Coast to Coast: December 6 to December 12

Alicia Ambrosio

Saturday, December 12, 2015

It has been a big week in the church: the Jubilee for Mercy officially started, holy doors and doors of mercy opened around the world, and we’re gearing up for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here is just some of what has been going on across the country this week:

Vancouver has 16 permanent deacons as of December 8. The 16 men are the product of the archdiocese first ever permanent deaconate program. Here are a few photos from the moving ordination ceremony

One of the deacons was featured in The Province, because his day job and his ministry can seem to be at odds.

Alberta has enjoyed incredibly low unemployment rates and general prosperity, but in an unmistakable sign that time are changing, food banks are seeing surging numbers of people looking for help to put food on their table.

In Winnipeg, the archdiocese has reached a milestone: it is embarking on its first ever archdiocesan synod.

The first plane full of Syrian refugees arrived in Canada this week. Here is the story of one family that now has chance at a new life.