Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

• CCCB

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) is the national assembly of the Bishops of Canada. It was founded in 1943 and officially recognized by the Holy See in 1948. After the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), the CCCB became part of a worldwide network of Episcopal Conferences, established in 1965, as an integral part of the life of the universal Church. Until 1977, it was called the Canadian Catholic Conference. The change in name reflects more clearly the fact that it is an association of Bishops.

According to the statutes of the CCCB, the Bishops together exercise some pastoral functions for Catholics in Canada, while respecting the autonomy of each Bishop in the service of his particular Church.

Through the work of its members, the Conference is involved in matters of national and international scope in areas such as ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, theology, social justice, aid to developing countries, the protection of human life, liturgy, communications and Christian education. The Conference also provides the Bishops with a forum where they can share their experience and insights on the life of the Church and the major events that shape our society.

Members of the Conference include all diocesan Bishops in Canada and those equivalent to them in law and all Coadjutor Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops. Also included are Titular Bishops of any rite within the Catholic Church who exercise a special office in Canada that has been assigned to them by the Holy See or by the CCCB.

In the Ottawa offices of the CCCB, a staff of about 31 people – laypersons, priests and religious – are at the service of the bishops. The Office National de Liturgie de la CECC is located in Montreal. The staff is supervised by Msgr. Patrick Powers, P.H., General Secretary of the CCCB.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) meets once a year at its Plenary Assembly. Every two years (on odd-numbered years), the Bishops elect from among their midst the members of the Permanent Council (a minimum of 12 members) and the Executive Committee (four members: the President, Vice President and two Co-Treasurers). Every third year, the Bishops also elect the Chairmen of their six Episcopal Commissions. A General Secretariat serves the Conference, doing the day-to-day work and ensuring the execution of the decisions taken by the members of the Conference.

The Plenary Assembly constitutes the essential structure and the highest authority within the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, gathering over 80 Bishops every fall. For the past few years, this five-day meeting has been held in Cornwall, Ontario, and Saint-Adèle, Quebec.

The Permanent Council’s authority is derived from the Plenary Assembly to which it reports. The principal responsibility of the Permanent Council is to oversee the general work and orientation of the Conference and to prepare and carry out the main undertakings of the Plenary Assembly. The Permanent Council is elected for a two-year term by the members present at the Plenary Assembly. It is composed of a minimum of 12 members, equally represented by Bishops from the English and French sectors. The Council meets at least three times a year.

Six Episcopal Commissions, five Standing Committees and one Aboriginal Council are at the service of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Each Commission and Standing Committee specializes in one pastoral area, to assist and support the Bishops in their pastoral ministry. Led by the work and expertise of the Bishops and assisted by one secretary (consultants and observers may also be invited to help), each Commission and Standing Committee studies current events, analyzes the needs of the Church in Canada, and organizes projects aimed at supporting our Catholic communities. Three of the Commissions are national – formed by Bishops equally distributed between the French and English sectors. The three others are named “sectoral” because they report either to the English or French sector.

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council, established in 1998 by the Bishops of Canada, advises the Conference on Indigenous questions.

Additional information can be found on the following webpage http://www.cccb.ca/site/index.php