OUR LADY OF SORROWS PARISH

Unfortunately, some of the issues of concern among our indigneous brothers and sisters have been ignored for too long.  In this most recent context, it is sad to see the clear attempts to assign blame to the Roman Catholic Church, when the negligence and responsibility lies at the feet of the Government of Canada.

It is not at all surprising that most, if not all main stream media corporations, also trumpet many lies.  They have always despised the church and would do anything in their power not to present the facts. They risk becoming unreliable source for news
and critical debate.

The following document, produced by the Archdiocese of Toronto is worthy of careful study!

Please print it and share this link with friends.

Background Concerning Residential Schools - FACTS
 

For the sake of greater clarity and for the convenience of those who may have specific questions, we encourage all to note the following:

1) Sunday Eucharist: Sunday is the Lord's Day, the preeminent occasion when we gather to celebrate the Eucharist as a community of faith!  In response to the Lord's invitation to come and celebrate, and following, we pray, the worst of the pandemic, we will suspend the practice of celebrating special, group weekday masses, apart from the Sunday assembly.  This applies to all parish groups including the C.W.L., Knights of Columbus, the school etc. Example: 'Group X' wants a special mass for their 7 members on a weekday evening at 6:30 pm. These kinds of extra group masses will not take place as we continue to invite and welcome back parishioners to Sunday Mass.

(In every parish, each week, a few weekday masses are celebrated for the spiritual benefit of faithful, devout parishioners and for the spiritual benefit of the clergy. These weekday masses are often referred to as 'devotional'. Our weekday mass schedule remains unchanged, except when Fr. Steve is on vacation. The schedule is outlined in the printed Sunday bulletin or at the top of this page).

2) Words of Reference (Character or Pastoral Reference): will be shared by Fr. Steve by telephone only. A conversation allows for a more comprehensive sharing and is the method used by the O.P.P. for those seeking a license for a hunting weapon. As priests, we have participated in such calls on occasion.

It is strongly recommended that one not appear, with paper in hand, asking or demanding that father 'sign on the dotted line'.

Naturally, no one is obliged to give any reference (including the clergy) if they are not comfortable in doing so.

It is considered bad manners to use a person's name as a reference, without asking permission in advance.

3) Celebrations of Weddings / Funerals: normally take place in a parish where a person has their domicile (home),  with their Parish Priest and their parish community.  While on occasion a priest may be able to travel to another parish to preside at a wedding or funeral, this  normally occurs when the priest is a close friend or family member and only with the Parish Priest's permission. This permission is not just a courtesy, but is a matter of church law regarding jurisdiction.

Out of respect for brother priests and acknowledging the limitations of time and energy, Fr. Steve respectfully declines any invitation to preside at a celebration outside of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.  The invitation is appreciated, however there are only so many hours in a week and only so much fuel in the tank!

We have wonderful parish priests serving in all parishes in the Diocese of Pembroke!

4) Financial Donations to Charity: a Roman Catholic parish is a Registered Charity and we rely upon the offerings of our parishioners to provide pastoral service in Petawawa. Especially following the pandemic, but as a general rule, the parish does not financially support other charities since we have our own bills to pay!

Many parish priests choose their parish as their first charity.

4) Parish Office: the parish is blessed in having staff who have cared for records and property for many years. Please contact Ann Marie in the Parish Office for any of the following requests:

1) Copy of a certificate (your own and not that belonging to someone else). Identification is required to authenticate this request.

2) Arranging for the celebration of Mass with a specific intention.

3) Parish Registration 
 

4) Information about the Sacraments & sacramental preparation.

5) Parish Offering - request for Offertory envelopes or registration for Automatic Sunday Giving (EFT).

6) Publication of Parish Events in the Sunday Bulletin (the parish will always determine the suitabilty of any such announcement and will publicize as space allows).

7) Yearly Income Tax receipt for Offertory (charitable) Giving to the parish.

Please note: a receipt can only be issued for funds received from someone whose name is registered among our Offertory donors.  No receipt can be given for 'loose' money occasionally placed in the collection, since it is impossible to identify and  verify the donor.

8) General Information 
 

At all times, the staff of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish protects and safeguards the privacy of all individuals and families.  At no time do we discuss the life or death circumstances of anyone, nor do we share any private information without the explicit permission and instructions of the person(s) involved.  

We are happy to pray publicly, at Mass, for the deceased, however a member of the family (immediate family) should contact the Parish Office.

Please note: staff are on reduced hours during the summer and around major holidays.

We are pleased to announce that effective July 16, 2021 churches may expand their attendance to maximum capacity, while maintaining a two metre distance in the church among parishioners! Those of the same family or household need not observe this directive.
 

All must sign in at the church doors upon arrival on the weekend. Masks are mandatory, until at least one reaches their seat.  Masks are required in coming forward for Holy Communion, but may be lowered just before communion is received.

 

CanadaHelps.org account:
 

or
to participate in our
Automatic Sunday Giving (Electronic Funds Transfer) program, a registration form is available here

All donations will be credited for Income Tax as usual. We routinely check the donations received from this service and carefully record the offerings. We sincerely thank those who have already contributed and invite all to do the same during this unusual period.  Thank you!

 RECEIPTS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING
 

Receipts reflecting donations received in 2020 have been printed and are now available. In order to receive yours, please place a self-addressed stamped envelope in the mailbox outside the main door of the Parish Centre.  Rest assured, your receipt will be mailed out immediately.

Alternatively, we would be happy to mail your receipt at anytime, with or without a supplied envelope, if you would simply like to call or send us an email.

Call Ann Marie
 at 613-687-4764 ext. 1
or send her an email:

olsparishoffice@gmail.com

As always we are very grateful for your kindness and financial support!

Each week, the Chancery publishes a series of announcements which are of special interest.  

Visit www.pembrokediocese.com and
scroll down to 'Recent Posts'.

 Thursday, May 6, 2021

Today, I have promulgated in the Diocese of Pembroke The Policy and Procedures for the Prevention and Management of Sexual Abuse of Minors and Adults who in Law are the Equivalent of Minors. This document replaces the Protocol for Sexual Abuse Cases Involving Minors that has been in force since 2007. This revision has taken place in accordance with the obligation and desire of the Bishops of Canada to embody the Catholic Church’s teachings, laws and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2018 document Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse. This revised protocol is the fruit of this commitment. Pastors are to review with, and document that, all parish employees and volunteers have read this revised document, which may be accessed on the diocesan website www.pembrokediocese.com.

In conjunction with our revised diocesan policy, I wish to apprise you that today, the CCCB unveiled the ClearView Reporting System, which is a centralized third-party mechanism to report allegations of abuse or the cover-up of abuse by bishops in Canada. The centralized ClearView Reporting System will ensure that allegations of abuse or the potential cover-up of abuse are conveyed to the proper ecclesiastical authority, as outlined in Pope Francis’  2019     motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi. This ClearView Reporting System may be accessed via www.cccb.ca or the link from our own diocesan website.

In Vos estis lux mundi, our Holy Father states “it is good that procedures be universally adopted to prevent and combat these crimes that betray the trust of the faithful’. Let us always pray for the healing of those who have suffered abuse and for the healing of their families. Let us work for the protection and well-being of all God’s holy people.

May God bless you in these times of rejoicing and festivities as we celebrate the birth of our Savior,

+Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R.
 Bishop of Pembroke
 

Bishop Desrocher's delegate in matters pertaining to the Prevention & Management of Sexual Abuse of Minors and Adults who in Law are the Equivalent of Minors:

Father John Burchat
St. John Chrysostom Church
295 Albert Street, Arnprior, ON K7S 2M7

613-623-2282

Deputy Delegate

Father Peter Proulx
St. John Chrysostom Church
295 Albert Street, Arnprior, ON K7S 2M7

613-623-2282

The Policy & Procedures for the Prevention and Management of Sexual Abuse of Minors and Adults who in Law are the Equivalent of Minors


New Canadian Reporting System for Sexual Abuse
or coverup by a Catholic Bishop
 

Parish Office hours

Tuesday & Wednesday 
9:00 am - 1:00 pm

The Lord's Day Masses - Sunday

Saturday 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m.




Weekday Masses
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
@ 8:30 a.m.

Weekday Mass Time changes to 10:00 a.m. beginning November 1, 2021. 

(No weekday masses scheduled for
October 11-15, 2021)
 

*Celebrated before each weekend Mass in the foyer Quiet Room*

Saturday
4:15 p.m. 4:45 p.m.

Sunday
9:15a.m. - 9:45 a.m.

A mask is required

REGISTRATION FOR THE SACRAMENTS 2021 - 2022

First Reconciliation & First Communion

Sacrament of Confirmation
 

Children must be in Grade 2 or up to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Students requesting the Sacrament of Confirmation must be in Grade 7 or above. A serious commitment and full participation in the programs are mandatory, as well as regular Mass attendance.

Parents are requested to complete the Registration Form which can be found below or can be picked up at the Parish Office. Completed forms may be returned by email, by placing them in the collection basket at Mass, or by dropping them in the mailbox at the Parish Centre. On or before September 20, 2021. Those who were not baptized at Our Lady of Sorrows Church must present a copy of their child’s baptism certificate. For further information, please call 613 - 686 - 4764, ext. 2, or email: olsreleducation@gmail.com.
 

Registration - First Reconcilation & First Communion
 

Registration - Sacrament of Confirmation
 

December 8, 2021 - December 8, 2022

Novena to St. Joseph

Roman Catholics are encouraged to offer this
novena throughout the year.

Any parishioner who is in danger of death, meaning their physical condition is so compromised that they may pass away, can request the sacraments at any time, including the Sacrament of the Sick and the Reception of Holy Communion.  At all times, a priest is on call in Pembroke for the Pembroke Regional Hospital and all care homes for our seniors, for this purpose.  Please call, or ask a family member or nurse to call, the switchboard of the Pembroke Regional Hospital and ask that the Roman Catholic priest on call be contacted to visit a seriously ill patient. 

They will be happy to assist! 

Naturally, what matters most in celebrating the sacraments, is not 'who' the priest is who presides, but the Lord whom we encounter. Because of a variety of commitments it is not always possible for your own parish priest to attend during an unexpected emergency.
 

Diocese of Pembroke - Decree on the Code of Pastoral Conduct for all Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Employees & Volunteers
 

Specific application of the policy at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Petawawa
 

CODE OF PASTORAL CONDUCT: this decree is applicable to priests, deacons, seminarians, employees and volunteers engaged in ministries and services in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pembroke. It’s intent is to assist all in upholding Christian values and conduct as they minister to, or work with the People of God. In order that we may be in complete compliance with the letter and spirit of the ‘Code of Pastoral Conduct’, the following is important to note: