TORONTO - Growing up, Fr. Hector Vila never dreamed of visiting the Yukon. But now the Redemptoris Mater priest from Peru can’t stop thinking about making his first trip to northern Canada.

TORONTO - Fr. Hector Vila, rector of Toronto������Ƶapp Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary, has been appointed the new bishop of Whitehorse.
Pope Francis announced the appointment on Nov. 27.

The religious order that brought Catholicism to much of Canada is facing tough questions about its future.

New Victoria bishop encourages a stint in Canada������Ƶapp north for priests before ministering on Vancouver Island 

WHITEHORSE, YUKON - On my first visit to Canada������Ƶapp territories, and the farthest north I have ever travelled on the globe, I was even more curious than I usually am, and asked a lot of questions of those who were kind enough to meet me. One word kept being repeated in almost every answer: “capacity.” The bishop of Whitehorse explained the importance of it, the premier of the Yukon emphasized it, a young couple raised it in relation to housing, an aboriginal shop-owner mentioned it in terms of suppliers — even the receptionist at the local newspaper spoke of it in terms of the newsroom.

VICTORIA, B.C. - At the invitation of Whitehorse Bishop Gary Gordon, eight young Catholics associated with the Catholic chaplaincy at the University of Victoria (UVic) experienced a 10-day mission tour of the Yukon. 

“I went to find a new connection to God������Ƶapp creation,” said Anna Ott, 19, who is visiting from Germany. “I hoped to give other Christians hope that there are young people out there who confess their faith through their everyday life.”

Canadian religious leaders and interfaith coalitions banded together before the Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 United Nations climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, to urge Ottawa to take substantial steps toward a new international agreement to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocols. Almost alone among Canada������Ƶapp major church and faith bodies, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops refused to sign the “Canadian Interfaith Call for Leadership and Action on Climate Change.”

The Congregation of St. Joseph signed, along with many other Catholic religious orders and a broad swath of Canada������Ƶapp Christian bodies. Major Muslim, Hindu and interfaith coalitions also signed onto the two-page statement.