News

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.

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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.

Statement from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops following the recent discovery at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation

On May 31 the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement following the report of a recent discovery of children’s graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.

The statement expresses shock and sorrow for the loss of children and pledges to walk "side by side with Indigenous Peoples in the present, seeking greater healing and reconciliation for the future. "

The statement is available here.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 the the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops' (CCCB) Standing Committee for Relations with Movements and Associations, published its  annual message for Pentecost, addressed to Catholic movements and associations in Canada.  The Feast of  Pentecost will be celebrated on Sunday,  23 May 2021.

On Sunday, May 13th , the Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension. The Bible tells us that Jesus ascended into heaven on the 40^th day after the Resurrection, so the Ascension falls on the Thursday of the sixth week of Easter.  However, in Canada, as in a number of other countries, the observance of this feast day has been transferred to the following Sunday, the seventh Sunday of Easter., which is May 16th this year.

Reporting Sexual Abuse Committed by or Covered up by a Bishop

On May 6th, 2021, the Bishops of Canada launched a national bilingual service for reporting situations of sexual abuse either committeed by, or covered up by, a bishop who is presently active or retired from ministry in a diocese in Canada.  This reporting system can be accessed online at: BishopReportingSystem.ca or via a toll-free telephone number at: 1-866-892-3737.

More information on the reporting system can be accessed at Bishop Reporting System

In a statement issued on April 26, 2021, the CCCB encourages "Parliamentarians currently debating Bill C-15 to work diligently, in consultation and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, so as to ensure the timely and necessary inclusion of UNDRIP [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indegenous Persons] within Canadian law and thus contribute to truly respectful and just relations in this land."

CCCB Executive Committee Statementon the Implementation of UNDRIP in Canadian Legislation