Canadian Priest Honoured for Role in Third Continental Congress on Vocations
Tuesday, September 14 2004
(CCCB-Ottawa) — Rev. Raymond Lafontaine, a diocesan priest from Montreal, has received the Harvest Award, September 12, 2004, from the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC), for his “exceptional contribution” in fostering vocations in North America.
The 40-year old priest was given the award for his role as Canadian co-director of the 3rd Continental Congress on Vocations, held in Montreal in 2002. The award is given every two years by the American-based NRVC made up of 1300 members, composed mainly of vocations directors from religious communities. Father Lafontaine is the first Canadian to receive this prestigious award.
The North American Vocations Congress was held at the request of the Vatican and jointly organized by the Canadian and American episcopal conferences. The event brought together over 1200 participants from all over North America to discuss vocations. The fruits brought forth from thousands of consultations in every corner of North America and the Congress itself resulted in the publication of a pastoral guide on vocations that has sold over 15,000 copies to date. Father Lafontaine coordinated the production of this pastoral plan that is an essential resource in encouraging and sustaining Christian communities in their mission of fostering a thriving “vocations culture” in the Church.
Conversion, Discernment, Mission: Creating a Vocation Culture in North America is available through the Publications Service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) at: www.cccbpublications.ca.
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