The annual Collection for the Needs of the Church in Canada will be held on September 26 and 27, 2020. In his message to pastors and other collaborators in pastoral ministries, the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg, and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) reflected on the impact of the Coronavirus on the Church in Canada and society at large. At the same time that dioceses and eparchies respond to the realities and challenges of living with COVID-19 in communities of faith, donations to this collection will help continue the facilitation of common action among Bishops, the provision of pastoral encouragement and resources for local churches, and the proclamation of the Gospel message for all to hear.
As part of their episcopal ministry, the Bishops will continue to work together on important doctrinal and ethical questions; ecumenical initiatives and interreligious dialogue; international relations; evangelization, faith education, and catechesis; strengthening relations with Indigenous peoples; questions of social justice, and the development of a culture of life and family.
The collection is primarily to assist Bishops in paying their annual diocesan/eparchial assessment to the CCCB as well as any yearly financial contribution they make to their regional episcopal assembly. All additional revenues that may be raised may be used by the diocese/eparchy for its own pastoral needs, although some Bishops choose to contribute these supplementary funds to the CCCB as a donation.