Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
(Luke 1.39-47)
FROM THE DIOCESE
Healing Service with Eucharistic Adoration
At Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 33110 Hwy 17 E., Deep River on Friday, December 15th from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Guest speaker: Patrick Sullivan. All are welcome!
Prayer for the Future Bishop of our Diocese
Heavenly Father, we ask in the name of your Son, that you bless our future bishop. Provide him with the gifts he will need to carry on the ministry of Jesus in our diocese. Grant him the heart of your Son, the heart of the Good Shepherd. Bestow upon him the zeal of St. Paul in preaching the Good News; the humility of St. John Vianney in ministering the sacraments; the compassion of St. Vincent-de-Paul in serving those most in need; the wisdom of St. Augustine in teaching the doctrine of our Church; and the missionary fervour of St. Columbkille, our patron. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers
For the repose of the soul of Barbara Lenius, sister of Father Wilfrid Lenius, who passed away on December 4th at the age of 78.
FROM THE CCCB
Statement by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Non-Permissibility of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide within Canadian Health Organizations with a Catholic Identity
For generations, Catholic dioceses and religious orders in Canada have been major contributors to the development and delivery of healthcare services across the country. The first hospital in Canada, the Hôtel-Dieu in Quebec City, was established in 1639 by three Religious Sisters of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus to provide medical care to the French settlers and Indigenous populations of the time. That hospital was the first in North America and is still in operation. (Read more…)
Visit of the CCCB Presidency
The CCCB Presidency’s annual visit to the Holy See takes place from 28 November to 12 December 2023. The delegation is composed of the Most Reverend William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and CCCB President, the Most Reverend Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and CCCB Vice-President, and Father Jean Vézina, General Secretary. A total of 23 visits have been planned to the heads of the various Vatican dicasteries and other offices. All these meetings are held in a spirit of listening and dialogue in support of the CCCB’s orientations and activities. On 30 November, the delegation of the presidency met with His Holiness Pope Francis.
ADVENT
CCCB – Journey Through Advent 2023
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops presents Journey through Advent with the Most Rev. Bishop Jon Hansen, CSsR, Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. Join us as we reflect on the Scriptures for the Sundays of Advent 2023.
A joint initiative of the National Liturgy Office, the Office national de liturgie and the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, Bishop Hansen provides a reflection on Saint John the Baptist and hope.
Watch the videos here.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
CCCB – National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples 12 December
On 12 December, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. This year, we take a moment to recall the Holy Father’s Penitential Pilgrimage to Canada in July 2022, and in particular his words of prayer offered at Lac Ste. Anne:
“Lord, as the people on the shores of the Sea of Galilee were not afraid to cry out to you with their needs, so we come to you, Lord … with whatever pain we bear within us. We bring to you our weariness and our struggles, the wounds of the violence suffered by Indigenous brothers and sisters. In this blessed place, where harmony and peace reign, we present to you the disharmony of our experiences, the terrible effects of colonization, the indelible pain of so many families, grandparents and children. Lord, help us to be healed of our wounds. We know, Lord, that this requires effort, care and concrete actions on our part; but we also know that we cannot do this alone. We rely on you and on the intercession of your mother and your grandmother. Yes, Lord, we entrust ourselves to the intercession of your mother and your grandmother, because mothers and grandmothers help to heal the wounds of our hearts.”
Diocesan Action Circle Survey
To better help us serve the needs of parishioners, the Diocesan Action Circle has prepared a short anonymous survey. The answers to the survey questions will direct the work around Reconciliation with Indigenous People in the Diocese. To access the survey, please check the website: https://pembrokediocese.com/article/diocesan-action-circle-survey-2023/, or click the following link: https://forms.gle/LRfMwNTBEmgKQV7w5.Thank you for your participation.
THE EVANGELIZATION TEAM
Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
By Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
In his book Evangelization, a challenge for the Catholic Church, Fr. Bod Bedard, the founder of the Companions of the Cross, delineates a comprehensive three-step process for effective evangelization: a clear presentation of the Gospel, a personal and conscious decision to embrace it, and subsequent surrender to the Lord, leading to transformative experiences. (Read more…)
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
Know any teenagers? Send them to Youth Alpha!
There is a youth group for grade 7-12 students on Sundays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pembroke. This Youth Alpha program will provide a space to ask and explore some of life’s biggest questions. Please visit the following website for more info and to register. There is no cost, and it is open to all youth. https://jwmccluskey.wixsite.com/our-lady-of-lourdes Email Jessica McCluskey at jwmccluskey@nrtco.net with any questions.
IMAGE OF GOD monthly MEN & WOMEN Sessions
IMAGE OF GOD monthly MEN & WOMEN Sessions continue Wednesday, December 13th from 7-8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in the parish hall and run monthly until June. Topic: “The looks we give – Reclaiming our eyes for God, our spouse and our kids.” This event is being hosted by the Family Life and Youth Ministry Office, with guest speaker Patrick Sullivan, Lay Evangelist, and is open to all. Each evening has a different topic and will include time for separate discussion for men and women. The purpose is to grow in your own spiritual life, your spousal relationship, and your relationship with your children. For more information contact Yvette Bourque at yvettebourque@pembrokediocese.com.
PRO-LIFE
Pro-Life Week of Action
Are you in high school and want to spend your March break making a difference for pre-born children in Canada, while making amazing memories and lasting friendships? Join CCBR in Toronto from March 11-14 for our Pro-Life Week of Action. You will join passionate pro-life youth for training, and public outreach, learning how to have effective conversations about abortion. You will also join CCBR’s team on the streets, to change hearts and minds, and save lives from abortion. For more information and to apply go to https://www.endthekilling.ca/plwa/ or email csibiga@endthekilling.ca. The application deadline is January 31st (early bird discount ends December 31st). Lodging/accommodations can be provided.
DEVELOPMENT & PEACE
Development & Peace – Stand for the Land
In solidarity with the defenders of Guapinol and the San Pedro sector in Honduras, Development and Peace are seeking to collect 32,000 signatures on a letter to the Honduran ambassador to Canada by February 25, 2024. A Development and Peace-Caritas Canada delegation will meet the ambassador and hand her the letter during the spring of 2024.
Act now! Sign the letter digitally at this link: https://devp.org/en/campaign/stand-for-the-land/act/.
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
15th Annual Men’s Retreat
“Harden Not Your Hearts”, Jan. 12-14th, 2024 at the Graphite Bible Camp (south of Maynooth). $175 includes retreat, shared room and meals. For questions or to register (by December 20th), please contact Pierre-Paul Fillion at 613 602-6580 or ppfilion@yahoo.ca. It is filling fast….
OTHER
Looking for a great gift idea for someone this Christmas? Look no further!
Funny in a GOoD Way presents an evening of laughter and praise to celebrate the week of Prayer for Christian Unity on January 20th at 7:00 p.m., Festival Hall. Featuring Byron Trimble Comedy and worship music by Gate47. Cost $25.00 in advance. To purchase tickets, please contact Deacon Adrien Chaput at 613 732-7933 ext. 206 or at dcadrienchaput@pembrokediocese.com. More details available at www.funnyinagoodway.ca. Net proceeds go to First Step Options.