CELEBRATING A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 2 WESTERN CANADIAN NORTHERN DIOCESES

On July 2 Archbishop Richard Smith, along with Deacon Patrick Hessel and Roger Plouffe, visited Yellowknife to join in a Eucharistic liturgy which featured the formalizing of a Covenant agreement between the Archdiocese of Edmonton and the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith.

This partnering initiative has come out of the invitation by Pope John Paul II to the Church in America (i.e. Western Hemisphere) to look for opportunities for dioceses to work together in support of our common mission in Christ. Concelebrating with Archbishop Smith and Bishop Hagemoen was Emeritus Bishop Dennis Croteau, Father Joseph Daley (Vicar General), and Father Ben Ubani (Pastor of St. Patrick’s).

At the end of the liturgy at St. Patrick’s Church in Yellowknife, the partnership was done by a signing ceremony of a covenant statement. An exchange of drums with painted representations were given to each bishop. Both drums included a picture of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, model of the New Evangelization.

Both diocesan communities look to the Holy Spirit to lead us forward in this new common initiative.