The Diocese of Saint John has compiled frequently asked questions regarding faith gatherings in our parishes.

There is no place for discrimination or divisive distinctions among people who believe in Christ, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience. That everyone is made new and equal in Christ overcomes all ethnic, economic and social differences, even between the two sexes. As Catholics prepare to head to the polls on September 20, many are asking what a Catholic vote looks like. Catholic Conscience is an organization created to help Catholics make sense of the political parties and their platforms, and to discern their vote through the lens of Catholic social teaching. A lay movement has been growing over the last year — a network of faithful lay Catholics who are not going to live with the scandals or the paralysis of their Church anymore. Concerned Lay Catholics (www.concernedlaycatholics.ca) [CLC] have been inspired by Pope Francis to take ownership of their Church and its problems. There are representatives now in nine provinces, and growing.

At this time the Diocese of Saint John is working closely with public health to implement policies at the parish level that will ensure that all faithful can continue to worship Jesus and receive the Sacraments in full safety and care for one another and the common good. À l’heure actuelle, le Diocèse de Saint John travaille en étroite collaboration avec les autorités de la santé publique, pour mettre en œuvre des politiques au niveau paroissial qui garantiront que tous les fidèles puissent continuer à adorer Jésus et à recevoir les Sacrements en toute sécurité, tout en veillant à la sécurité des autres et du bien commun.

A federal election will take place on Monday, September 20, 2021, and Catholics have a moral obligation to vote, if they are eligible. However, it can be difficult to find clear, unbiased information on the different parties’ plans so as to make an informed vote. The Diocese of Saint John has compiled number of resources to help you discern your vote.

In his homily of September 5, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Immaculate Conception Parish) in Saint John, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John, gave parishioners a glimpse of some of his priorities for diocesan faithful heading into a new pastoral year. Canadians have a lot to think about before the September 20 election. But for Catholics, it’s getting harder to be political and to contribute to public debate, says the author of a brand-new book about faith and politics in Canada. Redemption is the work of God, not of human beings, so be careful and do not listen to "fundamentalists" who claim holiness comes through following certain laws, Pope Francis said during his weekly general audience.