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27 May 2018

New administrative council of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC)

Montreal, May 27, 2018 – From May 24 to 27, 2018, in Montreal, more than 250 men and women religious from 240 Catholic congregations in Canada attended the 32nd General Assembly of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC).

Brother Louis Cinq-Mars, OFM Cap, new President of the CRC

At the end of the four days of assembly, the Assembly elected a new Administrative Council. Brother Louis Cinq-Mars, of the Capuchin Friars Minor, takes the helm of the organization as President after serving two years on the Council as Vice-President. “I want to thank Sister Michelle Payette, outgoing President, Father Timothy Scott and the members of the Council for their trust over the past two years. Confident in the future, I wish to continue the work of supporting members in a context where religious life in Canada and in the world is undergoing a profound transformation….” CRC Vice-President since 2016, Brother Cinq-Mars has also been Provincial Minister of his order since 2012, which led him to visit the provinces of India, Brazil and Madagascar. Holder of a master’s degree in Franciscan studies, he has basic training in spiritual accompaniment. Before joining the Order, he used his professional training in social work to work for some ten years in the community.

Sister Francine Landreville of the Congregation of Notre-Dame succeeds Brother Cinq-Mars as CRC Vice-President. Three outgoing members were re-elected to their previous positions: Sister Joan Cronin of the Grey Nuns of the Immaculate Conception, Treasurer; Sister Sandra Shannon of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Vincent de Paul, Ontario Region Representative; and Sister Brendalee Boisvert of the Sisters of Saint Martha of Antigonish, Atlantic Region Representative. The other elected members are:

  • Sister Françoise Drouin of the Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Quebec Region Representative;
  • Brother Florent Gaudreault of Brothers of the Christian Schools, Quebec Region Representative;
  • Sister Denise Kuyp, Our Lady of the Missions, Western Region Representative.

Based on their reflections around the theme of the Assembly (The nights are laden with life. Watcher, what do you say?), the members of the Assembly entrusted the new Council with a series of priorities that will guide CRC activities for the next two years.

About the CRC

The Canadian Religious Conference is an association that brings together the leaders of 240 Catholic congregations of women and men religious in Canada. The CRC’s mission is to encourage its members to live fully their vocation in following Christ and to support them in their prophetic witness to justice and peace in a Canadian context.

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