Canadian religious conference president wants to see more networking

Published: 2004-06-10

CORNWALL, Ontario (CNS) -- One of the main challenges for religious communities in Canada is to become "better networkers," said Viatorian Father Alain Ambeault, new president of the Canadian Religious Conference. Father Ambeault said the 213 religious communities that comprise the conference need to be in contact more often in order to "confront the challenges of today together." Father Ambeault, Canadian provincial for the Clerics of St. Viator, believes religious communities are going through a period of transition and that a new style of religious life is being formed. "Maybe it won't be us that will be doing what will be needed in the future but we have to find new ways of involvement, of commitment for religious life," he said. "If we do not prepare the land nothing will happen." Father Ambeault was elected to a two-year term as conference president during the organization's general assembly held in Cornwall June 3-7.

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