Diocese News (Page 4)

Catholic Schools Week – January 30 – February 5, 2022

Today we begin observance of Catholic Schools’ Week across the province of British Columbia. On March 19, 2021, the fifth anniversary of his Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis has inaugurated the Year “Amoris Laetitia” on the joy and beauty of familial love, which will conclude on June 22, 2022. This year’s Catholic Independent Schools theme is One Family, One Hope in Christ and together, with over 22,000 students enrolled in 79 Catholic schools throughout the province, we celebrate the ways Catholic…

COVID-19 and Other Reminders for Parishes

26 October 2021 Dear Pastors, Assoc. Pastors and Parishioners, Greetings in the Lord! As the pandemic continues to linger, it is important that we don’t lose focus in order to protect one another from the virus. It can be very easy to become casual, or let our vigilance wane, and to forget we are still living with a very contagious and virulent virus. Please remember: Masks are an important means of protecting others from the virus and need to be…

Voting: a duty, a gift, an opportunity

Please read the statement embedded below from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the upcoming Federal Election on September 20th, 2021: Statement from the Executive Committee of the CCCB on the upcoming federal elections: “Voting: a duty, a gift, an opportunity” Friday, September 17 2021 The Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages all Catholics in Canada to vote in the upcoming federal elections. In preparation, the faithful should reflect on their concerns and aspirations, familiarize…

British Columbia Bishops’ Campaign in Support of Healing and Reconciliation

JOINT PRESS RELEASE British Columbia Bishops’ Campaign in Support of Healing and Reconciliation The Catholic bishops of British Columbia recognize the need for a province-wide initiative to raise funds to support healing and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. This appeal will launch formally in September 2021, at which time further details will be provided. Campaign Priorities The goal of the Campaign is to support residential school survivors and Indigenous communities in our province as part of our ongoing response…

Mass on the Lower Similkameen Indian Band Lands

Dear Rev. Fathers and My Brothers & Sisters in Christ, I had the opportunity to celebrate Mass on the Lower Similkameen Indian Band Lands this past Sunday. We gathered under a tent provided by the Okanagan Nation Alliance next to the cemetery on the Chopaka Indian Reserve. Despite the losses they had endured, despite the forces that seek to divide us, we met as one people, united in Faith. The love of Christ was truly present among us. I sincerely…

Residential Schools – Further Information

As many people still have questions about what happened at the Residential Schools and the Truth and Reconciliation Report; as well as trying to discern what is accurate information, we have posted 3 letters. Back on June 25th, we also posted an FAQ originated from the Diocese of Edmonton regarding Residential Schools. Below are the live links to what is referenced in Bishop’s letter, if it is helpful. Articles from The National Post https://nationalpost.com/opinion/raymond-j-de-souza-it-is-historically-inaccurate-to-suggest-the-catholic-church-hasnt-apologized-for-residential-schools https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/newly-discovered-b-c-graves-a-grim-reminder-of-the-heartbreaking-death-toll-of-residential-schools https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-graves-were-never-a-secret-why-so-many-residential-school-cemeteries-remain-unmarked https://nationalpost.com/opinion/fr-raymond-j-de-souza-the-truth-about-the-churchs-obligation-to-aboriginals Articles from Real…