitehorse on January 5, 2006. Prior to his appointment as Bishop in 2006, Bishop Gordon had served several parishes throughout British Columbia, including Vancouver, Chilliwack and Mission. He also served as the Pacific regional representative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) with the Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy of the Correctional Service of Canada (1994-2006), and was the CCCB principal liaison and spokesperson on the Interfaith Committee (2002-2006).

Since 2007, Bishop Gordon has been the CCCB Bishop ponens for Catholics involved in prison chaplaincy and pastoral services. In addition, he has been Chairman of the CCCB Standing Committee for Relations with Movements and Associations since 2011, after previously serving on the former Episcopal Commission for Relations with Associations of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity (2007-2008). He has been a member of the Anglican/Roman Catholic Bishops’ Dialogue since 2007, and has served as its Co-Chairman since 2009.

According to the CCCB 2014 Directory, the Diocese of Victoria has 41 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 94,465, served by 22 diocesan priests, 17 priests who are members of religious communities, two Brothers and 61 Sisters who are also members of religious communities.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) today announced the appointment of Mrs. Margaret Shea-Lawrence as Director of the English Sector Office for Catechesis (formerly the English Sector’s National Office of Religious Education). This appointment brings to completion several years of study and reflection by the Conference on its needs in the areas of evangelization and catechesis. The appointment will take effect September 1, 2014.

At the time of her appointment, Mrs. Shea-Lawrence was the Superintendent of Education for the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, a position she held since June 2008. Before then, she had served with the same school board in various capacities, including Superintendent of Human Resources and Religious Education; Principal of Religious Education; an elementary school principal; and as a religious education consultant. Before then, she had taught at Notre Dame Catholic High School, Carleton Place, Ontario, and at St. Mary Catholic High School, Brockville, Ontario.

Mrs. Shea-Lawrence holds a Master of Religious Education from Saint Paul University, Ottawa; an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate, a diploma in education from McGill University, and a BA from the University of Ottawa. She has served as the Chair of the Catholic Leadership and Faith Development Committee of the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association and as a member of its Board of Directors, as well as on committees of the Institute for Catholic Education, the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, and the Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative. In addition, she has served on committees for the Archdiocese of Ottawa, the Archdiocese of Kingston, and the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall. Mrs. Shea-Lawrence has been a member of curriculum writing teams with the Institute for Catholic Education, and has served as one of its theological reviewers.

As a superintendent of education, she was involved in the development of an Aboriginal Self-Identification Policy as well as Religious Accommodation Guidelines. Her previous portfolio responsibilities included religious and family life education; continuing education; ongoing adult faith formation; community use of schools; and parent involvement.

Mrs. Shea-Lawrence will assist the CCCB and the Episcopal Commission for Catechesis in implementing its new focus on evangelization, adult faith education, parish and home catechesis, and the formation of catechists. Both the Commission and the new Director will give special emphasis to networking and to coordinating on-line resources, in addition to developing related supplemental resources that the Bishops and dioceses of Canada may require.

The Most Reverend François Lapierre, P.M.É., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe and Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada (CCCB), has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, copied to the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of The Sudan, regarding a young Sudanese mother who was pregnant when sentenced to death. Her crime was converting from Islam to Christianity. The case is now under appeal in Sudan. The mother recently gave birth, a month premature. Both mother and child are in prison. Media reports indicate neither her husband nor lawyer are allowed to see her. Unless her sentence is overturned, she will receive 100 lashes and then be hanged once the child has been weaned. In his letter appealing for mercy, Bishop Lapierre asks “the Government of Canada to do whatever is possible to urge the Sudanese government to release Ms. Ibrahim and to respect the right to freedom of creed and worship….”

Link to the Letter

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Most Reverend Paul-Émile Charbonneau, Bishop Emeritus of Gatineau, died May 20, 2014, at the age of 92. He had been named Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa on November 15, 1960, and subsequently the first Bishop of Hull, today Gatineau, on May 21, 1963, both appointments by Pope (now Saint) John XXIII. Bishop Charbonneau retired because of health problems on April 12, 1973, at the age of 51. As Bishop, he participated in the plenary sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

Bishop Charbonneau was born in Sainte-Thérèse de Blainville, Quebec, on May 4, 1922. Ordained a priest in Montreal on May 31, 1947, by the Most Reverend Joseph Charbonneau, then Archbishop of Montreal, he was ordained Bishop on January 18, 1961, in the Cathedral of Ottawa by the Most Reverend Marie-Joseph Lemieux, O.P., then Archbishop of Ottawa. Prior to his episcopal ordination, Bishop Charbonneau was the Vicar General of the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme and pastor of the Parish Cathedral of Saint-Jérôme. After his resignation was accepted by the Holy Father, Bishop Charbonneau was the founding Bishop of a formation program for priests in Pierrefonds, Quebec. During his retirement he also often preached retreats for priests in the French Sector dioceses of Canada.

During his episcopal ministry, Bishop Charbonneau served on several Commissions and Committees of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), including as Chairman of the former Commission for Catholic Action and the Lay Apostolate (1965-1970); Chairman of the former department for internal relations, and Chairman of the then Office for the Laity(1969-1970). Bishop Charbonneau also served from 1966 to 1970 as a member of what was then the CCCB Board of Administration (today the Permanent Council), and from 1967 to 1970 on the former Commission for Theology (today the Commission for Doctrine).

The Funeral Mass will be on May 31 at 10:00 a.m. in Saint Joseph’s Oratory, Montreal, presided by the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Most Reverend Roger Ébacher, Archbishop emeritus of Gatineau, will give the homily.