OUR LADY OF SORROWS PARISH

The following is a new email address for Father Steve.
It is available for all parish and ministry related inquiries:
 

frsfballard@gmail.com

Naturally, there are matters that arise that require more than just a one sentence reply. For these kinds of inquiries, please call Fr. Steve at (613) 687-4764 ext. 103.  If your inquiry is a non-urgent matter, rest assured that your inquiry will be responded to, by email or by telephone as soon as possible.  With a wide variety of requests, we try our best to prioritize the issues at hand.

During the summer months and other times of the year, your priests also need downtime to recharge their batteries. Your sensitivity and patience in this regard is deeply appreciated!

 

FACE COVERINGS (MASK, BANDANA, SCARF) ARE MANDATORY IN ALL
INTERIOR SPACES BEGINNING: MONDAY JULY 13, 2020
TO READ THIS DIRECTIVE,
PLEASE VISIT THE DIOCESE OF PEMBROKE WEBSITE LOCATED HERE
 

             

Our Struggle with Envy: fr. ron rolheiser, o.m.i.

 

In the Ten Commandments, jealousy gets two commandments, while murder and adultery have only one each.  In the Gospels, we see Satan and the devil as working primarily through envy (the devil by using it to divide people from each other and thus dissipate families and communities, and Satan by using it to bring about the kind of mob madness that leads to crucifixions). Envy is one of the classic, seven deadly sins. It deserves it’s place on that lofty list. None of us are immune to it. 

Jealousy shows itself in us as bitterness, as hyper-criticalness, as the incapacity to praise someone else, as a congenital blockage that prevents us from truly rejoicing in others’ good fortune, and as an incapacity to feel the same empathy for the fortunate as for the unfortunate.

It’s a huge, huge hurdle in the spiritual life.

Scripture tells us that in heaven we will stand before the throne of God to “offer unending praise”. That’s going to be rather difficult, given that we had very little practice in praising anything or anybody on this side of eternity. Simply put, if I go through life habitually bitter, overly critical, and resentful for the way things have turned out, how do I suddenly stop that inside me and begin to rejoice in the wonder and beauty of what’s other?

To move towards the day when we can “offer unending praise” involves acknowledging our jealousy and bitterness, grieving our less than perfect lives, and moving beyond the sophistication of a culture that tells us to praise nothing.

However, most important of all, it involves forgiving: We need to forgive ourselves, our parents, our culture, our church, our teachers, our mentors, those who have wounded us, life itself, and God for the state of things and the state of our lives.

Otherwise we will die as we live, harbouring bitterness, threatened by others good fortune, wanting to possess what isn’t ours, more easily speaking words of criticism than of admiration, and not having had sufficient practice in what constitutes eternal life, namely, “offering endless praise”.

THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: will now be celebrated every second year in our parish. Therefore, registration will begin in June 2021, with the program commencing in mid to late September 2021. Any student or person, who has been baptized in the Roman Catholic Church, has celebrated their First Reconciliation and First Communion and is in Grade 7 onward, is welcome to register. The sacrament is not tied to one certain grade in school or one age group. In our parish life, these concerns are inconsequential. Please call the Parish Office at anytime with questions (613) 687-4764. Candidates for the Sacrament should be cultivating the practice of attending Mass on the Lord's Day (Sunday) on a regular basis.  Any candidate who was baptized in a parish other than our parish, will need to provide a copy of their Certificate of Baptism.
 

THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF PEMBROKE IS FOUND HERE
 

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH A POTENTIAL ADDICTION TO PORNOGRAPHY? please visit the following website to see the plethora of websites and materials that are available to help you.  (Please note: given the great volume of material listed at this site, it is impossible for us to screen and proof read every single item of this material.  Please let us know if you come across anything listed that appears offensive or is not in harmony with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.)

EMAIL ADDRESSES: we discovered that one of the biggest challenges we faced during this time of closure is the ability to communicate with our parishioners in an easy and efficient manner.  Father Steve has established an new email address and is inviting all parishioners to share their email address.  The compiled list of addresses will enable us to share information should the need arise: changes to our Mass schedule due to a further outbreak of some disease, notifications of Funeral Masses that will be held in our church etc.  Parishioners will not be inundated with emails every day! Please share your name and your email address today:

olsinfo20@gmail.com

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: well we tried it anyway! Father Steve was available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation outside this past Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on June 20. While the heat was a bit stifling, worse yet was Father Steve's exposure to the considerable pollen floating in the air! Like many, Father Steve suffers from seasonal allergies to summer grasses, pollen, ragweed and dust. Notice that yellow stuff coating our cars and other surfaces? That is part of the culprit! This can cause considerable fatigue, along with itchy, swollen and watery eyes.  So, we have to consider another game plan! The dates previously scheduled, have been removed.  Other parishes in the area may be offering the sacrament in the meantime! Thank you for your sensitivity and understanding as we try to be of service during an unusual period!

FIRST COMMUNION: since we have barely returned to our use of the church for our Eucharistic celebrations, we have not as yet contemplated when First Communion will be celebrated in our parish.  Check back to this site regularly to keep up with all new developments.  Naturally, we would like to celebrate this special day when more parishioners can be present. Stay tuned!

CANCELLATIONS: it is safe to assume that many annual events, such as Parish Suppers, Pilgrimages and other community events are cancelled this year as we deal with the changing circumstances of the pandemic.  Best not to assume that anything is a 'go'.  Best to check first! Most every event that is customarily scheduled has a website.  Please 'google' the name of the event and you will immediately see it's status for this year!

PARISH FINANCIAL STATEMENT: on Saturday, June 13, Father Steve compiled an extensive financial update for the members of the Parish Finance Committee, which was also shared with the Diocesan Finance Officer.  The finance committee will receive this package in the next few days.  We are grateful for our generous donors who helped carry the parish since mid-March. Approximately 50% of our envelope holders made financial contributions to the parish during our closure.  Our parish revenue declined by approximately $20,500 from March 17 - June 13, 2020, compared to this same interval in 2019.  We did not lay off a single employee and the diocesan Chancery Office is in the process of submitting the applications for the CEWS for all parishes of the diocese.

We thank our donors for their financial support.  Any amount that can be shared by our parishioners is greatly appreciated. Although we are functioning in unusual times, the bills and unexpected repairs continue.  Recently, we received our annual Insurance bill for our three buildings, property etc. The invoice amount totals just under $6,400.00. We also required a service call to the church which was unplanned. Donations can be mailed, dropped in the mailbox at the rectory (the priest's house, attached to the church, with the large veranda) or placed in the donation baskets at the bottom of the stairs at the sanctuary.

PARISH OFFICE: the parish office is now open.  Ann Marie will be in the parish office from Tuesday & Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. as has been our custom here during July & August for many years. If you are able to relay specific requests to her by email (olsparishoffice@gmail.com) or by telephone, that would be helpful. Please wear a mask if you are coming in person. We have arranged for Ann Marie to have in hand the newest edition of 'The Word Among Us'.  Given the change in currency exchange, the recommended price is $3.00 per copy. We are not permitted to leave printed materials in the church for distribution. This practice assists in not transferring bacteria from person to another.

FUNERAL MASSES: as of Saturday, June 13, all churches are permitted to host Funeral Masses while adhereing to the social distancing requirements and utilizing only 30% capacity. All of our parishes have been informed of this fact as have the funeral homes. We will use only a single cantor to lead in the singing for any funeral mass celebrated here.

Upcoming Masses of Christian Burial

Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. for Mr. James McGilligan.  (Neville Funeral Home) -  Please call the funeral home at 613-732-7481 if you wish to attend the mass. You must pre-register so that the necessary information will be on file for contact tracing. Limited seating is available in the church and face covering is mandatory).

Friday, August 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. for Mrs. Zita Mary Geggie.  (Neville Funeral Home) -  Please call the funeral home at 613-732-7481 if you wish to attend the mass. You must pre-register so that the necessary information will be on file for contact tracing. Limited seating is available in the church and face covering is mandatory).

CLEANING & SANITIZING THE CHURCH: as announced we need between 4-6 volunteers to assist with the sanitizing and cleaning of the church pews and other surfaces after each weekend mass.  We have assembled everything that is required! At the end of mass, individual bags containing gloves, bottles of sanitzing liquid and cloths are available in the ushers room in the main foyer of the church.  After the work is done, the bottles are to be returned to the table in the ushers room, the cloths placed in the laundry bag and the gloves discarded in the wastepaper basket.  Finally, volunteers should make use of the hand sanitizer, available on both walls in the foyer of the church, before leaving the building.  Many thanks! Our very skilled caretaker will attend to this task following our two weekday masses each week.

In any moment of change, challenge or disruption, what is needed?
A very active prayer life, understanding, openness,
kindness, cooperation, patience, charity.

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!

A Letter of Reference (Character Reference): The Parish Priest can only write a Letter of Reference attesting to an individual’s character if he knows the individual concerned. Obviously, if a priest meets a person for the first time, he is not able to write anything since he does not know the person concerned.  Character reference letters are often easy to write when a parish priest has known someone for a considerable period – perhaps even years.  No priest (or any person for that matter) is obliged to ever write such a letter.  Various entities, including employers and other charities often follow-up with the priest by telephone for further information. A priest will never engage in ‘creative writing’ (lying) for someone who is not known to them.  Finally, it is also considered bad manners to use anyone’s name on an application form without asking their permission first.

A Pastoral Letter of Reference: on a scale of letters that may be requested, this is perhaps the most serious and one that is never to be taken lightly.  A Correctional Institution (Prison), High School, Trauma Centre, Hospice, Hospital searching for a Catholic Chaplain all seek Pastoral Letters of Reference for Roman Catholic candidates so that the individual hired is the best choice in serving the Catholic population (people) entrusted to their care.  Why is the letter important? It is important because the parish priest is being asked to attest to the fact that the candidate is: a practicing Roman Catholic, who takes seriously the obligation / invitation to worship with our Eucharistic Community and who has demonstrated their seriousness and maturity by growing in their faith, becoming a more prayerful and holy person, and by becoming involved in the life of the parish.  The priority is not in securing a lucrative paycheck.  The priority is in serving the Roman Catholic people entrusted to their care. They are entitled to that. What does this mean? A person must be registered in a parish, attending Sunday Mass regularly with the community, supporting the parish and sharing one’s gifts.  How can one share their gifts? By volunteering for ministry as a Reader, Greeter, Collector, Assistant in the Sacramental Preparation Programs, Vacation Bible School, C.W.L., Knights of Columbus etc.

With respect to a candidate for a teaching position in the Catholic School Board or one seeking potential promotion within the board, the expectation is no different and is as serious.  As the Ottawa Catholic School Board mentions in their writing: “The Catholic School Boards (and with them, Catholic parents and Catholics in general) expect from its teachers that they be Catholic Christians in more than a formal sense”. Visible expressions of faith within the parish community are never underestimated or discounted as mere formalities.  Instead they reflect an inner spiritual commitment, maturity and choice.  It should be obvious that any individual contemplating a career choice or vocation explore all the elements of the Academic Program before them, but also carefully review the Application Process in the field that they are contemplating.  If a student is away from home where they are studying, they would be well advised to become rooted in a local parish community, become involved, meet with this priest over the course of the years so that he can at some point write a Pastoral Letter of Reference if one is needed and if he is able to do so.  Obviously, a student that is hardly home at all cannot expect a local parish priest to know anything about them, let alone attest to their commitment to Christ and the Church. As the Halton Catholic District School Board material indicates to the priest: “Do you believe this applicant would influence and strengthen the spiritual growth of children within the Catholic Community”. The Wellington Catholic District School Board, Muskoka Catholic District School Board, the Diocese of Hamilton, Archdiocese of Toronto among many others all have similar questions in their resource materials for Pastoral Letters of Reference.  The decision to live a life of faith is a very personal one that is always respected.  However, employment that involves the Catholic community is no longer just a personal matter, but one that  involves the community where one hopes to serve. If a teacher places no value on a life of faith in our Parish Community, how likely are they to pass on its importance to the children in their classroom? 

All individuals concerned should ask questions first and review the above carefully.  The time to consider these matters is not on the day that you need a letter – but many months if not years before! Once again, no priest is obligated to write any letter, especially if the candidate has not demonstrated a strong commitment to the faith and to the life of the parish.  Did you know that in the past there were a few members of the clergy who would write a letter for anyone, regardless of whether they were qualified or not? Fortunately, this practice has mostly stopped.  Did you know that among many teachers, information was routinely shared as to what priest to seek out, in any location from here to the Far North(!) in order to get the letter that they needed for their application? This is very sad, dishonest, unethical and disappointing.  It is also very sad when an individual seems to ‘play the game’ and then abandons their parish once they have secured the employment that they wanted! It is they who will stand before God to give an account. In a perfect world any and all newly hired Catholic teachers would have a probationary period of hiring of no less than 1-5 years.  This would allow the entire Catholic Community the opportunity to assess the commitment of faith of the person hired.  Once again, no person is compelled to live a life of faith in any church.  If the expectations of the Catholic Church & School Community are seen to be too stringent, perhaps an individual should apply to the Public Board. Clearly, this is one of the top issues that the clergy will be speaking about with our new bishop when he is appointed. The way Pastoral Letters are both requested and given needs to be addressed and firmed up considerably. 

If you wish to register your name as a potential candidate for a Pastoral Letter of Reference from Father Steve in the years to come (note the word years, not days!), please speak to Father Steve.  Your candidacy for such a letter will be reviewed annually. No Pastoral Letter of Reference will be written for one who is not registered for one through this process and for one who has not had a proven record of worshipping, attending and supporting our parish over a minimum of one to two years.

Decree on the Inscription of the celebration of Saint Faustina Kowalska, virgin, in the General Roman Calendar.

Date of celebration: October 5

The decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Diocese of Pembroke - Decree on the Code of Pastoral Conduct for all Priests, Deacons, Seminarians,
Employees & Volunteers
Final Decree - February 1, 2019

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. This final document is effective February 1, 2019 and has been distributed among our parish staff and will be disseminated among all those engaged in volunteer ministry in the parish. 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:

 
Effective Immediately: