NEW! Registration Form for WYD 2019 in Panama
Departure of Rev. Robert Filion, OMI
From our Vicar General, Mgr. Charles Lavoie P.H.:
We received a notice this 30th of September that Fr. Robert will be leaving St. Albert, Alberta and the Lacombe Province of OMI in the very near future to join the Notre Dame de Cap Province (OMI), Quebec to be nearer to his family. We wish him well and thank him for lifetime of dedicated service to our local church. Let us keep him in our prayer petitions.
Read the full text of Mgr. Charles’ message here. Read Fr. Robert Filion’s biography (English) (français)
NEW! Check out our new pastoral resource “Music & Liturgy“
Catholic School Board Trustee candidates
- The Catholic Bishops of Alberta have issued a letter on the ministry of trustees (here in French)
- Archbishop Pettipas has issued an election protocol for parishes
Congratulations, Sr. Louise Vanderploeg, SSND, on 50 years as a Religious Sister!
Everyone is invited to join the celebration of her Jubilee at Our Lady of Peace on Sunday, September 17, 2017, starting with Mass at 11 a.m.
Read the Archbishop’s announcement of new assignments for priests!
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Archbishop Pettipas celebrated Mass in Dunvegan on July 2, 2017 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of St. Charles (Borromeo) Mission and to consecrate the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. See more photos of the beautiful celebrations here.
Meet some of our seminarians!
Boost your faith formation: check out the new resources available at our Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in Peace River.
Development and Peace: The Memory Project
Does your faith lead you to “social justice” actions? Do you do charitable works for the poor? Has your group served Jesus in this blessed way? Can you recall some of the things that have been done in your parish, in the Grouard-McLennan Archdiocese, recently or in the past 50 years? Memories of these actions are being gathered for sharing. Please remember and share. It’s the 150th anniversary of Canada and the 50th anniversary of Development and Peace in Canada! Share in celebration: to lead and inspire us all! Write: The Memory Project @10504 – 105 Ave Grande Prairie; email weniger2@gmail.com; phone: Rae Weniger 780-539-7503; Helen MacDonald 780-532-1071 or Mia Klien-Gebbink 780-354-2108.
Quinquennial Report
From March 26 – April 1, Archbishop Pettipas was in Rome on the ad limina visit of Western Canadian bishops. Read the Quinquennial Report 2006-2016 on the Archdiocese that was submitted in October 2016 for review by various dicasteries of the Vatican.
Synod of Bishops 2018:
Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment
Everywhere in the western world the question is asked: What about our young people? If they don’t retain the faith of their parents and grandparents, what will become of them? What will become of the Church?
Pope Francis has called for a Synod of Bishops to meet in Rome in October 2018 on the topic of Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. A preparatory document was circulated to all bishops around the world with the request to have as many people as possible read the document, reflect on it, and send their bishop a summary of their responses to the reflection questions in the document. To this end, Archbishop Pettipas asks every organization in the Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan – and all individuals who wish to do likewise – to read over the document (it’s only 30 pages), discuss it, and send your reflections to him. He will then send a synopsis of your responses to the committee that is planning the Synod.
Papal Letter to Young People: français English
Preparatory document: français English
Please submit your responses to Lauri Friesen at exec.agm@live.ca
before Friday 15 September 2017.
Thoughts from the Archbishop
Archbishop Pettipas in the news
Thoughts from Archbishop Pettipas (English) (français) – June 1, 2017.
Read the report on the first year of the Pastoral Plan.
Check out the Family Prayer Resources for two more publications.
Our Pastoral Plan for 2015-2020
Restore St. Bernard Church
Help restore the most significant historical site in the Archdiocese!
Grouard’s St. Bernard Church was completed in 1902 under the direction of Bishop Emile Grouard. It is now in dire need of repair. The St. Bernard Mission Church Restoration Committee solicits your financial support of this project.
Details and the pledge sheet are now available online.