The Father and I are one.
(John 10.22-30)
MESSAGES FROM THE BISHOP
Feast of St. Joseph the Worker – May 1st
I would like to remind the clergy and faithful of our Diocese that this coming Saturday, May 1, on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, all Diocesan Masses will be celebrating for the intention of the Sisters of Saint Joseph who are celebrating 100 years of religious presence in our Diocese this year, since their arrival in Pembroke in 1921.
The following CBC internet coverage was published on January 24, 2020:
The Sisters of St. Joseph has been operating on the shore of the Ottawa River since 1921, when the congregation began farming a 5.4-hectare plot of sloping land on what was then Pembroke’s outskirts. The acreage was once home to 80 nuns who trained, operated a Catholic mission and worked as teachers, nurses and caregivers for the elderly in several Ottawa Valley communities. They also welcomed in seniors who couldn’t afford the cost of conventional homes or find housing elsewhere in Pembroke. In 1953, the Sisters of St. Joseph opened a new convent on the original site (just west of Downtown Pembroke).
Let us rejoice for their faithful presence and for all the works they have accomplished in our Diocese throughout these many years of devoted service to the people of God.
+ Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.
Bishop of Pembroke
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Gospel of St. John for next Sunday invites us to bear “much” fruit. But what kind of fruit is the Lord Jesus referring to? To answer this question, we must first state that our example is much more important than our words. The famous French priest known as “Abbé Pierre” said these prophetic words: “When we reach the end of our lives, we will not be asked if we have been believers, but if we have been believable.”
In other words, have we lived our Christian commitment consistently? Have we been patient, merciful, charitable and fair to our loved ones? Have we prioritized prayer of intimacy with God over our daily activities and occupations, each according to his or her state of life? Finally, throughout our Christian existence or since our conversion, have we generally been inhabited by the desire to conform to God’s will in everything, or have we preferred to do our own will most of the time? The last two sentences that precede these lines tell us that in order to bear much fruit, we must absolutely invite Jesus to live within us and maintain a close relationship with Him, for “apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5), as Jesus says in the gospel that we will hear this coming Sunday.
I conclude by quoting a homilist whom I admire very much, Fr. Yvon-Michel Allard, s.v.d. :
“Our faith can grow if it is alive, if it plays an active role in our daily lives, if it bears fruit. This is why we come to meet the Lord every Sunday to listen to his word and to regain strength for the week ahead. Bearing fruit does not mean doing extraordinary things; it means doing ordinary things well. Attached to Christ as branches to the vine, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, we can then bear fruit in abundance. The fruits of the Spirit, St. Paul tells us, are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, tenderness, the ability to control our tempers. ”
This, dear brothers and sisters, is how we must understand and identify these fruits of which the Lord speaks to us in the Gospel of Saint John.
Sincerely yours in the risen Christ,
+Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.
Bishop of Pembroke
FROM THE DIOCESE
Ecclesia
The May issue of Ecclesia will be delivered this week for distribution in parishes. In this issue there is a survey on the last page that the Ecclesia committee would appreciate you filling out and returning in the collection basket at any Mass. Deadline for the surveys to be submitted is July 30th. Thank you for your participation in this endeavor.
Stay-at-Home Order
During the stay-at-home order issued by Premier Doug Ford, most of our chancery staff members are working from home. You may reach them by email. For the directory, please check our website at www.pembrokediocese.com.
Clergy Appointments
The Most Reverend Guy Desrochers C.Ss.R. announces the following appointments:
- Reverend Timothy Moyle has been appointed Pastor of Sainte-Anne Parish, Mattawa. This appointment is effective May 1, 2021.
- Reverend Scott Murray has been appointed Pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish, Chapeau; St Paul the Hermit Parish, Sheenboro; and St Joseph Parish, St Joseph. This appointment is effective May 1, 2021.
Celebrating the Year of Saint Joseph
Resources to commemorate the year of St. Joseph can be found here.
FROM THE CCCB
Statement to Support the Implementation of UNDRIP in Canadian Law – Monday, April 26, 2021
The members of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) published a statement to support the implementation of The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP) in Canadian law.
Statement to Support the Implementation of UNDRIP in Canadian Law
Message from the Holy See to Mark the Celebration of Ramadan 2021
To mark the month of Ramadan and its conclusion (Id al-Fitr), the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue published a message entitled Christians and Muslims: Witnesses of Hope. The message is intended to be shared with Muslims and those working in interfaith dialogues. The celebration of Ramadan began this year in Canada on 13 April and will continue for 30 days until it concludes with the celebration of Id al-Fitr on 12 May 2021.
Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue
2021 National Week of Life and Family
Material, prepared by the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), is available at https://www.cccb.ca/national-week-for-life-and-the-family/. This week will be observed May 9-16, 2021, with the theme, “Family, the Domestic Church: A Sign of Hope and Life”.
COVID-19
Anxiety is not a Choice – How You Live Your Life Is
(Psychological and Spiritual Reflections on Coping with the Pandemic and Other Big Stressors) by Dr. Len Gignac, Psychologist
The idea that anxiety and even fear is not a choice may be, at first, startling. The fear of contracting COVID-19 certainly triggered a lot of this discomfort, and people have had to make some difficult choices about how to deal with it all. Like it or not, the truth is that pain and suffering are part of life. Mental suffering like fear/anxiety are also experienced in varying degrees at different times. It is important to distinguish between normal fear/anxiety and that which threaten our threshold of tolerance and begins to run our lives. (Read more…)
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
NET Canada
NET Canada is searching for the next generation of Catholic missionaries. Do you have what it takes to join them? Request an application, fill it out, and send it in to register for the next virtual come and see retreat (May 1st) to learn more about NET and how you can grow in your faith and change the lives of youth in Canada. Go to netcanada.ca/apply to start your journey!
PARISH EVENTS
Holy Mass – Extraordinary Form
Holy Masses in the extraordinary form are offered at St. Columbkille Cathedral on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. These Latin Masses are 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 Mass are provided. Next Latin Mass: Postponed until further notice.
PRO-LIFE
March for Life – Week for Life
May 9 – 15, 2021. Visit http://www.marchforlife.ca/ for up-to-date information and virtual links to the week’s events.
Message from the Catholic Bishops to the Faithful on the Expansion of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
During this Easter season as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and the new life we have in him, we desire to engage our Catholic faithful on a subject of crucial importance to all of us. Bill C-7 has now become law, expanding euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada, known as “Medical Assistance in Dying” (“MAiD”). Link to letter: here.
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
Journey through the Acts of the Apostles… As the Church is Born
Already started…Mondays from 7-8:30 p.m., April 19th to May 17th. Join Fr. Ben St. Croix, CC as we 5-week teaching series with Fr. Ben St. Croix, CC, and Brian Sullivan, CCRSO President. The Acts of the Apostles is an invaluable book in the Bible that captures the zeal, determination and faith of many courageous men and women during the earliest days of the Church. This study will help us renew our understanding of the apostolic mission in the world today as the Lord continues to purify and revive us. To register: https://companionscross.org/acts/.
Theology of the Body Virtual Conference
April 30 – May 2, 2021. Join Damon Owens, Christopher West and 80 other Catholic speakers in a timely conference on how Christians should be engaging transgenderism. Register for FREE at . Don’t miss it!
Arise! Put on the Armour of Light
May 1st, 9:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (also recorded to be available later at your convenience). A unique, full day on-line retreat experience to meet the needs of women in unprecedented times. This year’s line-up of stellar speakers will include: Heather Khym, Mary Bielski, Rachel Herbeck, Debbie Herbeck and Bishop Scott McCaig. “You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:11-12, RSV). For more information/registration ($30): https://arisecatholicmovement.ca/about-arise-2021-put-on-the-armour-of-light?fbclid=IwAR2Kc-HWaizbkYFBjAlVMHe2FZafwopZ1s-XPp8yjwK-oE1-gLwd38tyjo8.
Galilee Centre Retreat
Galilee presents Dr. David Perrin of St. Jerome’s University who will speak on The Collapse of Self-Transcendence: COVID-19 and the Reshaping of Meaning-Making in Everyday Life. Please join us for this live streamed event on May 4th. For more information, and to register, please click here or see upcoming events at www.galileecentre.com.
Online Prophetic Boot Camp – Encounter Ministries
May 14-15, 2021 (Friday evening and Saturday). This event provides the foundations for you to hear God’s voice more clearly for yourself and the world around you through training and activation of the prophetic gifts of the Holy Spirit. Based on the curriculum of the Encounter School of Ministry, attendees will experience activation-based learning in a safe and relational environment grounded in teaching faithful to the Church. Our hope is that you would experience a great acceleration in your ministry and walk away with years’ worth of tools and ideas for equipping in the prophetic gifts and building a prophetic culture in the Church. For more information or to register: https://encounterministries.us/prophetic-boot-camp-kingston-campus/.
Bootcamp for the Laity – ” The Role of Laity in the Church”
A virtual conference presented by Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services of Ontario (C.C.R.S.O.) with Bishop Scott McCaig and Fr. Ben St. Croix on Friday, May 21st and Saturday, May 22nd. To register or for more information go to https://www.ccrso.net/copy-of-conference-rsvp.
Pentecost Mission – Receive the Holy Spirit!
Renewal Ministries – 4 Sunday evenings from May 23rd to June 13th. Join us via livestream for a four-part Pentecost Mission that will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and help participants welcome Him more deeply into their lives! Each session will include dynamic preaching and teaching, followed by a time of worship and prayer for greater activation of the workings of the Holy Spirit. We look forward to journeying with you closer to the heart of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit! Information/registration: https://www.renewalministries.net/pentecost-mission/.
UNBOUND – 2 Day ONLINE Conference
Saturdays May 29th and June 5th, from 9 a.m. to noon. Deliverance – Freedom – Belonging. Discover your true identity and destiny as a beloved child of God! Information and registration: https://ourladyofdivinefire.regfox.com/unbound-freedom-in-christ-online-conference.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall Building and Construction Coordinator
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall is looking for a Building and Construction Coordinator to integrate the Properties team. Full time position. Bilingualism (French & English) is an asset. For details, please visit https://en.archoc.ca/employment-opportunities. Application deadline: April 30, 2021. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
OTHER
Patricias Place Catholic Gift Shop
This Catholic gift shop has beautiful handmade rosaries, wedding & anniversary rosaries, rosary for the souls in Purgatory, healing of the family tree rosary, assorted Saints chaplets, rosary bracelets, First Communion, Confirmation, and Baptism gifts, statues, medals in color, pure silver medals of The Blessed Mother with chain, and many more items! Please Visit the website at www.patriciasplacecatholicgiftshop.com or call 613 756-2655.