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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint John, located at 1 Bayard Dr. in Saint John, NB, is seeking a full-time Director of Finance and Administration. For more information and to apply please visit https://www.careerbeacon.com/en/job/1801606/239463/director-of-finance-and-administration/saint-john-nb . Applications will be accepted until Friday, June 10, 2022.

Father Ron Rolheiser asks: Where does our present moment belong vis-à-vis our faith in God and the relevance of our churches? Are we post-Christian? Are we witnessing the death of God and our churches? Or, is our faith being purified by the very criticisms levelled against it and, despite a massive decline in church attendance, aren’t the churches making genuine moral progress on issues like racism, sexism, and social justice in general? Are we dying or maturing? How do we name our present moment? For more than 20 years, world religion teachers and interfaith leaders around the world have been using the Golden Rule poster as an entry point for discussions on faith and unity. Wanting to go back to the way things were in the past is not Christian, Pope Francis said. There is a difference between wanting to go back in time and drawing inspiration from one's roots in order to move forward with Christ, he said.

C’est avec une profonde tristesse que les évêques catholiques du Canada soulignent le premier anniversaire des révélations troublantes liées au site de l’ancien pensionnat de Kamloops. Il s’agit d’un rappel douloureux de la souffrance causée par le système des pensionnats indiens au Canada, une souffrance que nous savons toujours présente.

Earlier today, the Vatican formally announced that Pope Francis will travel to Canada from July 24-29, 2022. The historic visit, focused on Indigenous healing and reconciliation, will be the fourth papal journey to Canada and the first since Saint John Paul II’s visit in 2002.

Plus tôt aujourd’hui, le Vatican a officiellement annoncé que le pape François se rendra au Canada du 24 au 29 juillet 2022. Cette visite historique, axée sur la guérison et la réconciliation autochtones, sera le quatrième voyage papal au Canada et le premier depuis la visite de saint Jean-Paul II en 2002.

"Father Monte Peters was an extraordinary man and priest who quietly, humbly, and generously served the Diocese of Saint John, the City of Fredericton, and its surrounding communities, and especially generations of students, faculty, and staff of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University. He also enjoyed a special relationship with the peoples of Sitansisk Wolastoqiyik First Nation and the Kingsclear First Nation. He gave to all with grace, dignity, and usually a little joke! He accepted his final illness with Christian grace only wishing he could have said goodbye to more of the many people who had been so kind to him over the years." Please join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Fr. Monte Peters, his family, and all his loved ones.

The Resurrection is not merely an ancient fact but a present event, one in which we participate every time we celebrate the Eucharist, “the seed of eternal life and the power of the Resurrection” (CCC 1524). This is what the world so desperately needs in this time of great uncertainty. Death and darkness do not have the last word – Christ truly risen from the dead and incarnate in our lives is the ultimate victory!

La résurrection n'est pas seulement un fait historique mais une réalité présente, à laquelle nous participons chaque fois que nous célébrons l'Eucharistie, « la semence de la vie éternelle et la puissance de la résurrection » (CEC 1524). C'est ce dont le monde a désespérément besoin en cette période de grande incertitude. La mort et les ténèbres n'ont pas le dernier mot. Le Christ véritablement ressuscité des morts et incarné dans nos vies est la victoire ultime !

At this pivotal moment in Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples, author and educator Kevin Lamoureux is encouraging those in the Church working to move beyond feelings of guilt to be part of the solution. The executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League says he hopes anti-Catholic hate crimes will not flare up in the wake of the historic meetings at the Vatican between Pope Francis and representatives of Canada’s First Nations. On April 5, 2022, during the fifth evening of the Lenten Revitalization Series at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, Father Owen Burns was invited to give a talk on the daily examine.

In the life of each one of us, there are moments of difficulty and moments of well-being. God does not call us out of this world of constant tension; rather it is within this world that we are invited to witness to reconciliation and peace. Let us all hope that we may be worthy to bear witness to Easter following the Passion, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world!

Dans la vie de chacun et chacune, il y a de ces moments d’épreuves et de bien-être. Ce n’est pas hors de ce monde en tension constante que Dieu nous appelle, mais au contraire, c’est à l’intérieur de ce monde que nous sommes conviés au témoignage de la réconciliation et de la paix. Souhaitons-nous tous d’être dignes de témoigner de Pâques au lendemain de la Passion, « pour la gloire de Dieu et le salut du monde ».

As war and conflict rage during a prolonged pandemic, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus who offered peace as a parting gift to his disciples. Recently, Pope Francis and American Archbishop John Wester courageously expanded and deepened the Catholic peace tradition in historic ways. Why Rome matters: Rome is not just another city. It’s not even an Italian city. It belongs to the world and to God at one and the same time. On March 29, 2022, during the fourth evening of the Lenten Revitalization Series at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, of the Diocese of Saint John welcomed Pam Daigle who spoke on Ignatian Contemplation.

The Holy Father expressed “sorrow and shame” for the abuse and lack of respect for Indigenous identities, culture and spiritual values in the residential school system. He said, “I ask for God’s forgiveness and I want to say to you with all my heart: I am very sorry. And I join my brothers, the Canadian bishops, in asking your pardon.”

Le Saint-Père a exprimé sa « tristesse et sa honte » pour les abus et le manque de respect des identités, de la culture et des valeurs spirituelles autochtones dans le système des pensionnats. Il a déclaré : « Je demande le pardon de Dieu et je veux vous dire de tout mon cœur : Je suis vraiment désolé. Et je me joins à mes frères, les évêques canadiens, pour demander votre pardon. »

Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC witnesses to the Catholic devotion to our Blessed Mother, with the Marian Devotional Movement. Stephen Mawhinney witnesses to the life-changing Christ, who is the same, yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), in the Lenten Revitalization Series at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Father Harrison Ayre of the Diocese of Victoria, BC publishes Mysterion: The Revelatory Power of the Sacramental Worldview, illustrated by Sister Danielle Victoria Lussier of the Daughters of St. Paul, revealing the power of the Sacraments, liturgy, and the Marian stance.

You are invited this April 7th. You can contact Mary Alice Glasgow (sjreled@dioceseofsaintjohn.org) to register you - or you can also register yourself through this link.

OTTAWA, March 24, 2022 – This weekend, a delegation of 32 Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth will journey together from across the country to meet with Pope Francis. These delegates, who were selected in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Métis National Council (MNC), and the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), bring a depth of lived experience and insight on the legacy of residential schools and the impacts of colonialism, with many directly engaged in the ongoing journey of healing and reconciliation. Delegate names have been published by the AFN and the MNC respectively. The ITK, after consulting with delegates, has opted not to publish a full list of names, although representatives will participate in a media briefing on March 28th.

OTTAWA, le 24 mars 2022 – Cette fin de semaine, une délégation de 32 aînés, gardiens du savoir, survivants et survivantes des pensionnats et jeunes autochtones de partout à travers le pays voyageront ensemble afin de rencontrer le pape François. Ces délégués, qui ont été choisis en collaboration avec l’Assemblée des Premières Nations (APN), le Ralliement national des Métis (RNM) et l’Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), apportent une expérience vécue et un aperçu approfondi de l’héritage des pensionnats et des impacts du colonialisme, et plusieurs d’entre eux sont directement impliqués dans le processus continu de guérison et de réconciliation. Les noms des délégués ont été publiés respectivement par l’APN et le RNM. L’ITK, après avoir consulté les délégués, a choisi de ne pas publier une liste complète des noms, bien que des représentants et représentantes participeront à un point de presse le 28 mars.

Bishop Riesbeck will be joining with Pope Francis in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to  the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the 5:30 pm Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate  Conception on Friday, March 25, 2022. As we pray for an end to the conflict in Ukraine,  the faithful are invited to join in a novena that begins today, March 17, 2022.

May we emerge from this challenging time stronger for what the Lord has allowed us to endure, firmly rooted in his deep love, and ready to spread the joy of the Gospel to the ends of the earth!