Peter, Andrew, James and John followed Jesus at once, leaving all else behind.
(Matthew 4.18-22)
MESSAGES FROM THE BISHOP
Message from Bishop Guy Desrochers concerning the resignation of Fr. Justin Bertrand
Please read full letter here.
BISHOP’S ADVENT MESSAGE
The Advent season is here!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In Latin, the word ‘Advent’ is written “Adventus”. It literally translates as “arrival, advent”, hence Christian Latin translates it as “coming of Christ”. It is said that Pope Gregory the Great established this liturgical season towards the end of the 6th century. (Read more…)
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
CCCB –Educational Resources (Indigenous Delegation: 17-20 December 2021 (Vatican City))
Each week, beginning on Sunday, 21 November 2021, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the CCCB will release a video of a Bishop reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday until Christmas. This year’s reflections were inspired by the Indigenous Delegation which will be meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican from 17-20 December 2021. Each video reflection is based one of the five essential stages of reconciliation: examen, confession, repentance, reparation (making amends), and reconciliation.
As each new video is released, you will be provided on this page with two accompanying educational resources to facilitate your weekly personal reflections. The process below suggests a way to use the video and the educational resources together as a way to deepen reflection on each theme. (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 National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples – Thursday, November 25, 2021
On 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church in Canada celebrates the National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples.
This project, with the approval of the Bishops of Canada, has been coordinated since 2002 by the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council (formerly the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council).
This year, the reflection by the Council centres on the theme ‘We are called to Healing, Forgiveness, Reconciliation.’ “We, the Body of Christ, are called to live in friendship and harmony with all peoples. We are brothers and sisters of our One Creator God. God gives everything to all of us. God creates and sustains the wonderful diversity of peoples, cultures, races and creeds.”
2021 Message of the Canadian Catholic Indigenous Council
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.
VATICAN NEWS
Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for December
Intention for evangelization ‐ Catechists. Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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
CCCB’s Journey through Advent 2021 – Indigenous Peoples and the Church: Walking Together Toward Healing and Reconciliation
Each week, beginning on Sunday, 21 November 2021, the Solemnity of Christ the King, the CCCB will release a video recording of a Bishop in Canada reflecting on the Gospel Reading for each Sunday of Advent. This year’s reflections were developed in view of the Indigenous Delegation which will be travelling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis from December 17 to 20, 2021. Each reflection is based one of the five essential stages of reconciliation: examen, confession, repentance, reparation (making amends), and reconciliation. Likewise, it is hoped these reflections will assist the faithful, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, in preparing for Pope Francis’ eventual apostolic journey to Canada. (Read more…)
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!
OTHER
An Invitation for all who read this week’s Weekly Bulletin – “Have you ever thought of yourself as a ‘Vocation recruiter?”
“It is the role of every baptized Catholic to be who the Lord called you to be through your Baptism….and that is a “Vocation recruiter.” “With the amalgamation of Parishes in the recent appointments, we see a real shortage of vocations to the Priesthood in our Diocese and with the number of our priests growing older, who is going to take their place once they are no longer able to engage in full-time ministry? These vocations are going to come from the invitations which you (the Reader) are going to extend to the young men in your Parishes, and that is where they are going to come from.
WE ASK YOU to “Identify young men in your Parish, who have qualities that you would like to see in your future priests and then to ask those young men to consider the Priesthood.” They then can be in touch with your Pastor or Vocation Director and our Bishop. That’s it! “Recruiter Invitations” bring results!
Here is a short prayer to offer every day:
“Lord Jesus, open the heart of a young man today that he might answer your call to serve the people of our Diocese of Pembroke.” – Rev. Joseph O’Malley
Electric organ to give away
Those interested please contact Ghislaine at 819 689-5489.