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NEWS FROM THE DIOCESAN SERVICES - January 14, 2024

JUBILEE 2025
On Sunday, December 29th last, Archbishop Durocher inaugurated the Jubilee Year in our diocese with the 11:00 a.m. Eucharistic celebration in the cathedral. The celebration was preceded by a liturgy on the front steps where, gathered around the Jubilee Cross, a Gospel text was proclaimed, extracts from the Bull of Indiction were read and the Cross was venerated. The entire congregation entered the Church following the Cross, which was solemnly placed in the sanctuary near the baptismal font. From there, the archbishop drew Holy water and proceeded to sprinkle the faithful all around the Church. The Mass continued with the singing of the Gloria. This very meaningful liturgy invites all members of the archdiocese to live 2025 as a time of renewal and spiritual renewal.
Unlike 2013, the Year of Mercy, when "holy doors" were designated in all the dioceses, the Jubilee of 2025 resumes the tradition of opening only the holy doors of Rome's four major basilicas. But the Jubilee Cross will remain in place in the cathedral throughout the year, and those who wish to take a special step are invited to go there to pray and renew their commitment to follow Jesus on the pilgrimage of life.
Over the coming months, we will inform you about various special activities that will be organised to mark this Jubilee Year. Let us all be "pilgrims of hope".
REORGANIZATION OF DIOCESAN SERVICES
Departure of Chantale Duguay
At the end of November 2024, Ms. Chantale Duguay left the position of Diocesan Respondent for Safe Environments, a position she held for over two years. Ms. Duguay's work has been remarkable, particularly in the areas of document drafting, awareness-raising and prevention of abuse within our parish communities and in our Church engagement spaces. Her dedication and commitment have made us more attentive, more vigilant and more respectful in our commitments. We offer her our sincerest thanks for the quality of her work and wish her all the best for the future. She is succeeded by Monique Washnuk (see below).
Ms Monique Washnuk in Pastoral Care and Safe Environments
Following a strategic reorganization of the Novatio Foundation's services, decided by the Board of Directors, adjustments have been made to staffing levels. Ms. Monique Washnuk, previously Philanthropic Development Advisor, is now Diocesan Pastoral Worker (overall pastoral care). We would like to express our gratitude for her work with the Novatio Foundation and wish her every success in her new role. Ms. Washnuk also assumes the role of diocesan respondent for safe environments, succeeding Ms. Chantale Duguay.
Departure of Brother Mario Béland, s.m.
Brother Mario Béland, head of the diocesan social ministry, stepped down at the end of December. His departure was part of a project to become involved with a number of organizations linked to his religious community.
We would like to thank him warmly for his commitment and for having been responsible for this project for a year and a half. At present, this position remains vacant, pending an overall assessment of its future management
You're invited to the last brunch of the second edition of the Archbishop's Brunches at Sainte-Trinité parish, on January 26, 2025. Buy your ticket here!

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: YOU ARE INVITED!
The Christian Council of the Capital Area invites you to join us for an in-person gathering to celebrate the visible unity within our Christian communities to be able to pray together.
For this year, 2025, the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by the brothers and sisters of the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy. This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the first Christian Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea, near Constantinople in 325 AD. This commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, as expressed in the Creed formulated during this Council; a faith that remains alive and fruitful in our days.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 offers an invitation to draw on this shared heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.
Speaker: Dr. Murray Watson
Date & Time: January 19th, 4 pm
Location: Ottawa Mennonite Church, 1830 Kilborn Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1H 6N3
Parking is available on-site.
Donations will be directed towards a designated project chosen by the Ottawa Mennonite Church.
Please join us for a light reception after the prayer service for fellowship and conversations.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Murray Watson (SSL, Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome; PhD, Trinity Collge, Dublin) is a Catholic Biblical scholar who has worked for more than 20 years in the field of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and education. He currently serves as the Adult Faith Formation Animator for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, based in the city of Barrie, Ontario (Canada). In 2024, Murray published Restoring the Gospels' Jewish Voice. André Chouraqui and the Intersection of Biblical Translation and Interfaith Dialogue, available from Paulist Press.
POPE FRANÇOIS' PRAYER INTENTION FOR JANUARY 2025
In this first month of the year, the Holy Father invites us to pray "that the right to education of migrants, refugees and people affected by war may always be respected, thus guaranteeing the building of a better world". To find out more...
WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT ACTIVITIES IN FRENCH?
In this English version of the diocesan bulletin, we are sharing information which is relevant to our English-speaking parishioners. If you want to find out about retreats and resources, which are available in French only, we invite you to look here.

APPOINTMENTS
The Chancellery announces appointments from July 1 to August 31, 2024. Click here...
And from September 1 to December 31, 2024. Click here...

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION IN 2024
In 2024, many of you supported the Novatio Foundation through acts of solidarity, your donations, or by participating in one of the Archbishop's brunches in the various pastoral areas of the diocese. Additionally, several people expressed their interest by seeking information about the Foundation and its mission. On behalf of the Novatio Board of Directors, we would like to express our gratitude and say thank you.
In 2024, the Foundation supported various projects in Outaouais parishes and community organizations for a total of $124,500. Without your donations, Novatio could not pursue its mission. There are several ways to donate to the Foundation, either on a monthly basis or through a one-time donation. You can visit the Foundation's website or contact us at 819-771-8391, ext. 310, novatio@diocesegatineau.org.
NEWS FROM THE PARISHES AND MOVEMENTS
St. Mark's Parish Invites you to join them for this event.
SYNODALITY AND THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH:
The recently concluded Synod of Bishops on the theme, "For a Synodal Church," has called for important changes to the way of proceeding in parish and diocesan life. What might this mean for our parish and diocesan communities?
We are delighted to announce that Catherine Clifford will be the presenter at our next Faith Formation Session on Monday, February 17, 2025 – 7 pm. Catherine is a professor at St. Paul's University in Ottawa, and was one of the lay people who was chosen to attend the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican. We are delighted that she is taking time to be with us, sharing about the Synod, and the path forward. Please mark your calendar for Monday, February 17, 2025 at 7:00 pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS/INVITATIONS TO SHARE
This section is for the sharing of announcements/invitations from parishes and movements in the diocese. If you have an activity to share or advertise, please send a note to Bozica Domitrovic on Friday before the newsletter release.
CONTACT
BOZICA DOMITROVIC, Communication technician
domitrovicb@diocesegatineau.org / Telephone: 819 771-8391, ext. 308
ADRESSE
180, boulevard du Mont-Bleu, Gatineau (Québec) J8Z 3J5
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