News
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Christians invited to join virtually in prayer for 54th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
With over 100 years of history, this octave of prayer is a period set aside for Christians around the world to jointly pray for visible Christian unity.
The theme for this year 2021, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit,” is inspired by John 15: 5-9. It was chosen to express the Christian community’s vocation to pray and work for reconciliation and unity within the Church, our human family and all of creation.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting all Christians to join online in prayer on 25 January, at 9:30 am NT (9:00 in Labrador), the last day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The online prayer event can be followed on the website of the World Council of Churches.
Year of Saint Joseph
Pope Francis proclaims “Year of St Joseph”
Christmas Message from CCCB President
A message from the Most Rev. Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops "wishing to you all and your loved ones and communities of faith a happy and healthy Christmas season and a New Year filled with the Lord’s choicest blessings"
Bishop Bart's Christmas Message
Advent Message from Bishop Bart
In his letter to the people of the diocese, Bishop Bart speaks of Advent as a time of hope. In part he says:
Click here to read the entire letter.
ADVENT REFLECTIONS
The season of Advent begins on Sunday, November 29. To help Canadian Catholics use this time of preparation as an opportunity to enrich their formation in the faith, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has created an online video series entitled Journey through Advent.
The videos serve as an introduction to the liturgical Season and present reflections on the Gospel readings for each Sunday in Advent. The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., Bishop of Hamilton and the Most Reverend Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Saint-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, provide spiritual and pastoral guidance on the readings that illustrate the true meaning of Christmas.
The videos will be available on the CCCB website each Monday in advance of the upcoming Sunday celebration (23 November, 30 November 7 December and 14 December).
To follow the series:
We Can and Must Do Much Better
On Monday, 5 October, the Federal Government re-introduced Bill C-7 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying). This Bill, among other things, seeks to expand euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada to those whose deaths are not “reasonably foreseeable.”
In response more than 50 religious leaders from across Canada released an open letter to all Canadaians in opposition to the bill.
The religious leaders said in part: “We are obliged to express our strong concern and opposition to Bill C-7 which, among other things, expands access to euthanasia and assisted suicide to those who are not dying. It perplexes our collective minds that we have come so far as a society yet, at the same time, have so seriously regressed in the manner that we treat the weak, the ill, and the marginalized.”
Click here to read the letter.
Annual Retreat
Tomorrow, October 12, the Bishop and Priests of the diocese begin their annual retreat which will end on Friday October 15.
Please join in praying for God's blessings upon them at this time.
Clergy Appointments
Bishop van Roijen announced the following clergy appointments to become effective on November 1, 2020.
Reverend Edward Terry retires from parish ministry to take up Hospital Ministry.
Reverend Lee Lainey concludes his ministry as Adminstrator of St. Ann's Parish, Codroy Valley and becomes Rector of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Redeemer and of the Immaculate Conception and Administrator of All Hallows Parish, Corner Brook.
Reverend Andrew White concludes his ministry as Associate Pastor of St. Stephen's Parish, Stephenville and becomes the Pastor of St. Ann's Parish, Codroy Valley.
Reverend Vavathuraj Rayappan, H.G.N. concludes his ministry in Corner Brook and begins his temporary assignment as Associate Administrator of St. Stephen's Parish, Stephenville.
Please join Bishop Bart in praying that God will bless these priests and their parishioners during this time of transition and change.
Catholic Christian Outreach
Have a loved one going to university at MUN? Worried they may fall away from their faith? Help them find us!
CCO is a university student movement dedicated to evangelizing and building a Catholic community at MUN. Help students find us by sending them this link: cco.ca/get-connected and we will follow up with them!