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Faced with government restrictions and pandemic protocols, two parishes in the Saint John region have come up with innovative ways to minister to families this fall. Saying "thank you" to God is a beautiful prayer, Pope Francis told a group of children and teenagers with autism. An MP who wants Canada to adopt a law that would make it illegal to abort babies based solely on a baby’s sex thinks her biggest challenge is not to convince Canadians of the need for such a law, but instead is to convince her fellow members of parliament.

Bishop Christian Riesbeck’s call toward a renewed personal encounter with Jesus urges us toward Eucharistic devotion, evangelization, and community outreach. Please read the 2020-2021 Pastoral Year Letter here.

Veuillez lire cette Lettre pour l’Année Pastorale 2020-2021.

La Collecte pour les besoins de l’Église au Canada aura lieu les 26 et 27 septembre 2020. Cette initiative caritative annuelle aide les évêques dans leur ministère d’accompagner, d’enseigner, de guider, de sanctifier et de prendre soin de l’Église au Canada.

Bishops in all of Canada continue working faithfully throughout the current pandemic, identifying the needs of the whole Church. They advocate for the persecuted and the poor throughout the world. 
Yearly, they appeal to Canadian Catholics to support them financially in these efforts. We continue to pray for them in this work carried on in union with the Successor of Peter. Please consider publishing their messages and intentions in your parish bulletins, websites, and social media.

Students at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Fredericton will have a strong Catholic presence on their campus this fall. Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) has sent Mary-Anne Ruggles, CCO Connect Leader, to establish a ministry at the university. David Rioux is serving on a pastoral internship year with Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Saint John. Church services and mass online cannot compare to or replace the in-person participation of the faithful, the head of the Vatican's office for divine worship told the world's bishops. As soon as circumstances permit, however, it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life.

The Fredericton Catholic Young Adults are a group of friends in the Fredericton area who have a thriving Catholic social life. During his summer travels, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, of the Diocese of Saint John, has not only shared wisdom with the faithful — he has also given some homework. A plea by Pope Francis to better protect the environment, respect indigenous communities around the globe and listen to the concerns of young people is resonating with Catholics and non-Catholics alike in Canada, where religious and social justice groups are promising to make environmental justice initiatives the focus of a month-long celebration of creation.

Bishop Riesbeck shepherding among the parishes throughout the diocese, installing pastors, and calling on the faithful to live out their missionary call. The Atlantic Service Committee annual summer conference went online to host their Atlantic Charismatic Renewal. Knights of Columbus founder Father McGivney to be beatified October 31.

As churches began to re-open this summer, Bishop Christian Risebeck, CC travelled throughout the Diocese of Saint John visiting various parishes celebrating mass, administering the Sacrament of Confirmation, installing new pastors and most importantly, meeting parishioners. The movie Fatima is being released later this month, with limited theatre release in Canada, though premium video on demand, such as Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime will feature the film.

Diocesan churches continue to safely welcome more faithful back to Mass and into mission. A Catholic Youth Ministries Project and Alpha Youth help youth ministers to help diocesan youth share the Faith within their parish and beyond, despite the pandemic. The New Freeman revisits its 1918 coverage of the Spanish influenza.

Pastors continue to guide parishes to re-opening access to the Sacraments. Juno-winning Steve Bell joins diocesan youth in Saints in Training. Altar murals restored for the 200th anniversary of St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Halifax.

Diocesan parishes and faithful adapting to pandemic protocols, as the Steubenville conference for youth and young adults adapts by going online this summer.

Clergy assignments for the Diocese of Saint John have been announced for August 1, 2020.

Diocesan Rosary and Alpha offering comfort and community through the pandemic, as Pope Francis adds invocations of mercy and hope to the Litany of Loreto. Beatification of Italian teen who communicated his Eucharistic devotion by developing an online database of Eucharistic miracles.

The Diocese of Saint John is holding Solemn Vespers and Funeral Rites for Father Raymund Stack, who died on June 6, 2020. A public Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later time, when gatherings are less restricted.

40 hours in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mark's Parish, and an online Tribute to Beauty fundraiser for Divine Mercy Catholic School.

Bishop Riesbeck gathers the faithful back into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Trinity Sunday, and gathers diocesan youth around a virtual campfire to enkindle their souls with the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Women's League celebrates their centennial. L'Arche celebrates 15 years in Saint John.

Churches re-opening, beatification proceeding for Knights of Columbus founder Father McGivney, and a Bronx priest encouraging all New Brunswick youth to be saints.

As we gather again for Mass in our parishes, our churches will not only look different, they will be different.

Alors que nous nous réunissons une fois de plus pour la Messe dans nos paroisses, nos églises ne présenteront non seulement une apparence différente, mais elles le seront véritablement.