At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
(John 5.1-16)
MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP
Sunday Obligation to be restored effective April 9
Read Most Rev. Guy Desrochers’ decree here.
FROM THE DIOCESE
Chrism Mass at St. Columbkille Cathedral
The Chrism Mass will be held at St. Columbkille Cathedral on Tuesday, April 12th at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception at Cathedral Hall. All are welcome.
Donations for Relief Efforts in Ukraine
Here are three links for those who would like to make donations for relief efforts in Ukraine:
- The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)
- Malteser International (relief agency of the Order of Malta)
- 2022 DF – Ukraine Regional Assistance (e2rm.com).
The Synod’s Questions
The Synod’s questions can now be answered on our website at https://pembrokediocese.com/article/you-can-now-answer-the-synods-questions-online/.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Terminologies
The Diocesan Action Circle committee would like to familiarize everyone with certain terminologies:
Aboriginal title: In general, refers to the rights of Aboriginal Peoples to the occupation, use, and enjoyment of their land and its resources. The classic legal definition was provided by the Supreme Court of Canada in Delgamuukw v. British Columbia:
[A]boriginal title encompasses the right to exclusive use and occupation of land; second, aboriginal title encompasses the right to choose to what uses land can be put, subject to the ultimate limit that those uses cannot destroy the ability of the land to sustain future generations of Aboriginal Peoples; and third, that lands held pursuant to aboriginal title have an inescapable economic component.
THE EVANGELIZATION TEAM
Parish Evangelizing Cells
One of the greatest discoveries of my 47 years as a priest was Parish Evangelizing Cells with which I have been working for 19 years. It all began in 1983. At that time I was pastor of St. Boniface Parish Pembroke Pines in the Archdiocese of Miami. I was searching for some way to lead a parish into ongoing spiritual growth. My great fear at that time was that we were becoming just “a spiritual filling station” surviving from Sunday to Sunday. Parishioners were crying out for spiritual growth, Bible study, and a deeper knowledge of their Catholic faith. I had a gut feeling that the answer lay in small groups but did not have “the know-how” to establish them. (Read more….)
The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (CCCB) presents the Webinar Series “Encounters of Hope – The Process of Evangelization in Our Daily Lives”
Catechists transmit “the faith as it develops through its different stages from the initial proclamation of the kerygma to the instruction that presents our new life in Christ and prepares for the sacraments of Christian initiation, and then to the ongoing formation that can allow each person to give an accounting of the hope within them (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).” Dates for this free webinar series are April 5th, April 12th, April 19th and April 26th 2022. Click here to register. For more information, contact Marg Shea-Lawrence at m.shea-lawrence@cccb.ca.
LENT
Development and Peace Caritas Canada: Share Lent
Every year the bishops designate the fifth Sunday of Lent as Solidarity Sunday. On Sunday, April 3rd, dioceses across Canada will collect donations for the Development and Peace Share Lent Campaign. Throughout Lent, members of the Development and Peace movement have worked tirelessly to promote the campaign, and encourage their fellow parishioners to participate. We have come together to learn about the work of our partners in the Global South, in Madagascar, Honduras, and Cambodia, and to build solidarity amongst Canadian Catholics to put People and Planet First. We are also engaged in advocating for the Canadian government to hold corporations accountable for their violations of human rights and environmental rights overseas. Members have met with dozens of MPs across the country to demonstrate their solidarity with our partners in seeking alternatives to unjust political and economic systems the world over.
Although the campaign is ending, our advocacy and partnerships will carry on, renewed by your generosity and support to continue for another year. We encourage you to participate this Solidarity Sunday by giving to your Share Lent parish collection or at devp.org/give.
FROM THE CCCB
Canadian Bishops and Indigenous Delegates Depart on Historic Trip to the Holy See – Ottawa, March 24, 2022
This weekend, a delegation of 32 Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors, and youth will journey together from across the country to meet with Pope Francis. (Read more…)
FAITH FORMATION
ANNONCE IMPORTANTE – « L’Évangélisation » – journée spirituelle pour la communauté francophone
La date est le 2 avril 2022 au Centre culturel francophone de Pembroke, 303, rue James, Pembroke. Inscription à 9h30 et la journée finira à 14h00. Notre conférencier pour la journée est Mgr Paul-André Durocher, archevêque de Gatineau. Coût : 15,00$ (dîner et rafraîchissements sont inclus). Pour s’inscrire veuillez contacter le diacre Adrien Chaput au 613 732-7933, poste 206, ou par courriel au dcadrienchaput@pembrokediocese.com avant le 31 mars 2022.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
Steubenville Toronto Youth Conference is back on!! July 15 – 17th, Whitby, Ontario
Any youth entering grade 9-12 in September 2022 and anyone graduating grade 12 this June are welcome to participate in this conference. The venue has changed to the Canada Christian College in Whitby, and therefore accommodation is not included, as there is no residence at the College. This venue, however, is located right along the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario with plenty of green space, and has a very large conference room with regular seating. No more bleachers!
Fees for this year are $350 per person and includes conference fee, accommodation at a nearby hotel for two nights, all meals from dinner on Friday night to breakfast Sunday morning, bus transportation and group T-Shirt. 20 spaces for youth are available on a first come, first served basis. Chaperones will be provided. To register or for questions, contact Yvette Bourque at 613 585–6301, or yvettebourque@pembrokediocese.com. Deadline to register is May 27th. To find out more about the conference go to www.steubenvilletoronto.com.
This year’s conference is more expensive than in the past and this may be hard for some families. You are encouraged to approach your Pastor about fundraising, or if you have friends or family close to Whitby that can accommodate you, and you can drive your own group to the Conference and back, it will be cheaper. If you are interested in organizing a group and you need some assistance, please contact Yvette for details.
PRO-LIFE
First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre AGM Invitation
Please join us for our Annual General Meeting that will take place on Wednesday, March 30th at 6:30 pm. The decision was made to meet virtually again this year. We would love to have you join us via Zoom or phone. For more details, please contact the First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre at 613 635-7440.
PARISH EVENTS
Latin Mass
A Latin Mass according to the Roman Missal of 1962 is offered at St. Columbkille Cathedral at 9 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month. This is basically the same form of the Liturgy which nourished the faith of many Catholics for centuries. English translations of the entire Mass are provided. Next Latin Mass – April 2nd.
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
Renewal Ministries’ Annual Gathering – April 22-23, 2022 | Eagle Crest Marriott | Ypsilanti, MI
Join us for The Gathering, Renewal Ministries’ annual conference, Friday evening, April 22nd from 7-9:30 p.m. (ET), and Saturday, April 23rd from 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (ET). Our time together will include inspiring talks by Ralph Martin, Peter Herbeck, and Dr. Jonathan Reyes, as well as praise and worship, time for Mass and Adoration, encouraging fellowship, and more! Registration for on-line participation (free): https://www.renewalministries.net/the-gathering-virtual-registration-form-page/.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Executive Director
Villa Madonna Retreat House is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to manage the operations of the Villa Madonna Retreat House in Rothesay, NB. Villa Madonna Retreat House is nestled in 102 acres of rustic woodland on the shores of the beautiful Kennebecasis River just 10 minutes East of Saint John. Application including a cover letter and resume contained in one document can be submitted to villamadonna2022@gmail.com on or before 4 p.m., April 12, 2022. For more information, please visit here.