The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.
(Matthew 9.32-38)
MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP
Catherine Doherty’s insight on evangelization: third of three parts
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Last week, I brought you part two of three of a reflection by Catherine Doherty on the topic of evangelization. If you didn’t get a chance to read the first part, go to the diocesan website and check out the Weekly Bulletin. Here is the third and last part of three of an excerpt from Chapter 7, taken from the book entitled: “The Mystical Body of Christ“.
Sincerely yours in Christ our redeemer,
+Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.
Bishop of Pembroke
Evangelization—good news as gift
Chapter 7, The Mystical Body of Christ by Catherine Doherty,
© Madonna House Publications 2013
We need to pray so as not to water down the Gospel. (However, I don’t blame anybody for wanting to water it down a little, because the one who speaks the Gospel is always within the reach of nails and of wood, and the two always connect in the form of a cross.) In an inimical milieu, hateful words, like stones, may be hurled at you. People can crucify you by their glances, by rejection and ridicule. It is essential that we all step softly in these situations and beg the Holy Spirit to guide us. We must open our hearts ever wider.
So here am I, and my friend is a non-believer, or whatever. But I love him as a person. Our friendship is open-ended. I share with him work and food, and friendship shares thoughts, ideas, words. I tell him what to me is the most precious thing, I give him the Word, God. He might give me his ideas, and I accept them and we discuss them together, because friendship is like oil on troubled waters. We don’t hit each other because we think differently.
Friendship is understanding the other person as best we can. It means approaching that person with his or her good in mind. When I ‘preach’ the Gospel with my life or with my words, I establish communion.
Friendship needs to be open-ended, not a closed circle. For example, a little group of people get very close and are sitting at a table. Let’s say that you walk up to this table and say, “Hi, how’s everything?” and you meet with an “Okay”. “Well, how have you been?” “Fine.” “What kinds of things have you been doing?” The cold that comes from those people is Arctic; you feel rejected. That kind of friendship is closed unto itself totally, but if when you walk up they say, “Sit down, join us”, it’s open-ended, not exclusive. We have to extend our friendship into a very wide context. Frankly, it always becomes cruciform, like all the things of God are. It forgets itself and reaches out to the other.
Friends sent me clippings saying, “Even prostitutes should be evangelized”. I wanted to cry, because it stands to reason that if you are bringing the Good News, which is Christ and what he taught, then it is applicable to everybody without exception. We need to speak the Good News slowly, gently, changing phraseology, semantics to fit each person and every background.
But above all, we must live that Word, that Gospel with our lives. We must realize our weakness and God’s strength, and show it. Our joy, first and foremost and last is resemblance to Jesus Christ. How many of us are ready to lay down our life for our brother? That is evangelization. If you lay down your life for your brother, hundreds will come and embrace the faith, even in our difficult days.
In our computerized society, both society and the Church need the witness of intensely personal relationships, based on love—beginning with revealing our relationship with God and his with us. By allowing people to touch God through speaking of your relationship with him, you help others come into contact with God; this is the heart of the Gospel. We should also pay attention to new opportunities, possibilities, openings that may cut across our preconceived notions and beckon us into ways and situations that we have perhaps never thought of.
We seek a deeper presentation of the Good News. It is important for us to use all modern means of communication and technology to put across the message of Christ. Look around for the paths that God is already laying out for you to follow. If you do, a new awareness, a new vitality and new sense of challenge and adventure will come into your heart. We must be ready to follow Christ wherever he goes, for Christ has a way of going into unexpected places. Let us be ready to follow him.
FROM THE DIOCESE
Weekly Bulletin
Please note that there will NOT be a Weekly Bulletin for Tuesday, July 13th.
Summer Office Hours
The Diocesan Offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and will close at noon every Friday from July 5th to September 3rd inclusively.
Mass Schedules
As of June 30th, churches are allowed to accommodate up to 25% of their capacity. Contact your parish for more information.
Announcement
Yvette Bourque, Director of the Family Life and Youth Ministry Office will be reducing her hours of work from 30 hrs./week to 10 hrs./week and primarily working from home starting July 19st, 2021. Her responsibilities will be reduced to include coordination of the Diocesan Young Adult Ministry, overseeing upkeep of the Diocesan website and assisting in the discussion/initiation of evangelization efforts/initiatives with the Catholic School Board members and staff. She can be reached at 613 585-6301 or yvettebourque@pembrokediocese.com.
James and Ellie Hrkach of Braeside will be overseeing the English Diocesan marriage preparation programs that normally take place. Their contact information is 613 279-1496 or ellengablehrkach@gmail.com. Couples will register the same way as usual, either by mailing in a registration form or via the website.
If you have further questions, please contact Yvette Bourque.
THE EVANGELIZATION TEAM
The ministry of welcoming and hospitality in a missionary context
By Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Parish hospitality is an important part of the New Evangelization. In our missionary context, it is to be specially designed for visitors and seekers. The apostle Peter tells us: “Above all, love each other deeply…”(1 Peter 4:8)
There are many things to consider when welcoming people who are visiting a parish for the first time, or recently: creating a parish website where they can easily find the information they need, providing well-located parking spaces reserved for visitors, greeting them in the parking lot, practicing the three-minute rule (this will be the subject of a next post), setting up a visitors’ table with contact sheets, projecting the prayers and songs for the liturgy on a screen, possibly providing name tags and visitor’s packets, planning for preaching and worship with the assumption that first-time visitors will be present, inviting visitors for coffee or lunch after the liturgy, following up with phone calls and emails, inviting them to a newcomers’ class, offering children special liturgy, and so on.
To create this kind of missionary hospitality, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of people who visit the parish for the first time: “Think through everything you do from a visitor’s viewpoint” explains Rick Warren, a pastor who grew a church of 40000 members. Visitors should be shown love and feel they are important (because they are in the eyes of God: John 3:16). The goal is to provide visitors with a memorable, loving experience. A coordinator can be in charge of this ministry, but the entire parish should also be imbued with a culture of welcome: welcoming is a responsibility for all to practice.
The spiritual and relational aspects of hospitality are also of great importance. Church hospitality is about helping visitors integrate both in the friendship network of the Christian community and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Such a warm and loving atmosphere will contribute to instill a sense of belonging and close the back door of the church.
To go even deeper: https://alban.org/archive/so-you-think-youre-friendly/
FROM THE CCCB
Life and Family Suggestions for Homilies and Prayers of the Faithful During July 2021 – Friday, July 2, 2021
Even during a time of social isolation because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Sunday liturgy continues to offer nourishment for prayer and reflection during the whole week – whether we are meditating on the readings, or participating in a television broadcast of the Mass and making a spiritual Communion.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) continues to post possible homily ideas and prayers of the faithful to help link the Sunday liturgy with the national pastoral initiative for life and family. The proposed texts for the month of July 2021 include suggestions from the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 4 July, to the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 25 July 2021. As usual, the suggestions for homilies and prayers can be easily adapted for family prayer, as well as for personal prayer or for use with other groups or organizations. The texts for the month of July are available on the special Family and Life webpage, under the section “Suggestions for Homilies & Prayers of the Faithful”.
CCCB Statement – Date of the Delegation to the Holy See – Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Following the 10 June 2021 announcement regarding the delegation of Indigenous people to meet with the Holy Father to foster meaningful encounters of dialogue and healing, the Catholic Bishops of Canada are pleased to announce that the delegation is scheduled to take place from 17‑20 December 2021 in compliance with global travel restrictions.
Pope Francis is deeply committed to hearing directly from Indigenous Peoples, expressing his heartfelt closeness, addressing the impact of colonization and the role of the Church in the residential school system, in the hopes of responding to the suffering of Indigenous Peoples and the ongoing effects of intergenerational trauma. The Bishops of Canada are deeply appreciative of the Holy Father’s spirit of openness in generously extending an invitation for personal encounters with each of the three distinct groups of delegates – First Nations, Métis and Inuit – as well as a final audience with all delegates together on 20 December 2021.
This pastoral visit will include the participation of a diverse group of Elders/Knowledge Keepers, residential school survivors and youth from across the country, accompanied by a small group of Bishops and Indigenous leaders. Planning for the delegation is ongoing and further details will be announced when they are available.
The Bishops of Canada reaffirm their sincere hope that these forthcoming encounters will lead to a shared future of peace and harmony between Indigenous Peoples and the Catholic Church in Canada.
29 June 2021
CCCB Statement – Date of the Delegation to the Holy See
THE HOLY SEE
Pope’s Prayer Intention for July
Universal intention ‐ Social friendship. We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.
FAITH FORMATION
Message from Deacon Adrien
I know this has been a difficult year with the COVID-19 Pandemic and with the lockdown restrictions. I know it made it difficult for Sacramental Preparation. I know I helped some of you get connected with on line Sacramental Preparation and at home preparation with parents. As we look ahead I want you to know that I am here to assist you with Sacramental Preparations. Please contact me at 613 732-7933 ext. 206, or at dcadrienchaput@pembrokediocese.com.
St. John Bosco Conference Livestreamed Session
Calling all catechists, Catholic school teachers, youth ministers, evangelizers, RCIA coordinators, and anyone who hands on the faith to others! This is your time, your place to come be renewed in mind, heart, and skills. Experience many engaging speakers, moving worship, and outstanding fellowship that will rejuvenate you for life and mission. July 14, 6:45-9:00 p.m. Offered by Steubenville Conferences. Cost: free. https://steubenvilleconferences.com/.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
Diocesan Young Adult Ministry
Summer activities this year will include outdoor adventures to Oiseaux Rock on the Ottawa River and High Falls in Algonquin Park. For dates and details contact Yvette Bourque at yvettebourque@pembrokediocese.com or 613 585-6301.
PARISH EVENTS
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Mass Times
Sunday Mass during the summer months will be at 7:30 a.m. in addition to the 9 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 280 Lourdesview Drive, Pembroke. Visit the website at www.lourdesparish.ca.
Mass—Extraordinary Form
Low Masses in the extraordinary form will be offered at St. Columbkille Cathedral at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month.These Latin Masses will be in the form of the Liturgy as it was celebrated at the time of the Second Vatican Council—the same form which nourished the faith of many of our ancestors. English translations of the entire Masses are provided. Next Latin Mass – August 7th
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
Monthly CCRSO On-Line Prayer Meeting
“I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” Psalm 7:17 via Zoom on July 7th from 7-8 p.m. If this is your first time, please register at www.ccrso.net to receive the invitation.
Encounter School of Ministry – Ottawa Campus
Summer Intensive from July 26-29, 2021 – 6:30-9:30 p.m. On-site and on-line! The Summer Intensive Conference is an evening school that provides a survey of the content offered in the first four quarters of the Encounter School of Ministry over a fast four day period. The content covered includes Identity & Transformation, Power & Healing, Hearing God & The Prophetic Gifts, Inner Healing & Freedom. Visit here.
Defending the Faith Livestreamed Session
During these trying times, God wants to give us bold and confident hearts to share his truth and love with joy! Live Streamed session includes a thought-provoking keynote, Rite and Just: The Power of Worship, by presenter Dr. Scott Hahn, a meditative time of Eucharistic adoration, and special guests. July 31, 2021, 6:30 – 10:00 p.m. Put on by Steubenville Conferences. Info: https://steubenvilleconferences.com/events/dfc/#!/livestream.
2021 Wojtyla Summer Institute – August 5-8, 2021
Seat of Wisdom College announces our annual Wojtyla Summer Institute. This year’s theme, Only Connect: Alleviating Loneliness Through the Liberal Arts, addresses loneliness as a cultural, psychological, and even spiritual problem. Featuring lectures from Dr. David Beresford, John Paul Meenan, Dr. Ellen Roderick, Dr. Ian Gentles, and Frederick Duquette, as well as a keynote from Dr. Christine Schintgen, this year’s conference will focus on the ways in which the liberal arts serve as a bridge away from isolation by fostering communion with one another and with God. Each talk also includes opportunities for dialogue and networking with the lecturers and your fellow attendees. The event is planned as a hybrid event (both in-person and online). If an in-person option in Barry’s Bay is not possible, the Institute will be offered online only. Register now at: www.seatofwisdom.ca/news/summer-institutes/wojtyla-2021/.
52nd International Eucharistic Congress – 5-12 Sept. 2021
You are invited to attend this very special event of the Catholic Church in Budapest, Hungary. The Congress will include a full program of events including daily Mass, testimonies, catechesis by various Cardinals, workshops, youth evening, Festival of Families, Eucharistic candlelight procession and closing Mass with Pope Francis. For complete program details and list of all speakers go to www.iec2020.hu/en/program.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall – Financial Controller
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall is looking for a Financial Controller to help lead the finance team. The Financial Controller, under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will primarily be responsible to assess both accounting and administrative controls and prepare reports for the management team regarding corporate compliance and internal policies and procedures. This position will facilitate any auditing conducted by third parties to ensure effective resolution and swift closure of auditing activities. This role will also ensure organization utilizes ethical accounting practices and standards. Full description: https://en.archoc.ca/financial-controller. Application deadline: July 23rd.