The installation of Most Reverend Richard Smith as Archbishop of Edmonton will take place at 7:30 p.m., in Saint Joseph Cathedral Basilica, Edmonton.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Most Rev. Smith as Archbishop of Edmonton on 22 March 2007.
The first National Symposium on the Theology of the Body organized by the Catholic Organization for Life and Family will be held this week.
This event will take place in Edmonton, Alberta, on 15 and 16 June 2007. The theme is “Towards a New Sexual Revolution,” and the purpose is to promote the teachings of Pope John Paul II on the profound meaning of life, sexuality and true love – three of God’s gifts.
Who hasn’t heard of the term "stem cells”? Medical research using these infinitely small particles of the human body promises miracle cures for terrible illnesses. While some researchers are very enthusiastic about the therapeutic potential of embryonic stem cells, others raise ethical objections and suggest that we focus our energies and funds on researching adult stem cells.
The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has created a new brochure on this issue. Presented in a question-answer format, this document offers a positive reflection about the advances of science while being nuanced by Christian ethics.
The words of Jesus "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another" (Jn 13:34) inspired Pope Benedict XVI for his message on the occasion of the 22nd World Youth Day, to be celebrated on Passion Sunday, 1 April 2007.
Development and Peace calls on Catholics to contribute generously in support of communities in the Global South.
The 2007 Share Lent campaign from Development and Peace moves into high gear this year on Sunday March 25, when a special cross-Canada collection is being held in all Catholic churches in Canada.
http://www.devp.org/devpme/eng/pressroom/
2007/comm2007-03-23-eng.html
(Ottawa-CCCB)… His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI today named Bishop Richard Smith as Archbishop of Edmonton. Since his episcopal ordination in June 2002, he has served as Bishop of Pembroke. The Edmonton see has been vacant since Archbishop Thomas Collins was appointed Archbishop of Toronto.
Archbishop-elect Smith was born on April 28, 1959, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987, for the Archdiocese of Halifax where he served in a number of positions including as Vicar General and as responsible for the pastoral ministry of French-speaking Catholics in Halifax. He holds a master’s degree in divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, as well as a licentiate and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Since becoming Bishop, Archbishop-elect Smith has been an active member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has been a member of the English Sector Commission for Christian Education since 2003, and is its current Chairman, and is also the national spiritual advisor of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada. As well, he is currently President of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Archdiocese of Edmonton has a population of 333,000 Catholics in 137 parishes and missions served by 75 diocesan priests, 87 religious priests, two permanent deacons and 379 religious Brothers and Sisters as well as 52 lay pastoral workers.
Most Reverend André Gaumond, Archbishop of Sherbrooke and President of the CCCB, has issued a reflection on the new Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis.
According to the CCCB President, in his text Pope Benedict XVI offers the Catholic Church a rich meditation on the theological, spiritual and pastoral dimensions of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and how it relates to the many aspects of the Church’s life as well as to one’s personal journey of conversion. “This new papal text offers light and guidance in our preparations for the 49th International Eucharist Congress to be held in Quebec City in 2008,” Archbishop Gaumond also said.
Reflection by the President
of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
on the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS
of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
In his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope Benedict XVI offers the Catholic Church a rich meditation on the theological, spiritual and pastoral dimensions of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and how it relates to the many aspects of the Church's life as well as to our personal journeys of conversion. In doing this, he also points out the challenges the Church faces in the current cultural situations and to which Catholics are invited to respond in faithfulness to the Gospel.
The threefold structure of the Exhortation provides an overview of the essentials of the Catholic faith concerning the Eucharistic mystery. The Pope recalls the central importance of the Eucharist as "the sum and summary of our faith" (no. 6). Part One, entitled "The Eucharist, A Mystery To Be Believed", shows how the Church's faith in the Eucharist relates to the Trinity, the Paschal Mystery, the Church and the other sacraments. Part Two, "The Eucharist, A Mystery To Be Celebrated", presents a series of practical reflections on the beauty and way of celebrating, in view of promoting a good understanding of active participation in the liturgy. Part Three, "The Eucharist, A Mystery To Be Lived", shows how Eucharistic spirituality is to inspire the whole Christian life. The Eucharist transforms human existence by uniting it to the gift of love that we receive, so we in turn can communicate this love from the Lord to all humanity, which is expressed in the missionary dynamic of the Church.
The Pope frequently refers to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, as well as those of his predecessors, particularly Pope John Paul II. Drawing also from the treasures of Church tradition, he thus offers a thoughtful reflection on the work of the Bishops during their October 2005 Synod on the Eucharist in Rome. This is a global vision which is powerfully articulated, an all-encompassing catechesis on our faith in relation to the Eucharist, carefully set in the perspective of God's love, following the emphasis of the Pope's first Encyclical Letter, Deus Caritas Est.
This new papal text offers light and guidance in our preparations for the 49th International Eucharist Congress to be held in Quebec City in 2008, as well as providing an orientation and meditation to assist eventually in implementing the new English-language and French-language editions of the Roman Missal. As President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I encourage Catholics to read, pray, discuss and live the orientations that the Holy Father offers in this Apostolic Exhortation.
+ André Gaumond
Archbishop of Sherbrooke
President
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
To order the Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, please click here.
The installation of Most Reverend David Motiuk as Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 24 March 2007 at St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Church, Edmonton.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Motiuk as Eparchial Bishop of Edmonton on 25 January 2007.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has released its 2007 Directory.
This annual bilingual publication has a wealth of useful information on the Bishops of Canada, in office and retired, as well as their dioceses.
(CCCB – Ottawa) The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has released its 2007 Directory.
This annual bilingual publication has a wealth of useful information on the Bishops of Canada, in office and retired, as well as their dioceses.
One complete section is on CCCB functions: its Executive Committee and President, its Commissions and other committees, and its General Secretariat. The booklet also provides information on the Holy Father and the Vatican, the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada, the country’s regional episcopal assemblies, and a list of the CCCB members who serve on Canadian national associations or assist the Holy See.
The 2007 Directory is available for $13.95 (taxes and shipping not included). Copies can be ordered online at www.cccbpublications.ca, by email at public@cccb.ca, by phone at 1-800-769-1147, or by fax at 613-241-5090.
The CCCB is the assembly of the Bishops of Canada, assisting them in their various pastoral responsibilities, at the same time as respecting the autonomy of each Bishop in the service of his particular Church. Through its members, the Conference is involved in national and international issues, as well as providing the country’s Bishops a forum to discuss their ministry, the life of the Church and contemporary developments.
The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, On the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission, was released on 13 March. Pope Benedict XVI signed the text which follows the XIth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in October 2005.
Order it now at publi@cccb.ca.