Annual Report 2016 Page 2 - 2016 Archdiocese of Regina Annual Report

2016 ARCHDIOCESE OF REGINA ANNUAL REPORT - PAGE 1 Holy Rosary Cathedral, Regina SK Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina Annual Report 2016 PAGE 2 - 2016 ARCHDIOCESE OF REGINA ANNUAL REPORT 2016 A YEAR OF TRANSITION 2016 has been a year of change, a transition within the Archdiocese of Regina. Archbishop Bohan’s illness and death had a direct affect on archdiocesan staff as they continued to carry on day-to-day operations. When Bishop Donald Bolen from Saskatoon was appointed, there was a lightening of spirits as archdiocesan staff began to roll up their sleeves in anticipation of the new directions they would be taking. One of our greatest strengths as an archdiocese is the steadfast commitment of you, the faithful, who are working hand in hand with the staff to forge a brighter future. Archbishop Daniel Bohan passed away On July 11, 2016 Pope Francis appointed January 15, 2016 at 6 a.m. in Regina’s Pasqua Saskatoon’s Bishop Donald Bolen as the new Hospital after a battle with lung cancer. He was Archbishop of Regina. born, November 8, 1941, in Yarmouth, Nova Archbishop Bolen served in Saskatoon for Scotia, the first child in a family of six who more than six years. He was installed as the grew up in Moncton, New Brunswick where he Archdiocese of Regina’s archbishop on Friday received his early education. October 14, 2016. He served as Pastor in several Maritime For Archbishop Don, returning to Regina meant parishes before being appointed Auxiliary coming home. He grew up in Gravelbourg and Bishop of Toronto on May 14, 2003 and ordained was educated at Campion College. He was bishop on July 3, 2003 in his home parish of St. ordained a priest by Archbishop Charles Halpin Augustine’s Church, Moncton. Pope John Paul and sent to work at the Pontifical Council for II appointed him Archbishop of the Regina Promoting Christian Unity in Rome by Archbishop Archdiocese, March 30, 2005. Archbishop Peter Mallon. He served (briefly) as Vicar General Bohan was one of the last appointments made of the Archdiocese of Regina. by Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul II. 2016 ARCHDIOCESE OF REGINA ANNUAL REPORT - PAGE 3 Archbishop Donald Bolen... Report Permit me to begin this report for the year 2016 by expressing gratitude to my predecessor, Archbishop Daniel Bohan, who served the archdiocese generously during his 10 ½ years here. He has left us a strong legacy, and big shoes to fill. It was mid-October of 2016 when I was installed as archbishop, and in this brief report, I would simply offer very initial reflections on the blessings bestowed upon us and challenges facing us as an archdiocese. As an archdiocese, we have a strong and committed team of clergy and lay leaders, who work together well; the Council of Priests functions very effectively, and there is a healthy relationship among the clergy; we have excellent co-operation with our Religious communities of women and men; the new diaconal formation program is going very well; the sudden increase in vocations to the diocesan priesthood (we currently have 10 seminarians) is a source of great encouragement; Campion College is well integrated into the life of the archdiocese and is a blessing; there are a number of very strong, healthy and revitalized parishes; a strong lay formation program has contributed to a well educated and highly involved laity; the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League are a rich blessing; a variety of lay movements do creative work to strengthen family life and to catechize and evangelize our people and communities; there is a strong tradition of social justice work in the archdiocese. We are fortunate to have publicly funded Catholic education in Saskatchewan, and our schools are a great blessing; but we also face challenges in this regard. We were in the midst of the Theodore Court Case in 2016, calling into question the funding of non-Catholic students to attend our Catholic schools. And as we face the challenge of decreasing Mass attendance and of passing on the faith to future generations, we do well to ask whether we have fully integrated the gift of our schools into the life of our faith community. We are also blessed with a number of Catholic health facilities in the archdiocese, served under the framework of Emmanuel Care. Here too, we experienced challenges in 2016, with the legal move towards physician assisted suicide in our country, and with the prospect of a move towards a single public health region in the province. In the field of youth ministry, we have made great strides forward, but as with other faith communities, we face significant challenges as we strive to reach out to young people in an increasingly secular world. Great work is done in many parishes in the area of catechetics, despite the fact that at this time we don’t have a full time catechetics coordinator for the archdiocese. There is a desire to have further discussion about the restored order of sacraments, and about catechetical programming. There are also challenges connected to demographic changes in our region. The city of Regina has continued to grow at a rapid pace. Meanwhile, our rural population continues to decline, leading to the closure of schools, medical facilities, and stores in many of our smaller communities. Many of our rural parishes are struggling and we need to find tangible ways to support them. On a more positive side, we are increasingly a global church. A new influx of Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian and African and other immigrants to Saskatchewan has brought a new vitality to many parishes. There is an increasing appreciation that the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) process has taken our nation and our church, including our archdiocese, back to school. We recognize that we have had an impoverished view of our history, which has not paid adequate attention to our Indigenous peoples. We have also come to see that many of the problems faced today by Indigenous people are a direct legacy of colonization and of the policies of the residential schools, 60% of which were administered by Catholics. A handful of dedicated Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have been doing important work in both rural and urban contexts, taking us steps towards healing and a new way of walking and living together, but we as an archdiocese have much work to do in this regard. The TRC Calls to Action provide something of a roadmap as we do so. These are only some of the many blessings and challenges facing us. There would be much more to reflect upon in relation to pastoral care for the family, the need to strengthen our consultative structures, to build up ecumenical and interfaith relations, and to adapt our communications to new forms of media. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I look forward to working together with you in the future as we seek to grow more fully into the Church that the Lord Jesus invites us to be. PAGE 4 - 2016 ARCHDIOCESE OF REGINA ANNUAL REPORT DIRECTOR OF PASTORAL SERVICE MINISTRIES the archdiocese aligns with the needs of the parishes. I have learned much during my three years here in terms of how the archdiocesan centre works and how our staff supports our parishes and clergy. It is a pleasure to walk in here in the morning, gather with the staff at the start of day to begin our work day in prayer. The people who work here are excited about the gift of faith and want to share it with the world. They come to work eager to live out their faith, to serve as examples to and for others. One of the most common themes in the Bible is God calling us to serve. In this first Archdiocesan Annual Report, you will have an opportunity to read some of the many stories about the staff and how they have responded to being called. No one can escape being called, we just need by Bob Kowalchuk to listen and respond. In the fall of 2014, I became the Director of It is my hope that by the time you have read Pastoral Services. I was amazed at the number this Annual Report, you too, will share in the of different offices and the broad range of excitement of being called and respond by support that is provided by Pastoral Services. serving as well. Pastoral Services includes: • Vocations • Faith Formation • Diaconate Program • Native Valley Ministry • Aboriginal Non Aboriginal Relations Community • Lay Formation • Hospital Chaplaincy Services • Liturgy • Social Justice • Visitation House • Communications • Youth The job of Pastoral Services in the archdiocese is to ensure that the vision and mission of 2016 ARCHDIOCESE OF REGINA ANNUAL REPORT - PAGE 5 Highlights of 2016 LAY FORMATION 2016 - CELEBRATING 35 YEARS by Eric Gurash truly reflect upon the This has been a year impact their weekend of surprising graces in experience may the midst of change. be having on their After several years at relationship with the former St. Michael's Jesus Christ, His Retreat House in Church, and their Lumsden, our program daily lives. has entered into a new and exciting relationship Each year, participants are also required to with Campion College of Regina. This signals submit a brief personal testimony that describes a new chapter in the history of the relationship a particular encounter with Jesus Christ that has between the Archdiocese of Regina and transformed some aspect of their relationship Campion College. Not only have their facilities with Him and with others. In keeping with best proved perfect for the purposes of our faith practices of adult faith formation, participants in formation program, but College President Fr.

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