The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another.
(Luke 21.5-11)
MESSAGES FROM THE BISHOP
Synodal Journey in the Diocese of Pembroke
All the diocesan Churches of the world have now entered into a great process called “synod”. Pope Francis officially launched this process on Saturday and Sunday, 9 and 10 October 2021 in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He invites all the faithful, men and women, religious men and women, and clergy to embark on a vast consultation movement that will reach its climax in two years. (Read more…)
Letter of Exemption Requests
Please read Bishop Guy Desrochers’ letter dated September 16, 2021 to priests and deacons of the Diocese of Pembroke here.
Statement Concerning Anti-COVID Vaccines and Vaccine Mandates
Please read Bishop Guy Desrochers’ statement here.
FROM THE DIOCESE
New webpage for the Synodal Journey in the Diocese of Pembroke
As you know, Pope Francis has launched a vast Synodal journey in the Church. He calls on all Catholics to take time to listen to each other and let the Holy Spirit inspire them. Through this Synod, we ask ourselves: “What does God want to say to us at this time?” and we aspire to discover paths of communion, participation and mission.
A web page has been created on the diocesan website to describe what this Synodal journey looks like in our diocese. It can be easily accessed from the home page. We invite you to visit it and start praying and thinking about the questions of this Synod.
Pastoral Appointments:
The Most Reverend Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., announces the following pastoral appointments:
- Reverend Steven Ballard has been appointed Pastor of St John Chrysostom Parish, Arnprior, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Braeside. This appointment takes effect February 1, 2022.
- Reverend Justin Bertrand has resigned from priestly ministry and expressed his desire to seek dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state.
- Reverend John Burchat has been appointed as Pastor of St Lawrence O’Toole Parish, Barry’s Bay, Holy Canadian Martyrs Parish, Combermere, and St Francis de Sales Mission, Latchford Bridge. This appointment takes effect February 1, 2022. A priest of Madonna House will continue administration until the end of December.
- Reverend Patrick Dobec has been appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Petawawa. This appointment takes effect February 1, 2022.
- Reverend Réal Ouellette will remain in the parishes of Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin, Astorville, Ste-Bernadette, Bonfield, and Sacred Heart, Corbeil.
- Reverend Peter Proulx will conclude his part-time ministry as parochial vicar at St John Chrysostom Parish, Arnprior.
- Reverend Robert Ryan will conclude his ministry at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Braeside, as he continues his recuperation from cancer.
- Reverend Basil Tanguay has been appointed as part-time parochial vicar to the parishes of St James the Greater, Portage-du-Fort, Immaculate Conception, Bryson, Ste-Anne, Île-du-Grand Calumet, and St John the Evangelist, Campbell’s Bay. This appointment commenced on November 1, 2021.
Ordo Liturgical Calendars for 2021-22
Ordo Liturgical Calendars for 2021-22 are presently available for purchase at the Chancery Office for only $20/copy on a first-come, first-served basis. If interested, please contact Donna Biggs at 613 732-7933 ext. 203 or donnabiggs@pembrokediocese.com.
We’ve moved!
Please note that due to renovations, the Chancery and Bishop’s offices have temporarily relocated to 545 Pembroke St. W., Pembroke. All mail correspondence can still be sent to P.O. Box 7, Pembroke, ON, K8A 6X1.
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
Quote of the Week
When the present does not recognize the wrong of the past,
the future takes its revenge. For that reason, we must never,
never turn away from the opportunity of confronting history
together-the opportunity to wright an historical wrong.
GOVERNOR GENERAL, MICHAELLE JEAN
At the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission of Canada, October 2009
Truth and Reconciliation
The news of the discovered unmarked graves this spring at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia has jarred our Catholic conscience into grappling with a Canadian reality and a matter of fact concerning our Church’s history. This issue was experienced in a variety of ways throughout our Diocese. (Read more…)
THE EVANGELIZATION TEAM
This Is How You Can Help Your Parish Survive Covid
By Patrick Sullivan
By now, most pastors and parish councils—not to mention evangelization teams—have realized just how badly COVID has affected parish attendance. And MANY are coming to believe that getting parishioners to come back to Church will be one of the most difficult evangelizing tasks that they have ever faced … but it doesn’t have to be. (Read more…)
FROM THE CCCB
2021 Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Canada – Monday, November 22, 2021
On 22 November 2021, the CCCB Commission for Justice and Peace released a Pastoral Letter entitled For Freedom Christ has set us Free: Pastoral Letter on Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Canada. The letter draws attention to the inherently exploitative and abusive nature of the purchase of sex and insists that in order to protect the vulnerable, this practice must continue to be criminalized: “Treating sex as ‘work’ masks the physical, psychological and sexual violence inflicted on the prostituted person. Prostitution involves selling something that by its nature cannot be bought or sold and is therefore inherently exploitative.”
Link to the Pastoral Letter in PDF format.
Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue Anniversary Videos
To mark this year’s 50th anniversary of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Canada, for your information, please find a link below to seven YouTube videos featuring reflections and comments from some past members of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Canada. The videos are an initiative of the Anglican Church of Canada and are available only in English. Link to video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQDBM9safSHwlJ0SXtPARt5evaqcvHbMz.
Decree of Implementation of the New French Translation of the Roman Missal
Read the CCCB decree here.
MARRIAGE, FAMILY, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
NET (National Evangelization Team)
NET is a team of young adults who serve by giving retreats to elementary and High School age youth. This year only one team is available this fall on a part time basis to book NET Live Virtual Retreats on Thursday mornings, Thursday afternoons or any time on Fridays. This same team will be free to go on a spring tour to offer in-person cohort style retreats. If you are interested in having NET do a retreat during their spring tour, please contact Yvette at yvettebourque@pembrokediocese.com. Please understand that the dates that can be offered are limited.
PRO-LIFE
First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre 15th Anniversary Silent Auction
As part of their anniversary celebrations, FSO will be hosting their first ever online silent auction that will include fifteen items to represent the 15 years they have been serving in Renfrew County. The auction will be listed on the Facebook page – “First Step Options Pregnancy Resource Centre” and will begin on Monday, November 22nd at 10:00 a.m. and will end on Friday, November 26th at 4:00 p.m. Please call 613 635-7440 for more information.
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 – December 4th.
ADVENT
For PARISHES – Free 3-day Advent retreat, “From Ritual to Relationship”
Advent Mission with Sr. Helena Burns fsp. This 3-day retreat is available for free online any time your group would like to gather. Everything is set up for your parish/group for whenever you plan your Mission:
- opening prayer
- proprietary link to 35-minute video talk for each day
- reflection/discussion questions
- closing prayer
For more information: www.sacredheartcollege.ca or call Jacob 705 808-4625.
Hope for the Church – A Virtual Advent Mission
Join the Companions of the Cross for a Virtual Advent Mission. With talks by Fr. Roger Vandenakker, CC, Fr. Brenton Cordeiro, CC, and Deacon Juan Pablo Orozco, CC, and Praise and Worship provided by the Companions of the Cross seminarians. Info: www.companionscross.org/advent-2021, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 7-8 p.m. Info: info@companionscross.org.
OTHER CATHOLIC EVENTS
Steubenville Conferences 2022
Evangelization is an important part of our mission at Franciscan University. And Steubenville Conferences, an outreach of Franciscan University, have been helping people encounter Christ and transform their relationships with the Lord for over 40 years . . . and counting. We’re already excited to see you for Steubenville Adult Conferences next summer! Registration will open in early 2022, but you can check out the dates for all five conferences here.
School of Spiritual Direction
The School of Spiritual Direction went on the road! In September, the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, hosted a two-week intensive led by our School of Spiritual Direction team. Thirty-five students from the diocese attended to receive initial formation as future spiritual directors! Interested in the School of Spiritual Direction? The next Summer Intensive Program will be held May 22–June 5, 2022, on the beautiful campus in Steubenville, Ohio. Click here to learn more!