I personally had a unique occasion to renew my apostolic mission exactly a month ago at the tomb of St. Peter in the context of the Ontario Bishops' Ad Limina Apostolorum visit in Rome.
It is with mixed emotions that I announce the retirement of four important members of the Diocesan service team. A special "thank you" was express to them at our Christmas staff dinner in December.
Suppressing a parish or closing a church building is one of the most difficult decisions a bishop may have to make. When such a decision has to be made a community of Christ's faithful is being asked to fundamentally alter their way of life.
Following numerous inquiries that we have received concerning helping the victims of hurricane Matthew Haiti, we would like to inform you that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is collaborating with Development and Peace (CCODP) to ensure immediate assistance to our brothers and sisters.
No Better Time to Say Goodbye - The Coming of another Christmas brings with it a renewed sense of joy and awe at the Lord's overwhelming goodness to me as I reflect on memories in which the people of our Diocese played an important role in my life.
All faithful of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie are invited to the Eucharistic celebration of installation of The Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse, newly appointment Bishop of our Diocese on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pro-Cathedral in North Bay
Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, ON, November 12, 2015 - This morning in Rome, the Holy Father, Pope Francis announced the appointment of the Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse, presently Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall as Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie*. This follows the resignation of Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe to the Holy Father upon reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canon Law and after 29 years of ministry in the Diocese.
My dear brothers and sisters, These past weeks all of us have been haunted by the images of refugees flooding into Europe from Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa. A year ago, speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, the Secretary of State for the Holy Father, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, repeated the Pope’s constant appeal to us and to the international community to “take action to end the humanitarian tragedy now underway” by preventing war, stopping aggressors, protecting populations and helping victims. As our world and our country debate how best to respond, we as Catholics must ask what we might do personally and in our local communities. Here are a few suggestions on ways to help with this tragic, overwhelming and complex problem.
Each year the Church in Canada designates one week as a special time for prayer and reflection on life and the family. In light of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of Canada relative to the issue of assisted suicide, it is appropriate that we turn our attention to the call of the family to draw near to the dying, and, indeed, to any who suffer, and accompany them with love. Experience has shown that, among those who approach the end of life, the greatest fear is not that of suffering but of being alone. Nothing can alleviate that anxiety better than the loving presence of family members.
The 18th National March for Life will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Ottawa. This year's theme is "When Faced with Hard Choices. LET LIFE WIN".
