Ecumenism Pages

Ecumenical Podcasts and Links Ecumenical Events Ecumenism

Ecumenical Podcasts and Links

CCCB Issues Statement on Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The members of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) have issued a statement in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The statement calls attention to the suffering population of Gaza, particularly children and the elderly, whose lives continue to be endangered due to the ongoing violence and severe deprivation, as well as to the mounting casualties on all sides. The members of the Permanent Council echo Pope Leo XIV’s recent statements about the war and they remind the faithful in Canada to fast and pray for lasting peace in the Holy Land.

Read the full statement here: https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-08-25-Statement-by-the-Permanent-Council-Humanitarian-Crisis-in-Gaza.pdf

Roman Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue Proposes Path to Building Relationships Towards Indigenous Reconciliation

Ottawa, August 26, 2025 – A new article from the Dialogue co-sponsored by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada explores how their respective communities have historically engaged with Indigenous believers—First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

Entitled Roman Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue Proposes Path to Building Relationships Towards Indigenous Reconciliation, the document is the fruit of three years of mutual learning and reflection. The faithful are invited to share and promote the article in whatever ways they deem appropriate.

The full text can be accessed at https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Roman-Catholic-Evangelical-Dialogue-proposes-path-to-building-relationships-towards-Indigenous-reconciliation.pdf

Catholic Church adds Mass 'for care of creation' to Roman Missal

New Mass texts echo Pope Francis' call for integral ecology, linking liturgy with care for creation.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Catholic priests will now be able to celebrate Mass "for the care of creation" after the Vatican announced that a new formulary of prayers and biblical readings for the Mass will be added to the Roman Missal -- the liturgical book that contains the texts for celebrating Mass in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

The new formulary, or specific set of texts and prayers for Mass, will be added among the "civil needs" section of the "Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions" listed in the Roman Missal. The current missal, approved by St. John Paul II in 2000, lists 17 "civil needs" to offer Masses and prayers for, including "for the nation or state," "after the harvest," "for refugees and exiles" and "in time of earthquake." The missal lists another 20 particular needs for the church and 12 for other circumstances.

Read more at https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/church-adds-mass-care-creation-missal-pope-celebrate

Ecumenical group rolls out guidelines to address spiritual violence

A document aiming to heal the legacy of spiritual harm churches committed against Indigenous peoples, written by an ecumenical working group and presented to the 12th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle on Aug. 8, makes a set of “calls to healing” to churches—including implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Members of the group, representing churches affiliated with ecumenical advocacy group KAIROS Canada presented their paper, Addressing Spiritual Violence Against Indigenous Peoples in Canada: Ethical Guidelines and Calls to Healing, during a panel at the 12th Indigenous Anglican Sacred Circle.

Read more at https://anglicanjournal.com/ecumenical-group-rolls-out-guidelines-to-address-spiritual-violence/

Canada’s Catholic bishops call for ecological justice, wiping out crippling debt

Faith-based organizations are commending a new pastoral letter from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops pressing the Global North to wipe out low-income countries’ crippling debt and consider the ecological burden it has placed on the Global South.

“Forgive us our Debts: Pastoral Letter on Debt Forgiveness in the Jubilee Year,” written by the CCCB’s Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace and released July 28, continues the tradition of urging the relaxing of crippling monetary obligations during a year of special grace in the universal Catholic Church.

Read more at https://www.osvnews.com/canadas-bishops-call-for-ecological-justice-wiping-out-crippling-debt/
Read the pastoral letter at https://www.cccb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Forgive-Us-Our-Debts_Pastoral-Letter-on-Debt-Forgiveness-in-the-Jubilee-Year-2025-1.pdf

Season of Creation

This year’s theme for the Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4) is “Peace with Creation.” With that theme comes a call: “To hope is to act, pray, change, and reconcile with Creation and the Creator in unity, metanoia (repentance), and solidarity.”

Check out the For the Love of Creation blog for a calendar of events and key moments during the Season of Creation. If you have resources or event notices to share, please email flc.pac@gmail.com and we will add them to the blog.

Resources - Season of Creation - https://seasonofcreation.org/resources/

For the Love of Creation blog - https://fortheloveofcreation.ca/season-of-creation-2025/

Jubilee preaching aids
from KAIROS Canada
https://kairoscanada.org/tag/jubilee-preaching-aids

As part of the Turn Debt into Hope campaign for Jubilee 2025, worship resources—including weekly preaching aids—are available on the KAIROS website to help communities explore themes of justice, hope, and liberation in their worship.

Towards Wellbeing: Mental Wholeness in Church, Person, and Community
New ecumenical resource available on theology and mental well-being

Commission on Faith & Witness, Canadian Council of Churches
https://councilofchurches.ca/news/explore-a-new-ecumenical-resource-on-theology-and-mental-wellbeing/

The Commission on Faith and Witness of the Canadian Council of Churches invites you to explore Towards Wellbeing: Mental Wholeness in Church, Person, and Community — a new ecumenical study guide designed for faith communities.

Developed through rich dialogue among 14 Christian traditions in Canada, this resource offers

deep scriptural and theological grounding in the Christian understanding of the human person
practical insights for ministry, pastoral care, and community life
engaging questions for small group discussion and personal reflection

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, small group facilitator, chaplain, caregiver, or someone seeking personal growth, Towards Wellbeing is a valuable tool for exploring how faith shapes our approach to mental wholeness and how we can embody God’s healing love in our communities.

The Online Bible Study: Do You Believe This? A Journey through the Nicene Creed has now completed. The YouTube playlist is at https://www.youtube.com/@PrairieCentreforEcumenism You may watch the episodes online.

New podcast: Grassroots Ecumenists

Grassroots Ecumenists, produced in collaboration with the Glenmary Ecumenical Commission, presents stories from around the world of individuals and organizations involved in the work of Christian unity and is hosted by Nathan Smith, Director of Ecumenism for Glenmary.

More info at https://www.focolaremedia.com/tag/grassroots-ecumenists

I especially encourage you to listen to episode 2 (Sept. 28). In this episode Nathan and Rev. Dr Karen Petersen Finch discuss her experiences of ecumenism at the grassroots level, and how she got the inspiration for her book. Dr. Petersen Finch is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and an ecumenical theologian specializing in the Reformed and Roman Catholic traditions, author of Grassroots Ecumenism, the book that inspired this series.

New Website Launch!

The Canadian Council of Churches' Commission on Justice and Peace (CJP) is pleased to announce the launch of a new archive website: justiceandpeace.ca!

This digital library is a culmination of over 25 years of dedicated work, ecumenical dialogue, communal prayer, bible study, and advocacy efforts among members of the Commission on Justice and Peace, The Canadian Council of Churches (the Council), Canadian church leaders, and Canadian religious leaders.

At justiceandpeace.ca, you will find a rich collection of resources from the Council aimed at promoting justice, peace, and ethical reflection. This extensive archive includes theological resources, position statements, advocacy letters, briefing notes, and various other materials that have evolved over 25 years of thoughtful collaboration and engagement.

We invite you to visit justiceandpeace.ca and explore the invaluable resources available to inspire and inform your journey towards justice and peace.

Contemplative Listening
A Formation Program for the Ministry of Spiritual Direction

Facilitated by Archdiocese of Regina Spiritual Directors Group

This two-year program, September 2024 to June 2026, is limited to twelve persons who will meet once a month for ten months each year. It will include some retreats.

If you believe you are a possible candidate for this program and would like more information and an application form, contact Karen Ziegler (306) 527-2738, email: k.ziegler@sasktel.net or Dennis Ziegler (306) 539-7134, email: d.ziegler@sasktel.net before March 1, 2024.

For more information visit https://archregina.sk.ca/group/spiritual-direction/

Shared Place, Shared Story: Holding the Story of the Church and the Indigenous Story Together
https://youtu.be/psVxLTTvl4c?si=cTwy2m10tbKDQx1E

Key themes from Laudato si’ through an Indigenous lens. Dr. Ray Aldred, director of Indigenous Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, reflects on key themes from Laudato Si’, and the importance of embracing our interconnectedness. Drawing on his Cree identity, Dr. Aldred will explore how Indigenous communities offer valuable insights into sacred relationships with creation and the land, and how a common understanding of the word “Sacred” exists between Faith traditions. He highlights the significance of Indigenous treaty-making and the unique understanding of sacred land, which fosters mutual respect and healing. This conversation will connect faith, culture, and shared stories that unite us with each other and the earth.

2025: Remembering Zurich and Nicaea
https://www.bridgefolk.net/conferences/webinars/

The year 2025 marks 500 years since the first adult believers’ baptisms of the Anabaptist movement took place in Zurich, Switzerland. It also marks 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea, where the Nicene Creed was established as the first ecumenical statement of “catholic” Christian faith. In this webinar, Bridgefolk Board Member Jennifer Otto, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Lethbridge, provides a brief historical introduction to the events of both Nicaea and Zurich and invites us into conversation about unity and division within the Church.

Strengthening Voices for a Just Transition
https://youtu.be/atcIrWuLZy8?si=b2uxQ_BATki5nMlW
A poster with a person holding a megaphone

AI-generated content may be incorrect.
An online forum by KAIROS Canada. We were joined by wonderful speakers: Magdalena Beukes, Haley Pukanski, Rebekah Fuelbrandt, Willo Prince, Mary Best, and Alex Cool-Fergus. They each shared amazing insights on just transition and our collective work for an equitable and just future for people and planet.

News articles:

Our Parish

Bulletins And News

Sacraments

Ministries And Groups

Resources

Ecumenism Pages

Ecumenical Podcasts and Links