For generations, Catholic dioceses and religious orders in Canada have been major contributors to the development and delivery of healthcare services across the country. The first hospital in Canada, the Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City, was established in 1639 by three Religious Sisters of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus to provide medical care to the French settlers and Indigenous populations of the time. That hospital was the first in North America and is still in operation.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) announces the 2023 series of online weekly videos for the liturgical season of Advent. These videos are intended to help the faithful prepare for the celebration of the birth of Our Lord on December 25th, by offering resources and faith formation. Entitled Journey through Advent, the videos are a joint initiative of the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis, the National Liturgy Office and the Office national de liturgie...
This template, titled Praedica Verbum (“Preach the Word”) and developed by the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine, is intended as a resource for pastors, officially mandated pastoral agents, and others in the Church who work with young people. Focusing on what the Church calls “the initial proclamation of the Gospel,” it is intended to provide helpful information on the how and what of evangelization. The template was developed following consultations with numerous Catholic organizations in Canada engaged in the evangelization of young people.
On Thursday, October 26, a decree from the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life came into effect, appointing the Archbishop of Gatineau as Apostolic Commissioner for the Congregation of the Servantes de Jésus-Marie. With this decree, Archbishop Durocher assumes the competencies of the Superior General and the General Council of the Congregation. In short, Archbishop Durocher becomes responsible for the thirty nuns living at the monastery attached to the Diocesan Center on Mont-Bleu Boulevard in Gatineau.
Sunday, October 22 saw the official inauguration of Saint Paul Syriac Catholic parish in Gatineau. This parish, which had rented premises in various Ottawa churches since its foundation some ten years ago, recently acquired the Notre-Dame-de-l'Île church at 115 boulevard Sacré-Cœur. Under the terms of the contract signed between the two fabriques, the Notre-Dame-de-l'Île parish community will be able to continue to use the site to celebrate Mass on Sunday mornings.
Following the conclusion of the 2023 Plenary Assembly meeting, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) held its biennial election to determine the new members the Executive Committee and Permanent Council. The Most Reverend William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary was elected as President, and the Most Reverend Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière was elected as Vice President.
Over these last few days, the world has witnessed a rapid escalation of armed conflict in the Holy Land, with reports of a growing number of wounded or dead, including innocent civilians.
As the Holy Land is immersed in this violence and bloodshed, we remember that Jesus, the Son of God, who lived and walked there as Love Incarnate, through His teaching by word and deed, calls us as brothers and sisters to be always united by the bond of charity.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) held its annual meeting of the Plenary Assembly, 25-28 September 2023, at Kingbridge Conference Centre, King City, Ontario.
This year, Salt + Light Television, a Canadian Catholic television network, produced daily recap videos of the Plenary Assembly meeting, which summarize, in a dynamic way, the deliberations of the plenary meeting in a given day, with commentary from Bishops and other expert presenters. We encourage the sharing of these videos in dioceses/eparchies, as well as local parishes for the information of the faithful.
Abbé Fidèle Niyaminani passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2023 at Le Monarque residence in Plaisance. Born on June 26, 1944, he was the son of Ngurmbe Thomas and Nyandwi Isabelle. He is survived by his brother Albert and sister Cécile; three sisters (Thérèse, Appolonie and Anne-Marie) and two brothers (Jean and Alois) predeceased him...
The first Wednesday of October is the Provincial Day for the Permanent Deacons. The Assembly of the diocesan delegates of the permanent deacons, in partnership with the Carrefour intervocationnel, offers an animation kit (in French) to pray for this ordained ministry and to raise awareness for the mission of permanent deacons in our Church. We are invited to take advantage of this day to pray for deacons across Quebec, wives, and their families.