Catholic-Coptic Discussions Continue with Second Meeting in Quebec

Catholic-Coptic Discussions Continue with Second Meeting in Quebec

From Apr. 28-30, 2025, delegates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Coptic Orthodox Church met for the second time to explore the prospects for strengthening their relationship through the establishment of a formal Dialogue. Hosted by the Benedictine monks of St. Benoît du Lac Abbey (south-east of Montreal), participants were able to discern prayerfully the path forward for communication and collaboration between Copts and Catholics in Canada—even as the Coptic Holy Synod has temporarily paused its involvement in the Vatican-sponsored Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

The topics discussed included the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and the necessity of renewing an appreciation for (and defense of) Nicene Christology in the current day; the history and character of both Egyptian and Benedictine monasticism, as well as the unique charism of the Madonna House apostolate; and the legacy of the pontificate of Pope Francis, particularly in regard to the important steps taken therein towards rapprochement between the Churches. Participants also brainstormed around the co-ordination of initiatives at a local level, especially in the arenas of evangelization, catechesis and the corporal works of mercy.

The Coptic cohort was led by Bishop Boulos, who oversees the Diocese of Ottawa, Montreal and Eastern Canada. One of three Coptic bishops in Canada, His Grace was also the bearer of much-appreciated ecumenical greetings at the 2024 meeting of the CCCB’s Plenary Assembly. He was joined by Fr. Anthony Mourad, one of the current vice-presidents of the Canadian Council of Churches (whose Ottawa parish will host the CCC’s spring Governing Board meeting later this month), as well as Fr. Kyrillos Mourad (Virgin Mary Parish, Montreal), Fr. Joseph Dawoud (St. Mark & St. Mary of Egypt Parish, Ottawa), and Fr. Raphael Bichara (St. George and St. Joseph Parish, Montreal), alongside emerging scholar Subdeacon Youssef Sawires (Trinity College, Toronto) and Nathalie Akladios (Ottawa), a lay leader in the Copt’s dynamic youth ministry.

The Most Rev. Paul-Antoine Nassif, Exarch for Syriac Catholics in Canada, headed up the Catholic side, He was joined by the Most Rev. Yvan Mathieu, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, together with the archdiocesan interfaith officer, Fr. Emeka Onyeogubalu; Fr. Luis Melo (Ecumenical Officer for the Archdiocese of Toronto), Luis Dizon (University of Toronto), Shatzi Louisa Duffy (Madonna House Apostolate, Combermere, ON) and Subdeacon Dr. Brian Butcher (CCCB Advisor for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations).

The hope for building bonds with the Copts—who now have approximately 20 parishes and missions from coast to coast—has been a desire for a few years, and the CCCB’s Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue is grateful to the Lord for bringing it to cusp of realization. Ratification of the proposed terms of reference is expected to take place later this year, with the next meeting of the group envisioned for mid-September, in or near Ottawa.