Appointment of Two Auxiliary Bishops to the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie
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Bishop Noël Simard
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2008 World Youth Day in Full Swing
July 8, 2008
Once again, the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie is preparing to send a
delegation of young people from the diocese to the world's largest adult
Catholic faith event, World Youth Day (WYD) 2008. This Festival of Faith
will take place in Sydney, Australia.
The Holy Father invites young adults, between the ages of 18 and 35, to gather with him every three years to celebrate their faith with young adults from over 190 countries. World Youth Day, 2008, is the 23rd World Youth Day since its inception in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. WYD has been held in Buenos Aires (1987), Santiago de Compostela (1989), Czestochowa (1991), Denver (1993), Manila (1995), Paris (1997), Rome (2000 Jubilee), Toronto (2002), and Cologne (2005).
World Youth Day, 2008, will be the largest event Australia has ever hosted, and will attract more than 125,000 international visitors. For the youth from the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, WYD08 consists of a seventeen day pilgrimage, including four days in Melbourne for “Days in the Diocese”, and eleven days in Sydney, including the five for World Youth Days.
“World Youth Day gives young people an opportunity to share their faith in a real world experience”, says Fr. Pat Woods of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. “Young, like-minded people share a common experience, and bring faith and cultural traditions home to their respective Diocese”.
The theme of WYD08 is taken from the Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses”. WYD08 includes catechesis, prayer, music, presentations and skits. The festival culminates with a pilgrim walk to a place of prayer where all the young people will gather together for a vigil prayer service, music, and fellowship under the stars. WYD08 concludes with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI's message to the pilgrims during the Papal Mass and the announcement of location of the next World Youth Day.
How will WYD08 compare to previous World Youth Days? “The Holy Spirit meets us where we're at. The experience of this year's WYD will be as beneficial as any other”, responds Fr. Woods.
The Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie will be sending a youth delegation from Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and North Bay to journey to Sydney, Australia on July 8, 2008. WYD08 will undoubtedly be the experience of a lifetime for all.
For further information, contact:
Fr. Pat Woods
Youth Office
Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie
Telephone: 705-674-2727 Ext. 250
Fax: 705- 674-9889
Websites: http://diocesessm.org and/or http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en and/or
http://www.zenit.org/article-22881?I=english (first-ever online social networking site developed especially for World Youth Day by the Archbishop of Sydney, Australia).
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Appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada
July 3, 2008Dear Father,
On July 1st, you received a statement from Archbishop Collins regarding the appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada.
Since then we have received a number of requests from parishes for the contact information for the respective officials to contact with concerns so that parishioners might express their disappointment. Many communities are planning to distribute the Archbishop’s statement along with the government contacts this weekend.
Please find contact information attached – feel free to copy and distribute as required. This information, Archbishop Collins’ statement and links to resources supporting single mothers, pregnant women in crisis or those who have had an abortion, can also be found online at: www.archtoronto.org.
Along with the Prayer of the Faithful for this weekend, the Archbishop is encouraging emails, letters and phone calls as the most appropriate way for Catholics to voice their displeasure.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office. As always, thanks for your ongoing cooperation.
Sincerely,
Neil MacCarthy
Director of Public Relations and Communications
Key Contacts Regarding Appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada
Catholics are invited to respectfully voice their displeasure with this decision by contacting the following individuals by email, letter, or phone call:
1. Prime Minister Stephen Harper
By mail:
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0A2
By telephone: (613) 992-4211
By fax: (613) 941-6900
By e-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
2. The Governor General of Canada, Michael Jean
By mail:
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean
Governor General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A 0A1
By telephone: (613) 993-8200
or toll free at: 1-800-465-6890
By fax: (613) 998-8760
By e-mail: info@gg.ca
cc emails to: smcook@gg.ca
No postage is required if writing from Canada.
Please consider the following points in your communication:
-
Any communication should be respectful in nature and tone.
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As a Catholic, I am writing to personally protest and express my profound sadness with the appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada.
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The Order of Canada, one of our nation’s highest honours, should be awarded to those who have united our country and recognize achievements that strengthen our nation. Honouring Henry Morgentaler, who has devoted his life to the destruction of the defenseless, devalues this award and our country.
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Ask that the decision to award the Order of Canada to Mr. Morgentaler be revoked.
_______________________________
A complete list of resources for pregnant women in crisis or those looking for post-abortion healing ministry are available online at: www.archtoronto.org
Most Reverend Thomas Collins - Archbishop of Toronto
Statement from His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto re: Appointment of Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada
July 1, 2008
Canada's highest honour has been debased. Henry Morgentaler has been awarded the Order of Canada. We are all diminished.
A community's worth is measured by the way it treats the most vulnerable, and no one is more vulnerable than in the first nine months of life's journey. No person may presume to judge the soul of Henry Morgentaler, but it cannot be denied that the effect of his life's work has been a deadly assault upon the most helpless amongst us.
Canada glories in the names of Banting and Best, and the other medical heroes who selflessly brought healing where there was disease and suffering. Now it honours with the Order of Canada a medical man who has brought not healing, but the destruction of the defenseless and immeasurable grief. This award must not stand.
I earnestly appeal to all who are tempted to resort to an abortionist, or are pressured to do so by those around them. I urge you to contact organizations such as Birthright, and others who will support you and love you and your precious child. Contact your parish. We are here for you. I pledge to you the support of the Catholic Church. Look to our archdiocesan website at www.archtoronto.org for information concerning places where you may find loving help.
For those who have had an abortion, and bear within your heart the fearful grief, I urge you to contact us, to find love and support in your anguish, and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to find the gift of inner peace.
I ask the faithful of the Archdiocese of Toronto, and all people of good will, to protest this act of dishonour. Write, phone, or e-mail the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and your Member of Parliament. Ask that this action be revoked.
This coming Sunday will be a day of special prayer in the Archdiocese of Toronto, for an end to the evil of abortion. I have asked that the following prayer be inserted in the Prayer of the Faithful in all the churches of the archdiocese:
"That the scourge of abortion be lifted from our land, that those who promote it may
be brought to a change of heart, that all who are tempted to abortion may be lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life, and that all who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing gift of love."
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Archdiocese of Toronto
1155 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4T 1W2
Tel: (416) 934-0606
Fax: (416) 934-3452