Companions of the Cross
The Companions of the Cross ( order abbreviation : CC ) is a Roman Catholic priestly community. The community, founded by Father Robert Bedard (1929–2011), was recognized by the Holy See in 2003 as a society of apostolic life .
history
The first meetings began in 1984 with the small group gathered around Father Bob Bedard and made their home in the St. Mary Parish in Ottawa , Canada . The community was soon supported in its endeavors by Archbishop Joseph-Aurèle Plourde (1967–1989) of Ottawa . By 1986 several priests and seminarians joined the priestly community, of which Bob Bedard had been elected. Archbishop Plourde confirmed the name "Companions of the Cross" (CC), chosen by the group, in the autumn of 1986 and in 1988 the statutes . In 1988 the community of priests joined a lay community and since 1992 the CC has been actively involved in a radio station .
In 1993 the fellowship first assumed responsibility for a parish (St. Maurice in Nepean , now Ottawa ). The new Archbishop of Ottawa Marcel André J. Gervais supported the application to the Pope for recognition as a "Society of Apostolic Life". The revised rules were approved by Archbishop Gervais in 1999, and at the same time, with the approval of the relevant diocesan bishops , the community built its first houses outside the Archdiocese of Ottawa.
In 2003 the priestly community “Companions of the Cross” received papal approbation as a “Society of Apostolic Life”. In the same year, following the example of the priestly community, a sister community was founded, it bears the name " Servants of the Cross ".
organization
The superior of the order was dubbed “ moderator ” until 2012 , after the founder John Vandenakker CC (1996–2006) and Scott McCaig CC (2006–2012). An internal restructuring took place between January and February 2012 , Father Scott McCaig was elected the first Superior General , and at the same time a Chapter was introduced. The company has offices in Canada (Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax ) and the United States ( Houston and Detroit ). The members live in small communities and join the local parishes there. You work in church institutions and also lead parishes on your own responsibility. A local community consists of a minimum of four and a maximum of eight members, and they are led by a superior .
Personalities
From the ranks of the priestly community, the religious priest Christian Riesbeck CC was appointed auxiliary bishop in Ottawa by Pope Francis on January 7, 2014, and Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick on October 15, 2019 .
Missionary work
Missionary work is part of the community, every seminarist is sent on a missionary trip as part of his priestly training . The priestly community works for a universal church and regards missionary work as a Christian contribution. They carry out missionary work in the following countries: Uganda , Tanzania , Kenya , Sudan , Rwanda , Zimbabwe , Ghana , Romanians , Ukraine , Hungarians , the Philippines , Vietnam , Mexico and Papua New Guinea .
literature
- Bob Bedard, Companions of the Cross , Queenship Publishing Company, June 1994, ISBN 978-1-882972-36-4
Web links
- Homepage of the priestly community (English)