The organization that represents about 25,000 consecrated women and men who belong to Canadian religious communities is to be restructured by the end of the year, increasing its focus on justice and peace, and the integrity of creation.

The Canadian Religious Conference will consolidate its structures into one bilingual office and looking at "alternative ways of coming together to collaborate and have a much more visible collective voice," said Father Peter McKenna.

""We reaffirmed our stance in terms of renewed commitment towards women and children living in poverty, especially also in terms of the elimination of violence against women and children," he said.

The "primary moment" for the CRC is to look at the mission statement and to see how it can work "creatively and collaboratively" to respond to its mission, given the demographics, he said. "We know that by the year 2015, we will be half the number of religious here in Canada and we know that by that year, one in 10 will be under the age of 65."

The rationale of the simplified structure will be to concentrate financial and personnel resources at the grassroots level across the country.

webmaster www.evangelizationstation.com

Canadian Religious Conference restructures as vocations decline and members reach retirement age

Art Babych Canadian Catholic News Ottawa

Art Babych
Canadian Catholic News
Ottawa