Bishops of Canada Conclude their 2017 Plenary Assembly

Friday, September 29 2017

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Catholic Bishops of Canada have concluded their 2017 Plenary Assembly, which began on 25 September at the Nav Canada Centre, Cornwall, Ontario. On the last day of their annual meeting, the Bishops agreed to extend the mandate and membership of the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council. The day began with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Most Reverend Anthony Mancini, Archbishop of Halifax-Yarmouth, who has completed his second two-year mandate as CCCB Co-Treasurer.

The last day of the 2017 Plenary also involved the ratifications of the elections for the Sector representatives on the CCCB Permanent Council, as well as the elections of the Chairmen of the National Commissions, Sectoral Commissions, and Standing Committees.

During the Plenary, the Bishops received information about the invitation to join Pope Francis in supporting the Caritas Internationalis campaign for migrants, “Share the Journey”, which was launched this past 27 September 2017 (for more information, see http://journey.caritas.org).

Coverage of the Plenary by Salt + Light TV

For the seventh time in the history of the CCCB, the Canadian Catholic television network Salt + Light broadcast a number of the events of the Plenary Assembly, both on the Internet and television. These included the celebration of the Solemn Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame, Ottawa, on 26 September, the Feast of the Canadian Martyrs, marking the 150th anniversary of Confederation through the consecration of Canada to the Blessed Virgin Mary and also highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace—Caritas Canada. An estimated 1,000 people were in attendance. The Mass will be rebroadcast on Salt + Light TV on 30 September 2017 at noon. The texts published by the 2017 Plenary Assembly, including the President’s letter to the Holy Father as well as the daily news releases, are available on the Conference’s website.