Great Expectations 2023

GOOD NEWS FROM C AT H O L I C C H R I S T I A N OUTREACH™ • 2023

CCO’S

Great Expectations 2023

Our Mission Catholic Christian Outreach™ is a university student movement dedicated to evangelization. We challenge young adults to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith with a strong emphasis on becoming leaders in the renewal of the world.

Since our founding in 1988 at the University of Saskatchewan, CCO™ has been sharing the message of Jesus. Our mission is to form Catholics who, through the empowerment and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, equip and send others to proclaim Jesus. CCO’s methods and materials on campus have expanded to other countries, languages and contexts (especially parishes and dioceses).

The desire of this publication is to bring hope—that young people and the Church are being spiritually awakened and filled with zeal for evangelization.

“Great expectations” is a founding tenet of CCO. It expresses hope and confidence in what God will do through us, with us, and in us.

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Catholic Christian Outreach™

From our Founders

J

esus has always been at the centre of CCO’s ethos. In our evangelization, we invite people to receive Jesus as the centre of their lives. Our approach to holiness focuses on deepening our encounter and openness to Jesus. It’s profound. It’s clear. It’s simple. “Our eyes are fixed on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2).

Our eyes “are fixed

St. Thérèse of Lisieux lamented that she couldn’t possibly climb the “staircase” of penances and practices like the great saints. Still, she was consoled by an inspiration that Jesus could be her shortcut—her elevator to holiness. We agree with our patron Saint. We have seen the simplicity of a “Christ-centred life” transform ordinary people to become “saints of the new millennium”, as St. John Paul II used to say. Jesus is encountered in our hearts, the Eucharist, the Scriptures, the Church, the CCO community, personal prayer, and most profoundly, in our encounter with those in the periphery who desperately need Jesus—whether they know it or not.

Hebrews 12:2

”

on Jesus

This year’s magazine not only looks back at the graces and fruit of the past academic year, but we also look back at the past decade and forward to the next 10 years. CCO’s past, present and future are centred on Jesus, who is. And for those who can remember, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever” was the theme of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Did you know we are on the brink of another Great Jubilee? And It’s all about Jesus! Our vision is set on him. We are so grateful you are helping us to help the Church lift high the Name of Jesus.

André & Angèle Regnier Founders of Catholic Christian Outreach 3

Great Expectations 2023

CCO’s Past 10 Year Vision 2013--2023 2013 Here’s a glimpse into how CCO has grown from 2013 to 2023:

2013 marked CCO’s 25th anniversary and the launching of a vision statement for CCO for the next ten years (2013-2023). Through much prayer and discussion, we sensed the call for that decade was to be protagonists in the mission of proclaiming Jesus clearly and simply.

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For lack of the people perish.

- Proverbs 29:18

Catholic Christian Outreach™

CCO’s 10 Year Vision—be protagonists in the mission of proclaiming Jesus clearly and simply—was not something to be done, but something to become. God fulfilled this vision in many ways.

JEFF LOCKERT President

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Great Expectations 2023

Our NEW 10-Year Vision 2023-2033 CCO’s previous 10 Year Vision—be protagonists in the mission of proclaiming Jesus clearly and simply—honed in on the first part of CCO’s mission statement: CCO is a university movement dedicated to evangelization.

This past year, we have been discerning the Lord’s vision for CCO for the decade.

We undertook an extensive process of prayer, visioning, reflection, research and discernment to be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. These next ten years align dramatically with a pivotal moment in history—2033—the two thousandth anniversary of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. As a movement focused on Jesus, this feels incredibly significant.

Anticipating the Great Jubilee 2033, CCO’s new 10 Year Vision (2023-2033) is to activate multiplying leaders toward the fulfilment of Jesus’ Great Commission.

CCO has Great Expectations for this decade and we want to be ready, attentive, and active. Our new 10 Year Vision builds on that and extends into the second part of our mission statement: to challenge young adults to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith, with a strong emphasis on becoming leaders for the renewal of the world.

Over this next decade, we want to activate more multiplying leaders than ever before—current and future students, past and future CCO alumni, long-time partners and new potential collaborators—as missionary disciples in their communities, families, parishes, workplaces, and the world.

This includes you! For the Catholic Church to accomplish her evangelizing mission she needs active witnesses, faithful disciples, protagonists and leaders who can intentionally accompany others into mission. In CCO we know this as our three pillars: Proclaim–Equip–Commission (see more about these on pages 8-13).

We are honoured to partner with you and ready to support you as a multiplying leader over the next decade.

- Jeff M. Lockert, CCO President This massive kind of activation relies on the Holy Spirit! Its end is not about simply expanding CCO as an organization. Rather our desire is to help to quicken the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20).

Imagine if together we could help to activate our 1.3 billion Catholic brothers and sisters to be alive in their faith and share it with others!

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Catholic Christian Outreach™

Be a part of it!

Pray! Join the “Global 2033” Prayer initiative.

Every day across the world at 20:33 (8:33 pm), people are praying for 30 seconds for the Great Commission.

Support! Keep financially and prayerfully

supporting CCO and our missionaries as we help the Church’s mission.

Evangelize! Download CCO’s new Ultimate

Relationship App. By simply reading this e-booklet with someone, you will share Jesus clearly and simply.

cco.ca/2033prayer cco.ca/give SCAN CODE TO DOWNLOAD THE UR APP OR VISIT:

cco.ca/urapp

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Great Expectations 2023

Here are a few pages of CCO highlights from our Canadian campuses in 2022-’23.

They are themed with our mission pillars: Proclaim, Equip and Commission.

The first pillar of CCO’s strategy is to PROCLAIM a clear and simple presentation of the gift of salvation Jesus offers—with an invitation to a relationship with God.

Even though CCO has been a part of my life for years, I couldn’t give a total yes to Jesus. But I am so happy to say, that in this past year, I finally said yes!

The bridge analogy saved my life.

Somehow I always knew I was separated from God. I thought it was all up to me to figure out a way to get to him. After lesson 4 Discovery I now know that Jesus is the bridge.

CO REY HEND ERS O N Concordia University, Montreal, QC

It was simply just another day until I bumped into the CCO table on campus where they offered me free snacks if I took a survey about faith. God used CCO to deepen my relationship with him.

J O SHUA K AT TAPURAM Memorial University, St. John’s, NL

AM Y GRU B E R University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

I was invited to sign up for a dodgeball tournament. I didn’t know I would also be invited to experience God’s love and deepen my faith through prayer, and fellowship.

I got emotional in the first lesson of Discovery. Up until that moment, I always thought God was judging me. Learning that he was so merciful has changed everything for me.

TESS RAYMO ND Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS

OREOLU WA FOWLER Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

It was after finding Jesus and wanting to learn about the Catholic Church that I googled CCO, which led to me living a truly Christ centred life and strengthening my faith in Him. C H RIS DU M AS University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

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The joy, goodness and safety I felt with the CCO community on my campus opened my heart. I wanted to partake in what they had, and they quickly told me it wasn’t about them. It was all about Jesus.

PRI NCE K AFEK E University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

Catholic Christian Outreach™

When I got baptized this Easter, I felt a great contentment. It was a wonderful day for me and it felt as though it was a long time coming.

B E N F LORE S Brock University, St. Catharines, ON

While on our CCO retreat, I realized I had been holding back a total yes to Jesus. I opened my heart and let go of my inhibitions. I encountered God’s love and mercy in a simple yet profound way.

JASM IN KIE RST E AD Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

When I heard the story of the prodigal son it showed me that no matter how I treated God, he will always take me back with open arms. Now my relationship with Jesus is the best it’s ever been.

LIZZY ST GE RM AIN Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS

After I saw the relationships diagram, it became clear to me that God was not at the centre of my life. Though initially hesitant, once I realized that I could trust God and that what he wanted was a relationship of love, I couldn’t help saying yes to that relationship.

P E T E R LE E University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

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Great Expectations 2023

I honestly didn’t know how to pray, but the CCO prayer booklet gave me a clear and simple structure of what that could look like. I love morning prayer now.

CHRI S RUEST University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK

I feel confident in witnessing to others ever since I had my conversion. I often experience the Holy Spirit guiding my conversations with people so that I can speak to them about the faith, in just the right way, to meet them where they are.

J ULI A D E SO UZA Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

After having a conversion, I realized there were so many things I still didn’t know. My faith study leader helped me get the answers to my questions and encouraged me to look further and dig deeper. I’m excited about each next step in my journey!

LUK E HUYGK E University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

After straying from my relationship with God, I participated in the Discovery faith study. I was inspired to go to confession and adoration and I finally reignited my prayer life.

ANA YALL ABELL A Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON

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Catholic Christian Outreach™

The second pillar, EQUIP, is about growing people in their relationship with Jesus and the Church.

Small group faith studies and intentional accompaniment are the foundation of our approach.

I used to be a miserable, prideful person. I opposed God; I believed I knew better than he did. Since I’ve put my life in God’s hands, my life has been so much better.

BE N ROB IN SON Memorial University, St. John’s, NL

A friend prayed with me to encounter the Holy Spirit. It was such a moving experience. God spoke so personally into my life through my friend; I can’t believe I didn’t know about the Holy Spirit before.

MELI SSA D ’SI LVA Trent University, Peterborough, ON

I have grown to understand that I have a missionary heart.

M ARE N N OOT E B OS University of Victoria, Victoria, BC

I didn’t know too much about the Church except through the lens of Protestantism. The answers to my questions made sense as I explored Catholic Church teaching more.

PETER HE University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON

CCO has allowed me to deepen my relationship with God significantly.

Through CCO, I now pray daily, see God working directly in my life, and have a great spiritual bond with many friends.

E VAN WRIGHT Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC

I’ve grown so much in my faith this year; the biggest reason is from finding the fellowship I had always been searching for. I am inspired by my community and their love for the Lord. They challenge me to be consistent in my relationship with Jesus.

ANGEL A METRO N Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

I’ve grown so much in my faith this year; a big part of it is the witness of my peers. They are amazing people who love God, and it pours out to everyone around them.

KAT HRYN FAKE LE Y Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB

In CCO’s Source faith study, I learned about the Holy Spirit and connected with it in more profound ways that I had previously.

K RI STI AN Q UI ST University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

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Great Expectations 2023

The third pillar, COMMISSION, activates people to share their faith. CCO combines easyto-use tools with easy-to-learn methods. We support leaders with coaching so they can grow their skills and influence.

Becoming a faith study leader this year really helped me grow in my missionary identity. I know that after graduation and in my career I will continue to live it out.

I had a hard time sharing my faith with my friends, but the Ultimate Relationship booklet made it so easy to spark the conversation and invite them to respond to Jesus.

MI CHELLE MUHAN N A H Concordia University, Montreal, QC

E B U B E OKAFOR Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Inviting my friends to a faith study seemed frightening. But with the encouragement of friends and the Holy Spirit opening up the opportunities, I led my first faith study this past semester.

My mission is to proclaim Jesus to to my peers who are studying to work in the film industry. My heart burns to see all of my colleagues kneeling at the foot of Jesus’ cross.

ALESSI A RACCO Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON

B RANDON M ON TAGU E Trent University, Peterborough, ON

God’s love was the love I had been seeking all along. Now I want others to know that God loves them too.

B E N E DICT CARLOS Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC

Seeing one of my first Discovery participants go on to lead her own group the next semester went beyond my expectations. I was inspired by her bravery and desire to share the mission with others, and it made leading Discovery a truly memorable experience.

M ARIA CALVO F RANC O University of Calgary, Calgary, AB

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This year I was given the courage to fully unite my will to the Father’s—to enter into his heartbreak, desire what he desires and love as he loves.

MI CHELLE D E SO UZ A University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Through my involvement with CCO, I have been inspired to carry out the mission by leading others to be leaders for the renewal of the world.

It has been so rewarding to watch them grow in their identity as loved children of God, and to learn how to lead others to Jesus and his Church.

GENEVA GUI NSATAO Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB

Catholic Christian Outreach™

With the help of the CCO staff at my campus l have had the opportunity to share my testimony in large group settings and it makes me happy knowing at least one person can be saved by just hearing my story.

M E LLISA TSAU RAYI Memorial University, St. John’s, NL

Going on mission this summer, I realized that I have so much to spiritually offer people—and that I was just leaving these gifts, skills and knowledge dormant inside of me. This realization came with a boost of confidence that the Holy Spirit is helping me to help others.

PAU L BAH IGA University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB

Thanks to the formation I received from CCO, my heart burns with love for Jesus and his mission, empowering me to share my faith and bring others to him.

C L AIRE M AC KE Y Brock University, St. Catharines, ON

Leading a faith study has taught me that my faith is so much bigger than myself.

I have been able to walk alongside girls and invite them into a personal relationship with Jesus, having bold conversations that I never thought were possible on campus!

M EGAN SP ON AGLE Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS

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STUDENT LEADERSHIP GAT H E R I N G This year, CCO offered a unique event called SLG - Student Leadership Gathering. It was designed to help us bridge into the world of conferences in a post-pandemic world and focused on strengthening our current CCO student leaders. SLG’s compelling and anointed theme was “Go, Do, Say.”

RISE UP is coming back.

cco.ca/riseup

Catholic Christian Outreach™

Missions

After three years of waiting, CCO’s hallmark student mission experiences came back this summer.

UGANDA

HALIFAX

LISBON

Mission type: Commission

Mission type: Equip

Mission type: Proclaim

Twelve student leaders from across Canada brought their love for Christ and expertise in intentional accompaniment to grow a strong foundation for Ugandan student leaders to multiply their efforts and fruitfulness at Ugandan Martyrs University, Kyambogo University, Makerere University and Makerere University Business School.

The Halifax mission was Spiritfilled and student-driven.

Eighteen students from across Canada brought the joy of the Gospel to three parishes in Halifax, with 45 Discovery faith study completions resulting. Adoration retreats and evangelization workshops equipped parish leadership teams for their next steps in missionary discipleship postmission.

At World Youth Day Lisbon, the gospel message was personally shared by CCO’s 35 student missionaries hundreds of times (in multiple languages) through the Ultimate Relationship booklet. 25 000 pilgrims encountered Jesus in the Eucharist and venerated a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis at Adoration events CCO hosted in collaboration with worldyouthday.com.

cco.ca/missions

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Great Expectations 2023

Vocations

CCO’s mission to the university campus aims to raise up leaders for the renewal of the world.

Religious vocations are a special fruit of CCO’s labours in the vineyard. Here are some vocations celebrated in 2022-2023.

At a CCO fall retreat in 2011, I had a great reversion moment and even felt a call to religious life. Through CCO, I fell in love with the sacraments and the beauty of the Catholic faith. I also discovered the joy of being a missionary. The missionaries were the first ones who encouraged me to discern my vocation. I met the Sisters of Life for the first time at a Rise Up Conference in Vancouver.

Without CCO, I don’t know how I would have discovered my vocation.

In college, I powerfully encountered Jesus through CCO at Rise Up. The following summer, I went on a CCO summer mission. Following that summer, I became a CCO campus missionary, and my zeal for the Lord and evangelization continued growing. Eventually, I felt the Lord calling me to give myself fully to this work of evangelization as a Catholic priest.

Sr. Avelina Joseph, SV Sr. Avelina was struggling with her Catholic faith when she first encountered CCO at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. She went on to lead faith studies and serve on Impact Halifax 2012.

She made her final profession with the Sisters of Life in July 2022.

Fr. Daniel Ramos blesses fellow CCO Alum Fr. Raffaele Salvino (ordained in 2020).

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Fr. Kevin Darwent, CC Fr. Kevin was a missionary at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, NS. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 2023.

It was CCO who first introduced me to my call to mission.

Through a heart on fire for mission, the Lord revealed His plan for my life! As I began to embrace my missionary identity as a disciple of Jesus, I also began to experience a tug in my heart to bring hearts to Jesus through ministry as a priest.

Fr. Daniel Ramos, CC Fr. Daniel was a student leader at UBC and a participant on the Impact Halifax 2012 mission.

Catholic Christian Outreach™

The discipleship and encouragement of many friends I met through my involvement with CCO over the years helped me to respond to the call that the Lord was placing on my heart—a call to be entirely His as a Sister of Life. I am tremendously grateful for the graces God poured upon me in the many friendships I developed in and through CCO. Sr. Gaudia Maria Magdalena, SV Sr. Gaudia Maria Magdalena was a CCO student leader at the University of Ottawa and participated in three CCO mission projects to Madrid, Halifax and Yukon.

She made her perpetual profession on August 26, 2023.

I have been a long-time friend and supporter of CCO in the founding city of Saskatoon. The witness of CCO missionaries laying down their lives to make Jesus known and loved has inspired me with the courage to do the same. As St. Clare of Assisi said, “Love inspires love.”

Sr. Maryam Josephine of the Child Jesus On August 15, 2023, Sr. Maryam vowed chastity, poverty, and obedience in the Queenship of Mary Community, Ottawa, ON.

I learned how to share the Good News by leading CCO faith studies and activities on campus. Now, as a consecrated virgin in the world, I continue to use the tools I have learned from CCO, especially the Discovery faith study, to share God’s intimate, personal, and fulfilling love with other young professionals and youth in my diocese.

Holly Ann Garnett, Ph.D. Dr. Garnett is a professor of political science at the Royal Military College in Kingston, ON. She became a consecrated virgin in the Military Ordinariate of Canada on October 1, 2022.

CCO provided me with training in leadership, mission and growing my relationship with Jesus, but also gave me good human formation and life maturity that prepared me in receiving my consecration.

Maria Arsenault Maria has been a CCO missionary since 2013. She was a Team Leader at Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria and now focuses on our CCO Connect program. She became a consecrated virgin with the Diocese of Victoria, BC, on April 29, 2022.

During my second year of university, I encountered CCO through their summer mission called Impact! As part of the mission, young missionaries were assigned to my home parish to lead faith studies and attend Eucharistic adoration.

After those experiences, my faith took off as I began living a relationship with Jesus.

Fr. Santiago Torres Fr. Santiago was a CCO student leader at the University of Calgary. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Calgary on June 16, 2023.

I learned to pray more deeply and intimately through my work with CCO. This prayer is essential for my vocation because Jesus is my beloved, and I am his.

Esther (Tesi) Carmona Wagner Tesi was a missionary with CCO for a year after completing her Master of Sciences and before moving back to Mexico. She became a consecrated virgin with the Archdiocese of Mexico City. Tesi has been instrumental in helping CCO develop our Hispanic materials and parish coaching.

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Great Expectations 2023

CCO Parish Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases….So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” [John 3:8] The Holy Spirit has blown the seeds of CCO beyond the Canadian campus context, as we share our expertise to support the Church. It’s almost like CCO’s programs and charisms are a yeast that helps others rise and grow their ministry.

We asked questions to those we are coaching about how CCO is helping them.

What is the CCO difference?

CCO Parish gives us just what we need to begin a movement of discipleship, not just a program. As we’ve just finished our first course, our little group is eager to continue and later form groups of their own that can exponentially grow. This content and the emphasis on accompaniment allow us to confidentially engage in our Lord’s call to “make disciples.”

FR. RANDY SLY Associate Pastor, St. Therese Catholic Church (North) Kansas City, MO He has been involved in discipleship and parish renewal for more than 40 years.

Do you see a complementarity between CCO, Alpha and Divine Renovation?

How is CCO giving you the help you need?

CCO is 100% clear on evangelizing, and we are struck by how encouraging this is for our leaders to have such a coherent and manageable tool to disciple others. With CCO, we can now see the real possibility of reaching our short-term vision.

This builds our confidence that “we can do this!”

FR.MAURICE COLGAN, OP Prior, St Mary’s, Cork, Ireland He is leading a team of fellow Dominicans and faithful, contagious laity to build 2,000 intentional disciples in Cork by 2027.

Yes! All three working together cast a vision for evangelization in parish life and developing a culture of prayer, invitation and fellowship.

These powerful tools working together move a parish from maintenance to mission.

SILVANA AMANTEA

Pastoral Associate, St. Patrick’s Parish, Markham, ON She has successfully led several faith formation programs for children, teens and adults over the last 21 years. Although she has intuitively accompanied people throughout the years, this is her first time learning the transferable skill of Intentional Accompaniment.

cco.ca/parish 18

Catholic Christian Outreach™

CCO Campus Connect CCO Campus Connect supports student leaders and Campus Ministers on university campuses as they build a movement dedicated to evangelization. A remotely-located CCO Missionary (CCO Connect Coach) trains and supports the campus leadership team as they integrate and execute CCO’s kerygmatic evangelization and spiritual multiplication approach. The weekly coaching is tailored to the needs of the local campus club because we know that no two movements are the same.

CCO Connect campuses also gain access to the momentum of CCO’s national missionary movement.

How does CCO help your campus ministry?

CCO gives a platform for every Christian to experience Christ in a deeper way while being accompanied by another student. The attitude, skills and knowled ge taught through CCO’s Campus Connect coaching are helping us soar in evangelization to students in Uganda.

We are bringing Christ closer to the lost.

OKELLO DAVID STANLEY Full-time missionary staff, Catholic Campus Students Mission Uganda CCO has been supporting Catholic students in Uganda since 2010.

Why did you turn to CCO?

I believe CCO can go anywhere on earth and start a thriving, multiplying movement of missionary disciples. They have given us the tools and expertise to ignite faith renewal and provide ongoing support and accompaniment.

CCO is a proven expert and trusted master in evangelization and mission—one of the best leading the universal church in the dawning of a new apostolic age.

BR. DIEGO JOSEPH, CFR

Franciscan Friar Comayagua, Honduras The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal turned to CCO in 2016 with the hopes of inspiring the young adults in their community to be leaders but were further inspired to establish a campus movement in three universities in Comayagua, Honduras.

What did you see happen on campus this year?

This year, the Holy Spirit moved on campus, leading us to students who were seeking to know Jesus. Seeing people learning about the gospel and accepting Christ as the centre of their lives was amazing. I also saw Jesus work through me by reaching out to students who were less active in our community and really getting to know them. This led to many honest discussions about faith and their reservations about it.

CLAIRE HALL CCO Connect Student Leader, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus (UBCO) Claire and other student leaders at UBCO were coached through CCO Connect this year to begin a campus movement.

cco.ca/connect 19

CCO has been making an impact for over 35 years, thanks to benefactors!

“I support a number of missionaries because I believe that God has called them to be missionaries and I want to enable God’s calling in their life.”

- Dale Loerzel , CCO Supporter since 2010, Ottawa, ON

“By donating to CCO, I am continuing to contribute to the mission field at universities campuses, after I have graduated.”

- Carly Weber, CCO Supporter since 2015, Calgary, AB “Supporting CCO is a concrete way for us to change the world just as CCO has changed ours”.

- Rémi Narbonne and Mélanie Ghobril, CCO supporters since 2014, Montréal, QC Your financial gifts get a huge ROI—return on investment. You allow missionaries to proclaim Jesus, help our campus movements to thrive, and enable national projects that help us effectively share the gospel and raise up leaders for the Church. To learn more about the many ways to give, visit:

cco.ca/give

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We are hiring!

Though we are a movement primarily for university students, the professionalism, skill and experience of individuals already established in a career is a needed benefit, particularly in our National Headquarters in Ottawa.

Perhaps you are already working but want to use your skill set for the Church. Maybe you are not experiencing fulfillment in your current career and long for purpose and meaning at work. You may be retired from your career and are ready and able to give your time and talent in a mission setting. There are many opportunities in our different departments, such as Finance, Development, Human Resources, Media, and Marketing.

Visit

cco.ca/careers/ careers-professionals for more information.

“How to have a Personal Prayer Time” by André Regnier Are you longing for a deeper connection with God? Do you have a desire for a more meaningful relationship with Jesus?

In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of stillness and reflection can be challenging.

That’s why establishing a personal prayer time is essential. Through prayer, we open our hearts to God’s presence, experience His love, and receive the grace and wisdom needed to navigate life’s challenges.

Let us help you establish a transformative personal prayer time.

Order André’s guide on how to start a personal prayer life today.

store.cco.ca (with links to American and UK distributors)

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Great Expectations 2023

Board of Directors In August 2023, I completed nine years of service on the CCO Board of Directors and four years as Chair. There was a substantial and growing amount of work, to be sure, and some complex challenges along the way. Yet it was a grace from God to be able to give so much time and energy to our movement because CCO is so vital to the Catholic mission in Canada.

As CCO grows, the needs of governance grow.

The Board of Directors is there to support our very capable Senior Executive. Board members are all volunteers who give a significant amount of their time and expertise. They do it because they believe in CCO and are committed to our mission.

CCO relies on Providence, our missionaries upon their supporters and the movement on our generous benefactors. We praise God for your generosity!

We experience God’s Providence in our Board members, too. In recent years, new members have joined us with expertise in human resources, corporate governance, accounting and finance, IT, and church administration, as well as long experience in evangelization, spiritual direction and campus ministry. It seems that just when we needed something, someone was there.

Providence provides!

Board members work behind the scenes, but please don’t forget them in your prayers for CCO.

Back row L to R: Andrew Montes (St. John’s, NL), John Stevens (Halifax, NS; incoming Chair), Todd Marr (Calgary, AB), Michael MacKinnon (Calgary, AB), Domenic Inneo (Grimsby, ON), Front row L to R: Fr. Raymond de Souza (Kingston, ON; outgoing Chair), Miriam Wright (Kingston, ON), Marisa Ruggier-Andrews (Vancouver, BC), Susan Goncz (Toronto, ON), Bishop Mark Hagemoen (Saskatoon, SK).

Annual Report

FOR FISCAL YEAR MAY 1, 2022 - APRIL 30, 2023

2021/22

2022/23

TOTAL REVENUE*

8,637,000

$

8,500,000

$

67,000

$

50,000

$

186,000

$

73,000

Sale of literature & materials

$

122,000

$

136,000

TOTAL REVENUE

$

9,012,000

$

8,759,000

Program expeditures

$

6,981,000

$

6,962,000

Management & admin expenses

$

1,481,000

$

1,309,000

Fundraising

$

752,000

$

696,000

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

9,214,000

$

8,967,000

General contributions

$

Conference contributions Mission contributions

2021/22

2022/23

TOTAL EXPENSES*

*Numbers rounded to the nearest thousand.

For copies of the audited financial statements, please contact us at hq@cco.ca

FR.RAYMOND DE SOUZA CCO thanks Fr. Raymond de Souza for his service and leadership on the Board of Directors which concluded in August.

22

To the members of Catholic Christian Outreach Inc.: The total revenues and total expenses shown here for the year ended April 30th, 2023 are based on the organization’s audited financial statements. The Organization’s financial statements were audited by the Ottawa Office of Welch LLP.

Catholic Christian Outreach™

2022--2023

Overview ON CAMPUS:

We hit

of our pre-pandemic involvement, which is tremendous. And this was

Students who invited Jesus to be the centre of their lives.

only year one in a two-year post-pandemic rebuilding effort on campus.

increase of students joining the Catholic Church!

Campuses

Faith Study participants

Across Canada 48 CCO students were either baptized or confirmed this Easter, which is more than double our previous years’ average.

Nine students from CCO Calgary campuses were welcomed fully into the Church this past Easter.

Mission participants

Participants at Student Leadership Gathering (SLG)

We saw an almost annual increase in the engagement of male leaders across the country.

The proportion of male faith study schedules vs. female faith study schedules improved from 37% last year to 47% this year, which is higher than the male:female ratio on university campuses.

I N PA R I S H E S : C C O S TA F F : Faith Study participants

New Hires Parishes*

CCO Missionaries

Parish Leaders

*Dioceses that CCO coaches include Denver, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Syracuse, and Southwark, U.K.

cco.ca/our-missionaries 23

CCO Missionary Staff - August 2023

How can we thank you enough?

CCO supporters make this all possible!

Follow CCO™ on social media Facebook: ccocampus Instagram: @ccocampus

Catholic Christian Outreach™ is a university student movement dedicated to evangelization. We challenge young adults to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith with a strong emphasis on becoming leaders in the renewal of the world.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Catholic Christian Outreach Canada 501-1400 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1K 4H4 Phone: 613.736.1999 or Toll-Free 1-844-Talk CCO (844-825-5226) Email: hq@cco.ca Web: cco.ca

cco.ca/give

From the very beginning, God called our movement to rely on his providence for our financial needs.

Today, 35 years later, you and over 14,000 supporters are providing for CCO through prayer and generous giving.