Five Canadians added to youth synod

VATICAN – The Vatican has announced that five more Canadians — a cardinal, two priests and two laity  — have been selected to participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops on youth.

To the list previously elected by national bishops’ conferences, the Pope approved Cardinal Gerald Lacroix of Quebec City; Jesuit Fr. Michael Czerny, who is stationed in the Vatican as undersecretary of the Vatican Section for Migrants and Refugees; Fr. Michael Brehl, superior general of the Redemptorists; and two employees of Salt + Light Television — Emilie Callan, a delegate to the pre-synod meeting, and Julian Paparella.

Lacroix, Czerny and Brehl will participate as full voting members. Callan and Paparella are invited as observers with no voting privileges on the proposals that will go to Pope Francis.

The five additions brings the Canadian contingent to 11 for the Oct. 3-28 synod, which will focus on “young people, faith and vocational discernment.”

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops previously elected: Archbishop Luc Cyr of Sherbrooke, Que.; Montreal Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Dowd; Bishop Lionel Gendron of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, Que.; and Bishop Stephen Jensen of Prince George, B.C. Bishop Brian J. Bayda of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon is the elected member from the Greek Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, will be a synod member by virtue of his post.