Recent News

Catholic Centre - The Catholic Centre will close on Friday, December 21st, for the Christmas holidays, and will re-open on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019. A peace-filled Christmas season to all!

Catholic Centre, Winnipeg - Arnold Casaclang, CMA, is appointed as Financial Administrator pro tem of the Archdiocese. 

The memorandum from Archbishop Richard Gagnon to all parishes, all clergy, and all institutes of consecrated life, dated November 28, 2018, reads:

"Effective yesterday David Gudmundson will no longer serve as the Financial Administrator of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. We are grateful for his nearly two years of service and wish him well in his future endeavours.

I am appointing Arnold Casaclang, CMA as Financial Administrator pro tem of the Archdiocese. Arnold is well known to our parishes as he has been serving as the Senior Accountant of the Archdiocese."

Petrus Hall, Winnipeg - The Archdiocese of Winnipeg hosted its first Family Festival on  October 27, 2018. It was attended by over 800 participants and 15 exhibitors. The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist was presided by Archbishop Richard Gagnon, who also gave a keynote address on The Joy of Love later in the day.

John Acosta, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, hosted a talk show to share about the depth of love and joy experienced by families in our local church. Games and activities were arranged for the young children while the Archbishop gave his talk. It was blessed day enjoyed by many.

Petrus Hall, Winnipeg - Rev. Thomas Rosica, CSB, CEO of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, gave a presentation on Pope Francis's Amoris Laetitia at the Tri-Diocesan Clergy Study Day, held November 20 at St. Peter's Petrus Hall. Almost eighty priests and deacons from the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, Archdiocese of St. Boniface, and Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, were present to hear Fr. Rosica's talk on the development, reception, and implications of Pope Francis's post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the 'Joy of Love' in the family. 

Father Rosica shared about his first-hand experience of the Synods on the Family in Rome, held in 2014 and 2015, which  eventually led to Amoris Laetitia. Priests and Deacons at the Study Day shared that the talk was both encouraging and challenging. 

St. Charles Retreat Centre, Winnipeg - Archbishop Richard Gagnon met with the Superior of the Chemin Neuf community, who visited Winnipeg for the first time on November 19, 2018. 

Since his election as Superior General in 2016, Fr. Francois has been visiting each country where Chemin Neuf Community is located - 33 countries!  He was accompanied by Marie Salmon from Montreal, the leader of Chemin Neuf for Canada.  

The Chemin Neuf Community arrived in Winnipeg in 2010 following an invitation from the Archdiocese of St. Boniface. Ted and Nancy Wood, two community members from Winnipeg, came to explore the possibility of bringing the community to Manitoba.

A year later, the Oblate Missionary Sisters generously donated the St. Charles Retreat Center to the Chemin Neuf Community. Located in the western part of the city of Winnipeg along the Assiniboine River, the community house serves the mission of the community. Today they are joined by Kevin and Anne-Lise Bhaga, along with their two children, who serve in Chemin Neuf's mission to young adults. 

Muenster, Saskatchewan - Former Prairie Messenger columnist releases collection of film essays: "The Best of Screenings and Meanings: A Journey Through Film by Gerald Schmitz"

Click here for the news release

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Consider supporting Angel Tree Christmas - a program of Prison Fellowship.

Angel Tree Christmas, is a program of Prison Fellowship that partners with local church communities to reach out to the children of prisoners and their families with the love of Jesus. 

Children of prisoners are often forgotten and silent victims of crime. Children experience feelings of abandonment, loneliness and shame from having a mom or dad in prison. Maintaining a connection between an inmate and their children is crucial in positive social and emotional development. 

• Churches and volunteers who are willing participate by registering with PFC online and then purchasing and delivering gifts (one per child, max. $30) on behalf of the inmate. 

Approved applications from prisoners are matched with local area sponsors who volunteer to purchase, wrap and deliver a gift to the prisoner’s child on his/her behalf. These sponsors are also strongly encouraged to build relationships with the prisoner’s family by inviting them to community events or local church services. Many churches make an annual commitment as it provides a rewarding opportunity to care for some of the most overlooked members in our communities. 

In 2017, we received applications for over 3,300 children across Canada to receive a gift through Angel Tree Christmas.

Information on Angel Tree Christmas

- Submitted by Prison Fellowship Canada

Petrus Hall, Winnipeg - Two hundred and twenty-two people listened intently to Sister Peter Mary as she told her journey of discernment in Religious Life.  Sister Peter Mary was the guest speaker at the 2018 Serra Club Dinner held at the new and very beautiful Petrus Hall on October 18^th, 2018.  Guests arrived at the new hall on Inkster Blvd. which was beautifully decorated with candles, flowers and a cross on each table.  Sister Peter Mary is presently working as Prison Chaplain at Stoney Mountain Penal Institute.  

Father Peter Nemcek spoke on vocations and encouraged everyone to keep praying for this intention.  He spoke about another Serra Club project – the Travelling Chalice.  Presently, the chalice is working its way to different homes. The chalice is picked up at Mass on the weekend and taken home by a family to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life each day for one week. The chalice is then returned to the church, so another family can have its turn. 

One of the many projects that support vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life is the Annual Serra Club Dinner.  Each year, the proceeds of the dinner are given to Archbishop Richard Gagnon to help defray costs at the Seminary. This year a cheque for $12,500 was given to Archbishop Gagnon. 

Thank you to all who attended and supported the Serra Club Dinner. 

- Submitted by Marlene Coughlin

Vatican City - His Holiness Pope Francis met with the Presidency of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as part of their annual visit with a number of dicasteries of the Holy See. The delegation was received in the morning of December 6, 2018, in the Apostolic Palace. 

The CCCB representatives include The Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil (President); The Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg (Vice-President); and Monsignor Frank Leo, Jr. (General Secretary).  This year, they spent half an hour with Pope Francis. Among the topics discussed were the Church’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia in Canada, Palliative Care, the New Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons resource published by the CCCB, and the Church’s relationship with civil governments including the legalization of marijuana and its social impact.

Vatican City - In a Letter addressed to young people of the whole world, the Synod Fathers invite the young to "be a brighter future."

LETTER FROM THE SYNOD FATHERS TO YOUNG PEOPLE

We the Synod Fathers now address you, young people of the world, with a word of hope, trust and consolation. In these days, we have gathered together to hear the voice of Jesus, “the eternally young Christ”, and to recognize in Him your many voices, your shouts of exultation, your cries, and your moments of silence.

We are familiar with your inner searching, the joys and hopes, the pain and anguish that make up your longings. Now we want you to hear a word from us: we wish to be sharers in your joy, so that your expectations may come to life. We are certain that with your enthusiasm for life, you will be ready to get involved so that your dreams may be realized and take shape in your history.

Our weaknesses should not deter you; our frailties and sins must not be an obstacle for your trust. The Church is your mother; she does not abandon you; she is ready to accompany you on new roads, on higher paths where the winds of the Spirit blow stronger – sweeping away the mists of indifference, superficiality and discouragement.

When the world that God so loved, that he gave us his only Son, Jesus, is focused on material things, on short-term successes, on pleasures, and when the world crushes the weakest, you must help it to rise up again and to turn its gaze towards love, beauty, truth and justice once more.

For a month, we have walked together with some of you and with many others who have been united to us through prayer and affection. We wish to continue the journey now in every part of the earth where the Lord Jesus sends us as missionary disciples.

The Church and the world urgently need your enthusiasm. Be sure to make the most fragile people, the poor and those wounded by life your traveling companions.

Nous sommes une petite paroisse accueillante francophone de l’Archidiocèse de Winnipeg. 

Si vous êtes de notre côté de la rivière,  nous vous invitons à prendre part à nos célébrations dominicales. 

La messe est tous les dimanches à 10h30 au 421, avenue Brandon, Winnipeg, MB, Notre messe est suivie régulièrement d’un goûter pour socialiser.  

Bienvenus à tous

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - "I have the privilege of entering the Holy Season of Advent this year by being in Rome as part of the yearly President’s visit of the CCCB Executive. There are three of us: President Lionel Gendron of the Diocese of St. Jean Longueuil, Msgr. Frank Leo who is General Secretary of the CCCB, and myself as Vice-President." - Archbishop Gagnon (Dec. 4, 2018) 

Click here to view the Archbishop's 2018 Advent Message