In a letter sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Most Reverend Brendan O’Brien, Chairman of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops denounces the practices of a Canadian mining company in El Salvador.
(CCCB – Ottawa) – Pope Benedict XVI today named Most Reverend Richard Grecco as Bishop of Charlottetown. At the time of his appointment he was Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto.
(CCCB – Ottawa) – Pope Benedict XVI today named Most Reverend Richard Grecco as Bishop of Charlottetown. At the time of his appointment he was Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto.
The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of Most Reverend J. Vernon Fougere, who is leaving office for reasons of health. He has been Bishop of Charlottetown since March 1992.
Bishop Grecco was born on 4 March 1946 in St. Catharines, Ontario. He was ordained priest on 2 September 1973 for the Diocese of St. Catharines, and named Auxiliary Bishop of London on 5 December 1997. Since 2002, he has been an Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Grecco served on the former Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of Peoples, and was a member and later also Chairman of what was at the time the English Sector Commission for Christian Education. He currently is a representative of the CCCB on the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, and is Bishop ponens with the Canadian English Sector of the Pontifical Missions Society as well as with the Charismatic Renewal Services of Canada.
The Diocese of Charlottetown has a Catholic population of 63,240 in 58 parishes and missions, served by 49 diocesan priests, three priests who are members of religious communities, one permanent deacon and 111 religious Sisters.
(CCCB – Ottawa)… A priest from the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Msgr Patrick Powers, P.H., becomes the new General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as of 1 March 2010. He will succeed the present General Secretary, Msgr Mario Paquette, P.H., who will leave office after completing his second and final three-year mandate, in accordance with the CCCB Bylaws.
(CCCB – Ottawa)… A priest from the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Msgr Patrick Powers, P.H., becomes the new General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as of 1 March 2010. He will succeed the present General Secretary, Msgr Mario Paquette, P.H., who will leave office after completing his second and final three-year mandate, in accordance with the CCCB Bylaws.
Msgr Powers was born in Montreal and lived there his early years. After studies in business at Sir George William University (today part of Concordia University, Montreal), he first worked for a major Canadian company where he served as employment and personnel services manager, among other responsibilities, before entering the Ottawa major seminary at the beginning of the 1980s.
Ordained priest in 1986, Msgr Powers holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Saint Paul University, Ottawa, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
Given his strong background in administration, he was asked over the years to serve the Archdiocese in a number of capacities, including as executive secretary to the Archbishop, episcopal vicar for administration, general secretary of the fundraising campaign for the 150th anniversary of the Archdiocese, and Vicar General. He oversaw the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, and led the Ottawa diocesan youth pilgrims at the World Youth Day celebrations in Manila, Paris, Rome and Toronto. In 2005, while remaining a Vicar General of the Archdiocese, he became Rector of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.
Msgr Powers has also served outside the Archdiocese of Ottawa, including as a member of the Insurance Management Board of the Ontario Assembly of Catholic Bishops, as well as president of the Canadian Canon Law Society, 2002 to 2004.
Tie Holy See presented today a new Encyclical on the social doctrine of the Church, “Caritas in veritate”. This constitutes the third Encyclical of Benedict XVI since he was elected Pope in April 2005.
(CCCB – Ottawa) – Pope Benedict XVI today named Most Reverend Albert LeGatt as Archbishop of Saint Boniface. At the time of his appointment, he was Bishop of Saskatoon.
The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Émilius Goulet, P.S.S., in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which sets the mandatory age of retirement for bishops at 75. Archbishop Goulet, who turned 76 last May, has served the diocese of Saint Boniface for a little more than a year past his 75th birthday. He had been appointed Archbishop of Saint Boniface in September 2001.
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| Most Reverend Émilius Goulet, P.S.S. |
(CCCB – Ottawa) – Pope Benedict XVI today named Most Reverend Albert LeGatt as Archbishop of Saint Boniface. At the time of his appointment, he was Bishop of Saskatoon.
The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Émilius Goulet, P.S.S., in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which sets the mandatory age of retirement for bishops at 75. Archbishop Goulet, who turned 76 last May, has served the diocese of Saint Boniface for a little more than a year past his 75th birthday. He had been appointed Archbishop of Saint Boniface in September 2001.
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| Most Reverend Albert LeGatt |
Born on May 6 1953, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Bishop LeGatt was ordained a priest on 19 June 1983 for the Diocese of Prince Albert. Before his appointment as Bishop of Saskatoon, in July 2001, he had served in several parishes and had held the office of Diocesan Consultor, Director of Vocations and Coordinator of the Diocesan Commission for Liturgy.
Bishop LeGatt studied at the College of Saint Boniface where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He has worked with Canadian University Students Overseas (CUSO) where he taught young people in Ghana for three years, before returning to Canada for his theological studies with the Grand Séminaire at Laval University, Quebec City.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Archbishop-elect LeGatt has served on the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council (formerly the Council for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion with Aboriginal Peoples). He is currently the Chairman of the English Sector Commission for Liturgy and Sacraments.
The Diocese of Saint Boniface has a Catholic population of 113,495 in 103 parishes and missions, served by 75 diocesan priests, 36 religious order priests, 24 permanent deacons and 307 religious Sisters and Brothers.
(CCCB – Ottawa) In its report on five Mexican Non-Governmental Organizations that had received project funding from Development and Peace, the Committee of Inquiry of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has come to the conclusion the allegations are unfounded “that financial assistance by Development and Peace aided projects related to the promotion of abortion.” At the same time as recognizing that the five Mexican organizations were imprudent in signing a United Nations report on the human rights situation in Mexico that included orientations not in accord with Catholic teaching, the Committee of Inquiry has encouraged the CCCB to continue to support Development and Peace, which it had founded more than 40 years ago.
The report was presented to the CCCB Permanent Council, which accepted it and its recommendations. Following this, a statement has been issued by CCCB President Archbishop V. James Weisgerber.
In light of the facts uncovered in its visit to Mexico, 15 to 18 April 2009, the Committee has issued seven recommendations to ensure this situation does not happen again. Its recommendations include:
The Committee of Inquiry comprised Most Reverend Martin W. Currie, Archbishop of St. John’s and Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Most Reverend François Lapierre, P.M.É., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Assisting them were Msgr. Mario Paquette, P.H., CCCB General Secretary, and Msgr. Carlos Quintana Puente, C.S.S., from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he is Director of the Collection for the Church in Latin America. Three persons from Development and Peace saw to travel arrangements and other details of the visit to Mexico, where they also helped in organizing the visit and facilitating contacts. The staff from Development and Peace were Mr. Michael Casey, Executive Director; Mr. Paul Cliche, Deputy Director of the International Programs Department; and Mr. André Charlebois, Program Officer for Latin America.
(CCCB-Ottawa)… During its meeting on 18 June 2009, the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) received the report by the Committee of Inquiry that the CCCB had established to look into allegations concerning five Mexican organizations which had received project funding from the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. The Permanent Council, chaired by CCCB President Most Reverend V. James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg, also reflected on the recommendations by the Committee of Inquiry.
Following the usual procedure, the Bishops of Canada will receive the recommendations next for their information. After this, the recommendations will later be made public and posted on the CCCB website. Until the recommendations are published, neither the CCCB nor Development and Peace will be commenting on them.
The Committee of Inquiry was composed of Most Reverend Martin W. Currie, Archbishop of St. John’s and Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Most Reverend François Lapierre, P.M.É., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Assisting them were Msgr. Mario Paquette, P.H., CCCB General Secretary, and Msgr. Carlos Quintana Puente, C.S.S., from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where he is Executive Director of its Secretariat for the Church in Latin America.
In the course of a visit to Mexico, 15 to 18 April 2009, the Committee met with representatives of the Mexican Episcopal Conference, as well as with senior representatives of the organizations which have been accused of expressing support for abortion.
Development and Peace was founded by the Bishops of Canada in 1967 as the official Canadian Catholic agency for development work and emergency relief in the Global South. It is also the Canadian branch of Caritas Internationalis.
This document is only available in French.
(CCCB – Ottawa)…. Most Reverend Gilles Cazabon, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus of Saint-Jérôme, was elected one of three Vice Presidents of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) during the recent meeting of its Governing Board, held in Ottawa.
Along with Bishop Cazabon, the CCC Executive for the next three years will comprise Rev. Bruce Adema, of the Christian Reformed Church, as President; Major Gillian Brown, of the Salvation Army, and Father John Jillions, of the Orthodox Church in America, also as Vice Presidents; and Mr Don Taylor of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, as Treasurer.
(CCCB – Ottawa)…. Most Reverend Gilles Cazabon, O.M.I., Bishop Emeritus of Saint-Jérôme, was elected one of three Vice Presidents of the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) during the recent meeting of its Governing Board, held in Ottawa.
Along with Bishop Cazabon, the CCC Executive for the next three years will comprise Rev. Bruce Adema, of the Christian Reformed Church, as President; Major Gillian Brown, of the Salvation Army, and Father John Jillions, of the Orthodox Church in America, also as Vice Presidents; and Mr Don Taylor of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, as Treasurer.
Also during the same meeting of the Governing Board, the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada was accepted as a full member of the CCC. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has already been a full member since 1997.
The Canadian Council of Churches is the largest ecumenical body in Canada. Established in 1944, its members comprise 22 Churches and ecclesial communities, including Anglican, Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholics.
(CCCB – Ottawa)…. Following their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI earlier today, Archbishop V. James Weisgerber, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, expressed their deep gratitude for the special attention given by the Holy Father to the question of Aboriginal residential schools that had been operated by Catholic dioceses and religious communities.
(CCCB – Ottawa)…. Following their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI earlier today, Archbishop V. James Weisgerber, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, expressed their deep gratitude for the special attention given by the Holy Father to the question of Aboriginal residential schools that had been operated by Catholic dioceses and religious communities.
The private meeting with members of the Canadian delegation followed Wednesday morning’s General Audience. In addition to Archbishop Weisgerber and Chief Fontaine, the Canadian delegation was composed of representatives of Aboriginal communities and of Catholic dioceses and religious communities in Canada.
The Aboriginal representatives were all former students of residential schools: Mr. Peter Kelly, an Elder; Mr. Edward John, Grand Chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation, British Columbia; Ms. Delia Opekokew, a Cree lawyer; and Ms Kathleen Mahoney, a professor of law and negotiator of the Indian Residential Schools settlement.
The representatives of Catholic dioceses and religious communities were Most Reverend Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan and Chair of the Corporation of Catholic Entities that signed the Residential School Settlement Agreement; Father Tim Coonen, O.M.I, representative of congregations of men religious who are included in the Agreement; Sister Marie Zarowny, S.S.A., representative of congregations of women religious who are included in the Agreement; and Mr. Pierre-L. Baribeau, legal advisor to the Catholic Entities.
According to Archbishop Weisgerber, the Holy Father expressed his compassion toward the Aboriginal communities of Canada for the unfortunate events that occurred in the residential schools for over a century and assured them of the support of the entire Catholic Church. “His face spoke even louder than his words, “ said Archbishop Weisgerber. “He listened intently and one could see how saddened he was by these traumatic events of the past and their continued effects on the lives of the people today. The Holy Father expressed the prayer and hope that this event would help the Aboriginal communities of Canada be internally freed from this historic tragedy and enabled to create a strong future. The Pope offered his spiritual support and presence for the Church in Canada as it continues to work in partnership with Aboriginal communities in building this future together.”
Since the early 1990s, Catholic religious communities and dioceses that had been involved in the Residential Schools have expressed their regrets to the Aboriginal Peoples for the painful abuses they suffered in the schools. This meeting with Pope Benedict XVI opens a new chapter in the relationship between Aboriginal Peoples and the Catholic Church in Canada.