The Holy Father Francis' Message for Lent 2023 is entitled "Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey". In his message for Lent this year, the Holy Father chooses the Gospel of the Transfiguration, inviting us to an experience of Lenten penance in which we are called to “ascend ‘a high mountain’ in the company of Jesus”. Like the disciples who were led by the Master to Mount Tabor, we will not be alone on this uphill journey, but in the company of our brothers and sisters. This is the reason why, Pope Francis reminds us, our Lenten path is a synodal journey. At the end of a pathway that “requires effort, sacrifice and concentration”, we will arrive to the summit, where “the panorama that opens up at the end amazes us and rewards us by its grandeur.”
'Le message du Saint-Père pour le Carême 2023 est paru ce vendredi 17 février, à quelques jours du mercredi des Cendres. François s’appuie sur l’évangile de la Transfiguration pour expliquer le sens de l’itinéraire ascétique du Carême, qu’il met en parallèle avec le chemin synodal.'
On 8 February 2023, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following four pastoral letters on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Intended as a framework for local engagement with Indigenous Peoples, the letters are the fruit of many months of listening, encounter, and dialogue with them, including through Listening Circles, the Indigenous Delegation to the Vatican in April 2022, and Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage to Canada in July of the same year.
Le 8 février 2023, la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada a publié les quatre lettres pastorales suivantes sur la réconciliation avec les peuples autochtones. Conçues comme un point de référence pour l’engagement local avec les peuples autochtones, ces lettres sont le fruit de plusieurs mois d’écoute, de rencontre et de dialogue avec eux, notamment dans le cadre des cercles d’écoute tenus dans des diocèses du Canada, la délégation autochtone au Vatican en avril 2022 et la visite apostolique du pape François au Canada en juillet de la même année.
The World Day of the Sick is an occasion to pray for individuals who are suffering, and to find concrete ways to draw nearer to them. / La Journée mondiale du malade est l’occasion de prier pour les personnes qui souffrent et de trouver des moyens concrets de se rapprocher d’elles.
The theme for this year is “Do good, seek justice” (Isaiah 1:7) / Le thème de cette année est Apprenez à faire le bien, recherchez le droit (Isaïe 1, 7).
Father Brian was a true gentleman who loved the priesthood, loved the Church, loved his family, friends, co-workers, and parishioners, and always used his intellectual and personal gifts for the service and benefit of others. He will be deeply missed.
Earlier today, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died following a long life of humble service to God. We mourn his passing and give thanks for the devoted pastoral ministry he offered as theologian, priest, bishop and supreme pontiff, but most of all for the witness of his holy life as a disciple of Jesus. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Aujourd’hui, les évêques du Canada se joignent au pape François et au peuple de Dieu qui pleurent le décès du pape émérite Benoît XVI; ils rendent grâce à Dieu pour sa vie de service humble et dévoué. Benoît XVI laisse derrière lui un grand héritage d’enseignement qui continuera de nous inspirer, tant par les trois encycliques qu’il a rédigées que par les nombreux discours publics qu’il a prononcés à travers le monde en tant que Souverain Pontife. Le pape Benoit XVI, « Cardinal Ratzinger », a été un guide fidèle et sûr de la doctrine catholique tout au long de ses divers offices auprès du Saint Siège.
FROM the Publisher: Dear readers, I am writing to inform you that after more than a century, production of The New Freeman is coming to an end. This issue (December 23/30, 2022) will be the last for our print diocesan newspaper. Recent popes have used the concept of a "Petrine principle" and a "Marian principle" to describe the important role women and men together play in the Catholic Church, but a biblical scholar writing in the Vatican newspaper said it is time to talk about the discriminatory and stereotypical notions behind it. On the weekend of December 10-11, the Third Sunday of Advent, the Diocese of Saint John launched a diocesan-wide census.
Pope's World Peace Day message: the time has come for all of us to endeavour to heal our society and our planet, to lay the foundations for a more just and peaceful world, and to commit ourselves seriously to pursuing a good that is truly common. Le message du Pape François: il est temps de nous engager tous pour guérir notre société et notre planète, en créant les bases d'un monde plus juste et plus pacifique, effectivement engagé dans la poursuite d'un bien qui soit vraiment commun.
Dr. Moira McQueen, director of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute comments on a recent Angus Reid poll that reveals Canadians have very complex views on abortion. While 2022 finally saw the publication of Pope Francis' constitution reforming the Roman Curia, the biggest news and the biggest changes in his ministry came from Russia's war on Ukraine and from the pope's own problems walking. Even the most fervent believers go through moments of doubt and questioning about God, and it is a good thing, Pope Francis said, because it helps one see that God does not fit into the little box people make for him.
Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John has penned a pastoral letter in honour of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. A daily examination of conscience even for “just two minutes, ...it will do you good, I promise," Pope recently said at the Vatican. The Christmas carol O Holy Night ranked first in a list of hymns most played in December at Christian churches.
Let us come before the Lord with the same boldness and humility as the Blessed Mother, asking him to fulfill our needs with deep trust in his goodness and gracious Providence. Faced with many challenges, let us proclaim with bold and expectant faith that Jesus Christ is born among us, he is Emmanuel – God with us - and that changes everything.
Approchons le Seigneur avec la même conviction et la même humilité que la Sainte Mère, lui demandant de répondre à nos besoins avec une profonde confiance en sa bonté et sa gracieuse Providence. Face à de nombreux défis, proclamons avec une foi audacieuse et ferme que Jésus-Christ est né parmi nous, il est Emmanuel, Dieu avec nous, et le monde est transformé par sa présence.
All children should have the right to grow within their family, the right to study and also the right to education, says Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny. Talking about human rights for children is a Catholic response in a cruel world that sees more than 36 million children worldwide displaced from their home. Bethlehem’s Basilica of the Nativity dates to the fourth century. The Greeks, Armenians, and Latins (Roman Catholics) share the Basilica. Pope Francis during an interview with America magazine at the Vatican, talked about polarization in the church, the role of women, the ministry of bishops, and more.
Last month, 23 churches, alongside several local businesses and service groups, joined together for SOCKTOBER — a collection of socks for those in need within the Miramichi community and surpassed the goal. John Swales, a survivor of sexual abuse at the hands of a London, ON, priest doesn’t want Catholics to walk away from their Church over another round of abuse revelations emanating now from France. Moments of difficulty and desolation are opportunities for praying, drawing closer to Jesus and discerning the right path, Pope Francis said.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops presents Journey through Advent with the Most Rev. Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA, Auxiliary Bishop of London, Ontario. Join us as we reflect on the Scriptures for the Sundays of Advent 2022. / La Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada présente Cheminer ensemble durant l’Avent. Approfondissons ensemble, avec Monseigneur Paul-André Durocher, Archevêque de Gatineau, la Parole de Dieu de l’Avent 2022.
As Canada welcomes more immigration, there are concerns that the Church is not keeping up with the changing face of the people in the pews. Canada’s Ukrainian Catholic bishops are asking all Catholics for prayers, charitable giving and three days of fasting November 24 to 26 in solidarity with Ukrainians. As world leaders gathered at the U.N. climate conference to figure out how to deal with climate change, young climate activists found their voices through protests.
