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Federal Government Launches Consultation on Assisted Suicide

Ottawa announced the consultation process on Jan. 13 as it amends the Criminal Code to permit greater access to assisted suicide. The amendments are in response to a Quebec court decision last September that struck down parts of the existing law as unconstitutional.

The consultation asks Canadians to weigh in on how far to extend access to medical assistance in dying, specifically whether assisted suicide and euthanasia should be expanded to include advance directives, mature minors and people who wish to end their lives solely because of mental illness.

The consultation ends on January 27 at 11:59 PM (PST). You can participate by clicking here. For information from Justice Canada about the consultation, click here.

For information from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops about euthanasia and assisted suicide, click here.

For a reflection by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition on how to answer some of the survey questions, click here.

For a Catholic Register article about the ethical issues surrounding the survey, click here.

Federal Government Launches Consultation on Assisted Suicide

The consultation ends on January 27 at 11:59 PM (PST). You can participate by clicking here. For information from Justice Canada about the consultation, click here.

For information from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops about euthanasia and assisted suicide, click here.

For a reflection by the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition on how to answer some of the survey questions, click here.

For a Catholic Register article about the ethical issues surrounding the survey, click here.

United by Love

Gayle and Marcel DeGagné accompany couples preparing for marriage, for the Archdiocese of St. Boniface. Their expertise? How to enrich married life when the spouses are of a different Christian denomination.

As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18 to 25), Gayle and Marcel share their love story, and offer tips for those contemplating an inter-church marriage. To read the full story, click here or on the photo.

Happy New Year! Archbishop Albert’s message for January 2020

As we enter this new year and indeed this new decade, Archbishop Albert invites us to reflect on the present moment. Anxiety is an ever more present reality in our lives: anxiety for our past, anxiety for our future. But how can we, this new year, become increasingly more attentive to the present moment, and to God’s presence in our everyday moments? Let us be fully participants in God’s plan for our every moment, being bearers of love and justice to our world.

Pope Francis advances the cause of sainthood of Ovide Charlebois

Born in Quebec, Ovide Charlebois lived a life of heroic Christian virtue, serving in Saskatchewan, establishing schools and churches in Manitoba, all the while ministering to Indigenous peoples.

In this new Story of Faith, Father Robert Laroche, omi, describes the extraordinary work of a committed missionary, and notes the deep respect bishop Charlebois, the first apostolic vicar of Keewatin, had for Indigenous peoples.

To read the full story, click here or on the photo.

Archdiocese of Saint Boniface Statement on the CBC's The Fifth Estate Documentary

In a spirit of seeking transparency, the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface comments on the recent television broadcast of the CBC's The Fifth Estate documentary, The List: Unravelling Church Secrets. To read the document, click here, or on the diocesan logo.

An update on the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops implementation of its guidelines on protecting minors, dated November 15, 2019, is available here.

A Priest who Walked in the Footsteps of the Disciples

Manitoba born, Father Eugène Raimbault passed away on October 14, 2019 at Domaine Saint-Dominique, Québec.
The son of Pierre Raimbault and of Julienne Hermary, he was born in Saint Boniface on December 30, 1930.

Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface on June 13, 1958, Eugène Raimbault served as pastor at Holy Family Parish, Christ the King Parish and Holy Redeemer Parish, where he was the founding pastor.

Many will recall his devotion to Christ and the quality of his leadership, which he ably exercised in the charismatic prayer movement.

Father Raimbault's funeral mass was celebrated at the Saint Boniface Cathedral on Monday, October 28, and presided by Archbishop Albert LeGatt.

In his bilingual homily, Bishop Albert Fréchette recalls Father Raimbault's joie de vivre, as well as dedication as a pastor and openess to the Holy Spirit. Click here to read the full text.

Archbishop emeritus of St. Boniface, Émilius Goulet, was also on hand to give a tribute to "a very good, very kind, very sensitive" priest. Click here to read the full text.