Ten years ago, on November 30, 2011, we gathered at St. Joseph's Cathedral to officially welcome our new Archbishop for the beginning of his pastoral ministry in our diocesan Church. Inspired by his episcopal motto, Sing and Walk, we learned to walk with him so that the Gospel of Christ might be proclaimed here in the Outaouais.
The CCCB Commission for Justice and Peace released a Pastoral Letter entitled For Freedom Christ has Set us Free: Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Canada. The letter draws attention to the inherently exploitative and abusive nature of the purchase of sex and insists that in order to protect the vulnerable, this practice must continue to be criminalized: “Treating sex as ‘work’ masks the physical, psychological and sexual violence inflicted on the prostituted person. Prostitution involves selling something that by its nature cannot be bought or sold and is therefore inherently exploitative.”
Beginning on Sunday, 21 November 2021, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the CCCB will release a video recording of a Bishop in Canada reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday of Advent. This year’s reflections were developed in view of the Indigenous Delegation which will be travelling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis from December 17 to 20, 2021. Each reflection is based one of the five essential stages of reconciliation: examen, confession, repentance, reparation (making amends), and reconciliation. Likewise, it is hoped these reflections will assist the faithful, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, in preparing for Pope Francis’ eventual apostolic journey to Canada.
The poor, always and everywhere, evangelize us, because they enable us to discover in new ways the true face of the Father. “They have much to teach us. Besides participating in the sensus fidei, they know the suffering Christ through their own sufferings. It is necessary that we all let ourselves be evangelized by them. The new evangelization is an invitation to recognize the salvific power of their lives and to place them at the centre of the Church’s journey.
After it’s One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign in October, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is preparing for the launch of its second magazine of this year called Faith, Hope and Charity, which will present the work of the Church in Central and South America. In addition, ACN Canada is also busy resuming face-to-face activities as part of International Red Week, starting on Wednesday, November 17.
The Catholic Bishops of Canada are pleased to announce that 25-30 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican from December 17-20, 2021, accompanied by a small group of Canadian Bishops.
The Novatio Foundation of the Archdiocese of Gatineau announces an opening for the Philanthropic Development Director. Founded in 2018, the Novatio Foundation is thus starting its operations and the development of its planned giving program. Those interested in applying should send their resume with a cover letter, before December 6, 2021...
An invitation to those who work in the pastoral care of the sick and dying.
Toolkit Launch | Zoom Webinar
Monday, 15 Nov 2021, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m EST
Pope Francis celebrated Mass at St Peter’s Basilica for the solemn opening of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place in three stages over the next two years...
World Missionary Month opens, as it does every year, with the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus on October 1, and closes on October 24, which marks the 95th World Mission Day. A statement from the Pontifical Mission Societies explains the details of this annual initiative...
On December 14, 1990, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed October 1st as the International Day of Older Persons...
On Monday, October 18th, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is inviting parishes, kindergartens, schools and families to once again take part in the One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign this year...
Canadian Bishops Announce $30M National Financial Pledge to Support Healing and Reconciliation Initiatives
We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools.
Though it is difficult to comprehend the full extent of the pandemic on Canadian society, Bishops easily recognize, nevertheless, the common experiences that have touched all regions: communities in lockdown; overwhelmed healthcare providers and institutions; struggling businesses; and the mental, emotional and physical toll on families, friends and neighbours...
After a one-year pause due to the pandemic, the annual Archbishop's Golf Open on September 10th was a great success at Kingsway Golf Club. Thanks to the participation of golfers and generous sponsors, $17,700 was raised to support the Archdiocese's mission, and to assist community organizations in the region...
The General Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops presents the base text and “vademecum” – or handbook – to guide the journey of the Synod on Synodality...
Endorsed by Pope Francis in 2015 and supported by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the annual month-long ecumenical celebration entitled the Season of Creation will begin on 1 September (World Day of Prayer for Creation) and continue until 4 October 2021 (feast of Saint Francis of Assisi). The celebration calls on the global Christian community to promote prayer and action to protect our common home. The theme for this year’s season is “A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God”. For more information and resources on the Season of Creation, please visit the website at seasonorcreation.org.
Good news: the statement released yesterday by the Ministry of Health specifies in full that the vaccination passport is not required for places of worship, wedding ceremonies, and funerals. Implicitly, this means that the activities of places of worship are not deemed "non-essential" by the government, as is the case with gyms, restaurants, and the like. It's already something ...
Death of Marie-Thérèse Ébacher, sister of Monsignor Roger Ébacher
Bishop Roger Ébacher informs us of the death of his young sister Marie-Thérèse, which occurred in Montreal last Sunday. 76 years old, she is survived by her husband Lucien, her daughter Elsa (Jimmy Rodrigue), and her granddaughter Léonie. Of this family of 10 children, survived Bishop Roger and his sister Gabrielle.
A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti's Tiburon Peninsula on Saturday, August 14 at 8:29 a.m., about 150 kilometres west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Much of the damage occurred in the towns of Jeremie and Les Cayes. The force of the earthquake was felt in almost all across the country, including the western department.
The CCCB Standing Committee for Family and Life released a short video message for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place on Sunday, 25 July 2021. The video message brings to life the theme chosen for this day, “I am with you always” (cf. Mt 28:20)...
The Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) supports the Bishops of Saskatchewan as they announce a new province-wide Appeal for Support of Healing and Reconciliation...
In January, Pope Francis established the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on the fourth Sunday of July. This year it is July 25...
Following the 10 June 2021 announcement regarding the delegation of Indigenous people to meet with the Holy Father to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing, the Catholic Bishops of Canada are pleased to announce that the delegation is scheduled to take place from 17‑20 December 2021 in compliance with global travel restrictions.
Bishop Durocher has accepted the resignation of Brother Antonio Tavares de Sousa, O.P., as chaplain of the Portuguese Catholic Mission of the Holy Spirit, Gatineau. Luciano Roberto Camargo will take over as administrator of the Mission as of July 1, 2021, and this until June 30, 2022.
Bishop Durocher has renewed the mandate of Father Rodhain Kasuba-Malu as pastor of Notre-Dame de l’Eau Vive Parish, Gatineau, from July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2027.
Since 2018, the people of the Archdiocese of Gatineau have been walking together in a synodal process to identify how we are called to live the mission of Christ in our lives, in our communities and in our neighbourhoods...
Today, the members of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement calling for an end to religious violence in Canada, and more specifically Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Like you, I am shocked by the news of the discovery of 215 unmarked graves of Aboriginal children on the grounds of Kamloops Residential School. I grieve for our Indigenous brothers and sisters whose suffering is rekindled by this news. As a member of a Church that has contributed to this desolation, I am ashamed...
Dear Ahmed,
I want to tell you how much pain I feel for the Afzaals family members killed in London yesterday, and for the entire Islamic community in Canada. This killing makes no sense. Perhaps it will awaken in the whole population a renewed desire for fraternity and peace so that can lead us to the path of dialogue, mutual respect and friendship. Be assured of my prayer and my support!
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement following the report of a recent discovery of children’s graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
CCCB Statement Regarding Discovery at Former Kamloops Indian Residential School
In October, Pope Francis will open a three-year synodal journey with three phases (diocesan, continental, universal) of consultations and discernment, culminating with the assembly in October 2023 in Rome. Read more…
On the same theme as last year, the 2021 fundraising campaign for our parishes ("la dîme") is currently taking place in the 53 parishes of our Diocesan Church.
Your donations will help ensure the sustainability of the mission of our parishes, which are to the service of the population of the Outaouais region.
On behalf of each parish in our beautiful region, the Archdiocese of Gatineau wants to express his gratitude for your great generosity!
Video of Archbishop Durocher (in French)
Quebec Premier François Legault yesterday announced the major steps in the deconfinement process, which will begin on May 28 and will soon allow the population of Quebec to return to a more normal life.
Please consult this diagram to know what awaits the places of worship between now and June 28.
The annual message for Pentecost, addressed to Catholic movements and associations in Canada by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (CCCB) Standing Committee for Relations with Movements and Associations, is now available. This year, Pentecost will take place on Sunday, 23 May 2021. Read the message.
With a new Apostolic Letter issued “motu proprio”, Pope Francis establishes the lay ministry of catechist, intended to respond to an urgent need for the evangelisation of the modern world, and undertaken in a “secular” manner, avoiding clericalisation. Find out more.
Today, the Bishops of Canada launch a national, bilingual service for reporting situations of sexual abuse either committed or covered-up by a Bishop.
In Canada, World Communications Day will be celebrated on 16 May 2021, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Message for the 2021 World Communications Day
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) continues to post possible homily ideas and prayers of the faithful to help link the Sunday liturgy with the national pastoral initiative for life and family.
Guided by the Shrines around the world, we are all invited during the month of May to unite in the recitation of the Holy Rosary to ask for the end of the pandemic. Read more...
The diocesan protocol for handling an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult is now online. You can find it here. The English version will be published soon.
Today, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a message on the occasion of the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker on 1 May 2021.