The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will hold its annual Plenary Assembly at the Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, from September 24-28, 2018. The Plenary Assembly is a gathering of 90 Bishops from across the country. The Most Reverend Lionel Gendron, P.S.S., Bishop of Saint-Jean-Longueuil and CCCB President, will chair the meeting.
This year’s Plenary Assembly marks the opening of the CCCB’s 75th anniversary year under the theme “75 years of episcopal collegiality and solidarity with the people of God in Canada”. Special anniversary activities will take place during the Plenary and throughout the year.
During the Plenary Assembly, the Bishops will welcome His Beatitude Mar Béchara Boutros Cardinal Raï, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and of all the East. The Maronite Church is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches canonically established in Canada, prominent especially in Lebanon but with faithful around the globe. Cardinal Rai will speak about the challenges facing Maronites in Canada and in other countries.
In addition to the conduct of the general business, the Plenary agenda will also include discussion of the following topics: the activities of the palliative care working group, the continued progress by the Bishops to work toward reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples, and the proposed interventions by the CCCB delegates during the upcoming Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 3-28, 2018).
Of particular importance on this year’s agenda is the discussion pertaining to the highly anticipated update to the CCCB document on the protection of minors in order to align guidelines with current legislation and the canonical norms of the Holy See. With a view of launching the document this fall, Bishops will examine the work prepared by the ad hoc committee with contributions by external experts working in related professions (psychology, social work, child protection) and victims.
