Welcome to our News Page! Here you will find news stories from the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, the Church in Canada, and beyond! We also invite you to submit your own articles to our Communication Services Office. Selected articles may be included here, as well as our Weekly News Bulletin sent to all parishes in the Archdiocese. Questions and submissions may be sent to:
communications@archwinnipeg.ca
Note: Click on the small arrow beside each news heading to expand to the entire article.
Ordination to the Ministerial PriesthoodDeacon Oliver Omega will be ordained to the Ministerial Priesthood on Friday, June 9, 2023, at St. Mary's Cathedral at 7:30 pm.
2023 Chrism Mass AnnouncedThis year we will gather to celebrate the Chrism Mass on Monday, April 3, at St. Mary's Cathedral beginning at 10:30 am.
Concelebrating priests are asked to be in the Cathedral hall by 10:15 am.
A reception will follow at the Delta Marriott across from the Cathedral. All are welcome.
Sacrament of Reconciliation During LentAs the season of Lent falls upon us, please see the schedules below from deaneries in our Archdiocese with the parishes' Sacrament of Reconciliation schedules.
More schedules will be added as they are received.
Catholic Marriage Services take on Wonderful Wedding ShowArchdiocese of Winnipeg - When an engaged couple prepares for their wedding day, it is often an overwhelming experience. What date to pick, what colour theme, flower arrangements, which DJ to choose, etc. If there is one event that could help give some idea of what they want their special day to look like, that would be Winnipeg’s Wonderful Wedding Show (WWS), held annually at the RBC Convention Centre. This is the best weekend to view, discover and scout for local wedding services. The Wonderful Wedding Show features hundreds of exhibitors and over 100,000 square feet of everything “wedding.” Talk about overwhelming!
This year, the Archdioceses of Winnipeg and Saint Boniface collaborated to become a vendor at the WWS. Our “Catholic Marriage Services” booth was set up to provide information and answer any questions engaged couples might have about a Catholic Church wedding ceremony. The church grows and journeys with engaged couples before the wedding, during the ceremony and into their married life. It’s more than a service, which we wanted to clarify with the visitors at our booth. We had different volunteers from both dioceses share their experiences, and they helped run the booth throughout the weekend, as well as a few of our clergy. It was a fantastic experience to be part of an event where faith is not generally highlighted as a need or service for weddings. Being the lone Catholic Marriage Services booth there, it was not a surprise that we got a few weird glances, scoffs, and giggles from some. But we also got warm smiles and comments saying, “It's so nice you guys are here.”
(L-R: Rick and Chantal DeBin, Fr. Peter Nemcek, Marie Brunet & Yssa Licsi)
Before the doors opened, one of our fellow vendors asked Fr. Vincent Lusty, one of our clergy volunteers from St. Boniface, to bless their booth before the show started. It was an affirmation that we were called to be there. I had a conversation with an engaged couple that visited our booth. They were raised in the faith and expressed wanting a Catholic Church wedding but felt they couldn’t because they hadn’t gone to church in a long time. I assured them that they were always welcome back to the Church. The love and relief they felt after hearing that moved them. This was “a huge weight off their shoulders” for this couple because they had been so stressed trying to figure out where they would have their ceremony. For them, the parish they used to attend was the only place they wanted, but they were unsure if they would be welcome. That conversation alone was worth it!
(L-R: Veronica Diestro, Marie Brunet, Fr. Vincent Lusty, Nadine & Mike Fetherston)
Thank you to all those who planned, volunteered, prayed for, and visited our Catholic Marriage Services booth. Your time, talent, and treasure that you’ve shared are indeed a blessing, and we are grateful. To all the engaged couples still wondering about having a Catholic wedding, don't hesitate to contact us or your local parish to start those discussions.
In the two years of discerning, planning, rescheduling and everything in between, we had doubts about having a Catholic Marriage Services booth, but we knew that this is what the Holy Spirit wanted us to do. This was a spirit-led event where we could share more about our faith and create opportunities for evangelization. We look forward to representing our Catholic faith again at future Wonderful Wedding shows.
Reflection submitted by John Acosta, Director of Pastoral Services
Faith Community Prays for Ukraine on One Year Mark of WarThe Archbishop - On Saturday, February 25, 2023, Archbishop Gagnon and other faith leaders throughout the city attended Sts. Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral to pray for Ukraine on the one-year commemoration of the start of the war.
In attendance were Most Reverend Archbishop Gagnon, Most Reverend Archbishop LeGatt, alongside their brother bishops, Most Reverend Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak and Most Reverend Andriy Rabiy of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Winnipeg.
Serra Club of Winnipeg present cheque to Vocations ministryThe Archbishop - The Serra Club of Winnipeg continues to be active in its support of Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg.
In October 2022, the Serra Club of Winnipeg organized the Annual Fundraising Dinner, postponed due to the pandemic since 2020. The dinner was an overwhelming success, with over 200 people in attendance - the largest we've ever had! Thank you to all those who attended, as well as to our sponsors and donors for your generous support.
On February 10, 2023, a cheque for $10,000.00 was presented to Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg, for the Archdiocese of Winnipeg vocations programs. Jane Alderdice, District Governor Manitoba Serra Canada Council, Barbara Rolstone, Co-Manager Serra Club Winnipeg and Marlene Coughlin made the presentation. We were also joined by Father Peter Nemcek, Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Winnipeg for the presentation.
Serra Club Winnipeg continues to share the goals of Serra International, promoting Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life and encouraging the spiritual and intellectual formation of lay Catholics so as to help them live their own Christian vocation to service. Serrans are dedicated Catholics who pray for the increase and perseverance of Vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life.
Serra Club Winnipeg seeks new members to join us to promote and continue praying for vocations. Further membership information can be obtained by email: jalderdice@mts.net. Please consider joining us as we pray for the increase and perseverance of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life.
Always remembering that whatever is the need to support Priests and the Religious, we as members of Serra are ready to move ahead and follow the words of St, Junipero Serra “Always forward, never back.”
