Webcam of the new Holy Family Cathedral in Saskatoon

[by Kiply Lukan Yaworski, adapted from an earlier news release]

Construction began last winter on Holy Family Cathedral and Pastoral Centre, the largest project in the history of the RC Diocese of Saskatoon, and the first Catholic cathedral to be built in Canada since St. Boniface cathedral in Winnipeg was rebuilt after a 1968 fire. A webcam is now available to view the progress of the construction. The image updates every 30 seconds.

Construction on the 65,000-square-foot project in northeast Saskatoon is expected to take about two years. According to Leah Perrault, director of pastoral services for the diocese, "This new building is much more than a structure. It represents the growing and vibrant Catholic community in the diocese of Saskatoon. It represents the presence of God among us."

"As a Catholic community, we have a long history here of serving those who are sick, those who are in need and those who look to us for an education. This Cathedral and Pastoral Centre will be the home of our ministry and our service for the next 100 years."

The parish, which includes some 1,600 families, has been waiting for several years to begin construction of a much-needed replacement for its overcrowded building in Sutherland. Holy Family parish committed itself to raise $16 million for its new home, while parishes from across the diocese are raised $12.5 million for the Cathedral and Catholic Pastoral Centre through the Uniting in Faith campaign.

Young Christians from around the world are invited to apply to the World Council of Churches (WCC) stewards programme for one of two hands-on learning experiences at major ecumenical meetings in 2011, the WCC Central Committee meeting, 8-24 February, and the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, 12-26 May. Applicants must be between the age of 18-30 years.

[Excerpted from MWC News] A recent meeting of the executive committee of the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from July 28 to August 4, 2010. Among other topics on the agenda for the meeting were proposals for two ecumenical dialogues, one with Seventh Day Adventists, and the other with Lutherans and Catholics.