Current Messages

September 23, 2021

To the Priests, Deacons, and Lay Faithful,
As many of you already know, my heart and vision for our Archdiocese is a Church that is
alive in Christ and missionary in its zeal to bring the message, hope, and love of Christ to all.
My journey through this first year of ministry as your Archbishop coincides with a crucial
time in the life of the Church and the world which has been marked by increased suffering,
injustice, and abuse of power. It is important that our path forward include humbly listening
to one another, and especially to those on the margins of the Church and of society. For this
reason, it is somewhat providential that in April 2021, Pope Francis initiated a synodal
journey of the whole People of God, to begin in October 2021 in each local Church and
culminating in October 2023 in the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

A Synod is fundamentally a spiritual process of listening and discerning how God is calling us
to be a Church in the third millennium. It is a humble listening and a journey together which
aims towards unity and understanding and should not be confused with a political process
marked by power struggles. In creating the opportunity for listening, dialogue, and
discernment at the local level through this Synod, Pope Francis is calling the Church to
rediscover its deeply synodal nature.

Our diocesan synodal process will bring together the voices of the People of God in order to
ask one fundamental question: A Synodal Church, in announcing the Gospel, “journeys
together.” How is this “journeying together” happening today in our local Church? What
steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow in our “journeying together”? This
synodal journey together will solemnly begin on the 9th and 10th of October in Rome,
followed by an official opening in our own diocese the following Sunday October 17th.
Please stay tuned for further details on this.

We will do our best during this time of pandemic to find creative and flexible ways of
embarking on this journey, mindful also of the many challenges currently being faced both
within the parish and the broader community. As a diocesan centre, we will also try to
communicate well throughout this process. On this note, we have created a webpage for
the synod process on our Archdiocesan website which will serve as a tool for
communication. You will find some relevant documents and links here if you wish to learn
more. I wish to share with you also that Marisa Casagrande is serving as the main
coordinator for this process and working closely with our pastoral team. We ask that you
direct any English inquiries to Ted Hurley (thurley@archottawa.ca), English pastoral services
coordinator, and French inquiries to Hélène Laporte (HLaporte@archottawa.ca), French
pastoral services coordinator.

May the Holy Spirit guide us in this journey together.

✠ Marcel Damphousse
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall

We, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, gathered in Plenary this week, take this opportunity to affirm to you, the Indigenous Peoples of this land, that we acknowledge the suffering experienced in Canada’s Indian Residential Schools. Many Catholic religious communities and dioceses participated in this system, which led to the suppression of Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality, failing to respect the rich history, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the grave abuses that were committed by some members of our Catholic community; physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and sexual. We also sorrowfully acknowledge the historical and ongoing trauma and the legacy of suffering and challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples that continue to this day. Along with those Catholic entities which were directly involved in the operation of the schools and which have already offered their own heartfelt apologies, we, the Catholic Bishops of Canada, express our profound remorse and apologize unequivocally.

We are fully committed to the process of healing and reconciliation. Together with the many pastoral initiatives already underway in dioceses across the country, and as a further tangible expression of this ongoing commitment, we are pledging to undertake fundraising in each region of the country to support initiatives discerned locally with Indigenous partners. Furthermore, we invite the Indigenous Peoples to journey with us into a new era of reconciliation, helping us in each of our dioceses across the country to prioritize initiatives of healing, to listen to the experience of Indigenous Peoples, especially to the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and to educate our clergy, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, on Indigenous cultures and spirituality. We commit ourselves to continue the work of providing documentation or records that will assist in the memorialization of those buried in unmarked graves.

Having heard the requests to engage Pope Francis in this reconciliation process, a delegation of Indigenous survivors, Elders/knowledge keepers, and youth will meet with the Holy Father in Rome in December 2021. Pope Francis will encounter and listen to the Indigenous participants, so as to discern how he can support our common desire to renew relationships and walk together along the path of hope in the coming years. We pledge to work with the Holy See and our Indigenous partners on the possibility of a pastoral visit by the Pope to Canada as part of this healing journey.

We commit ourselves to continue accompanying you, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples of this land. Standing in respect of your resiliency, strength and wisdom, we look forward to listening to and learning from you as we walk in solidarity.  Click here to print.

24 September 2021

Pope Francis has inaugurated the first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly for July 25th 2021. The theme of this day of celebration is from the Gospel of Matthew: “I am with you always” (Mt. 28.20).

In his message for this occasion, Pope Francis writes: “I am well aware that this Message comes to you at a difficult time: the pandemic swept down on us like an unexpected and furious storm; it has been a time of trial for everyone, but especially for us elderly persons. Many of us fell ill, others died or experienced the death of spouses or loved ones, while others found themselves isolated and alone for long periods.” >>more

A number of parishes in our archdiocese have outreach programs for seniors: I encourage parishes to look for creative ways to include and support our senior citizens who are at risk of isolation. A tip sheet is coming out with some ideas for parishes to put a new focus on their seniors.

Ottawa Cornwall Catholic Seniors (OCCS) is a new initiative in our diocese to encourage seniors at the parish level to help each other live meaningful lives in the later years of life. We have a new place on the diocesan website with training videos for creating ministries for seniors and projects like phone trees, general information on parish seniors activities in the diocese, and community resources available for frail seniors. More content will be posted as it becomes available.

There are many achievable things we can do to support our senior parishioners and to remind them that they are not alone or forgotten.

Patricia Marsden-Dole has been working closely with parishes on ways to support our senior citizens). She is a good resource person for parishes seeking ideas for programs or easy to implement ideas (pmarsdendole@archottawa.ca).

This new international day honouring the elderly and grandparents will now be celebrated every year on the 4th Sunday of July. I encourage parishes to mark this special day, honouring our older brothers and sisters and seeking their wisdom, guidance and prayers.
May we not only remember Jesus Christ’s promise “I am with you always” but also be his instruments, bringing this message to those most in need of a compassionate presence.
May God bless you.

Sincerely,

✠ Marcel Damphousse