The installation of Most Reverend Robert Harris as Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick, will take place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, Friday 15 June 2007, at 3:00 p.m. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Most Rev. Harris as Bishop of Saint John on 8 May 2007.
Pope Benedict XVI today accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Marcel Gervais as Archbishop of Ottawa and named as his successor Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J. At the time of his appointment, Archbishop Prendergast was Archbishop of Halifax and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Gervais as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Ottawa until the new Archbishop takes canonical possession of his episcopal see. Most Reverend Marcel Gervais, who has been Archbishop of Ottawa since 1989, will retire once his successor officially begins, on a date yet to be determined. Archbishop Gervais had offered his letter of resignation to the Holy Father in September 2006, as required by the Code of Canon Law when Bishops reach 75 years of age.
Pope Benedict XVI today accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Marcel Gervais as Archbishop of Ottawa and named as his successor Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast, S.J. At the time of his appointment, Archbishop Prendergast was Archbishop of Halifax and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
At the same time, the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Gervais as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Ottawa until the new Archbishop takes canonical possession of his episcopal see. Most Reverend Marcel Gervais, who has been Archbishop of Ottawa since 1989, will retire once his successor officially begins, on a date yet to be determined. Archbishop Gervais had offered his letter of resignation to the Holy Father in September 2006, as required by the Code of Canon Law when Bishops reach 75 years of age.
Archbishop Prendergast was born in Montreal in 1944. A member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) since 1961, he was ordained priest on 10 June 1972. In 1995, Pope John Paul II named him Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto. Four years later, he was appointed Archbishop of Halifax, and in 2002 also became Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth.
Archbishop Prendergast holds a BA from Fordham University, New York, a master’s degree as well as a licentiate in theology, and also a doctorate in Scripture, from Regis College, Toronto, where he taught and was also dean. He has served as visiting professor of Scripture in various institutions, including the renowned École biblique et archéologique of Jerusalem.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Archbishop Prendergast has served on a number of organizations, committees and commissions. He is currently a member of the Commission for Theology.
The Archdiocese of Ottawa has 142 diocesan priests, 175 priests who are members of religious communities, 70 permanent deacons, 879 religious Brothers and Sisters, and 18 lay pastoral workers, serving some 400,000 Catholics in 111 parishes and missions.
World Communications Day will be celebrated on 20 May 2007. To mark this occasion, Pope Benedict XVI has published a message on the importance of educating children about the media.
The Holy Father's message…
“Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education” is the theme of 
Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for the 2007 World Day of Social Communications to be celebrated on Ascension Sunday, on 20 May 2007.
“Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education” is the theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s Message for the 2007 World Day of Social Communications to be celebrated on Ascension Sunday, on 20 May 2007.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today named Bishop Robert Harris as Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick. Since his episcopal ordination in December 2002, he has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie, Ontario.
He succeeds Bishop Martin Currie who has been the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese since the retirement of Most Reverend Faber MacDonald last September.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today named Bishop Robert Harris as Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick. Since his episcopal ordination in December 2002, he has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste-Marie, Ontario. He succeeds Bishop Martin Currie who has been the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese since the retirement of Most Reverend Faber MacDonald last September.
Bishop Harris was born in Montreal on 26 September 1944, ordained to the priesthood in 1969, and to the episcopate in 2002. He holds a licentiate in theology from the Grand Séminaire de Montréal and a licentiate in canon law from the Gregorian University in Rome. Before being named to the Diocese of Sault Ste-Marie, he had been pastor for a number of English-speaking parishes in the Archdiocese of Montreal as well as its Vice Chancellor, vocations director for the English-speaking Catholic community, general coordinator of English-language pastoral services and episcopal vicar for English-speaking Catholics. As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the new Bishop of Saint John is currently the Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Canon Law / Inter-Rite, and formerly was a member of the English Sector Commission for Social Communications.
The Diocese of Saint John has 65 diocesan priests, three priests who are members of religious communities, two permanent deacons, 121 religious Brothers and Sisters and 20 lay pastoral assistants, serving a population of over 115,000 Catholics in 91 parishes and missions.
On May 1st, 2007, International Workers’ Day, the Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly of Québec Catholic Bishops (AQCB) proposes a reflection on finding a balance between the value of our work and the demands of new technologies.
AQCB is one of four Episcopal regional assemblies in Canada.
Father Joseph Arsenault has been named Associate Judicial Vicar of the Canadian Appeal Tribunal at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).(CCCB-Ottawa) Father Joseph Arsenault has been named Associate Judicial Vicar of the Canadian Appeal Tribunal at the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). While retaining the title of Chancellor of the Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick, at least until its new Bishop is appointed, Father Arsenault assists Msgr. Alan McCormack, P.H., who has been Judicial Vicar of the Appeal Tribunal since February 2004.
Born in 1964, he grew up in Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick, in October 2000. As well as working in various parishes, Father Arsenault has also served the diocese as Chancellor and Vicar General as well as ecumenical officer.
Father Arsenault holds a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. He has also studied at the University of Toronto, York University, Toronto, and Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, as well as the Centre Pro Unione, Rome.
The Canadian Appeal Tribunal was established by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1984, and deals exclusively with marriage questions and declarations of nullity. As national tribunal, it is the only “second instance” tribunal in Canada and receives cases from the diocesan tribunals. After careful study and, if necessary, additional evidence, the Appeal Tribunal confirms or reverses the “first instance” decision. Its work is both juridical and pastoral.
– 30 –
For more information contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director of Communications
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca
Both National Liturgy Offices of the CCCB have been involved in compiling a series of texts to assist individuals, parishes and dioceses when there are occasions to offer prayer and spiritual support for those serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and in security and peace-keeping missions.
From 9 to 13 May 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as Pope to the continent of America during the Fifth General Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops which will be held in Brazil.
Most Rev. James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg and Vice-President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), as well as Most Rev. Martin Currie, Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, will be the two Canadian delegates during this event, which will bring together the Bishops of Latin America together with episcopal representatives from Canada and the United States.
 |
| Most Rev. James Weisgerber Archbishop of Winnipeg |
 |
| Most Rev. Martin Currie Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Apostolic administrator of Saint John, NB |
(CCCB – Ottawa)… From 9 to 13 May 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit as Pope to the continent of America during the Fifth General Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops which will be held in Brazil.
Most Rev. James Weisgerber, Archbishop of Winnipeg and Vice-President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), as well as Most Rev. Martin Currie, Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, will be the two Canadian delegates during this event, which will bring together the Bishops of Latin America together with episcopal representatives from Canada and the United States.
The theme of the conference is “Disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ, so that our peoples may have life in Him: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’ (Jn 14:6)”. The Pope’s agenda will include opportunities for ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. On 10 May 2007, in São Paolo, he will meet with representatives from the Jewish and Muslim communities as well as representatives from other Christian Churches.
The Fifth General Conference is being held almost ten years after the Special Synod of the Bishops for America which was called by Pope John Paul II in the fall of 1997.
It will be the second time that Brazil welcomes the General Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Bishops. The first assembly was in Rio de Janeiro in 1955, followed by Medellin (1968), Puebla (1979) and Santo Domingo (1992).
It should also be noted that since 1967 the Bishops of the Church in America meet regularly, currently once a year. The last meeting of this kind was in Toronto in February 2006.
The World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be held on 29 April 2007. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has published a message inviting Catholics to reflect on the meaning of vocations and to pray for this intention.