Moncton leads other Dioceses in the Atlantic Provinces

The financial campaign aimed at helping the victims of the deadly earthquake in Haiti was a major success in the Archdiocese of Moncton. The sum of $ 294,209 that was raised during last Spring’s campaign places the Diocese at the top of the twelve dioceses in the Atlantic Provinces. On the national level, the Diocese of Moncton come in at the 17th position out of 66 dioceses.

Recognizing the generosity of the Diocesan community, Bishop André Richard, c.s.c., said: “Our population’s contribution to Development and Peace’s campaign Haiti Emergency, following the January 12th earthquake, was very generous. I sincerely thank you for your solidarity towards our sisters and brothers in Haiti.”

Development and Peace is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada.

CALLED TO PARTICIPATE

Bernadette Gasslein, editor of Celebrate! (Novalis), will be the speaker for a one day workshop, “Called to Participate”, on Saturday, September 11th, 2010, at Holy Family Church Hall, 52 Faulkland Ave., Moncton, NB. This session will be of particular interest to Presiders and Preachers (both lay and ordained), Lectors, Communion Ministers, Hospitality Ministers, and all who share their gifts in Liturgical Ministry; however any members of our Sunday assemblies are welcome to attend. Bernadette will help the participants explore the nature of liturgy, the role of baptism, liturgical spirituality, what it means to participate in the liturgy, and ministry at the service of participation. She will also suggest some practical skills for particular liturgical ministries – what’s non-negotiable?

The session will begin at 9am and conclude at 3:30pm, with lunch provided.

Workshop Fee: $20 All participants are asked to register in advance, no later than Tuesday, September 7th. Workshop is free for participants from parishes within the Archdiocese of Moncton.

For more information, or to register, contact Deb Gillespie at the Office of Liturgy, Archdiocese of Moncton, 857-9531, ext.296 or email: Deb.diocesemoncton@bellaliant.com. Participants can also register by mail: Office of Liturgy, Archdiocese of Moncton, 452 Amirault St., Dieppe, NB, E1A 1G3. Please make cheques payable to the “Archdiocese of Moncton”.

On Thursday evening, September 9th at Immaculate Conception Parish in Rexton; and repeated again on Friday evening (7-9 pm both nights) at Holy Family Church Hall, Faulkland Ave., Moncton, Bernadette will speak on the topic of “Understanding the Differences between Liturgical Prayer and Personal Prayer”.How are personal and liturgical prayer different? If we understand the differences between these two types of prayer, we can respect their uniqueness and better engage in each way of praying.

The Atlantic Catechetical Conference will be held in Dieppe, N.B., in May, 2011. For advance information, click here: Atlantic Catechetical Conference

Cathedral: Financial Campaign on Hold

A firm specialized in fundraising, BNP Strategies Philanthropic Management, concludes that any decision to launch a major fundraising campaign to finance repairs at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral would at the present time be premature.

The feasability study was presented on Monday, June 7th, to representatives of the parish and, among others, members of the Diocesan Economic Affairs Commision. The report will now be handed over to a committee of advisers who will follow up on the recommendations and study other possible venues for the use of the building.

The archdiocese had requested that this firm of consultants conduct a feasability study following the presentation of the report from Architects 4 last November. This report estimated that the costs of the repairs to the building would be upwards of $ 7 million. This figure spreads the repairs over a 5 year period. Some of these have already been completed and were financed by the archdiocese.

In conducting its feasability study, the firm consulted faithful from the diocese, diocesan institutions, the general public and the business sector to determine if the time is ripe to undertake a major financial campaign.

In its report, the firm suggests that any decision on a financial campaign should be postponed for at least a year and recommends a number of initiatives that should be undertaken, in the meantime, to guarantee its success if and when it is launched. According to BNP Strategies Philanthropic Management, a campaign would fail to reach its objective if it were launched now.

To guarantee the security of the staff and the public, the archdiocese has moved forward and financed the meaures necessary to comply with the security code. These measures deal with exit signs and panic bars on the doors leading outside. The measures will be limited to the floor where religious ceremonies are held.

The basement will however be closed until a final decision is made on the future of the building. This decision will allow the archdiocese to avoid additional costs that would be incured by installing the necessary security measures in this part of the building.

It should be noted that the use of the building does not in any way compromise the public’s safety: the building itself is safe. The measures being put in place are done so as to bring the building up to the standards of the security code.

Reader Survey

Your Diocesan newsletter, Pastoral Action, published in June its fifth and last edition for the present pastoral year. The editorial team is now looking for feedback from its readers. What do you think of the many changes made to the newsletter ? What are your expectations. To take part in the survey, click here.Reader_Survey

The June 2010 edition of the Diocesan newsletter, Pastoral Action, is now available. To access, click here. 2010 JUNE Pastoral Action

Diocesan Newsletter Now Available

The March edition of the Diocesan newsletter is now available in parishes and electronically on this site by clicking here: Pastoral Action March 2010 Vol. 1, no. 4