Posted on 01/28/2021 6:41:07 PM PST by marshmallow
QUEBEC CITY (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of Quebec announced its intention to reorganize its parishes to focus on local missionary activities. This move comes as human and material resources continue to diminish.
At least 75% of the parishes will be affected by this change, in both urban and rural areas.
In a video, Cardinal Gerald Lacroix stressed that the church of Quebec was born out of mission. But, he said, it is now clear that the parish system that had a strong impact on French Canadian society is not sustainable and needs to evolve.
"We can no longer be satisfied with giving good pastoral services to the people who faithfully participate in our assemblies and movements," said Cardinal Lacroix. "These people now represent a tiny part of the population entrusted to us."
Quebec Auxiliary Bishop Marc Pelchat added that in recent years, the life of the parishes has relied on teams that have carried out "almost everything" of the daily functioning, often focusing on "expected services."
"We must now reorient our pastoral teams toward a more intensely missionary activity, turned toward the people and groups that we reach too little," said Bishop Pelchat.
This call to go beyond the usual frameworks aims at "freeing energies" to better reach out to the population that is currently not reached by the church's message.
Priests, deacons and laypeople must "envisage working to spread the Gospel message outside our usual frameworks," with new means, in new territories, Cardinal Lacroix said.
Over the past decade, the number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Quebec decreased from 200 to 38. These 38 parishes were then organized into 29 large "pastoral units."
"For a long time now, the resources available have not allowed us to appoint pastors and other pastoral collaborators in sufficient numbers to meet the......
(Excerpt) Read more at thebostonpilot.com ...
maybe they should just try being Catholic again
There are so many beautiful churches in Quebec.
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