OTTAWA, 24 August 2022 — The president of CNEWA, Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Adriana Bara, Ph.D., as national director of CNEWA in Canada.
Dr. Bara’s appointment follows an extensive recruitment effort led by CNEWA’s Canadian board of directors and a search committee drawn from representatives of the Ottawa and New York offices.
Until her appointment, Dr. Bara directed the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism in Montreal, a registered charity founded in 1963.
“Dr. Adriana Bara’s proven ability to shepherd numerous teams, while focusing on dialogue and relationships between Christian churches and other religious communities, uniquely positions her to lead CNEWA Canada at this moment in its history,” said Archbishop Marcel Damphousse of Ottawa-Cornwall, chair of CNEWA’s board of directors in Canada.
“Dr. Bara will continue building upon the important work that CNEWA has done in Canada since 2003, offering humanitarian and pastoral support to its partners overseas.”
“I am grateful to Archbishop Damphousse and Msgr. Vaccari for the gift of this appointment,” she said, and “I look forward to collaborating with our team to help people who are in need both materially and spiritually.”
“I am grateful to God Dr. Bara has accepted this nomination,” said CNEWA’s president, Msgr. Vaccari, “and most grateful she has accepted this position in Canada.
“She comes to us after years of active dialogue among separated communities, enhancing relationships by addressing challenges and conflicts, while deepening bonds of trust to promote collaboration for the common good.”
Dr. Bara holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Montreal. She will begin her tenure as CNEWA’s national director in Canada in early October.
“My appointment comes during the month of August in which we celebrate the Mother of God,” she said. “I pray she guides, inspires and helps us all in our work of helping people.”
Dr. Bara succeeds Carl Hétu, who launched CNEWA’s outreach in Canada when CNEWA established an office in Ottawa in 2004.
An agency of the Holy See, CNEWA is present in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. CNEWA works for, through and with the Eastern churches, rushing aid to displaced families; providing maternity and health care for the most vulnerable; assisting efforts for the marginalized, especially children, elderly and the disabled; and supporting the formation of priests, religious sisters and lay leaders.
Pope Pius XI founded CNEWA in 1926. It was incorporated in Canada as a registered charity by Canada Revenue Agency in 2003. For more information, visit cnewa.ca.
Learn more about CNEWA’s work by visiting cnewa.ca or following the organization on Facebook (@CNEWACanada) and Twitter (@CnewaC).
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Media interviews and information:
Maribel Mayorga
Torchia Communications
(514) 701-6274
maribel@torchiacom.com
Michael J. La Civita
Director of Communications, CNEWA
(917) 974-4883
mjl@cnewa.org