National Federation of Presbyteral Councils gathering in Prince Albert

Diocese of Prince Albert, upon a request of their Bishop Albert Thevenot hosted on May 11-13 the Western Regional Meeting of National Federation of Presbyteral Councils. It was an opportunity for the local clergy to gather for their Clergy Days led by NFPC members.

NFPC is the organization working in a spirit of unity and collegiality with priests and the bishops in Canada. They serve the pastoral needs of the people of God by supporting Presbyteral Councils (Senate of the Priests) in their role as advisors to individual bishops and by assisting priests in the integration of their spirituality, ministry and leadership.
 
NFPC is divided into three regions: Western, Central and Eastern. Bishop John Corriveau, ofmcap of Nelson is a liaison bishop on behave of Western Conference of CCCB. He replaced Bishop Emeritus Blaise  Morand who was involved in NFPC for many years.

One of NFPC objectives is to provide a means for Councils of Priests in the English sector united nationally, to cooperate with the Bishops, religious and laity of Canada in addressing the needs and concerns of the Church in the modern world.

Since 2001 the National Federation of Presbyteral Councils has prepared personal reflection materials and group discussion aids designed to assist Canada’s priests to live out and continually renew our personal call to ministry.
The first booklet published by the NFPC was “Reflections on Priesthood”, which was designed to help priests with their own prayer life and their reflection on pastoral ministry and to help priests to share in open and honest dialogue.

In 2004 “A Practical Guide to Priestly Wellness” was published.
This booklet intends to reflect on: “how we learn to love ourselves enough to find a healthy balance in our lives; to seek physical, intellectual, emotional and relational and spiritual wellness so that we can serve God’s people one person at a time”.
These first two publications were intended to promote personal reflection and group discussion on priestly vocation and ministry and on the importance of wellness in our lives.

In 2008, “The Priest as Servant Leader”, this latest offering from the NFPC, takes priests beyond themselves into the wider community of the people of God and the community partners with whom they share a professional relationship responding to the social, psychological, psychiatric, medical and spiritual needs of the people and families in their collective care. “How we (I) live out our (my) priestly ministry with other professionals?” – Priests ask themselves.
As professionals they are expected to possess a certain level of expertise, be knowledgeable of current practices and conduct ourselves with dignity while respecting those we serve and those with whom they serve. In other words, in order to be recognized as a professional one must be professional in all manner of things.

“The Priest as a Servant Leader” explores five values in which authentic priestly ministry must be grounded: Accountability, Confidentiality, Boundaries, Collaboration and Transparency.
This booklet is intended to foster and facilitate dialogue between priests and within priests’ councils in dioceses and eparchies. The booklet contains thought for personal reflection and offers a group discussion guide for each of the five values of priestly ministry.

On May 12-13 the members of NFPC introduced this latest publication to the priests of Diocese of Prince Albert. It was an opportunity to have group discussions on Accountability and Boundaries.
On the last day NFPC led presentation on Inculturation in three areas of priestly ministry:
-International priests coming to Canada, -Canadian priests receiving international clergy and -Parish community accepting those priests.
Diocese of Prince Albert has a priests from Vietnam, Philippines, Africa, India, Poland and Canada.
Most of the priests are under the age of 40. They have experienced the challenge of moving to a new country, learning a new language and finding ways to adapt their own rich cultural background to the new Canadian culture very often so different to that which they grew up.
After very fruitful discussions the suggestions were presented to the Bishop Albert Thevenot and the Vicar General Fr. Cliff Trombley for the review and further reflection at the Senate of Priests and at the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

National Federation of Presbyteral Council is hosting on September 7-11, 2009 An International Gathering of Priests from English Speaking Countries. The theme of this Fall Assembly is: “Rediscovering the Blessings of Fraternity”.

For more information re: NFPC and up coming International Assembly of Priests go to: www.nfpc.ca

Submitted by Fr. Mariusz Zajac of Diocese of Prince Albert
(Diocesan Rep on NFPC)