Recent News

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - Ms. Tess Garcia, our Human Resources Manager, has accepted an HR position with a company in Winnipeg. Tess's last day in office was Monday, October 25, 2021. We thank Tess for her 14 months of service to the Archdiocese and wish her well in her new employment.

Catholic Centre - The Office of Catechetics and Faith Development has published guidelines for the new Catechetical Year, following Archdiocesan protocols on COVID-19. Please click here to view the memo from Judith Vasquez, Director of Catechetics and Faith Development. 

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - "Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" - 1 Peter 1:14-16 . Please click here to view the Newsletter of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg Seminarians.

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - Effective October 22, 2021, Reverend Norberto Monton becomes Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Virden and Paroisse St-Jean in Grande-Clairière. Reverend Benjamin Nwaeje becomes Parochial Administrator of St. Columba’s Parish in Swan River with the attached Missions of St. Ellen’s, Barrows, Sacred Heart, Birch River, Holy Family, Bowsman and St. Theresa’s, Pelican Rapids.

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - Upon presentation by the Deanery, the Archbishop announces the appointment of Very Reverend Vijay Deivanayagam, OMI, as Dean or Vicar Forane of North Winnipeg Deanery.  This appointment is effective September 23, 2021.

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - Your kind prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Reverend Robert Bernardin, omi, who passed away yesterday at the age of 94. Fr. Robert was born in Elie and was ordained at Blessed Sacrament Church in Elie in 1953 by Archbishop Philip Pocock. Fr. Robert served in a number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg including Ste-Rose-du-Lac, Toutes-Aides, Skownan, Ebb and Flow, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Winnipeg. May he rest in peace.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish, Winnipeg – “We are servants of reconciliation,” said Archbishop Richard Gagnon in his remarks at the beginning of Mass at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Winnipeg, organized to help mark Canada’s first official National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

There was a sense of family as parishioners trickled into the new church building of St. Kateri Parish. In early 2021, the parish relocated to their present site on Flora Street to better accommodate the needs of the mostly-Indigenous community. The building was purchased from the Aberdeen Evangelical Mennonite Church, members of which were present at the Celebration.

Before Mass, Elder Percy Flett carried the community’s prayers with him as he prayed with the Sacred Pipe. A number of priests of the North Winnipeg Deanery concelebrated with Archbishop Gagnon.

Reflecting on the day’s readings, Archbishop Gagnon said in his homily that, “God uses very unlikely people to bring about restoration and healing.” The experiences of the Jewish people in the Old Testament were filled with the unexpected, as witnessed to in today’s reading from the Book of the Prophet Nehemiah. They often strayed, and we continue to do so today, but God can bring about the good amidst the chaos.

“Faith is connected to healing, and building up, and good ordering of a person’s life,” said Archbishop Gagnon. “That’s what it’s meant to be. It can be distorted, as we see historically in our country, but God meant our spiritual life to be a principle of healing and order, to give our life dignity and to respect the dignity of others. That’s what the spiritual life is meant for.”

Margot Lavoie of St. Kateri Parish in her remarks at the end of Mass, said, “Today, our hearts can sing in joy even if there still remain heartaches to be healed and tears to be wiped away. Healing takes time. And as we let compassion and love transpire in our actions, we can journey in hope. Light overcomes darkness.”

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About the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: September 30^th is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day meant to honour the victims and survivors of Canada’s residential school system along with their families. The day also marks the importance of relationships between the First Peoples of this land and the non-Indigenous people of Canada, and also presents an opportunity to listen to and reflect on the stories within our Indigenous and First Nations communities.

All are encouraged to take part in community-organized activities marking the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

About St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish: St. Kateri Tekakwitha Aboriginal Church was established in 1979 to serve the Indigenous community within the Archdiocese of Winnipeg. The parish recently relocated to 265 Flora Avenue, having purchased the building from the Aberdeen Evangelical Mennonite Church. The current pastor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church is Rev. Arokia Vijay Deivanayagam, OMI. For more information, please phone 204-783-7215 or email the parish office at st.kateri@shaw.ca.

Catholic Centre - "I am pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Vander Aa as the new Administrative Coordinator to Catholic Schools of the Manitoba Catholic Schools Office. This appointment will be effective October 4, 2021. 

Anita has been serving as the Executive Director of the Catholic School of Evangelization in St. Malo. Prior to her work at the CSE, Anita was the librarian at St. Boniface Diocesan High School. Anita is a parishioner of Holy Cross Parish in St. Boniface.

We welcome Anita to the Catholic Centre Manitoba Catholic Schoosl Office." Read Archbishop Gagnon's memo here.

Archdiocese of Winnipeg - In response to proposal 17 of our Archdiocesan Synod, a Revision Commission appointed by Archbishop Richard Gagnon revised the Norms for Parish Pastoral Councils. These Norms were approved by the Council of Priests and promulgated by Archbishop Gagnon this past August. The Norms took into effect on September 1, 2021. Click here to view the Revised PPC Norms. 

See Archbishop Gagnon at the 15:37 mark of the video.

Vatican City - "The theme of the upcoming 16th Synod of Bishops is: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission”.  Synodality indicates walking together and listening to one another but above all to the Holy Spirit.  To deepen this essential characteristic of the Church, the upcoming synod is unlike any previous one.  It starts with, and involves all the faithful at local Churches across the world, promising to listen to all, especially to laypeople. That is why this Synod is a 2-year process, starting from October 10, 2021, to October 2023." Click here for the full Vatican News article.

The Universal Church - "'The upcoming synod is very important in the life of the universal Church and during this initial phase, all people of God — laity, religious, clergy — will be called to engage and dialogue on the synodal journey,' CCCB spokesperson Lisa Gall wrote in an e-mail. Canadian dioceses have varying degrees of experience with synodal processes. As the Archdiocese of Halifax merged with the Diocese of Yarmouth, Archbishop Anthony Mancini led Nova Scotians through a two-year, synod-like consultation that ended in a far-reaching reorganization of parishes. The Archdiocese of Vancouver finished up a synod in 2006. Between 2016 and 2018 the Archdiocese of Winnipeg ran a synod under the title of 'Established, Anointed, and Sent in Christ'." Click here for the full article from the Catholic Register.

In the Community - One in four women have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. Knowing that life in the womb is sacred and precious, Life's Vision has put together Angel Baby - a place where parents can honour and commemorate their child. Visit www.angelbaby.ca to view our memory wall, read stories of parents who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss, and to share the memory of your own beloved child. 

In the Community - Please view this week's announcements from Development and Peace - Caritas Canada.

Let’s put People and Planet First with Development and Peace — Caritas Canada’s new campaign!

In Canada, most people can speak out freely when injustice is committed. In many countries of the Global South, however, communities are threatened when they seek to protect their rights, especially their right to a healthy environment. This climate of insecurity is often fuelled by the presence and influence of corporations, some of which are Canadian.

Undaunted, many vulnerable communities fight courageously to defend their rights, their lands and the environment against corporate harm.

This year, Development and Peace’s People and Planet First campaign invites you to stand in solidarity with them and celebrate their work!

To learn more about the campaign, join us for an introductory workshop at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 14 via Zoom. To register, please click here. The campaign poster is available for download on Development and Peace’s website for promotion! For more information, contact Jason Cegayle, regional animator for Development and Peace for Manitoba and Thunder Bay at jcegayle@devp.org or by phone at (204) 231-2848 or visit https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/people-planet-first/.

WEBINAR! Meet our partners putting People and Planet First – Development and Peace

 As you probably know, our 2021-2022 campaign, People and Planet First, is now underway! To bring its message to life and reach a maximum number of people, we are hosting a national bilingual event on October 16, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom. The event will be a unique opportunity to meet the partners highlighted by the campaign, learn more about ways to get involved, listen to the voices of human rights defenders and pray together for a more just world. Here is the link to register.

In the Community - As announced this summer, the Sisters of St. Benedict have sold their 88,000-square-foot monastery and retreat centre to the Southeast Regional Development Corp. (SERDC) for use as a wellness centre. Below is a letter of thanks from the SERDC project manager, Blake Russell, who characterized the move as "Reconciliation in Action."

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Sister Dorothy,

We just wanted to thank you and the Sisters of the Order of St Benedict’s for the compassion, support, and grace that you have shown our entire team in the last nine months of partnership during the transition of your home and monastery to the communities of SERDC. 

In the Community - In Canada, most people can speak out freely when injustice is committed. In many countries of the Global South, however, communities are threatened when they seek to protect their rights, especially their right to a healthy environment. This climate of insecurity is often fuelled by the presence and influence of corporations, some of which are Canadian.

Undaunted, many vulnerable communities fight courageously to defend their rights, their lands and the environment against corporate harm.

This year, Development and Peace’s People and Planet First campaign invites you to stand in solidarity with them and celebrate their work!

To learn more about the campaign, join us for an introductory workshop at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, October 14 via Zoom. To register, please click here. The campaign poster is available for download on Development and Peace’s website for promotion! For more information, contact Jason Cegayle, regional animator for Development and Peace for Manitoba and Thunder Bay at jcegayle@devp.org or by phone at (204) 231-2848 or visit https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/people-planet-first/.

In the Community - We are pleased to publish the Newsletter of the Deacons of Manitoba! Please click here to view Volume 1, Issue 12, of the newsletter. "Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which He walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world." - Attributed to St. Teresa of Ávila 

Vatican City - Please take a look below at a couple of photos from Archbishop Gagnon and other Canadian delegates to the 16th Synod in Rome.

Barbara Dowding (Vancouver Chancellor) and Sister Chantal Desmarais (Quebec Delegate), myself, after the opening event of the Synod. Taken in St. Peter’s Square.

Msgr. Raymond Poisson, new CCCB President, and Barbara Dowding, Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Vancouver, myself, as part of the five-person Delegation to the opening of the Synod in Rome. On the roof of our residence near St. Peter’s Basilica.

Ottawa - The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) held its biennial election to determine the new members the Executive Committee and Permanent Council. The Most Reverend Raymond Poisson, Bishop of Saint-Jérôme and of Mont-Laurier was elected the President, and the Most Reverend William McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary, was elected the Vice President. Read more.

Ottawa - "The Bishops of Canada, as a tangible expression of their commitment to walk with the Indigenous Peoples of this land along the pathway of hope, are making a nation-wide collective financial commitment to support healing and reconciliation initiatives for residential school survivors, their families, and their communities.

With a target of $30 million over up to five years, this will include initiatives in every region of the country. The commitment will be achieved at the local level, with parishes across Canada being encouraged to participate and amplify the effort."

Click here for the news release from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Statement of Apology by the Catholic Bishops of Canada to the Indigenous Peoples of This Land
September 24, 2021

Ottawa - We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day.  Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies[1], we[2], the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

We are fully committed to the process of healing and reconciliation. Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, and as a further tangible expression of this ongoing commitment, we are pledging to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, we invite the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us in each of our dioceses across the country to prioritize initiatives of healing, to listen to the experience of Indigenous Peoples, especially to the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and to educate our clergy, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, on Indigenous cultures and spirituality. We commit ourselves to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.

Having heard the requests to engage Pope Francis in this reconciliation process, a delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in Rome in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous participants, so as to discern how he can support our common desire to renew relationships and walk together along the path of hope in the coming years. We pledge to work with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey.

We commit ourselves to continue accompanying you, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. Standing in respect of your resiliency, strength and wisdom, we look forward to listening to and learning from you as we walk in solidarity.

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Read more.