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
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Days of Prayer and Fasting for UkraineArchdiocese of Winnipeg - As the military invasion of Ukraine continues, we watch as the lives of the innocent are taken away, and even more, are moved away from their home as refugees in search of safety. Our Catholic community is home to many Ukrainian Canadians who still have family and friends living in Ukraine.
The Archeparchy of Winnipeg sent a pastoral letter calling for days of prayer, fasting and action, starting on Thursday, November 24th and concluding on Saturday, November 26th. These days coincide with the days that Ukrainian Canadians commemorate the Holodomor annually. Like the Holodomor Ukrainian famine, many people in Ukraine are experiencing limited access to food. You are invited to fast in solidarity with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Christ during the dates mentioned above. Let us also renew our efforts to pray daily for peace in Ukraine and all those who are affected by this senseless war.
Let us pray:
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, we entreat You to hear the earnest prayer of Your beloved Church for her afflicted children abiding in the land of Ukraine. Deliver Your vulnerable people from unjust aggressors, foreign invasion, and terror of war. O kind-hearted Lord, as You are our peace, soften the hearts of the unmerciful and convert those who promote hostilities toward reconciliation so that your beloved children of the land of Ukraine may abide in that tranquillity, justice and freedom which reflects your Kingdom, where Your reign with Your eternal Father, and Your most holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now, and forever and ever. Amen.
Missionaries of Charity in WinnipegArchdiocese of Winnipeg - On November 3, 2022, Sisters from the Missionaries of Charity in Winnipeg were invited by local Knights of Columbus members to attend Mother Teresa's new documentary. The documentary was playing in select theatres across Canada on November 3 and 4th, 2022.
In the picture, Sister Colette (left) and Sister Shilanand (right) arrive at the theatre along with friends and beneficiaries. Photo: Knights of Columbus.
Learn more about Mother Teresa: No Greater Love by visiting their website, here. Or, you can purchase the DVD for yourself, here.
December 2, 2022: The Archbishop's Friday ReportThe Archbishop - In this week’s Friday Report, Archbishop Gagnon shares with us about last weekend’s Synod Implementation Gathering at Good Shepherd Church in Portage La Prairie. He explains the current plan for Synod implementation, how it works, who’s involved and how we get the 42 recommendations into action within our Archdiocese! Thank you to everyone who was involved and attended this event!
As you may know, a key component of the work of the Archdiocesan Synod is outreach to those on the peripheries. With that in mind, Archbishop Gagnon then speaks about an article from the CCBI regarding loneliness and social isolation. How do we combat loneliness and walk with those who feel isolated? Where do we find support systems and new friends? [This] “calls for a re-appreciation of our Baptismal call as members of the Body of Christ to care for all other members of the Body as ‘one Body.’”
Lastly, we reflect on some of the saints who are honoured in the month of December, and His Grace explains the story of St. Barbara. Her feast day is this coming Sunday, December 4th. He had the opportunity to visit C.F.B. Shilo. Did you know? St. Barbara is the patron saint of artillery, and her statue can be found in various places throughout the base.
Thank you for your continued support of the Friday Report! See the links below for more information and resources.
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If you want to ask Archbishop Gagnon a question, reach out to us at communications@archwinnipeg.ca or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Online Advent Retreat from PrayMoreNovenas.comThe Universal Church - You may be familiar with PrayMoreNovenas.com, an online website that sends novena prayers straight to your email inbox. This Advent, they're offering an online, do-it-yourself retreat that you can do anywhere and whenever you have the time. This retreat includes 6 speakers, 14 audio and video presentations and 14 reflective study guides. Click here to sign up or learn more!
An Advent of dignity: the story of Zahoor AlamThe Universal Church - In November 2022, Caritas Bangladesh invited Development and Peace and other Caritas Internationalis members to an international partners’ meeting to help review its emergency response program for Rohingya refugees. Delegates visited the camps in Cox’s Bazar that house the world’s single largest refugee population. This year’s Advent stories were gathered in and around those refugee camps. To read the story of Zahoor Alam, click here.
“We did not have a lot, but we helped them as best we could,” Alam said, recalling his community’s response to the arriving refugees. “We gave them rice if they needed rice. We gave them shelter if they needed shelter.”
Development & Peace - Local UpdatesWinnipeg, MB - There are several local updates from Development & Peace:
Sacrament of Reconciliation During AdventArchdiocese of Winnipeg - Throughout the next few weeks, we will be updating the list of parishes and deaneries that are hosting the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the evenings through the season of Advent.
As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, "Are we ready to receive Him? Before the birth of Jesus, His parents asked for a simple dwelling place, but there was none. If Mary and Joseph were looking for a home for Jesus, would they choose … your heart and all it holds? Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas..."
Encounter: A Digital Newsletter from the CCCB Office for Evangelization and CatechesisThe Church in Canada - The CCCB Office for Evangelization and Catechesis has relaunched its newsletter called Encounter. This newsletter will interest those who work in evangelization and catechesis. It will serve as a source for information highlighting events, formation opportunities, recently released Church documents, and new resources as they become available. Subscribe to the newsletter here.