The Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have written a joint letter to the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding the situation of Christians in various countries of the Middle East and Africa. The letter has been signed by the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and President of the CCCB, and by one of the three Co Chairs of the Caucus, Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl. In their letter, they state that "while we recognize that many religious and ethnic communities are subjected to prejudice in various countries, many observers have noted in recent years that Christians experience religious persecution more than any other faith group on a global scale and in absolute numbers."
Today, December 15, 2015, the Holy See released the Holy Father's Message for the 49th World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on January 1, 2016. The theme chosen by Pope Francis is "Overcome Indifference and Win Peace".
The Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity released on December 10, 2015, a Reflection on Theological Questions Pertaining to Catholic - Jewish Relations on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of 'Nostra Aetate' (No. 4) entitled "The Gifts and the Calling of God are Irrevocable (Rom 11:29)". The Commission, which comes under the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is headed by the President of the Pontifical Council, His Eminence Kurt Cardinal Koch.
The Church will mark the 53rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 17, 2016. The Holy Father has released a Message on "The Church, Mother of Vocations", which is available on the Vatican website. In his Message, Pope Francis expresses his hope that, "...during the course of this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, all the baptized may experience the joy of belonging to the Church and rediscover that the Christian vocation, just like every particular vocation, is born from within the People of God, and is a gift of divine mercy. The Church is the house of mercy, and it is the 'soil' where vocations take root, mature and bear fruit."
On December 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council. This year, the reflection by the Council identifies areas of commonality found in Traditional Aboriginal spirituality and the Catholic faith, seeking to point out bridges for mutual understanding. "These will hopefully lead to a deeper respect and appreciation among all Catholics toward traditional Indigenous spirituality, and at the same time show how Aboriginal Catholics see a relationship between their Catholic faith and their cultural and personal identity," the Aboriginal Council writes in the introduction to its message.
During its last National Council meeting, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) elected the members of its Executive Committee, as well as of its Standing Liaison Committee which regularly meets with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The newly elected CCODP President is Mr. Jean-Denis Lampron, a permanent deacon from the Diocese of Nicolet, Quebec. He succeeds Mr. Ray Temmerman from Manitoba.
Dear friends,
Goodness abounds!
This Christmas, as a counterpoint to the destructive forces of misery and terror that we have witnessed these past months, we must not forget that goodness abounds! More than not forgetting, let us be ready to point it out when we see it.
December 31, 2015, is the deadline set by the Government of Canada to match contributions made to registered Canadian charities toward assisting Syrian refugees. Canadian dioceses and eparchies are aiming to complete fundraising by December 18. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) had announced on September 17, 2015, that it was collaborating with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP), Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Canada, and CNEWA Canada in a joint fundraising campaign for Syrian refugees. The three Canadian Catholic aid and development agencies are cooperating so as to respond as effectively as possible to the complex and overwhelming Syrian emergency. Donations can be made to any or all three of the organizations. Development and Peace has recently circulated an update on the Syrian crisis.
Link to the CCCB statement on September 2015
Link to the CCODP Webpage on Syrian crisis
Today, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2015, Pope Francis presided at the opening celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in Saint Peter's Basilica. A delegation from Canada was present for the occasion as the Presidency of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is currently making its annual visit to the Holy See. The delegation comprises the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and CCCB President, the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and CCCB Vice President, and Msgr. Frank Leo, Jr., C.S.S., CCCB General Secretary. They will be joined by the Most Reverend Nicola De Angelis, C.F.I.C., Bishop Emeritus of Peterborough, for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at which the Holy Father will preside in the Basilica on December 12, when Pope Francis will entrust the American continent to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be celebrated around the world from January 18 to January 25, 2016, on the theme Called to proclaim the mighty acts of God (1 Peter 2:9). Printed resources in English and French can now be ordered (form) as well freely downloaded online from the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC). The theme and biblical text for the 2016 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are chosen by an international joint committee of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. National and regional councils of Churches work to adapt the resources to their local context. The Canadian resources have been adapted and produced by an ecumenical Writing Team coordinated by the Canadian Council of Churches' Commission on Faith and Witness. The team also works in collaboration with the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism in Montreal and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism in Saskatoon.
Link to local resources for Canada accessed at the Canadian Council of Churches website
Link to international version of the resources
His Eminence André Cardinal Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, wrote to the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), in response to the letter of condolences and prayers that Bishop Crosby had sent to him last month following the attacks in Paris.
The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) has issued a pastoral letter on welcoming refugees. The text was prepared by the CCC Governing Board and has been signed by its President, the Reverend Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan. In her letter, the CCC President states that "we are called to put our faith and hope into action and to meet the needs of the oppressed and vulnerable by reflecting our own experience of God's love for us. God's Word directs us into paths of hospitality and invites us to welcome the stranger." The delegates of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) on the Governing Board are the Most Reverend Daniel Bohan, Archbishop of Regina, and the Most Reverend Noël Simard, Bishop of Valleyfield, as well as Msgr. Frank Leo, Jr. C.S.S., CCCB General Secretary, or his representative. The Most Reverend Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B., Bishop of London, serves on the CCC Executive as one of the Council's three Vice Presidents.
On December 3, 2015, Pope Francis received in a private audience the delegation from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). The members of the delegation are the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and CCCB President, the Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and CCCB Vice President, as well as Msgr. Frank Leo, Jr., C.S.S., CCCB General Secretary. The CCCB Presidency is in Rome until December 12 for its annual visit with a number of dicasteries of the Holy See.
