Wednesday Weekly February 5, 2014 Print Version
1. St. Mary Magdalene Mission Church, Hagwilget Nation
We are pleased to announce that St. Mary Magdalene Mission Church, New Hazelton, BC will be re-opened. In order to celebrate this happy occasion, Mass will be held at the Church on Sunday, February 16th at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop Stephen Jensen presiding. Parishes are asked to post the attached invitation, place the information in parish bulletins and join in if they are able.
2. Retirement – Simone Kwast
After 14 years of dedicated service at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Simone Kwast retired from her position as Secretary effective January 31, 2014. We wish her many blessings in this next chapter of her life.
3. Statistical Report
Parishes are asked to please fill in the statistical information requested on the attached form and return it to Mary-Anne Lewis Jamin by February 28th. This information is needed for the Annual Rome Report. Contact Mary-Anne at (250)964-4424 extension 234 if you have any questions. Thank you.
Rome Report statistics request
4. Prince George Crisis Pregnancy Centre
Parishes in the Central region as asked to place the following information in parish bulletins for the next three weekends (Feb 9/16/23):
Has God been whispering to you to do something important? Are you being called to a greater service? Some of the questions you may have been asking yourself: “How do I make a difference? How can I be active in my faith within the community? How can I serve with a greater purpose? Do you want to work with people who love God and hold a positive view of life? Are you ready to tackle a life changing challenge and grow in your faith and character? Then step up and join the Board of Directors at the Prince George Crisis Pregnancy Centre. At this exciting time of new growth, we need you! Please contact the Centre at (250) 562-4464 for more information.
5. CCCB Cremisan Valley statement and letter
President Archbishop Paul-André Durocher has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning plans by the Government of Israel to route the country’s security wall through the Cremisan Valley. The President’s letter was also accompanied by a statement following the 2014 meeting of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church in the Holy Land. Both the letter and the statement requested that the Israeli Supreme Court consider the impact rerouting the security wall would have on 58 Christian families, as well as on the presence and pastoral work of a Salesian monastery and also on the educational activities of a Salesian convent. The Israeli Supreme Court has now placed an injunction on further construction work, while also asking the Israeli State Attorney to indicate why other optional routes were not considered. Further updates about the situation can be expected on the Patriarchate’s website: http://en.lpj.org/, under the section “Politics and Society”.
6. CCCB Comment on the results of the questions in the Preparatory Document for the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, “The pastoral challenges for the family in the context of evangelization”
As had been agreed in principle by the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and following the review and approval of the Conference’s Executive Committee, a synthesis has been prepared and sent to the Holy See of the responses of the Bishops and dioceses of Canada to the questions in the Preparatory Document for the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, “The pastoral challenges for the family in the context of evangelization”.
The extent of the consultations by the dioceses and their responses are clear evidence of the pastoral importance of this theme for this year’s Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The consultations indicate not only the importance of marriage and family life for both the Church and our society, but also the Church’s deep appreciation for the generous witness and commitment of married couples and families, especially in today’s world of rapid social change and significant economic challenges. At the same time, the process has shown many Catholics are not deeply aware of the Church’s rich and positive teaching on marriage and family. This can result in a troubling gap between the Church’s doctrine and the thinking of a number of Catholics. There are also hopes the Church could be more effective in presenting its teaching, and might also review aspects of its discipline in certain areas.
This year’s Extraordinary Synod will involve a special meeting of the Presidents of the world’s Episcopal Conferences and of the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Churches. The Holy Father has already indicated this will be followed next year by a meeting of the Synod’s Ordinary Assembly, which in effect will involve a greater number of Bishops from throughout the world in further reflection on these significant questions.
The Preparatory Document notes that the purpose of its questions is to allow “the particular Churches to participate actively in the preparation of the Extraordinary Synod.” Noting that “the time available is short,” the accompanying letter from the General Secretary of the Synod, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, had asked that Conferences of Bishops follow “the most brief and practical institutional process” in providing him a synthesis of responses no later than the end of this past January. In accordance with the preparations and practice for every meeting of the Synod of Bishops, the results of the CCCB synthesis of diocesan responses are sent directly to the Holy See and not made public. Instead, the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops will later this year publish the instrumentum laboris or “discussion document” for the Third Extraordinary Assembly, which will present a summary of major concerns and suggestions from around the world. Also to assist in this, the CCCB will be forwarding to the General Secretariat the complete responses that this Conference has received not only from Canadian dioceses and Bishops, but also from various other Canadian groups and individuals.