Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is the national assembly of the Bishop
s of the Catholic Church in Canada
. It was founded in 1943 and was officially recognized by the Holy See
in 1948. Since the Second Vatican Council
, it became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conference
s, established in 1965, as an integral part of the life of the universal Church. Up until 1977 it was called the Canadian Catholic Conference. The change reflects more clearly the fact that it is an association of Bishops.
According to its statutes, together the Bishops exercise certain pastoral functions for Catholics in Canada, respecting the autonomy of each Bishop in the service of his particular Church
.
Through the work of its members, the Conference is involved in matters of national and international scope in areas such as ecumenism
and interfaith dialogue, social justice
, aid to developing countries, the protection of human life, liturgy and Christian education. It also provides the bishops with a forum where they can share their experience and insight on the life of the Church and the major events that shape our society.
The members of the Episcopal Conference include: all diocesan bishops in Canada and those equivalent to them in law, all Coadjutor Bishop
s, and Auxiliary Bishop
s. Also included in the Episcopal Conference are Titular Bishop
s of any rite within the Catholic Church who exercise in the territory a special office assigned to them by the Apostolic See or by the Episcopal Conference.
which includes various offices and services.
In the Ottawa offices of the CCCB, a staff of about 40 people, laypersons, priests and religious, are at the service of the bishops. The National Liturgy Office of the CCCB is located in Montreal
.
The Secretariat assists in coordinating activities and information, and in maintaining contacts with the Holy See
and other Episcopal Conferences, as well as with Churches, ecclesial communities, faith groups and government authorities at the national and international levels. It also works in collaboration with the four regional Episcopal Assemblies in Canada.
Each commission specializes in one pastoral area, to guide and support the Bishops in their ministry. Driven by the work and expertise of four bishops and one secretary (consultants and observers can also join the groups), each commission studies current events, analyses the needs for the Church in Canada, and organizes projects aimed at supporting Christian communities.
Six of the Commissions are national – formed by Bishops equally distributed between the French and English sectors – while the five others are named “sectoral” because they are divided depending on the language of the member bishops. Three of those commissions are from the English sector, while two originate from the French sector.
The Catholic Aboriginal Council
encourages Aboriginal leadership in the Christian community. CCCB Publications
is the official publishing arm of the Canadian bishops.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of the Catholic Church in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was founded in 1943 and was officially recognized by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
in 1948. Since the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, it became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conference
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
s, established in 1965, as an integral part of the life of the universal Church. Up until 1977 it was called the Canadian Catholic Conference. The change reflects more clearly the fact that it is an association of Bishops.
According to its statutes, together the Bishops exercise certain pastoral functions for Catholics in Canada, respecting the autonomy of each Bishop in the service of his particular Church
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...
.
Through the work of its members, the Conference is involved in matters of national and international scope in areas such as ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and interfaith dialogue, social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, aid to developing countries, the protection of human life, liturgy and Christian education. It also provides the bishops with a forum where they can share their experience and insight on the life of the Church and the major events that shape our society.
The members of the Episcopal Conference include: all diocesan bishops in Canada and those equivalent to them in law, all Coadjutor Bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
s, and Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
s. Also included in the Episcopal Conference are Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
s of any rite within the Catholic Church who exercise in the territory a special office assigned to them by the Apostolic See or by the Episcopal Conference.
General Secretariat
To assist them in their pastoral work, the Bishops have established a permanent bilingual Secretariat in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
which includes various offices and services.
In the Ottawa offices of the CCCB, a staff of about 40 people, laypersons, priests and religious, are at the service of the bishops. The National Liturgy Office of the CCCB is located in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
The Secretariat assists in coordinating activities and information, and in maintaining contacts with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and other Episcopal Conferences, as well as with Churches, ecclesial communities, faith groups and government authorities at the national and international levels. It also works in collaboration with the four regional Episcopal Assemblies in Canada.
Episcopal Commissions and Aboriginal Council
Twelve Episcopal commissions and one council are at the service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.Each commission specializes in one pastoral area, to guide and support the Bishops in their ministry. Driven by the work and expertise of four bishops and one secretary (consultants and observers can also join the groups), each commission studies current events, analyses the needs for the Church in Canada, and organizes projects aimed at supporting Christian communities.
Six of the Commissions are national – formed by Bishops equally distributed between the French and English sectors – while the five others are named “sectoral” because they are divided depending on the language of the member bishops. Three of those commissions are from the English sector, while two originate from the French sector.
The Catholic Aboriginal Council
Catholic Aboriginal Council
The Catholic Aboriginal Council , established in 1998 by the Bishops of Canada, encourages Aboriginal leadership in the Christian community, supports healing and reconciliation, and advises the bishops on Aboriginal questions. Eight Aboriginal Catholics from all parts of Canada are members, as well...
encourages Aboriginal leadership in the Christian community. CCCB Publications
CCCB Publications
CCCB Publications is the official publishing arm of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.Its official goal is to assist the bishops in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and to share the teachings of the Church...
is the official publishing arm of the Canadian bishops.
List of presidents
- 2009-2011 : Pierre Morissette, bishop of Saint-Jérôme
- 2007-2009 : James WeisgerberJames WeisgerberJames Vernon Weisgerber, SOM is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Winnipeg.-Early life and education:...
, archbishop of WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name... - 2005-2007 : André Gaumond, archbishop of Sherbrooke
- 2003-2005 : Brendan O'Brien, bishop of Saint John
- 2001-2003 : Jacques Berthelet, bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil
- 2000-2001 : Gerald Wiesner, bishop of Prince GeorgePrince George, British ColumbiaPrince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
- 1997-2000 : Jean-Claude Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal
- 1995-1997 : Francis John SpenceFrancis John SpenceFrancis John Spence was a Canadian Roman Catholic prelate. Spence served as the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston from 1982 until his retirement in 2002....
, archbishop of Kingston - Marcel Gervais, archbishop of Ottawa
- James Martin HayesJames Martin HayesJames Martin Hayes was a Canadian Prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.James Martin Hayes was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, ordained a priest on June 15, 1947. Hayes was appointed auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Halifax as well as titular bishop of Reperi on February 5, 1965 and ordained...
, archbishop of Halifax - 1985- : Bernard Hubert, bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil
- Joseph MacNeil, archbishop of Edmonton
- Jean-Guy Hamelin, bishop of Rouyn-Noranda
- 1975-1977 : Gerald Emmett Carter, archbishop of Toronto
- 1973-1975 : Jean-Marie FortierJean-Marie FortierJean-Marie Fortier was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, Bishop of Gaspé, and Archbishop of Sherbrooke....
, archbishop of Sherbrooke - Alexander CarterAlexander CarterAlexander Carter, OC was a Canadian bishop, who served as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario from 1958 to 1985....
, bishop of Sault-Sainte-Marie - 1963-1965 : George FlahiffGeorge FlahiffGeorge Bernard Flahiff, CC, CSB was a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Winnipeg from 1961 to 1982, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1969.-Early life and education:...
, archbishop of Winnipeg
External links
- Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops official website