News
Bishop Bart's Easter Message
Grace and peace be yours in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It only seems like yesterday that we set out together with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem; we had just entered Alert Level 5. Forty days later, we celebrated His entrance into Jerusalem, with church openings and a gradual reprieve on restrictions. It has been a year of ups and downs, of suffering alongside those who have suffered unemployment, isolation, security and a sense of personal safety, and moments of resurrection, new hope and great love.
As we have walked the road together with Christ, so may our sufferings, and the sufferings of the world, be turned into joy. As we have been called to die to self and walk in solidarity with one another, may we draw on His gift of new birth. May the risen Lord, in all His mercy, bless your family and loved ones, and may you rejoice anew in the Mystery of Salvation. Happy Easter!
Click here to read the letter in its entirety.
Grace and peace be yours in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
It only seems like yesterday that we set out together with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem; we had just entered Alert Level 5. Forty days later, we celebrated His entrance into Jerusalem, with church openings and a gradual reprieve on restrictions. It has been a year of ups and downs, of suffering alongside those who have suffered unemployment, isolation, security and a sense of personal safety, and moments of resurrection, new hope and great love.
Holy Week has taken on a new meaning for many of us. If we have not shared in the sufferings of Christ ourselves, we have witnessed His sufferings in the lives of neighbours, friends and family members. Jesus chose to stand with the marginalized, the ostracized and the downtrodden. His own sufferings are not so much to be pitied as they are to be instructive, pointing us to the wounds of those who suffer unnecessarily, in our communities and in our world.
Through it all, the cross is not the final word. It pales in the light of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Though afflicted for a time and for a season, our hope grows stronger -- not in that which will eventually fade, but in the life Christ has won for us. It is a life that begins in the here and now, resplendent in the light of his mercy and love, and culminates in the hereafter with songs of praise and thanksgiving. “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!” “Let us rejoice and be glad”.
As we have walked the road together with Christ, so may our sufferings, and the sufferings of the world, be turned into joy. As we have been called to die to self and walk in solidarity with one another, may we draw on His gift of new birth. May the risen Lord, in all His mercy, bless your family and loved ones, and may you rejoice anew in the Mystery of Salvation. Happy Easter!
Easter Message - President of the CCCB
In his Easter message, the Most Rev. Richard Gagnon, in reflecting upon this past year while looking forward to the joy and hope of Easter, says, in part:
"This Easter, perhaps more than ever, there is good reason to be hopeful in our faith and to live a true Christian realism where we clearly acknowledge the reality of our present situation with all its lights and shadows. An Easter Faith means simply to believe that God’s hand can be found everywhere and, in every event, however happy or sad, knowing, as St. Paul says:
'…that all things work together for good for those who love God'"
The entire message is available here.
Employment Opportunity
Pope's Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Christians are invited to reflect on the meaning of God's call and to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Year of the Family
Amoris Laetitia Family Year begins today, March 19, 2021 and culminate on the 10th World Meeting of Families (in Rome) on June 26th, 2022. Officials from the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, along with a married couple, introduced the Year in a press conference.
From Vatican News site "Church 'exults with joy' at Year Amoris Laetitia Family"
Solidarity Sunday
From Bishop Bart's Letter : "Solidarity Sunday reminds us that the Journey to Easter is not a solitary one. Our Share Lent collection, taken up on March 21st, goes a long way in establishing bonds of fellowship and shared hope with our friends and partners in the Global South. ... Christianity begins (and ends) with Christ’s gift of his entire self, it also finds expression in our gift of ourselves. For more information on Development and Peace, and their on-line campaign this year, please go to www.devp.org. Thank you for making this year’s Development and Peace campaign a true success."
CCCB Note on Ethical Concerns Related to Currently Approved COVID-19 Vaccines
On March 9, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a short note on "Ethical Concerns Related to Currently Approved COVID-19 Vaccines". To answer questions and to clarify any misunderstandings, the CCCB published its clarification stating, "The Note did not refer to, nor intend to question the medical efficacy of any vaccine."
Click here to read the Clarification Note from the CCCB.
St. Joseph Novena
In anticipation of the special year dedicated to the family, which begins on March 19, 2021 and ends with the 10th World Meeting of Families in Rome on June 26, 2022, the diocesan family is invited to join Bishop Bart in praying a Novena to St. Joseph. The novena prayers will be live-streamed each evening on the Diocesan Facebook page at 7pm, beginning Thursday, March 11 and culminating on the Feast of St. Joseph, March 19.
The Novena prayers can be found by clicking the word "more" below.
Year of the Family
Beginning on the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19th, 2021 and culminating on the 10th World Meeting of Families (in Rome) on June 26th, 2022, Pope Francis has declared a special Year of the Family. In his letter to the Priests and Director of Parish Life Bishop Bart says, " It is my hope that each parish will mark this year in some way or other, with multiple initiatives if possible. It would also be wonderful to get some initiatives going among the families themselves, where they minister to one another."
Leading up to the beginning of the Year of the Family the Diocese is offering a live streaming of a Novena to St. Joseph at 7pm each evening from March 11- March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
Click here to read the Bishop's letter.
Alert Level 4
We are now at alert level 4 in our region (probably for the next two weeks).
A reminder of what is allowed:
- Gatherings at funerals, burials, weddings and religious and cultural ceremonies are expanded to 10 people (including the minister).
- Public visitations and wakes remain prohibited.
We will not re-open our churches for regular Masses.