Do to others as you would have them do to you.
(Matthew 7.6, 12-14)
BISHOP’S MESSAGE
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Today, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples have made to our country and within our Church. As Indigenous Communities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs. (Read more…)
FROM THE DIOCESE
Walk the Opeongo Line Pilgrimage, July 29-31
This year we’re walking the Opeongo Line from Barry’s Bay to Cormac, 40km. The pilgrimage begins with Mass at St. Hedwig’s on Friday, July 29th and ends with the Bishop’s Mass at St. Ann’s Shrine on Sunday, July 31st. The Pilgrimage is a beautiful experience of God’s Providence. For more information on the details or to register, please visit: walktheopeongoline.wordpress.com.
81st Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Ann in Cormac, Ontario
With Bishop Guy Desrochers, July 28 – 30, 7 p.m. & Sunday, July 31. Theme: “History of the Devotion to St. Ann”. Principal Pilgrimage Mass on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Guy Desrochers. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at 1:00 p.m. Priests will bless the faithful with St. Ann’s oil. All welcome! For more information, visit the website at www.cormacpilgrimage.com or call 613-628-2020.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
An Algonquin Prayer
To commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day, please see following Algonquin prayer:
Great Creator, your care for us fills the universe.
Willingly we give ourselves to you and promise to preserve your creation.
Creator, take away our hearts of stone, hearts so bitter and give us a new heart, a heart of flesh, a pure heart.
Take possession of our hearts and dwell in them, contain them and fill them, you who are higher than the heights of our spirits and closer to us than our innermost selves!
Good Creator, our strength and our salvation, put in us the fire of your love and make our love for you grow to a perfect love which reaches even to our neighbor.
You are the pattern of all beauty and the seal of all that is good.
Set the seal of your likeness upon our hearts.
Set the seal of your wisdom upon our hearts and guide us always on the right path.
Migwitch.
THE EVANGELIZATION TEAM
The Blind Girl
By Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
There was a blind girl who hated herself purely for the fact she was blind. The only person she didn’t hate was her loving boyfriend, as he was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would marry him. (Read more…)
Join an Online Prayer Group for the Evangelization Project
Join us online every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. to intercede for the evangelization efforts in the diocese of Pembroke. We pray the rosary, sometimes a novena, or meditate on a Gospel passage. The zoom link to connect is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81378641646. Hope to see you then!
FROM THE CCCB
All Things New
All Things New is an initiative of the CCCB Office for Family and Life that offers readers original reflections and resources from contributors across Canada. This quarterly e-publication is intended to, in the words of Pope Francis, “highlight family love as a vocation and as a way of holiness, so as to understand and share the profound and salvific meaning of family relationships in daily life.” Sign up to receive the Quarterly Newsletter here!
Press Release: World Meeting of Families
In preparation for the 10th World Meeting of Families (WMF), the CCCB Standing Committee on Family and Life has produced a short promotional video to help bring to life the WMF theme “Family Love: Vocation and Path to Holiness”. Pope Francis has announced that the WMF event will be held in a new way; celebrated not only in Rome, but in all dioceses and eparchies across the world. Organized by both the Diocese of Rome and the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, the WMF will take place 22-26 June 2022 and will coincide with the closing of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year. (Read more…)
Catholic Bishops Welcome Announcement of Dates and Hub Cities for Papal Visit to Canada
The Vatican formally announced that Pope Francis will travel to Canada from July 24-29, 2022. The historic visit, focused on Indigenous healing and reconciliation, will be the fourth papal journey to Canada and the first since Saint John Paul II’s visit in 2002. (Read more…)
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
Diocesan Young Adult Ministry
Join us on Wednesday June 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at Petawawa Mini Putt (Civic Centre) for a game of Mini Putt and walk to Mt. Molson Dairy for an ice cream. If weather is poor, the date will be rescheduled. For information contact Yvette Bourque at 613 585-6301.
37th WYD – Lisbon, Portugal – August 1st – 6th, 2023
The Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall is pleased to welcome a delegation from the Diocese of Pembroke. Ms. Julie Bélec, Pastoral Worker at the C.S.C. Catholique Jeanne-Lajoie Secondary Pavilion in Pembroke, has been tasked by Bishop Desrochers to accompany them on this journey. This involves spiritual preparation and fundraising activities. Thanks to an exception, the Archdiocese can offer this experience to young people from the age of 16. However, there must be an accompanying adult for every 2 minors. This means that we are also looking for responsible adults who want to have a unique and memorable spiritual experience. The cost, which includes airfare, accommodation, food, on-site transportation and registration for “Days in the Diocese” and WYD, is $3600. The first information gathering will take place at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Ottawa on Monday, May 30, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. If interested, a first deposit of $100 is required. In order to have all the necessary information, parents must be present at this meeting. Even if you miss this first information session, there is still time to register! For questions and/or information, please contact Ms. Julie Bélec by email: belecj@ecolecatholique.ca or by phone: 613 735-3948 ext. 42848. A video had been prepared to highlight WYD 2023: https://youtu.be/HxtO3xtybOw.
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
“Cradle of Hope – Rejoice With Me”
This in-person conference is this Saturday, June 25th, starting at 9 a.m. in Toronto. Sponsored by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Council of Toronto. There will be ministry streams for children and youth as well. Go to https://ccrctoronto.ca for more information.
2022 Catholic Family Retreat – July 30-August 1!
Calling all Catholic Families! The 2022 Catholic Family Retreat will be hosted on Saturday, July 30, Sunday, July 31 and Monday, August 1 at Sacred Way Farm (745 Kells Road, Powassan, Ontario). Join us for prayer, worship, Adoration, family games, activities and inspiring talks. Optional camping on site is available too. For more information, a complete itinerary of the weekend events, to see our guest speakers and to register your family, please visit: holynamestalphonsus.com/familyretreat. The 2022 Catholic Family Retreat is proudly presented by Sacred Way Ministries, Holy Name of Jesus Church, North Bay; St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, Callander; and St. Joseph Church, Powassan.
Wojtyla Summer Institute
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College is hosting its annual Wojtyla Summer Institute in-person in Barry’s Bay from August 4-7. This year’s theme, “Know Thyself”: Catholic Perspectives on the Human Person,” addresses ways in which the integrity of the human person is being challenged, and seeks to find connections among the various Catholic perspectives to form a unified view of who we are and how we should live. The conference features a keynote address by Fr. Mark Goring, CC, in St. Hedwig’s Parish, which will be free and open to the public, as well as livestreamed. Some accommodations are available. Space is limited for the in-person conference. Find more information, and register at seatofwisdom.ca/wojtyla-2022.