As decreed by Bishop Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., on the 22nd day of September 2022.

Parish registers are to be stored in a fireproof vault or safe.

Marginal notations must be inscribed in a timely manner.

When the binding of a register unravels, the register ought to be rebound, if possible.

Parishes are to submit to the Chancery a copy of all baptism, marriage and funeral entries from the calendar year with the annual statistical report, for the sole purposes of safeguarding information in the event of a disaster.

In addition to the parish priest, only the following persons are to have access to the parish registers, and only to fulfill their tasks or functions: persons holding a pastoral mandate in the parish; persons holding a mandate from the Chancery for the signature of Acts or Certificates; persons working in the parish Secretary’s Office.

Under no circumstances can access be given to the parish registers to any other person without prior authorization from the Chancery. No direct consultation is authorized, whether for historical, genealogical or any other research. Acts and Certificates of registers are solely given to persons affected by these documents or to the members of their immediate family with the permission of the persons affected. No information on the contents of the registers can be given by telephone or by any other similar means, without previous authorization from the Chancery. No photocopy, photograph or reproduction of the registers, by any means whatsoever, can be made.

The enforcement of this Decree is the responsibility of the parish priest, thus providing a safe place for the parish registers, and for controlling access to parish registers by authorized individuals only.

This Decree is effective as of this day. Given at Pembroke, Ontario, this 22nd day of September 2022 at the seat of the Diocese of Pembroke. In testimony thereof we affix our signatures and seal accordingly.