(CCCB) The Board of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) announces it has appointed Mr. Michel MacDonald as the organization's new Executive Director, with his new responsibilities to begin in early January 2017.

He will succeed Ms. Michèle Boulva who is retiring after having served in this position for 12 years. The appointment has been made in consultation with the two principal sponsors of COLF: the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. MacDonald had previously served as a member of the COLF Board from June 2011 to June 2016. He holds a licentiate in the theology of marriage and family from the John Paul II Institute, Washington, D.C., and is completing his doctorate in moral theology at Saint Paul University, Ottawa. He has also studied at the Dominican University College, Ottawa, where he earned bachelor's degrees in theology and philosophy.

In addition to participating in meetings with the Ottawa Catholic Physicians' Guild (the Cosmas and Damian Society), Mr. MacDonald has taught at Saint Paul University and the Dominican University College, as well as working with St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto, to provide an on-line course on human sexuality and marriage and in offering courses in Ottawa in Christian ethics.

Previously he had worked as coordinator of youth ministry and music director with St. Maurice Parish, Ottawa. He is married and has seven children. The family lives in Ottawa.

COLF was jointly founded, and is jointly funded, by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus to promote respect for human life and dignity and the essential role of the family.

The Board thanks Ms. Boulva for the many years of dedicated service she has rendered to COLF, and wishes her joy and happiness in her new challenges.