(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI during a solemn Mass in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, October 21, 2012.  Blessed Kateri will be the first Indigenous woman from North America to be canonized. Approximately 1500 Canadian pilgrims are expected to participate in the celebrations in Rome, the majority from the First Nations and other Indigenous communities, as well as 17 Canadian Bishops. These include His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and Bishop Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., of Saint-Jean-Longueuil. As the Bishop of the territory which is now the Canadian diocese where Blessed Kateri lived and died, Bishop Gendron has a key role in organizing the celebrations marking her canonization.

A Prayer Vigil will be held in Rome on 20 October, at 8:00 pm, at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, which is the cathedral church of Rome. The Vigil will feature a video prepared by Salt and Light TV on the life of Blessed Kateri. The Canonization Mass will take place in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, 21 October, at 9:30 am. Six other Blesseds, three women and three men, will be also canonized during the celebration. On Monday, 22 October, at 10:00 am, the Canadian pilgrims will be invited to a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.  Salt + Light Television will broadcast live both the Canonization Mass and the Mass of Thanksgiving. 

Several local celebrations will also take place in Canada simultaneously and following the Canonization. The Shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha in Kahnawake, Quebec, in the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, is organizing a Prayer Vigil on Saturday, 20 October, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. On Sunday, 21 October at 9:00 am, there will be a re-broadcast of the Canonization Mass in Rome; with Mass at 10:30 am, followed by Adoration  and, at 5:00 pm, Benediction. The ceremonies at the Shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha will be principally in English, with parts in French as well as in Mohawk. In addition, the Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario, on 21 October at 11:00 am, will have a procession with the relics and statue of Blessed Kateri, followed at noon with Mass and blessing with the relics.  For more information about all the celebrations across Canada, visit the special Canonization webpage on the CCCB website. 

The national celebration to commemorate the Canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha will take place on November 4, 2012, at 2:30 pm, at Saint Joseph Oratory in Montreal. For this celebration, individuals and groups need to get tickets prior to the event. 

(CCCB – Ottawa) … October 11, 2012, is the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. To commemorate this, the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has published a pastoral letter titled The Second Vatican Council: What was it and why is it important today? Its publication is part of the many celebrations surrounding the 50^th anniversary, including today’s celebration in Rome presided by Pope Benedict XVI.

The celebration with the Holy Father marks the opening of the Year of Faith, the 50^th anniversary of the Council, and the 20^th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In his Angelus message of October 10, Pope Benedict described the documents of the Council as “a compass guiding the ship of the Church” in our time. He explained how the Council is “the starting point for a new relationship between the Church and the modern age” in order “to show our world … the requirements of the Gospel in all its greatness and purity.”

In its pastoral letter, the CCCB Commission for Doctrine deals with the “what” and the “why” of Vatican II and its continuing importance for the Church, as well as regarding the Council documents themselves. Among the principal documents of the Council, the Commission notes the four most important (known as “Constitutions”): Sacrosanctum Concilium (on the Liturgy), Lumen Gentium (on the Church), Dei Verbum (on the Word of God), and Gaudium et Spes (on the Church in the Modern World). The Commission points out how these and other Vatican II documents continue to impact the lives of Catholics today.

At the end of its message, the Commission calls on Canadian Catholics, “with great hope, joy, and trust in the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ,” to “celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the opening of this great council” and “look forward to the fruit that will continue to be borne.” Noting that the Church will also be celebrating the anniversaries of the individual conciliar documents over the next four years, the Commission encourages “priests, deacons, religious, and all the lay faithful – especially young people – to engage in a renewed reading and study of these documents with open minds so that we may all come to a more authentic and unified vision of God’s call for his Church in our time.”

Joining the Holy Father for the October 11 celebration in Rome were the Presidents of the world’s Episcopal Conferences, together with the Bishops, clergy, religious and laity involved with the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, and a number of Bishops emeriti who had participated in the Second Vatican Council. The Most Reverend Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec City and Primate of the Church in Canada, represented CCCB President Archbishop Richard Smith at the celebration in the Vatican. Archbishop Smith is currently involved in celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Archdiocese of Edmonton. The Year of Faith will be celebrated from October 11, 2012, to November 24, 2013. Dioceses across Canada and around the world will be celebrating this year in various ways.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will preside the opening of the Synod of Bishops on The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.  The ceremony will take place in Rome on October 7, 2012, in Saint Peter’s Square. Four Bishops from Canada will participate in the opening as members of the Synod. They were elected as delegates of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The four are the Most Reverend Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec City; the Most Reverend Brian Dunn, Bishop of Antigonish; the Most Reverend François Lapierre, P.M.É., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe; and the Most Reverend John Corriveau, O.F.M. Cap, Bishop of Nelson. The two CCCB substitute delegates are the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, and the Most Reverend Anthony Mancini, Archbishop of Halifax.

The Synod will meet until October 28, 2012. It brings together Bishops from around the world, as well as experts and auditors. Among the experts is one Canadian woman religious Sister Gill Goulding, C.J., Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Spirituality at Regis College of the University of Toronto. In addition, the Vatican has appointed Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., CEO of Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation as the press secretary for English-speaking media during the Synod.

A summary of the interventions of the Canadian delegates will be made available on the CCCB Website after they have been given at the Synod. This past June 19, the Most Reverend Nikola Eterovic and Msgr. Fortunato Frezza, C.S.S., respectively General Secretary and Under Secretary of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, presented the “Instrumentum Laboris” or working document for what is the 13^th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

Link to the document

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada will be held in parishes across the country on September 29 and 30, 2012. The Collection was established by the Bishops of Canada in 1975. It supports the work the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) by assisting dioceses to pay their annual per capita assessment to the CCCB. Any funds raised in excess of the assessed amount are available to the diocese for its own purposes.

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

• Letter from the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton and President of the CCCB;
• Two articles for publication in parish bulletins;
• A brief overview of CCCB 2011-2012 projects; and
• The CCCB logo.

In his letter to parishes, Archbishop Smith points out that “there are many meaningful events taking place this fall in the Catholic Church: the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization, the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, as well as the launching of the Year of Faith by Pope Benedict XVI.  In this context of joy and celebration, the Bishops of Canada are calling on the generosity of the faithful to ensure the success of the Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada.”

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. After the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the CCCB became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences, established in 1965 as an integral part of the life of the universal Church.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has appointed Mr. Michel Nolin as French-language Assistant General Secretary. Before joining the CCCB staff, Mr. Nolin was Coordinator of Pastoral Services for the Archdiocese of Gatineau.

Mr. Nolin holds a BA in theology from Saint Paul University, Ottawa; a teaching certificate from the University of Montreal; a licentiate and master’s degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne; a certificate in school administration from the Institut de pédagogie de l’enseignement catholique, Angers, France; and a diploma in adult education from the Université du Québec en Outaouais. He is completing a doctorate in practical theology with Laval University. He has previously served as business administrator for the Diocese of Kerema, Papua-New Guinea, and lay missionary animator for the Diocese of Bourges, France, in addition to other varied experiences over a three-year period working in educational institutions. 

The two Assistant General Secretaries and the Director of Administration work closely with the General Secretary in coordinating the work of the Conference. Because Assistant General Secretaries at times act on behalf of the General Secretary, their appointments need to be ratified by the Plenary Assembly. Mr. Nolin’s appointment will thus be on the agenda of the upcoming CCCB Plenary Assembly. The position is for a three-year term, renewable.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. After the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the CCCB became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences, established in 1965 as an integral part of the life of the universal Church.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… On July 16, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Sylvain Lavoie, O.M.I., Archbishop of Keewatin – Le Pas, Manitoba, according to canon 401, §2, and at the same time appointed Father William Stang, O.M.I., as Apostolic Administrator of the same Archdiocese.

Archbishop Lavoie was born on April 22, 1947 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.  He was ordained to the priesthood as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1974.  In addition to assuming various pastoral appointments within his Religious Institute, he worked in numerous parishes of the Archdiocese of Keewatin – Le Pas, whose territory includes parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  On July 11, 2005, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the same Archdiocese, when he succeeded the Most Reverend Peter Sutton, O.M.I., as Archbishop of Keewatin – Le Pas on March 25, 2006.

As mentioned above, Father William Stang, O.M.I., who, until now, has served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Keewatin – Le Pas, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. There are approximately 37,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese which includes 45 parishes and missions, with 15 diocesan and religious priests and seven women who are members of religious institutes.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today appointed the Reverend Gregory Bittman as Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton, Alberta. He will assist the Archbishop of Edmonton, the Most Reverend Richard W. Smith, who is also President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

Bishop-Elect Gregory Bittman was born on March 5, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta.  In 1991, he obtained a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Christ the King Seminary in Mission B.C., and in 2009, he obtained a JCL Degree in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America.   He was ordained to the priesthood on August 15, 1996.  At the time of his appointment to the episcopate, he was serving as Judicial Vicar and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.  He was also an Ex-Officio member of the College of Consultors, the Council of Priests, the Priests’ Personnel Committee, the Project Review Board and the Finance Council in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He has also served as the Spiritual Director to Seminarians over the past few years.

The Archdiocese of Edmonton has 126 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 378,545, served by 94 diocesan priests, 84 priests who are members of religious institutes, 20 permanent deacons, 271 religious Sisters and Brothers, and 42 lay pastoral workers.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today named the Reverend Marcel Damphousse as Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall. At the time of his appointment, he was Rector of the Saint-Boniface Cathedral in Manitoba. The new Bishop succeeds the Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher who was appointed Archbishop of Gatineau on October 12, 2011. Archbishop Durocher served as Diocesan Administrator of Alexandria-Cornwall until he was installed as Archbishop of Gatineau on November 30. Since then, the Reverend Kelvin Maloney has been Diocesan Administrator of Alexandria-Cornwall.

Born on March 19, 1963, in Saint-Joseph, Manitoba, Bishop-elect Damphousse was ordained a priest on June 28, 1991, for the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface. He served in a number of parishes throughout the Archdiocese before being named Rector of the Cathedral in 2008. The Bishop-elect earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1984 at the University College of Saint Boniface, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in theology in 1989 from Saint Paul University, Ottawa.  He received his formation for the priesthood at Saint Paul’s Seminary, Ottawa. In 2002 he earned a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Teresianum in Rome. 

For a number of years, Bishop-elect Damphousse taught at the Manitoba Catholic School of Evangelization, and was vocations director for more than 12 years. Before being appointed Rector of the Cathedral, he was chaplain at St. Boniface Diocesan High School for five years. Currently, he is a member of the Diocesan Finance Committee and of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy. He has also been the spiritual director of the TEC (To Encounter Christ) movement for the past eight years. 

The Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall has 29 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 55,570, which is served by 29 diocesan priests, one priest who is member of a religious community, 25 Religious Sisters and Brothers, and 19 permanent deacons.

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will meet in Saskatoon, 19-20 June 2012, immediately preceding the national event there by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 21 to 24 June. The members of the Aboriginal Council specifically chose to hold their semi-annual meeting in Saskatoon to demonstrate their solidarity with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). On the evening of 22 June, the Aboriginal Council will make a public declaration on the work of the TRC, as well as present TRC Chair Justice Murray Sinclair a framed print from the CCCB art collection.

The art piece is entitled “The Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist”. The artist, Tony Hunt, is from the Aboriginal community of Kwakiutl, Victoria, B.C. The original painting is on a cedar panel from Virginia. Commenting on his work, the artist has stated: “Although our cultures differ, within both traditions there appears a Creator and ‘historic’ figures who have dedicated themselves to the spiritual and secular well-being of mankind. I sincerely hope that through this very important project a greater understanding of native culture will result in a spiritual harmony for all peoples of this world.” The CCCB art collection dates back to 1975 when the Bishops of Canada commissioned 20 artists from across the country to create works which would convey the Christian message and also serve to illustrate one of its publications at the time, the Sunday Mass Book. 

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council is made up of seven indigenous representatives from different regions of Canada, some of whom had attended the former residential schools, in addition to two Catholic Bishops. The Bishops currently on the Aboriginal Council are the Most Reverend Claude Champagne, O.M.I., Bishop of Edmundston, and the Most Reverend Murray Chatlain, Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. The Council was established in 1998 by the CCCB to advise and assist it on issues relating to indigenous peoples in Canada, and to support and encourage efforts by the CCCB and individual Bishops toward reconciliation between the Catholic Church and indigenous communities.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formally established on June 1, 2008, following the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. It has a five-year mandate “to contribute to truth, healing and reconciliation”.

The CCCB Standing Committee on the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) met with the Liaison Committee of the CCODP National Council on May 31, 2012, at the offices of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) in Ottawa, and previously on 1 February at the Development and Peace offices in Montreal.

Each of the joint meetings was preceded by separate meetings of the Liaison Committee and of the Standing Committee. Following their separate discussions, the two committees met together. Both the 31 May and 1 February joint meetings considered a practical process to follow-up on an earlier CCODP invitation that the CCCB offer suggestions on various draft documents being prepared by Development and Peace.

The May and February meetings also discussed a CCODP initiative to develop a “3D approach to partnership,” based on Dialogue, Discernment and Decision. Dialogue would include conversations by Development and Peace with its actual or proposed partners. Discernment includes the ways by which CCODP liaises and dialogues with its partners and with the Bishops of Canada as well as with local Bishops in the Global South. Decisions remain the responsibility of Development and Peace as part of its overall accountability. There was agreement at both the February and May meetings to continue work on the 3-D process as a constructive way to ensure objectivity, transparency, and input from all parties involved. 

The members of the CCODP Liaison Committee are Mr. Ronald Breau, New Brunswick, President of the Development and Peace National Council; Mr. Patrick Hogan, Newfoundland, Past President of the National Council; Mr. Dick Mynen, British Columbia/Yukon National Council member; Mme Madeleine Pothier-Picard, Quebec National Council member; and Mr. Michael Casey, CCODP Executive Director.

The members of the CCCB Standing Committee are the Most Reverend John Boissonneau (Chairman), Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto; Pierre-André Fournier, Archbishop of Rimousk; André Gaumond, Archbishop emeritus of Sherbrooke; Fred Henry, Bishop of Calgary, together with CCCB General Secretary Msgr. Patrick Powers, P.H. In addition, the two Bishops currently appointed by the CCCB as members of the CCODP National Council also participate in the meetings of the Standing Committee: the Most Reverend Claude Champagne, O.M.I., Bishop of Edmundston, and Richard Grecco, Bishop of Charlottetown.