On Saturday 16 Decembre 2006, Pope Benedict XVI named  as Archbishop of Toronto. At the time of his appointment, he was Archbishop of Edmonton.

Before making the appointment, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic as Archbishop of Toronto in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which fixes the age of retirement for bishops at 75. Cardinal Ambrozic has served the Archdiocese of Toronto almost two years beyond his 75th birthday, and will be celebrating his 77th birthday this coming January. He has served as Archbishop of Toronto since 1990, and was named to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 1998. In 2005, Cardinal Ambrozic participated in the papal conclave that elected the present Pope, Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Thomas Collins

Pope Benedict XVI today named Most Reverend Thomas Collins as Archbishop of Toronto. At the time of his appointment, he was Archbishop of Edmonton.

Before making the appointment, the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic as Archbishop of Toronto in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which fixes the age of retirement for bishops at 75. Cardinal Ambrozic has served the Archdiocese of Toronto almost two years beyond his 75th birthday, and will be celebrating his 77th birthday this coming January. He has served as Archbishop of Toronto since 1990, and was named to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 1998. In 2005, Cardinal Ambrozic participated in the papal conclave that elected the present Pope, Benedict XVI.

The new Archbishop of Toronto was born in 1947 in Guelph, Ontario. He holds a licentiate in Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University, also in Rome. Ordained priest in 1973 for the Diocese of Hamilton, he served in a number of pastoral appointments, including as assistant pastor of Holy Rosary parish, Burlington, Ontario, and of Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton. Before being appointed rector of Saint Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario, in 1995, he started teaching Scripture and dogmatic theology there in 1978, and later was named dean of its faculty of theology and serving as vice rector, 1992 to 1995.

In March 1997, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Saint-Paul in Alberta, and in June of the same year succeeded Most Reverend Raymond Roy as Bishop of St-Paul. In February 1999, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton, and in June that year became Archbishop upon the retirement of Most Reverend Joseph N. McNeil. Two years later, while remaining Archbishop of Edmonton, he was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of St-Paul, a responsibility he held for several months until the appointment of Most Reverend Luc Bouchard as Bishop of St-Paul.

Since his first appointment as bishop 10 years ago, Archbishop Collins has been active in the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of its Permanent Council, Programs and Priorities Committee, the episcopal committee for World Youth Day 2002 and the Commission for Theology as well as the Commission for Christian Unity / Religious Relations with the Jews / Interfaith Dialogue. He is currently liaison bishop with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada.

As Archbishop of Toronto, the Most Reverend Collins leads the largest Catholic diocese in Canada. It has a population of approximately 1,630,000 Catholics in 227 parishes and missions, served by 833 diocesan and religious priests, 111 permanent deacons, 715 religious Brothers and Sisters, and 61 pastoral workers.

On December 12th, Pope Benedict XVI issued his Message for the World Day of Peace which is celebrated each year on January 1st. 
 
"To begin the New Year, I would like to extend a Message of Peace to all world leaders and all men and women of good will…", the Holy Father stated among other things.

Read the Message of the Holy Father for the celebration of the World Day of Peace 2007

(Ottawa-CCCB) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 30 November, 2006, appointed Father Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, in Alberta.   succeeds Archbishop Arthé Guimond who is retiring after serving as Archbishop for the last six years, and having reached the retirement age of 75.

(Ottawa-CCCB) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 30 November, 2006, appointed Father Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, in Alberta.  succeeds Archbishop Arthé Guimond who is retiring after serving as Archbishop for the last six years, and having reached the retirement age of 75.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 September 1950, Archbishop-elect Pettipas studied at the University of Windsor, the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto and at St. Thomas College in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he obtained a master’s degree in religious studies. Member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), Archbishop-elect Pettipas has been involved in a number of pastoral ministries across Canada.  After his ordination as a priest in 1977, he was associate pastor at St. Teresa’s parish in St. John’s, Nfld.  He was then vocation director and part of the Redemptorist parish mission team in Ontario.  From 1990 to 1992, he was rector and director of Holy Redeemer College Retreat Centre in Windsor, Ontario, following which he was involved in youth missions from 1992 to 1995.  In 1999, he became pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, Grande Prairie, Alberta, where he served until his nomination as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan.

The Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan has a population of 44,000 Catholics in 66 parishes and missions served by seven diocesan priests, 19 religious priests, two permanent deacons and 34 religious Brothers and Sisters.

(CCCB – Ottawa)…  Archbishops Roger Ébacher (Gatineau, Qc) and Brendan M. O’Brien (St. John’s, Nfld) have denounced the deportation of a Rwandan refugee family as illustrating the Government of Canada’s ongoing violation of international law. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, they were representing the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Archbishop Brendan M. O’Brien (right) discusses with two members of the Standing Committee, Andrew Telegdi (left), Liberal MP, and, Norman Doyle, Chair of the Committee and Conservative MP (in the middle)

(CCCB – Ottawa)…  Archbishops Roger Ébacher (Gatineau, Qc) and Brendan M. O’Brien (St. John’s, Nfld) have denounced the deportation of a Rwandan refugee family as illustrating the Government of Canada’s ongoing violation of international law. Appearing before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, they were representing the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Jean-Bosco Rwiyamirira, a widower with two children, was returned to Rwanda with his children – Angela (aged 14) and Patrick (aged 10), on 3 October 2006 after eight years in Canada. An official stationed at the Rwandan Embassy during the genocide against Tutsis, Mr. Rwiyamirira, a Tutsi, secured refugee status in Canada. He quickly made an active contribution to cultural life in Gatineau, for which he received an honour from Premier Jean Charest.

As part of the terms of his refugee status, Mr. Rwiyamirira presented himself on a regular basis to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. In September 2006 the federal department announced he would be deported immediately with his children. There was no right of appeal,

“The duty not to return a refugee to a country where there is risk of persecution or danger is a cornerstone of international law,” said Archbishop O’Brien. “The Jean Bosco case illustrates the necessity of ensuring Canada’s refugee system is strengthened to protect refugee families against violations of Canada’s obligations under international law.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture has condemned the Government of Canada for its violation of the principle of non-refoulement, removing refugees to places where they are likely to face persecution, which is absolutely prohibited in international law.

“This is a family from my diocese,” said Archbishop Ébacher. “It has caused a great deal of pain for many of us to see this tragedy unfold. As feared, Mr. Rwiyamirira is now imprisoned in Rwanda for the crime of desertion, his children are in the care of distant relatives, and they have left behind any semblance of the lives they have known. As a country, we must find better ways to protect the human dignity of refugees.”

Related Links:

• Brief presented by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
• Media release – Press conference held on 10 January 2006 announcing the publication of a Pastoral Letter on immigration
• Pastoral Letter – pdf format
• Pastoral Letter – html format
• MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 92nd WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

For more information contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director, Communications Service
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, representing the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, has continued its plea in favour of refugees and migrants.

Following up on its January 2006 Pastoral Letter, We are aliens and transients before the Lord our God, the Commission presented a brief on 28 November 2006 to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Archbishops Roger Ébacher (Gatineau, Qc) and Brendan M. O’Brien (St. John’s, Nfld) have also denounced the deportation of a Rwandan refugee family as illustrating the Government of Canada’s ongoing violation of international law.

Archbishop Ébacher discussed with Mr. Andrew Telegdi, Liberal MP and member of the Standing Committee

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, representing the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, has continued its plea in favour of refugees and migrants.

Following up on its January 2006 Pastoral Letter, We are aliens and transients before the Lord our God, the Commission presented a brief on 28 November 2006 to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Archbishops Roger Ébacher (Gatineau, Qc) and Brendan M. O’Brien (St. John’s, Nfld) have also denounced the deportation of a Rwandan refugee family as illustrating the Government of Canada’s ongoing violation of international law.

At the hearings, Archbishops Roger Ébacher of Gatineau and Brendan M. O’Brien of St. John’s, both members of the Episcopal Commission, urged reforms to ensure the treatment of refugees, migrant workers and immigrants respects their human dignity and the needs of their families. They made the following recommendations:

1)      Canada must withdraw from the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States. Citing the ways in which the agreement results in the automatic rejection of people who might otherwise have realistic refugee claims. The Bishops called for an examination of what has become of those people denied admission to Canada under the terms of the agreement.  They noted that religious leaders in the U.S. have also called into question the impact of counter terrorism measures on refugees. “Refugees cannot become the unintended victims of the war against terror.”

2)      Canada must honour its obligations under international law and no longer remove, or “refoule”, refugees to countries where they face risk of persecution or danger. The removal to Rwanda of Mr. Jean-Bosco Rwiyamirira and his two children was a violation of international law.

3)      The Standing Committee’s report should unanimously call upon the government immediately to implement a rigorous, transparent and timely appeals system as required in the Act. 

8)      The government should take proactive measures to protect against forced migration due to climate change, the abuse of human rights by despotic regimes, and engineered poverty.

Related Links:

• Brief presented by the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
• Media release – Episcopal Commission Denounces Deportation of Rwandan Refugee Family
• Media release – Press conference held on 10 January 2006 announcing the publication of a Pastoral Letter on immigration
• Pastoral Letter – pdf format
• Pastoral Letter – html format
• MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 92nd WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

For more information contact:
Sylvain Salvas
Director of Communications
Tel: (613) 241-9461
Fax: (613) 241-9048
salvas@cccb.ca

From 28 November to 1 December, Pope Benedict XVI is in Turkey and will travel to Ankara, Izmir, Ephesus and Istanbul. It is the 5th trip of the Holy Father since his election. Please consult the Holy See website for more details: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/
benedict_xvi/travels/2006/index_turkey_en.htm.

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration will hold hearings in the Parliament offices on Tuesday, 28 November 2006. Most Rev. Roger Ébacher, Archbishop of Gatineau, and Most Rev. Brendan M. O’Brien, Archbishop of St. John’s, both from the CCCB Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, will present a brief and recommendations. According to their report, important measures have to be implemented in Canada in order to welcome and integrate migrants, refugees and their families. 

Text of the brief will be issued on 28 November 2006.

On 22 November 2006, Most Reverend Michel Hakim, B.S.O., Eparchial Archbishop Emeritus of the Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada, died at the age of 85 years and 7 months.

Funeral services will be presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III in the Notre Dame-des-Anges Church in Montreal on Saturday, 25 November 2006 at 10:30 a.m.

On 22 November 2006, Most Reverend Michel Hakim, B.S.O., Eparchial Archbishop Emeritus of the Greek-Melkite Catholics in Canada, died at the age of 85 years.

Born in Maghdouchi, Lebanon, on 21 April 1921.  Ordained to the priesthood on 10 November 1947, he was ordained Bishop of Saïda et Deir-el-Kamar (Lebanon) in 1977.  In 1980, Pope John Paul II gave him the mission of founding the first Greek-Melkite Eparchy in Canada.  In 1984 he became its first Eparchial Archbishop.  He retired in 1998 when the Holy Father accepted his resignation according to canon law which fixes the retirement age for Bishops at 75 years.

Visitations will be held at the Urgel Bourgie Funeral Parlour, 1255 Beaumont, Montreal, telephone: (514) 735 2025, on Thursday, 23 November 2006, from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.  On Friday, 24 November 2006, there will be a vigil at Notre Dame-des-Anges Church, 5621 Gouin Blvd. West, Montreal beginning at 3 p.m., and Saturday, 25 November 2006, beginning at 9 a.m.  Funeral services will be presided by His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III in the Notre Dame-des-Anges Church in Montreal on Saturday, 25 November 2006 at 10:30 a.m.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has redesigned its website.

The new look and the redesigned welcoming page assist the main purpose of the website: to provide information. Visitors can find the latest news as well as the electronic archives of CCCB public documents published since fall 1996.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has redesigned its website.

The new look and the redesigned welcoming page assist the main purpose of the website: to provide information. Visitors can find the latest news as well as the electronic archives of CCCB public documents published since fall 1996.

A new section on Canadian Bishops complements the section dedicated to dioceses. Internet users can also view the recent work of the episcopal commissions and find useful information on the Catholic Church in Canada and the world. The CCCB was founded by the Bishops 60 years ago, to help them in their pastoral responsibilities at the regional, national and international levels and in response to various challenges confronting society and the Church in Canada.

In 1996, the CCCB was the first Episcopal Conference to launch a website. In 2005, it launched a second site, www.cccbpublications.ca, specifically designed for its Publications Service. This site provides useful information on hundreds of publications and other pastoral and liturgical resources for parishes, schools and families.

A delegation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is in Rome 12-18 November for meetings with officials from the Holy See which are held annually.

A delegation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is in Rome 12-18 November for meetings with officials from the Holy See which are held annually.

The group is composed of CCCB President Archbishop André Gaumond of Sherbrooke, Vice President Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, and General Secretary Msgr. Mario Paquette, P.H.

While in Rome, they will meet with various officials from the Curia – the central government of the Catholic Church – including the Secretariat of State, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life and Congregation for Catholic Education.

These meetings permit open exchanges on a regular basis between the Canadian Episcopal Conference and the Roman Curia regarding common projects, preoccupations and challenges for the Catholic Church both in Canada and around the world.