In this short video, Archbishop Smith responds to the new legislation of Bill C-7 in Canada which expands euthanasia and assisted suicide to those without foreseeable death.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis announced that the Church would celebrate a special year dedicated to St. Joseph beginning on December 8, 2020 and continuing through December 8, 2021. In the Archdiocese of Edmonton, a time dedicated to St. Joseph will officially begin on March 19, and conclude with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2021.  In preparation for March 19, the Archdiocese will join St. Joseph Seminary in the recitation of a Novena to St. Joseph starting on March 10. Three special Masses will be presided by Archbishop Smith at St. Joseph’s Basilica.

Holy Week which leads to Easter is the heart of the liturgical year. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the Archdiocese of Edmonton offers the following guidelines for Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum.

Parishes are taking all necessary precautions to keep everyone safe. If you are healthy and able, and if your home parish has space for you, it is best to attend these liturgies in person.

The Archdiocese is encouraging the faithful, who cannot attend in-person in their own church, to participate in the live-streamed celebrations presided over by Archbishop Richard Smith during Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum as a sign of unity. The livestreamed Archdiocesan liturgies will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook at St. Joseph’s Basilica.

The Archdiocese of Edmonton offers guidance for our reflection to encourage and guide our active participation in the live-streamed sacred liturgies of the Lenten season of 2021 during these pandemic times.

Rev. Don Stein, a beloved pastor for more than six decades in the Edmonton Archdiocese and in Canada’s North, died on Feb. 22, 2021. He was 86.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, the Journey through Lent offers an introduction to the season and reflections on Gospel readings of each Sunday in Lent. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has produced this new series for Lent 2021. The links to the videos in French and English will also be available on the CCCB website. Each Monday, the link for the upcoming Sunday celebration will be released.

Archbishop Richard W. Smith shares his message on this year's World Day of the Sick, which will take place on February 11, 2021.

Rev. Teofil (Ted) Wesolowski - who served throughout the Archdiocese of Edmonton, including as chaplain of the Carmelite Monastery in Devon - has died.

Deacon Hyland Fraser, a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Spruce Grove, has died after a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

The Archdiocese of Edmonton has updated guidelines for some aspects of the Holy Season of Lent.

These guidelines include details regarding:

• Ash Wednesday (February 17); 
• Rite of Election (February 20-21); 
• Palm Sunday (March 28);
• Chrism Mass (tentatively scheduled for March 29); and 
• Paschal Triduum (April 1-4).

Please see the full document: 

Updated Guidelines for some aspects of the Holy Season of Lent (PDF, 1 page)