Yearin Review
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
FRANÇOIS LANTHIER
WRITER AND EDITOR
RUTH O’REILLY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
BEN TURLAND
KIM WALSH
PHOTOGRAPHERS
LITTLE FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY
NICHOLAS ZAMBON
ESSEY ARCEGA
COMMS SUPPORT
RUTH TYO-LAROSE
NABILA NBOU
IT’S BISHOP YVAN!
SPECIAL THANKS TO
ARCHBISHOP MARCEL DAMPHOUSSE
Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
PASTORAL DEPARTMENTS
Thank you to the team members who make so many events possible!
BISHOP YVAN MATHIEU Auxiliary Bishop
FATHER CONNOR O’HARA Vocations Director
Dear Friends in Christ,
Fromthe Archbishop
I am happy to present to you the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall’s Annual Report for 2024. This report is not just a record of our activities and initiatives, but a reflection of God’s work among us and within our communities throughout the year
The title of this year’s report, ITE, is a Latin word meaning “Go,” derived from the phrase “Ite, missa est” “Go, the Mass has ended ” It is a call to action, inviting each one of us to leave the sacred space of the church and go into the world, carrying the message of Christ’s love and living out His teachings in our daily lives This is a call not just for the clergy, but for all of us as the People of God.
As you read through this report, you will see the many ways in which you have responded to this call, the impact you have had, and the fruits you are bearing Your dedication, service, and faith are visible in the ministries, outreach programs, and the lives you touch. This report is a testament to your commitment and to the powerful work that God is doing through each of us
Be proud of all that we have accomplished together and let us celebrate the amazing work God is doing in our midst You are truly pilgrims of hope, and your efforts continue to build up the Kingdom of God. Let us move forward with renewed energy and conviction as we continue to proclaim and live out the word of God in our world
In Christ’s service,
+Marcel Damphousse Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
Mass of Remembrance
"These
little ones were part of our lives ... We need to do this, and we need to do this together."
- Fr Rob Arsenault, Homily for the Mass of Remembrance 2024
On October 19th, 2024, our archdiocese gathered in the quiet pews of Annunciation Parish and watched 191 names pass across a screen. Each name was a child lost, a child who was part of this community and a member of the universal Church. After a minute of silence, the Archdiocesan Mass of Remembrance for children lost through miscarriage or in infancy began.
A special thank you to The Flower Pantry for the flower arrangements, which families took home in remembrance. They were tangible reminders of those little lives loved and lost.
Our God has a great tenderness for the grieving and the brokenhearted. The shortest verse in scripture records his own moment of grief at the death of a loved one: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). If you’ve lost a child, know God is with you in your heartbreak. Your child has always been known and loved by him.
"There are as many ways to sainthood as there are people."
-Fr Connor O'Hara, Archdiocesan Vocations Director
Under neon lights, with video games layered on the walls of Café des Tours, nearly 200 young adults celebrated All Saints and the arrival of the relic of Bl. Carlo Acutis. Archbishop Marcel Damphousse opened the evening by sharing candidly, “I have never seen something like this before!”
Bl. Carlo died in 2006 and was a lover of video games, inspiring the evening’s theme Attendees competed against each other in Mario Kart chatted in café b
The night ended worship and pray
LOOK AT THAT
ARCHBISHOP MARCEL DAMPHOUSSE FACES OFF WITH YOUNG ADULTS IN A ROUND OF MARIO KART
We’re used to seeing saints dressed in ancient robes with strange names, living their faith in a culture long gone But Bl Carlo is a modern saint. For some, he was the age of our children or grandchildren. For others, he’s a peer. A quick Google search shows him smiling for the camera in a polo shirt and sunglasses, and sacred art depicts him holding a laptop.
FOCUS!
Sainthood isn’t a thing of the past. Sainthood is a modern calling. It is the invitation of Christ to live an extraordinary life amid the ordinary and it’s a calling each of us share.
Bl Carlo Acutis: The Relic Tour
Encountering the soon-tobe first millennial saint
CO-WRITTEN BY BEN TURLAND
Continuing the All Saints festivities, nearly five thousand pilgrims reverently filtered through Cathedrals in Ottawa and Toronto this past November 2024 to venerate the pericardium relic of Bl. Carlo who is set to be canonized during our 2025 Jubilee Year.
After its presence at the 2024 Eucharistic Congress in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, the relic was brought to Ontario by Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), a ministry dedicated to evangelization on university campuses across Canada.
Canadian pilgrims in Ottawa and Toronto had the opportunity to venerate the relic and participate in moments of prayer, beautiful music, and Eucharistic Adoration, one of Bl. Carlo’s greatest devotions.
A PILGRIM VENERATES THE RELIC OF BL CARLO DURING THE OTTAWA EVENT
click for pictures
Corpus Christi
Parishioners at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Ottawa processed through the streets with the Eucharist, a powerful public witness of the celebration of Jesus’ Body and Blood.
Indigenous Reconciliation Fund
y been distributed to 12 projects that align with the fund’s four key priorities: healing and reconciliation, culture and language revitalization, education and community building, and the promotion of Indigenous spirituality and traditions These initi pro
language preservation, youth and elder connections, Indigenous-led retreats, and artistic expressions that celebrate identity and heritage. The Archdiocesan Reconciliation Committee continues to meet regularly to source and recommend projects that will have a meaningful and lasting impact.
With each donation, we move closer to fully realizing our commitment to reconciliation. The impact of this fund is already being felt, fostering healing, strengthening cultural identity, and building relationships of trust and respect. We’re so close to reaching our goal every contribution brings us one step further on this journey of hope, healing, and renewal. Thank you for being part of this vital mission.
click for pictures
Rite of Election
Archbishop Damphousse greeted catechumens as they inscribed their names in the Book of the Elect, preparing to be baptized at Easter 2024.
I think most youth just don’t have models their own age living out the faith; it can be hard for them to know it’s even possible! I think that’s also why NET is so important: young people witnessing to other young people resonates strongly. The youth see faith and joy in people close to their age and it’s intriguing.
Any funny moments from the road?
During the Thanksgiving long weekend, my team stayed at a Jesuit retreat centre. On our second night, the staff made a bonfire to use up extra wood from the summer. It was a lot of wood. When they started the fire, the flames rose to over 10ft because of how much wood they used.
happen. I feel like we often look at parishes, and the Church in general, and see only the negative, especially when it comes to people leaving the faith. It can make us lose hope. But as a missionary, you see the opposite.
Minutes later, the firefighters came. A neighbour across the lake saw the fire and thought we were in trouble. Fortunately, the firefighters just laughed and told us to have a good day. We made history as the first ever NET team to have firefighters called.
What's the most rewarding part of being a missionary?
It’s so rewarding seeing the Lord move in the lives of youth and knowing you helped make it
The Jubilee Year theme is hope and my year on NET has really reignited that virtue for me. Every day, I get to see youth choose a relationship with Christ. At a recent retreat in the Yukon, I saw a young girl go from being disinterested to feeling God’s peace in prayer and vocalizing how important a relationship with him is. There really is no greater privilege than being an instrument for God’s love and grace!
Wedding AnniversaryMass
Each year, couples gather at Notre-Dame Cathedral to renew their vows and celebrate milestones in their marriages. Milestones range from 1 year to over 60 years of marriage!
“[Clergy and religious are] our "royalty" ... in the paradox of Christ's kingship, [they are] servants in both the lowest and highest places.”
If you are a priest or a consecrated religious in Archdiocese, you can receive a “Kingdom Coffee Card” from Café des Tours (located under Notre-Dame Cathedral). Kingdom Coffee cards are permanent multi-use cards allowing clergy and consecrated to enjoy a free drink when they spend an hour in the café, in gratitude for their service to Christ.
The cards are beautifully printed in gold foil on white, designed by Lilia, one of the café team members. Unofficially, café staff refer to them as “Royalty Cards.”
“That was the accidental beginning of the idea,” says Sapphira Sinasac who runs the café. “It came from someone ' s tongue getting twisted trying to say "Loyalty Cards.” [The mishearing] sparked the
GOD AT WORK IN 2024
Weddings
In2024,therewere approximately 35,414Masses celebratedinour
THAT’S AROUND 26,610 HOURS OF CELEBRATION AND PRAYER (CALCULATED BASED ON HOUR-LONG WEEKEND MASSES AND HALF-HOUR DAILY MASSES)
35,414 Masses
-Walking with those grieving miscarriage & child loss
Visit ottawacornwall.ca to support the mission Your gift supports the work of the Archdiocese and its parishes. Thanks to 2024 donations, in 2025 we are:
-Hosting a retreat for single mothers WHAT CAN WE DO IN 2026? -Supporting parish courses on palliative care
-Sponsoring teens to attend Steubenville Conferences
