Flip the Stat - Advent Appeal
For every 100 people who join, 840 leave.This is a radical problem that requires radical solutions.
“For every 100 who join the catholic church, 840 walk away.“
(Pew Research Study, 2023-2024)
This is a radical problem and it demands a radical solution. The Church is in crisis – but there is hope…
The Companions of the Cross are responding. We believe God is calling us to explore new paths forward – to act boldly in the face of decline. We are stepping forward with urgency, hope, and a mission-centred vision of renewal.
Having foresight, we prioritize the ongoing support and training of our newly ordained priests, up to ten years beyond ordination. These early years are crucial. We invest in our priests – especially in leadership development.
Your generosity supports the work of Fr. Bryan Sabourin, CC and Fr. David Bergeron, CC who are dedicated full time to the ongoing formation of priests across all our foundations, ensuring they become the strong, Spirit-led leaders our Church urgently needs.
Strong pastoral leadership is a key component to flipping the ratio – for every 100 leaving the Church, we could have 840 entering the fold.
“Our priests deserve it. Our people deserve it as well. We want priests to lead at the highest capacity according to the gifts God has given them, and to mobilize our people to go as deep as possible in holiness and as wide as possible on mission.”
Current Reality
Represents 100 people joining the Catholic Church
Represents 840 people leaving the Catholic Church
Vision
Represents 840 people joining the Catholic Church
Represents 100 people leaving the Catholic Church
A Radical Response Needs New Methods
This year, the Companions of the Cross have sensed a call by the Holy Spirit to explore church planting – a bold, cutting-edge model for parish renewal. We are partnering in ministry with Fr. Michael Leclerc and Fr. Garrick Huang in Montreal as they have launched the very first Catholic ‘church plant’ in North America. This has been a successful model for renewal for the Church of England in Europe.
Church planting entails placing a mission-minded group of lay people, along with an equipped, Spirit-filled pastor, into a struggling or dying parish. This seed of renewal takes root – bringing new life, community, and growth to the parish.
This isn't maintenance. This is mission.
We believe in a God who is on the move. As our founder, Fr. Bob Bedard, once said:
“God is lighting fires here and there. He’s connecting them up. He’s getting ready to bring the Church back. As the darkness deepens, the fires become more evident, don’t they… You can see them.”
– Fr. Bob Bedard, CC Founder
We Need You
We see the fire of the Holy Spirit igniting hearts, lighting the way forward. We’ve been given a vision of an explosively alive Church where the statistic is flipped, 840 joining for every 100 leaving.
We are profoundly grateful to you, our community of donors. Because of your generosity, that’s the Church we have been working to build – Through extended priestly formation, strong leadership training, and now by exploring new paths of parish renewal with other mission-minded leaders. But we cannot do this without you.