A Catholic Commitment to Healing and Reconciliation

Some of you may be wondering what a pastoral visit is all about. This is a very ancient tradition, in which the diocesan bishop (or his representative) goes and spends time with a parish get a sense of the life of that community. The Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops describes the general purpose of a pastoral visit as follows: The pastoral visit is one of the ways, confirmed by centuries of experience, through which the Bishop maintains personal contact with the clergy and with other members of the People of God. It is an occasion to rejuvenate the energies of those engaged in evangelization, to praise, encourage and reassure them. It is also an opportunity to invite the faithful to a renewal of Christian life and to an ever more intense apostolic activity. The pastoral visit helps the Bishop to evaluate the effectiveness of the structures and agencies designed for pastoral service, taking account of the circumstances and difficulties of the task of evangelization, so as to determine more accurately the priorities and the means required for overall pastoral provision. The pastoral visit is therefore an apostolic activity to be carried out by the Bishop in true pastoral charity, which reveals him to be the principle and visible foundation of the unity of the particular Church. For the communities or institutions visited by the Bishop, it is an event of grace, reflecting in some measure that great visit with which the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet 5:4) and Guardian of our souls (cf. 1 Pet 2:25), Jesus Christ, has visited and redeemed his people (Lk1:68).

Canadians can freely speak up for rights and against injustices. In the Global South, however, many communities are threatened and criminalized for defending their right to a healthy environment. This is why we have been advocating for legislation on corporate due diligence since September of last year. We have made great progress, but our work is not done! Let’s continue to call on the federal government to end Canadian companies’ abuses abroad and to help affected communities access justice.

We are thrilled to share the release of the feature documentary film called “The Letter,” produced by Oscar-winning Off the Fence Productions in collaboration with Laudato Si’ Movement and the Vatican, and released by YouTube Originals on October 4th! In this new #LaudatoSiFilm by YouTube Originals, Pope Francis and voices from the peripheries discover what they share in common.

Young people are important to the Church of today and tomorrow. Their faith, creativity, dynamism, and vitality are a surge of hope that can change the world. It is to young people that this Pastoral Letter from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is addressed. Issued on the anniversary of the death of Blessed Carlo Acutis, 12 October 2022, this Pastoral Letter is meant to inspire young Catholics to live their faith in an extraordinary way, encouraging them to strive toward holiness, and assuring them of the steadfast support and accompaniment of their Bishops along their individual journeys of faith.