 Vol. IV no 1 |
January 6, 2010 Catholic Church |
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Protect Creation — Ordination to the |
Protect Creation
Each year, the Holy Father issues a special message for the World Day of Peace, celebrated January 1.
Released during the climate summit in Copenhagen, the 2010 message, entitled "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation", addresses ecological and humanitarian issues that increasingly concern our world. Benedict XVI offers a universal vision of peace, accomplished through the establishment of a harmonious relationship between God, humankind and creation.
He remarks that the current environmental stress reflects an imbalance between humanity and creation as well as the deterioration of humankind's relationship with God. He emphasizes the need to find solutions that stem not from a reductionist vision of nature and humankind but rather from a call for collective responsibility.
He calls for a more coherent distribution of the world's natural resources among rich and developing countries. He reminds us of the need to act in solidarity with future generations. This would require a serious revision of our economic models and of our definition of progress.
I invite you to read the pope's message. Not only does it underline the responsibility of governments but it also offers a reflection regarding our behaviors, lifestyles and consumer habits, which are often not defendable from social, environmental or even economic points of view.
Finally, the Holy Father underlines the responsibility of the Church toward creation and its duty to act in the public sphere in defence of the earth, water and air, which are gifts of God to humankind.
I would like to highlight the excellent work of various organizations, especially Development and Peace, which allots a good part of its resources to environmental education and sustainable development. I also invite you to read the book by Father André Beauchamp, "L’eau, et la terre me parlent d’ailleurs — Une spiritualité de l’environnement", published last fall by Novalis.
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In closing, I would like to offer my best wishes to all the readers of the Wednesday Email for a happy and prosperous New Year. During this Year for Priests, allow me to extend a special wish to all the priests of our diocese. May they be filled with spiritual fervour, joy and health.
Happy New Year to all those who work for the Church: pastoral lay leaders, deacons, members of religious orders and institutes of consecrated life, to all the support teams and the numerous and generous volunteers.
May God keep you and bless you!
† Jean-Claude Turcotte
Archbishop of Montréal
Ordination to the Priesthood of Mr. Raymond Arsenault
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Raymond ARSENAULT, deacon for the diocese of Montreal, intern at Très-Saint-Rédempteur parish, will be ordained to the priesthood, at Très-Saint-Rédempteur Church, on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.
His Eminence Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte, Archbishop, will preside at this ordination.
Warm welcome!
Fr. Benoît-Marc Boyer
Vice-chancellor
