This coming weekend’s second collection “for the needs of the Church in Canada” provides the financial resources for those works that either assist individual dioceses or go beyond the scope of any one diocese to provide.  The ongoing publication of new liturgical and catechetical resources, the ongoing work to promote Catholic teaching and the coordination of Canada-wide pastoral initiatives with our First Nations Peoples play a vital part in our diocese and parishes.  The bishops’ annual gathering, from Sept. 21^st to 25^th, twice-a-year regional meetings and committee work is also supported by these same funds.

Let us pray for the success of the ongoing collaboration of our Canadian Bishops and our willingness to be part of their work through our prayerful support.  We pray to the Lord:

The 2020 annual Plenary Assembly, to be held from 21 to 25 September, will move from an in-person meeting of Bishops to a videoconference in light of the existing health and safety restrictions regarding COVID-19.  This year's timetable and agenda have been streamlined to accomdate essential matters and to allow for meaningful discussion in this new format.   Due to health and safety concerns there will not be any observers at this plenary.

The daily meetings of more than 80 Bishops from dioceses and eparchies across Canada will be presided over by  the Most Reverend Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and CCCB

One of the topics of particular importance for Bishops centres on COVID-19, its impacts and the present-day realities of the Church in Canada. This session will be both a sharing of lived experiences and an opportunity to exchange hopes, concerns, wisdom and challenges as Bishops, together with clergy, consecrated persons, lay people and Catholic faithful continue to live through these most extraordinary times.

Let us pray for our Canadian Bishops, gathering virtually this week to collaborate together on issues of concern, that they may strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit and be supported by the people they are called to serve.

Follow  the Plenary throughout the week using one of the options given in the media release.

Please be aware that scam e-mails are going out in the Bishop's name asking for people to go out and buy e-cards in his name and send the numbers on those cards to a return e-mail address.   It is good to remember that church personnel are not allowed to make any personal solicitations of this type and that any personal solicitation, for any reason and under any guise, should either be seen as a scam or a serious breach of professional protocol.  Whichever one it is, the activity is to be ignored or soundly rebuffed.

"Family Connections" is a weekly series developed by Bishop Bart to offer a simple way to foster the gift of faith within families.  As the Bishop says in his reflection of Thursday, September 3 "it takes advantage of the quieter moments of the day, mealtimes and bedtimes, to offer a story, a prayer, a thought, a tradition or an activity to spark a question, a conversation or a personal reflection."

“Family Connections” is based on the Sunday Gospel.  The first issue will be available just prior to the September 12^th – 13^th weekend.  Subsequent issues will follow, on a weekly basis, throughout the year.  It can be accessed on our diocesan webpage under the heading "Family Connections" or by e-mail by contacting the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at catherinejordan@nf.aibn.com.

Pope: peace with Creator, harmony with creation

September 1 begins the month long Season of Creation, ending on October 4.

Bishop Bart has issued the following message regarding a change in the maximum numbers for houses of worship:

"As part of the new health restrictions announced by our office of public health, the maximum numbers for houses of worship are increasing on Monday, August 24th from a maximum of 50 people per service to a maximum of 100 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less. So, for example if your church has a seating capacity of 200 or more, and you are able to accommodate 100 people safely, you may do so. If your church holds less than 200, you can never have more than 50% seating capacity.

We are still stuck with the old requirement for this weekend. This change will go into effect the following weekend."

New guidelines received from our Public Health Office require non-medical masks to be worn in all public indoor places, including houses of worship beginning Monday, August 24th.

This Public Health Order is waived for:

-- Children under the age of 5
-- People with physical or mental health conditions
-- During "services provided" ( i.e. receiving Holy Communion)
-- Showing identification
-- When deemed unsuitable under Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
-- In seated areas, provided physical distancing of 2 meters is being practiced.

Each year on August 15 we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumpstion of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Feast commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into heaven.

In his greetings to the English-speaking faithful, Pope Francis encouraged everyone to prepare themselves to celebrate the feast of the Assumption of Mary.

“May she guide our pilgrimage toward the fullness of Christ’s promises,” he said.

“Let us ask the Lord for the grace of the humility of His Servant, so that He might do great things in us as well.”

Generally, Sea Sunday, a day set aside to remember and pray for those whose who work at sea, often away from their families for a long time, is celebrated on the second Sunday of July. A letter from the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development  can be found under Bishop Bart's Reflections.

A prayer for those whose livelihood comes from the sea and a link to Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) Canada can be found here.

Yesterday, the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced that assuming all continues to go well, we will be moving to Alert Level 2 on June 25th.  That means that places of worship are permitted to resume with restrictions.

Restrictions on numbers and physical distancing and several other things are set by the province; the protocols on how these measures are to be achieved are described in detail in the document from Bishop Bart to the priests and parishes.   Please read it carefully so that you will know what to expect, and please share the information with others.

The Church will continue to dispense anyone from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass.  This dispensation will specifically include: those with any sign of illness, the elderly, those with underlying health issues and those who do not feel comfortable coming (According to labour law, this is equally true of priests).

Because Worship Services are capped at a maximum of 50 people (This number includes the priest and all ministers), all people must pre-register for the Mass(es) they are planning to attend.  Contact your Parish Office for more information .  Parishes will also have a method of taking down names for each Mass, to fulfil contact tracing requirements.  These attendance lists will be kept on record for Contact Tracing purposes only.