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NEWS AND UPDATES:
PASSING OF OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS
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Novena to unite all Catholics in prayer for the Novendiales (nine days of mourning for the Holy Father) - 26 April to 04 May 2025 Litany of the Faithful Departed (Augustine Institute - Formed.org) * * * 
POPE FRANCIS IN MEMORIAM
(CCCB website - 23 April 2025) A memorial page dedicated to Pope Francis' life and papacy * * *
THE JUBILEE INDULGENCE
"THE JUBILEE INDULGENCE, thanks to the power of prayer, is intended in a particular way for those who have gone before us, so that they may obtain full mercy. Indeed, the indulgence is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy. Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms “mercy” and “indulgence” were interchangeable, as expressions of the fullness of God’s forgiveness, which knows no bounds." (Pope Francis, Spes non confudit, Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 - 05 Sept 2024) *** Pope Francis' monthly intentions *** Throughout this Year of Jubilee 2025, a Jubilee indulgence may be obtained through the following:
The poster and leaflet below may also serve as a helpful guide, or you can refer to the CCCB Catechetical Resource on Plenary Indulgences during the Jubilee Year. 
SALT + LIGHT TV
SPECIAL HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE The Canadian Catholic television channel Salt + Light TV has arranged a special programming schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2025, covering the celebrations traditionally led by the Holy Father in Rome. Holy Week Broadcast Schedule HOW TO WATCH Viewers are invited to subscribe to Salt + Light TV (S+L), Canada’s National Catholic TV Network, available on most cable and satellite carriers across Canada. For information on the channel’s availability or how to subscribe please click here. Additionally, viewers can access S+L content on Roku, Amazon Fire, iOS (Apple), Android TV, and Android mobile devices by downloading the Salt + Light Plus app. To subscribe to Salt + Light Plus, please click here. PASTORAL LETTER FOR EASTER 2025
We invite you to read Most Rev. Héctor Vila's Pastoral Letter for Easter 2025 to the Faithful of the Diocese of Whitehorse, available in both English and French. Pastoral Letter for Easter 2025 Lettre pastorale pour Pâques 2025 
CONCERNS ABOUT THREATS TO CHARITABLE STATUS DESIGNATION
On Monday, 10 March 2025, the members of the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) expressed their grave concern regarding two recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance within Report 21: Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Budget. These recommendations (#429 and #430), if adopted, would be profoundly detrimental to Canada’s charitable sector, because they would:
Click here to view the PDF of the CCCB’s letter to the Minister of Finance 
PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY FATHER
Most Rev. Héctor Vila invites you to continue praying for the health of the Holy Father, Pope Francis as he receives treatment at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Regular updates on his condition are being posted on the Vatican News website. In addition, the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and CCCB President has prepared a message to all Catholic Faithful asking for prayers for the health and recovery of Pope Francis. The message is available on the CCCB website at the following links: English: Message by the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and CCCB President, praying for the health and recovery of Pope Francis - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops French: Message de Mgr William T. McGrattan, évêque de Calgary et président de la CECC, priant pour la santé et le rétablissement du pape François - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Download Diocese of Whitehorse Public Memo JOURNEY THROUGH LENT VIDEO SERIES
Join us for the CCCB's 2025 "Journey Through Lent" video series - Weekly reflections on the Lenten season. The series starts on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, and for each Sunday in Lent, up to and including Palm Sunday.
For more information, visit the CCCB website: English French Direct link to the video series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rk-bzo3sOs 
DIOCESAN LENTEN RETREAT
What is a woman? A Catholic answer The Diocese of Whitehorse is hosting a Diocesan Lent Retreat from Tuesday, March 11 to Friday, March 14, featuring renowned speakers Dr. Renato Versace and Mrs. Anna Podda, who will discuss various important topics including the role of women, family life, children's education in the digital age, and other contemporary issues from a Catholic perspective. There will be nine conferences in total with morning and afternoon sessions: CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE Sessions are open to anyone aged 16 and older and will be conducted in Italian with English translation available. Please bring wired headphones/earphones and an FM radio if you have these items. Registration is free, and attendees should RSVP if staying for lunch. For more information, email at [email protected]. An evening session will also take place on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral. 
PRAYERS FOR THE HOLY FATHER
We ask for your prayers for the health and recovery of the Holy Father Pope Francis. A message from CCCB President, Most Rev. William T. McGrattan (19 Feb 2025): Join Development & Peace (Caritas Canada) for a special Rosary on February 27 at 5:30pm Yukon Time (4:30pm - BC; 7:30 PM - ET) to pray for the health of Pope Francis and all who need to heal from illness. Zoom registration link 
SACRED FIRE STORIES FILM (IRF)
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) has released a press release highlighting a new promotional video, Sacred Fire Stories, which captures inspiring stories of hope from IRF-funded projects, and showcases the real and meaningful impact the IRF is having within Indigenous communities. To view the short film and to also read the IRF 2024 Annual Report with project descriptions, please visit their website at irfund.ca/en/welcome/ 
MAiD* SURVEY: 'NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ON ADVANCE REQUESTS'
Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025 You are invited to complete the federal government survey, 'National Conversations on Advance Requests', to provide your feedback on this topic. Complete the Federal Survey THE SURVEY IS OPEN UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2025. For information on the topics of medical assistance in dying and palliative care, please visit our diocesan website. Let us continue to pray for respect for life from conception to natural death. Background: MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) is the term used by the Canadian government for legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide. This past October 2024, Québec implemented a law allowing advance directives for MAiD for patients with capacity-limiting illnesses (dementia, alzheimers). This means that an individual can choose MAiD in advance, and make a decision before they are eligible. The intent is that MAiD be provided in the future after the individual has lost the capacity to consent. While acknowledging that this is not in accordance with the Criminal Code, the Federal government has chosen not to challenge Québec's legislation. Instead, it is launching a series of consultations, including a public survey. 
33RD WORLD DAY OF THE SICK
On 27 January 2025, the Vatican released Pope Francis' message for the 33rd World Day of the Sick, which will be celebrated on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Inspired by the Jubilee Year’s theme of hope, this year’s theme for World Day of the Sick is “‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Rom 5:5), but strengthens us in times of trial.” Also, because of the Jubilee Year, this year’s World Day of the Sick is closely connected to the Jubilee of the Sick and Health Care Workers on 5-6 April 2025 and the Jubilee of People with Disabilities on 28 and 29 April 2025. For more information: CCCB Media Release and resources Catholic Health Association of BC (CHABC) resources and classroom activities Download prayer card (pdf) Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be offered at Masses on February 11th where there is a priest. For more information about this sacrament and to request it, please contact your local Catholic church. 
INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION FUND UPDATE
The Indigenous Reconciliation Fund Committee for the Diocese of Whitehorse is pleased to announce that the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation will receive $35,000 from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund for their Old Crow Biathlon Project. Building on Father Jean-Marie Mouchet's historic TEST program, this initiative brings youth and elders together to practice snowshoe biathlon. The project aims to promote youth health, provide alternatives to substance abuse, and prepare participants for competitions like the Arctic Winter Games. By combining traditional skills with athletic training, the program will instill self-pride, responsibility, and cultural connection among young community members. This funding represents a meaningful step in Indigenous reconciliation and community empowerment. We extend a heartfelt thank you to the Diocese of Hamilton for partnering with our diocese in funding this project. Applications to the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund are continually being accepted, please visit our IRF webpage for more information. We also invite you to visit the national IRF Projects page to view other projects across Canada being supported by the IRF. 
PASTORAL LETTER ON THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
On this one-year anniversary of the publication of the Pastoral Letter on the use of social media, “Let Your Speech Always be Gracious,” the CCCB is pleased to announce the launch of a new CCCB video series and other resources to help readers – individually or in group settings – to unpack the rich pastoral and moral insights of the Pastoral Letter more fully. The videos are available in both English and French. We invite you to read and view the Pastoral Letter and videos which can be found on the CCCB's new webpage: https://www.cccb.ca/.../pastoral-letter-on-the-use-of.../ 
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2025
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 will take place in Canada from the 18th to the 25th of January, 2025. This year’s theme, inspired by the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, is “Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:26). Please find below links to the CCCB press release: English: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2025/ French: https://www.cecc.ca/communique-de-presse/the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2025 
WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2025
The Message of Pope Francis for the 58th World Day of Peace is on the theme ‘Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace’. For the World Day of Peace, which falls every 1 January, the Holy Father addresses a Message of good wishes and hope to Heads of State and Government, Heads of International Organizations, Leaders of different religions and every person of good will. Hope, which also characterizes the Jubilee Year, is the preponderant theme of this 58th Message. Pope Francis invites us to look at the many challenges that severely endanger the survival of humanity and Creation with a heart full of hope. To do this, it is necessary to rely on God's mercy. By His forgiving our debts, we will rediscover ourselves all children of the Father, and therefore all brothers and sisters, united on the path of peace. 
BLESSED MARIE-ANNE BLONDIN BURSARY
The Diocese of Whitehorse is pleased to administer this bursary established by the Sisters of St. Ann in honour of their foundress, Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin. For more information about the Sisters of St. Ann and the life and history of Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin please visit the Sisters of Saint Anne website or the CCCB's Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin webpage. The purpose of the bursary is to offer financial assistance to lay women of the Diocese of Whitehorse for:
For more information or to request a printed application form, please contact the Diocese of Whitehorse at [email protected] or 867-667-2052.
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ONLINE DONATIONS NOW AVAILABLE The Diocese of Whitehorse is now accepting online donations via our partner Canada Helps, which is equipped to issue instantaneous tax receipts. Your generosity enables us to serve our communities, care for those in need and accomplish the mission entrusted to us by the Lord. Click on the button above to donate online. 
Helpline: 1-855-675-8749.
It is confidential and free.
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