News

We are pleased to welcome to our diocese Reverend Sunny Sebastian, a priest of the Diocese of lrinjalakuda, Kerala, lndia. Father Sunny arrived in our diocese on

Father Sebastian was ordained to the priesthood in Lourdepuram, India in 1992. Since then he has ministered in various parishes and capacities in India, as well as serving in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Alberta from 2007-2010.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates World Day of the Sick annually on February 11, the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year, for the 27^th World Day of the Sick, the main Eucharistic celebration will be solemnly celebrated in Calcutta, India.

This day of prayer, which was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992, has three themes. First, it reminds the entire Church to pray for those who are sick. Second, the celebration invites all Christians to reflect on and respond to human suffering and pain. Third, this day recognizes and honours all those who work in health care and serve as caregivers.

The message of Pope Francis for this World Day is “You received without payment; give without payment” (Mt 10:8)

You are invited to join with the rest of the Church in praying for those who are sick and for those health care professionals and caregivers who minster to them.

Dear People of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador:

This coming Tuesday I will be installed as the Archbishop of St. John’s.  On that same day, I will be officially appointed the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador until the installation of a new Bishop of the diocese.

I will share information regarding the appointment and installation of the new Bishop as it becomes available.  However, I expect it will be several months yet before those announcements are made.   In the meantime, I will try to spend some time each month in this diocese; and, be available when needed. The diocesan staff, both here and in St. John’s, will be able to contact me whenever necessary.  Once the appointment of the new Bishop is announced, I will invite you to join me for a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the end of my time in this diocese; and, to publically express my gratitude and farewell to the priests, religious and people of the diocese.

The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (English Sector) of the CCCB recently developed a new resource on Family Catechesis. The resource provides insight into the value of family catechesis as a means to evangelization not only of children, but of adults who accompany them.

The resource is available online (in PDF format), free of charge, from the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (English Sector).  The resource includes three embedded videos from dioceses that have introduced new models of family catechesis.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated annually around the world from January 18 (the Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter) to January 25 (the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul). During this week, Christians around the world are invited to celebrate a week of prayer for the unity of all Christians, to reflect on scripture together, to participate in jointly-organized ecumenical services, and to share fellowship. The resources for this year’s week of prayer have been prepared by an ecumenical team in Indonesia. The theme which they have chosen for this year is “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue … (Deuteronomy 16: 18-20)”. Christians around the world are invited to celebrate God’s reconciling grace, to recognize the pain of the deep divisions which afflict the Church and to become ambassadors of Christ’s message of reconciliation.

On Sunday, January 13, the Church marks the end of the Christmas season with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Over the season of Christmas, the Church celebrates three feasts which mark the revelation of God to humanity: Christmas as the Incarnation of God, Epiphany as the revelation of God to the Gentiles through the visitation of the Magi and the Baptism of Jesus as the revelation of the Trinity (Jesus Son of God present at the baptism, the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father announcing that this was His Son in whom He was well pleased).

On January 1st, the Church celebrates the World Day of Peace. This observation was introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1967 and was first observed on January 1, 1968. Each year the Pope issues a message for the World Day of Peace, which has a specific theme chosen by him. The theme of the message for this 52nd World Day of Peace is “Good politics is at the service of peace”.

On January 1, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This, the highest title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was given to her at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. and is the oldest feast of Mary celebrated by the Catholic Church. In the Canadian Church it is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means that Mass attendance is required.

On Sunday, December 30th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. This Feast is  celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas.  The Feast of the Holy Family was instituted in 1893 by Pope Leo XIII, who was concerned by the apparent general breakdown of the family at the end of the 19^th century. It was originally celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany but the date was changed in the liturgical calendar which was promulgated in 1969.

The date for the installation of Archbishop Hundt has been set for 7pm Tuesday, January 29 at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, 200 Military Road, St. John's, NL.

The people of the Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador join in expressing their gratitude to Bishop Hundt for his ministry and offering  prayers for God's continued blessings upon him as he assumes the responsibility of this new phase of his priesthood.