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Anticipating the lifting of restrictions by July 31, and moving eagerly back to worship, we do so mindful that the same missionary desire that drove us to overcome every obstacle to bring people to an encounter with Jesus during the pandemic must guide our efforts as we invite the faithful back into our churches post-Covid.

July 25 will mark the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis has chosen for the theme of this inaugural commemoration “I am with you always” (Mt 28: 30). The Pope reminds all of us of our vocation to preserve our roots and to pass on the faith. / Le message de fraternité et de compassion du Pape pour les personnes âgées, pour la première Journée Mondiale des Grands-Parents et des Personnes Âgées - dimanche 25 juillet. Le Pape insiste donc sur la mission des personnes âgées, jusqu'à la fin de leur vie: «Conserver les racines, transmettre la foi aux jeunes et prendre soin des plus petits.» Chaque personne âgée, même avec ses limites physiques et psychologiques, peut assumer ce rôle de transmission.

The Bishops of Canada are profoundly saddened by the Residential Schools legacy. We are committed to working with Indigenous Peoples and communities towards a greater understanding of the priorities of healing and reconciliation and how to address them together. Bishops from many dioceses across the country have indicated to the CCCB their readiness to discern possible local and/or regional fundraising initiatives. The details of the particular fundraising efforts will be made known locally following further consultations. / Les évêques du Canada sont profondément attristés par l’héritage des pensionnats autochtones. Nous nous engageons à travailler avec les peuples et les communautés autochtones pour mieux comprendre les priorités de la guérison et de la réconciliation et comment les aborder ensemble. Des évêques de nombreux diocèses à travers le pays ont indiqué à la CECC leur volonté de discerner d’éventuelles initiatives de collecte de fonds au niveau local et/ou régional. Les détails des efforts particuliers de collecte de fonds seront communiqués localement suite à d’autres consultations.

In his homily at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concepion in Saint John for the 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time on Saturday, July 10, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, Bishop of the Diocese of Saint John, reflected on an early experience of ministry that taught him the true meaning of evangelization. On Sunday, July 11, 2021, members of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Woodstock celebrated a Mass of Healing. They were joined by Indigenous community members, including members of the Woodstock and Tobique First Nations. When scientists share their data and dialogue with experts in other fields, including religion, they contribute to the search for a holistic truth that promotes the common good and, therefore, promotes peace, Pope Francis said.

Following the 10 June 2021 announcement regarding the delegation of Indigenous people to meet with the Holy Father to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing, the Catholic Bishops of Canada are pleased to announce that the delegation is scheduled to take place from 17‑20 December 2021 in compliance with global travel restrictions. / À la suite de l’annonce du 10 juin 2021 au sujet de la délégation des peuples autochtones pour rencontrer le Saint-Père et vivre des moments significatifs de dialogue et de guérison, les évêques catholiques du Canada sont heureux d’annoncer que la délégation aura lieu du 17 au 20 décembre 2021 conformément aux directives de voyages internationaux.

In a recent Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) webinar, founder André Regnier asked the question, “Can Churches recover from COVID-19”? The answer to this question a resounding yes, but with a catch: Parishes must be willing to seize the opportunity the Lord has provided and return to their missionary roots. On National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), St. John Paul II Parish in Oromocto invited parishioners to attend a special Mass of Healing for the living and peaceful repose of the souls of the 215 deceased children. The path of evangelization, the essential characteristics of an evangelist and the risks posed by the self-proclaimed righteous are illustrated in the Letter to the Galatians, the pope said June 23 as he announced the letter would be the topic of a new series of talks at his weekly general audience.

The Diocese of Saint John is committed to working with Indigenous leaders towards healing and reconciliation. This post includes comments from Bishop Riesbeck, CC as well as the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In keeping with the celebration of the “Year of Saint Joseph”, the CCCB National Liturgy Office and the Office national de liturgie have composed a Novena and an Act of Entrustment to Saint Joseph. The Novena begins on June 22 and ends on June 30, and is followed by the Act of Entrustment on Thursday, 1 July 2021 (Canada Day). The Novena and Act of Entrustment are available for wide use and distribution in dioceses/eparchies, parishes, religious communities, families (domestic churches) and schools. / Dans le cadre de la célébration de « L’Année de saint Joseph », l’Office national de liturgie et le National Liturgy Office de la CECC ont rédigé une Neuvaine et un Acte de Confiance à saint Joseph. La Neuvaine commence le 22 juin et se termine le 30 juin, et sera suivie par l’Acte de Confiance le jeudi 1er juillet 2021 (fête du Canada). Veuillez noter que la Neuvaine et l’Acte de Confiance peuvent être largement utilisés et distribués dans les diocèses, les éparchies, les paroisses, les communautés religieuses, les familles (églises domestiques) et les écoles.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John had strong words of remorse over the participation of Catholics in operating residential schools. He also supports the request for a papal apology. Graydon Nicholas chancellor of St. Thomas University in Fredericton and former lieutenant governor of New Brunswick speaks on the importance of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Jesus is always praying for each and every person, desiring that his word would help people in their lives and that they never would feel alone, Pope Francis said in his weekly audience.

As pandemic restrictions continue to be lifted Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, of the Diocese of Saint John has resumed his pastoral visits, focusing on parishes in the Saint John Region of the diocese. He is encouraging the faithful to holiness and mission.

Today, the members of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement calling for an end to religious violence in Canada, and more specifically Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Aujourd’hui, les membres du Bureau de direction de la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada (CECC) ont publié une déclaration qui demande de mettre fin à la violence religieuse au Canada, et plus particulièrement à l’antisémitisme et à l’islamophobie.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John, took the opportunity on June 6 and the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, to encourage anyone who has distanced themselves from the practice of Sunday Mass to return. On June 3, 2021, Judy Burnham, principal of Divine Mercy Catholic School (DMCS) in Saint John, gave a keynote speech to the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association (CCSTA) on the joys, challenges and rewards of being immersed in the mission of Catholic education over the last twenty years. Cardinal Thomas Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto was also featured as a keynote speaker. Dr. Hamilton, an Anthropology professor at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, worked from 2013-15 identifying residential-school-related grave-sites across Canada. His report was not released until the discovery of 215 bodies at a residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

The Most Reverend Christian Riesbeck, CC, Bishop of Saint John, announces the following clergy assignments effective August 4, 2021. At a later date, Bishop Riesbeck will come to each parish to celebrate a Mass of Installation for the new pastors.

His Holiness Pope Francis appointed the Most Reverend Ivan Jurkovič as the Apostolic Nuncio to Canada. He replaces the former Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi.
Sa Sainteté le Pape François a nommé Mgr Ivan Jurkovič nonce apostolique au Canada. Il remplace l’ancien nonce apostolique au Canada, Mgr Luigi Bonazzi.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC prays for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we can do our part in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), to introduce others to Jesus Christ; Diocesan youth explore the Faith and discipleship through study and online discussion; Blessed Trinity Parish celebrates 40 years of Saint Alphonsus Church.

Today, 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.

Aujourd’hui, la Conférence des évêques catholiques du Canada (CECC) a publié une déclaration à la suite de la découverte récente des dépouilles des enfants à l’ancien pensionnat indien de Kamloops sur le territoire de la Première nation Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

On the evening of May 21, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC of the Diocese of Saint John was on the Miramichi for what was surely a difficult task. A final liturgy was held at All Saints Church in Millbank, and a final mass was held at Holy Family Church in Barryville, as both sites were relegated to profane use.  Popular Catholic speaker and author Father Mike Schmitz, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, and host of Bible in a Year podcast, joins Divine Renovation on June 2 to talk about the Holy Spirit’s role in renewing the Church. The roughly 15,000 members of the Society of Jesus, their collaborators and many people who draw on the spiritual heritage left by St. Ignatius of Loyola began a special Ignatian Year, May 20 and lasting until the saint's feast day, July 31, 2022. University of Ottawa professor emeritus Denis Caro displays his new book Transforming Nations after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Humanitarian and Planetary Systems Perspectives at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa. He says the Christian principles at the core of his Catholic faith will be needed to help create a brighter future post-COVID

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