News from the Chancery is published each week to share information and upcoming events with the people of the Diocese of Victoria.
We have five items to share with you today:
1) On October 9, 2025, Pope Leo XIV released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te (“I have loved you”), a reflection on the Church’s call to care for the poor. In this document, Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to recognize the love of Christ made visible through love for the poor—by caring for the sick, opposing slavery, defending women who face exclusion and violence, ensuring access to education, accompanying migrants, practicing generous charity, and working for equality in all its forms. Read the full Dilexi te here: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html
Read Pope Leo XIV’s accompanying letter to the Bishops of the world here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/10/09/251009i.html
2) Religious and public leaders will gather on October 21 at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome for the global presentation of the Religious Freedom Report 2025, prepared by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, will deliver the inaugural address, and the day will conclude with a celebration of Mass. The full event, beginning at 12:30 am PST (9:30 am in Rome) and ending at 8:00 am PST (5:00 pm in Rome), will be livestreamed on the Vatican News YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@VaticanNews
Find more details about the Religious Freedom Report Conference here: https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport-launchconference/
3) The 2025/2026 seminary prayer calendar is now available. This year features 41 seminarians from nine Western Canadian dioceses—including two from the Diocese of Victoria—whom we invite you to keep in your prayers as they discern the Lord’s call. A printable copy of the calendar is available here: https://stjoseph-seminary.com/2023-24-seminarian-prayer-calendar/
4) The Diocese of Victoria is proud to host this year’s in-person meeting of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Theological Dialogue/Anglican-Roman Catholic Bishop’s Dialogue (ARC/ARC-B). As part of the meeting, all are invited to the launch of ARC/ARC-B’s “Theology of Apology” resource on Thursday, October 30 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Victoria (4635 Elk Lake Drive). The evening will start at 7:00 pm with prayer, followed by a panel discussion on the resource. A wine and cheese reception will follow.
5) All are welcome to attend a Mass for All Souls on November 1, 2025, at the Royal Oak Mausoleum (Royal Oak Burial Park, 4673 Falaise Drive, Victoria). Fr. Eduardo da Silva Santos will celebrate Mass at 9:30 am, preceded by the rosary at 9:00 am.
View the printable poster here.
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