This week during the Plenary of the Bishops Conference, I had an opportunity to meet with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops and Archbishop Luigi Bonazzi, Apostolic Delegate to Canada to discuss my report on the consultative process regarding the future of the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.

Cardinal Ouellet noted that, though my report had been received at the Vatican in late June, it had not been possible for members of the Congregation to study the report in depth. This important step will take some time as some of the personnel of the Congregation have recently been changed.

His Eminence assured me that he will give attention to our circumstances on his return to Rome and that he looks forward to presenting his concern for the future of our Diocese to the Holy Father at one of his regular Saturday meetings. He indicated that he could not promise us clarity about our future before the end of this calendar year.

Certainly, this news will be disappointing to you as it is to me, for I had been led to believe that we would have received an indication of our future following this week’s meeting. Now, however, it is clear that our present situation will continue for most of the present pastoral year.

Let us, then, go forward with pastoral planning and take the decisions that will ensure that our outreach to God’s people will be forthright and generous. For my part, I commit myself to doing my best to serve with and for you.

Continue to pray our prayer for the Diocese’s future with renewed fervour.

Fraternally yours in Christ,
✠Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Apostolic Administrator