News

First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

The CCCB Standing Committee for Family and Life has released a short video message for the First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place on Sunday, 25 July 2021.  It will take place each year on the fourth Sunday in July, close to the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents

"The video message brings to life the theme chosen for this day, “I am with you always” (cf. Mt 28:20). It seeks to encourage young people, families, and communities to draw near and to spend time with grandparents and the elderly, cherishing their essential role for the Church and society.

Pastoral care of the elderly is an urgent responsibility of the Christian community, calling us to spend time with one another relating and sharing in intergenerational conversations. Young people are especially encouraged to enter into dialogue with older generations and find time to dream together about our hopes for a better world." (CCCB July 19. 2021)

The video and other resources are  available by clicking here.

Returning to normal:

Provincial Health regulations are changing to allow an increase in numbers (with proper physical distancing) and with a majority of eligible people being fully vaccinated we can anticipate a return to some form of "normal" not too far into the future.

"With a return to normal...the dispensation from in-person attendance at Sunday Mass will be lifted, as each parish prepares to welcome its people home.  Live-streamed Masses will also be limited to a central venue serving those who, due to illness or old age are considered shut-in..."

Bishop Bart's letter is available by clicking here.

Pope Francis has deemed Sunday, July 25 the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.   In the future this day will be celebrated on the 4th Sunday of July each year.

The theme this year is “I am with you always” (cf. Mt 28:20), which conveys the closeness of God and the Church to the elderly and emphasizes the intergenerational closeness between the young and the elderly.

Pope Francis' message can be found by clicking here.

The prayer for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly can be found  here.

In a statement on Tuesday, June 29, the Bishops of Canada said that a delegation of Indigenous People is scheduled to meet with the Holy Father from 17 to 20 December 2021, “to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing.”

Pope Francis extended an invitation for personal encounter with each of the three distinct groups of delegates – First Nations, Métis and Inuit - as well as a final audience with all the delegates together on the last day of the visit.

The statement from the CCCB is available here.

Fr. Andrew White has been appointed as Diocesan Director of Vocations in order to continue the  work of promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Bishop Bart thanks Fr. White for graciously accepting this appointment and for establishing a greater prominence and cohesion in this important ministry.Father White is pastor of St. Ann's Parish in the Codroy Valley and can be reached there at 709-955-2250.

Last weekend Bishop Bart visited the Innu community of Sheshatshiu in Labrador.  During his time there he celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation and held a vigil to honour the memory of the all those children who died while attending Canada's residential schools.

The vigil was organized by Father (Joe) Pichai Pillai Vellankanni, C.M.,priest to the people of Our Lady of the Snows Parish in Sheshatshiu. He was delighted that  so many people came and participated in the vigil prayer, as we continue to pray together for those children and for the healing of all of our indigenous brothers and sisters throughout our country.

To see more photos go to "Photo Gallery" in the dropdown menu at the top of this page.

The faithful in Canada are invited to pray a Novena in honor of St. Joseph from 22 – 30 June, as part of initiatives to mark the Year of St. Joseph. The year marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX.  The Novena begins on 22 June and ends on 30 June, and it is followed by an Act of Entrustment on 1 July which is also the annual commemoration of Canada Day. (VaticanNews.va)

The Novena and Act of Entrustment are found here.

The Canadian Bishops have been working  for the last two years, in response to an earlier request stemming directly out of the Truth and Reconciliation recommendations.  This work was not public, and was delayed by the pandemic.  Since the news of such a high level delegation has become public on several occasions in the past week, the CCCB is now making a public statement.  The Bishops of Canada continue to work towards reconciliation and are committed to the process.

The statement is available here.

In a letter to the Innu and Mi'Kmaq peoples of the province , on behalf of the Diocese , Bishop Bart expresses his deepest sorrow and  heartfelt support and prayers on the news of the large discovery of children that had died while attending the Indian Residential School in Kamloops.

He ends by saying:                                                                                                                                               "Together with you, I lift up my prayers on behalf of the many children who were snatched away from their parents and the deep wounds that continue to fester in so many of your families. I pray that the children, and their memory, may finally come to rest and that God's gift of healing and peace may dawn upon you and your families, and our journey together."

The Bishop's letter can be read here.