UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW BRUNSWICK LOCAL GROUP

Update from CNWE NB 
23 February 2007

Initiating Dialogue

In the summer of 2006, the bishop of the Diocese of Saint John, Bishop Faber MacDonald took a sick leave and an apostolic administrator, Bishop Martin Currie was appointed.  Our attempt at dialogue with Bishop MacDonald in 2001 had been unsuccessful and an antagonistic relationship had developed. Members of CNWE NB who knew Bishop Currie through their involvement with Development & Peace suggested that this might be a good opportunity to attempt to initiate dialogue once more. 

In January 2007, Bishop Currie agreed to meet with representatives from our local chapter.  Prior to this meeting, all of the members of our local chapter who could attend, took part in a process of articulating and prioritizing our concerns.  This process led us to identify four areas of priority for our members:  1) Inclusivity, 2) Education, 3) Power Analysis and 4) Communication.  There were many specific issues included under each priority.  At this gathering, it was also suggested that our chapter initiate dialogue concerning these same issues with the diocesan Council of Priests.

During our first meeting with Bishop Currie and Rev. John Jennings, the co-vicar general of the diocese, we decided to only address the first two priorities and ask for one achievable goal in each.  Representing CNWE NB at the meeting were Colleen Grattan Gick, Paula MacQuarrie, Sheila Casey-Houston and Cathy Holtmann.  It was made clear during the meeting that Bishop Currie was in a temporary position in the diocese and was not prepared to implement any new initiatives at this time.  However, he was open to our concerns and the conversation was wide-ranging and frank.  Specifically, we asked for the diocese to encourage the use of inclusive language based on the CCCB 1989 statement “To Speak as a Christian Community” and its accompanying workshops.  We also asked for a reactivation of the diocesan social action office.  According to the bishop, our diocese should receive an appointment of a new bishop by the spring of this year.  When a new bishop was appointed, Bishop Currie assured us that he would relay our concerns to the new bishop and encouraged us to continue the dialogue with whomever was appointed.

Our meeting with the Council of Priests, which is also apparently powerless to act until the new bishop is appointed, is scheduled for Wednesday 28 February.  Marilyn Rowan, Pam Breau, Paula MacQuarrie and Cathy Holtmann will represent CNWE NB.  We plan to address these same issues and request ongoing dialogue with the Council so that other concerns related to women’s equality can be discussed.

Purple Stole Vigil

CNWE NB’s 5th annual Purple Stole Vigil will take place on Tuesday 3 April 2007 in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, NB.