Church in Canada

The Latest

Polish dancers at the reception following this year's World Day for Migrants and Refugees Mass at St. Paul’s Parish in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, on Sept. 23, 2023.

Migrants and refugees Mass in Canada celebrates universality, vibrancy of the Church

A Mass celebrating the annual World Day for Migrants and Refugees was held Sept. 23 in Richmond, British Columbia, showing... Read more

Priests celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for two new Canadian Saints in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 12, 2014.

Canadian bishops to meet Monday to discuss euthanasia, protection of minors

Sep 22, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The 2023 Plenary Assembly of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will take place Sept. 25–28 just outside of... Read more

An aerial view shows charred remains on the side of the road beside the highway in Enterprise, Northwest Territories, Canada, on Aug. 20, 2023. Enterprise and Hay River were put on evacuation orders prior to the city of Yellowknife. The town of Enterprise, Northwest Territories, was burned to the ground by forest fires.

Canadian bishop calls fire devastation ‘closest image to apocalyptic wasteland I have ever seen’

Aug 22, 2023

By The B.C. Catholic

After a 12-hour drive to escape the wildfires sweeping through Canada, Bishop Jon Hansen shared the story of his journey... Read more

Two Inuit children return from school past a stop sign written in English in October 2002 in Iqaluit, northern Canada. Iqaluit is the capitol of Nunavut Territory in the Canadian Arctic.

Retired Calgary bishop demands proof for ‘missing children’ claims

Aug 21, 2023

By The B.C. Catholic

“Why is the Catholic Church not asking the federal government for proof that even one residential school child is actually... Read more

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, who has led the Vatican’s office for choosing bishops for over a dozen years, talks with Hannah Brockhaus, CNA Rome correspondent, and EWTN Rome Bureau Chief Andreas Thonhauser at the Dicastery of Bishops in Vatican City on Feb. 23, 2023.

Once ‘papabile,’ bishop-maker Cardinal Marc Ouellet retires

Apr 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Last week, Cardinal Marc Ouellet handed over the reins of the Vatican’s bishop office to Bishop Robert Francis Prevost. Read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other government officials held bilateral meetings with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin on July 27, 2022, during the pope's trip to that country.

Canada census shows 2 million fewer Catholics as disaffiliation grows

Oct 27, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Catholic population in Canada has declined by almost 2 million people in the last 10 years, the Canadian census... Read more

Pope Francis meets with clerics, consecrated persons, seminarians and pastoral workers of Canada at the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec in Quebec City, July 28, 2022.

Seeking to build on papal visit, Canada’s bishops stress indigenous reconciliation

Sep 30, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Indigenous issues were at the forefront when about 90 Catholic bishops met in Cornwall, Ontario for the Canadian bishops’ 2022... Read more

Pope Francis prays with journalists on a papal flight August 14, 2014.

Pope Francis: Canada's residential schools system was 'cultural genocide'

Jul 30, 2022

By AC Wimmer

Pope Francis has agreed with the view that the forced removal of Indigenous children and their treatment in Canada’s residential... Read more

A teddy bear sits beside a lantern outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School where flowers and cards have been left as part of a growing makeshift memorial created in response to media reports that the "remains" of 215 children have been discovered buried near the facility in Kamloops on June 5, 2021.

No remains unearthed yet from Canada’s residential school grave sites

Jul 25, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell, Katie Yoder

No excavation has been done at suspected grave sites at residential schools in Canada. Yet media outlets continue to report... Read more

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kamloops, Canada, in February 2015. Credit: Alan Levine via Flickr (CC BY 2.0).

Canada's bishops apologize for abuses at residential schools

Sep 24, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Catholic bishops of Canada issued a formal apology to the Indigenous population of the country for the abuses of... Read more

Coronavirus vaccine, stock image.

Canadian archbishop: Only fully vaccinated can attend Mass

Sep 18, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Unvaccinated Catholics barred from attending Mass in Canada's New Brunswick province, which has had fewer than 50 COVID-19 related deaths... Read more

A Squamish Nation canoe approaching Bella Bella, Canada, June 27, 1993. Credit: UN Photo/John Isaac.

'Contrite hearts' and concrete action: Catholics react to the legacy of Canada's residential schools

Aug 11, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic leaders, including a First Nations deacon, reflect on the shocking legacy of Canada’s residential schools run by Catholic and... Read more

The former Kamloops Indian Residential School

Despite millions in Catholic residential schools reparations, critics seek to end church tax exemptions

Aug 9, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Catholic entities had committed tens of millions of dollars in legal settlements for their involvement in the Canadian government’s historic... Read more

The former Kamloops Indian Residential School

Oblates of Mary apologize for 'deafness' in response to reports of graves at indigenous schools 

Jul 13, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate had significant responsibility for operating residential schools for Canada’s First Nations and other indigenous... Read more

The former Kuper Island Indian Residential School, 1941

First Nations leaders announce more than 160 unmarked graves found at former Catholic-run residential school

Jul 13, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

A Canadian First Nations tribe last week announced an estimated 160 unmarked graves were found at the site of a... Read more

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Berlin, February 2017.

Petition urges Canadian PM not to slander Catholic Church over residential schools

Jul 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition requesting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cease blaming the Catholic Church... Read more

Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina, Canada. Credit: Grahampurse via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Bishops in Saskatchewan propose fundraising appeal for residential school survivors

Jul 6, 2021

The bishops in Saskatchewan on Saturday announced plans for a fundraising effort across the province to support survivors of residential... Read more

Fire destroys St. Jean Baptiste parish, Morinville, Alberta

Indigenous leader in Canada cautions against arsons at churches

Jul 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

A First Nations leader in Alberta released a video plea on Wednesday decrying recent “suspicious” fires at Catholic churches throughout... Read more

The flag of Canada. Credit: Jiri Flogel/Shutterstock.

More unmarked graves discovered in Canada as church vandalism continues

Jul 1, 2021

The discovery of 182 additional undocumented graves outside a former residential school in Canada has heightened calls to boycott Canada... Read more

Fire destroys St. Jean Baptiste parish, Morinville, Alberta

Canadian police investigate two more ‘suspicious’ fires at Catholic churches

Jun 30, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating two more fires at Catholic churches in Canada as “suspicious,” after four churches... Read more