The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon is seeking a full-time Coordinator for the Office of Migration (37.5 hrs/week). Applicants of all faiths are welcome to apply (Deadline: midnight, Sept. 13, 2017; position starts Oct. 1). 

Responsibilities include providing administrative support and formation to parishes sponsoring refugees and resettling individuals and families; monitoring parishes and constituent groups to ensure the diocese meets its responsibilities as a refugee Sponsorship Agreement Holder; promoting and encouraging awareness about refugee sponsorship. Qualifications include demonstrated experience and awareness of issues around refugees and migration; the ability to work with individuals and groups of varied backgrounds; experience in public speaking and adult education; demonstrated organizational skills with attention to detail; willingness to complete the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program. 

Compensation: Salary is in accordance with the Pastoral...

Statement on Canada’s Opioid Crisis and Drug Addiction by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

12 April 2017

It has become increasingly clear in recent years that Canada is facing a serious substance abuse crisis. Although this problem has existed in various forms for some time, the recent deaths of so many Canadians due to overdoses – particularly through the use of new potent opioids like fentanyl and carfentanyl – is alarming. In British Columbia, for example, 914 deaths resulted from street drug overdoses in 2016, almost twice as many as in the previous year. The majority of these deaths are connected to fentanyl use. Opioid overdose deaths are also on the rise across the country, posing a serious problem for health authorities.

The Catholic Bishops of Canada are deeply troubled by the devastating effects of these drugs, in particular their ability to extinguish human life in an instant. Even when they do not kill directly, their addictive power...

On Sunday, March 19, the Archdiocese of Regina held its first annual prayer vigil to mark the Archdiocesan initiative to acknowledge the sorrow and pain endured by victims of clergy sexual abuse.  The service, held at St. Cecilia parish in Regina, was hosted by Archbishop Don Bolen and attended by about 75 people.  After warmly welcoming people at the door, Archbishop Bolen began the service with this introduction:

“This prayer vigil represents an Archdiocesan initiative to begin to acknowledge the sorrow and pain victims of clergy sexual abuse have endured at the hands of all facets of the Catholic Church including the bishops, priests and laypeople.  This is an opportunity to pause and take time to acknowledge how we as a church must change and begin to become a welcoming community for victims of clergy sexual abuse.  We need to support victims, learn from them and develop resources for healing.  We come together this evening in prayer, to sit in silence and to listen, to...

NASH MEMORIAL LECTURE, CAMPION COLLEGE

MARCH 21 2017

You don’t hear much about Omar Khadr these days, but he is alive and well, living in Edmonton with the intent of pursuing a career in nursing. At one time, in the early 2000s, he and his Canadian family were the subjects of much diplomatic activity between the United States and Canada as various groups in both countries advocated for and against his release from prison.

His journey from Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay Prison to Edmonton, was the subject of this year’s Campion College Nash Memorial Lecture held March 21 in the University of Regina’s Education auditorium.  Lecturer Dr. Arlette Zinck is an Associate Professor of English and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Edmonton’s The King’s University. The title of the lecture was, Discerning a Path Toward hope: A Liberal Arts University’s Journey with Omar Khadr.

Khadr was 15 years old when he joined his father fighting with the Taliban against the...