QUEBEC, Canada, SEPT. 25, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) began yesterday their annual Plenary Assembly in Quebec. The meeting is chaired by the Most Reverend Richard Smith, Archbishop of Edmonton, who was elected CCCB President for a two-year term in 2011.
The Bishops will give a special welcome to His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kiev-Halych (Ukraine) and primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Archbishop Shevchuk is visiting Canada to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Ukrainian Catholic Bishop in Canada, the Blessed Nykyta Budka who later died a martyr in Siberia. Three other important events will also be highlighted during the 2012 CCCB Plenary: the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, and the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization and its Transmission of the Faith that will meet in Rome. Both the canonization of Blessed Tekakwitha and the Synod of Bishops will take place on October.
As well as reviewing pastoral initiatives and receiving annual reports, the Bishops will share their experiences and insights on the life of the Church and society. Annual reports will be presented by the Conference’s national and sectorial commissions and its standing committees, as well as by a number of organizations, including the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council. To help the Bishops in their reflections, the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace will hold a session on the pastoral understanding of the economic crisis.
The Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue will lead a discussion on the challenges of ecumenical collaboration in social justice work. For its part, the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine will assist in a reflection on freedom of conscience and religion that will focus specifically on Canadian issues.
As in previous years, the Plenary Assembly will also receive about 20 invited observers and guests from a number of national Catholic organizations and other Churches, together with accredited representatives from the media.
