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New Email Address for Fr. Steve
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 or one paragraph reply. For these kinds of inquiries or questions, please feel free to call Fr. Steve at (613) 687-4764 ext. 3. 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!
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News from Our Parish & the Diocese - August 3, 2020
FACE COVERINGS ARE MANDATORY IN ALL INDOOR SPACES
IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVINCIAL DIRECTIVES
(MASK, BANDANA, SCARF). YOUR PATIENCE & CHARITY IS APPRECIATED AS WE ALL DO OUR PART.
CLERGY APPOINTMENTS
Bishop Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Pembroke, announces the following appointments, which take effect September 1, 2020, unless otherwise indicated. The Bishop wishes to thank all those who accepted an appointment, and all those who are welcoming another priest into the rectory in whatever capacity.
Rev. William J. Kenney is retiring from active full-time ministry. He will be in residence at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew.Rev. G. Ryan Holly is appointed Chancellor. In addition, he is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Pembroke; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, La Passe; and Our Lady of Grace Mission, Westmeath. The Bishop confirms Father Holly in the role of Judicial Vicar.
Rev. Michael A. Smith is appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. He remains Pastor of Paroisse St-Jean-Baptiste, Pembroke.
Rev. Scott J. Murray is appointed Director of the Liturgy Office and Diocesan Master of Ceremonies. He remains Pastor of St. Anne Parish, Mattawa.
The diocese is grateful for the dedicated service of Fr. Mitchell Beachey, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Deep River and Saint Anthony Parish, Chalk River for his many years of service as Director and as Diocesan Master of Ceremonies.
Rev. John P. Lacey is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Renfrew, and St. Patrick Parish, Mount Saint Patrick.
Rev. Justin B. J. Bertrand is appointed Administrator of Holy Canadian Martyrs Parish, Combermere, and St. Francis de Sales Mission, Latchford Bridge.
Rev. Réal Ouellette is appointed Administrator of Paroisse St-Thomas-d’Aquin, Astorville; Paroisse Ste-Bernadette, Bonfield; and Sacred Heart Parish, Corbeil.
Rev. Cyril Okebanama, S.M.M.M., is appointed Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Temiscaming, and Our Lady of the Lake Mission, Kipawa.
Rev. Peter G. Proulx is appointed Parochial Vicar at St. John Chrysostom Parish, Arnprior. Father Proulx will also be available to replace priests in parishes.
Rev. Peter T. Do is appointed Parochial Vicar at Paroisse St-Pierre, Fort-Coulonge; Paroisse St-Charles-Borromée, Otter Lake; St. Elizabeth Parish, Vinton; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission, Waltham.
Rev. Mr. Michael F. Coyne, at the time of his ordination to the priesthood on September 8, 2020, will become Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Renfrew, and Most Precious Blood Parish, Calabogie.
The Death of Innocence: fr. ron rolheiser, o.m.i.Our generation is rich in everything, except innocence and happiness. We pride ourselves on our experience, our sophistication, and our lack of naivete. And we are ashamed to admit that we aren’t experienced, that we haven’t been everywhere, and that we don’t know everything.
Innocence is identified with naivete and is generally looked upon either with condescension or with positive disdain. Lack of sexual experience particularly is stigmatized. We see innocence as ignorance.
Moreover, our culture extends this equation to faith in God. Most of the culture, consciously or unconsciously, believes that contemporary experience and present development and insight, have unmasked faith as a superstition, an ignorance, a lack of nerve, a lack of sophistication, a narrowness, a fear, and even a bias.
The common perception, especially among intellectuals, is that contemporary experience has brought about a collective loss of faith because, at the end of the day, faith is an ignorance that is cast out by a fuller experience. To believe in God is to be naive, however sincere.
The French philosopher and historian Paul Ricoeur, whom nobody could ever accuse of being naive, tells us that as adults, the real goal of our lives is to come to something which he calls “second naivete”. Real maturity is ultimately about revirginizing and coming to a second innocence.
This however is not to be confused with first naivete and natural innocence. We are born naive and innocent and the task of growing up is precisely to move beyond this childishness to adulthood. This is done, as our culture rightly intuits, by growing in experience and sophistication.
For a while, this is good. First naivete in an adult is not innocence but ignorance.
Unfortunately, our culture misunderstands that growth beyond the natural ignorance of a child. Becoming sophisticated is itself meant to be a temporary step. Our real task is ultimately to become post-sophisticated – childlike and virgin again.
Jesus tells us that children and virgins enter the kingdom of heaven quite naturally. A world that prides itself on its adultness, sophistication, and experience might want to ponder that.
LIVING WITH CHRIST: anyone interested can begin their own personal subscription, shipped to their own home, by clicking here for the pertinent contact information. Ideally, the practice of listening to the Word of God proclaimed at Mass, is the best choice for our worship, as opposed to reading along with a printed text.
A CWL Student Bursary of $300 is available to be awarded for the upcoming school year (2020/21). Applicants must be an active member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and must be a daughter / son or grandchild of a CWL member (living or deceased). The bursary is given to provide financial assistance to students graduating from high school (or have graduated within the last year) and will be furthering their studies at either university, college or in an apprenticeship program this year. Applications are available at the Parish Office. For additional information please contact our Education & Health Committee Chairperson Joanne Jefferies at 613-687-4723. The deadline to apply is August 10.
ORDINATION TO THE MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD
With joy, the Diocese of Pembroke announces that
THE Most Rev. Guy Desrochers, C.S.s.R., BISHOP OF PEMBROKE,will ordain
Rev. Mr. Michael Coyne
to the MINISTERIAL priesthood,
at St. Francis Xavier Church, Renfrew,
on Tuesday, September 8, 2020
the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
at 2:00 p.m.
The First Mass of Thanksgiving will take place at
St. Francis Xavier Church, Renfrew,
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.Let us keep Deacon Michael Coyne in prayer as he prepares for ordination.
THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF THE DIOCESE OF PEMBROKE IS FOUND HERETHE 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, 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.
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.)
SUNDAY MISSAL / ST. JOSEPH SUNDAY MISSAL: given the changing circumstances surrounding the COVID19 pandemic and the adaptations we have made when gathering for Sunday Eucharist, we will not be purchasing the Sunday Missal in bulk for the entire church body. The purchase of these books is a sizeable expense and it does not make sense to purchase them, only to have them be stored in boxes somewhere on site. The following links may assist parishioners in purchasing their own personal copy, which comes into use on the First Sunday of Advent 2020:Living with Christ - Sunday Missal 2020-2021
Living with Christ - Sunday Missal for Young Catholics 2020-2021
Daily Mass readings are available on a number of websites, free of charge.Here are just a few:EMAIL ADDRESSES: we discovered that one of the biggest challenges we faced during this time of change 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: is available by appointment. To save on the 'phone tag', please send a brief email to Fr. Steve at the new email address located above.
FIRST COMMUNION: 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!
With respect to new enrollment for First Reconciliation and First Communion which ordinarily occurs at this time of the year approaching September, it is highly probable that these programs may be delayed until January 2021, until we see if and how matters dealing with COVID19 have evolved. Stay tuned!
CANCELATIONS: 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 SUPPORT: 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. We replaced the last of the cast iron sanitary pipe in the rectory! Unplanned of course!
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 of the sanctuary.PARISH OFFICE: the parish office is now open. Ann Marie will be in the parish office on Tuesday & Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. This has been the administrative practice 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.
FUNERAL MASSES: all churches are permitted to host Funeral Masses while adhereing to the social distancing requirements and utilizing only 30% capacity of the available seating area. All of our parishes have been informed of this fact, as have the funeral homes. We will use only a single cantor to sing for any funeral mass celebrated here, with accompaniment by our organist.
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 a 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 a face covering is mandatory.CLEANING & SANITIZING THE CHURCH: as announced we need about 4 volunteers to assist with the sanitizing and cleaning of the church pews and other surfaces after the 5:00 pm Mass on Saturday afternoon and following the 8:30 am Mass on Sunday morning. We have assembled everything that is required! At the end of mass, gloves, bottles of sanitizing 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 the Sunday morning mass at 10:00 a.m. and following any weekday mass when they are scheduled.
In any moment of change, challenge or disruption, what is needed?
A very active prayer life, understanding, openness,
kindness, cooperation, patience, charity. -
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Saint Faustina Kowalska, virgin
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 -
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Attending Mass during COVID 19We are permitted to celebrate the Eucharist in the church at 30 % capacity.
There are changes in the manner in which we attend mass on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. In our parish church, 30 % capacity is approximately 90-100 persons. Behind the scenes we have set in place all that is needed to make this happen, including restrictions to what pews can be used, the areas where parishioners can move about the premises and the use of the supplies we have acquired to properly sanitize and clean our church after each mass.
When our RED FLAG is placed on the main veranda of the church, this means that we have reached our 90 person capacity and no other person is allowed in the church for the Mass. If NO FLAG is on the veranda all are welcome to attend, observing the following important guidelines:
1) use the hand sanitizer inside the foyer of the church or at the side entrance upon entry and exiting the building.
2) wear a face mask; wear disposable gloves if you wish to, but please do not leave them in the pews.
3) do not shake hands or hug or kiss (!) fellow parishioners
4) observe the seating restrictions that are in place in the pews. Please do not disturb the pews that are not available for use.
5) do not attend mass if you are feeling ill in any way - take your temperature before leaving home. If you have any doubt, get tested.
6) As a courtesy and as an act of charity, all should receive communion in the hand for the time being.
Please note:
1) no hymnbooks, Sunday missals, bulletins or other printed materials will be available in the church
2) we will use instrumental music only for the time being
3) children and adults should make every effort to use the washroom at home before coming to church.
4) the Parish Hall has been sectioned off to prevent the free movement of persons and in order to prevent the touching of multiple surfaces like tables or chairs. The Parish Hall kitchen and all storage rooms are closed. The washrooms are available.
5) Parishioners are asked to call Father Steve at the Rectory to deal with any matters that require discussion (613) 687-4764 ext 3. It would be helpful not to have such discussions before or after mass given the unusual circumstances and details we are attending to. Additionally, priests use quiet time before mass to pray and spiritually prepare for the Eucharist.
6) Parishioners are asked to call Ann Marie in the Parish Office to deal with any questions concerning Masses, donations etc. (613) 687-4764 ext. 1
7) We will need at least 4 volunteers after the first two masses of the weekend to help us wipe down pews and surfaces that have been touched during mass. If you have your own gloves that you can tuck into your pocket for this purpose, it would be appreciated.
8) The Quiet Room in the church foyer is closed for the time being. It is a small space where it is impossible to adhere to social distancing.
Please check this website often to note changes. God Bless you!
Father Steve -
Bishop Guy Desrochers, C.S.s.R.
Installed as Ninth Bishop of Pembroke
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Financial Support of our Parish is Appreciated!Our Lady Of Sorrows Parish
11 Mohns Avenue,
Petawawa, Ontario
K8H 2B5
or
through ourCanadaHelps.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! -
Word on Fire - COVID-19 eBook
What's next for the church?
Find out in this FREE eBook by Dr. Stephen Bullivant, with a foreword by Bishop Robert Barron.
Get eBook - Free PDF -
Letters of Reference (Character) & Pastoral Letters of Reference
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 first asking their permission.
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. 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. And so in summary here are the important points:
1) 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 or send him an email.
2) 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.
3) Any candidate seeking a Pastoral Letter of Reference will have a sit down interview to establish a basic knowledge of the faith.
4) If a Pastoral Letter is provided, and the individual is not a supporting member of our parish, a monetary donation of $100 is to be made to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Petawawa. -
Code of Pastoral Conduct
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:All appointments with Father Steve or any parish staff member or volunteer will only take place during regular office hours in the Parish Centre. Father Steve will meet with individuals or couples in the Parish Centre in our meeting room (formerly the chapel) with the door open at all times. The parish secretary and the director of religious education will always be made aware of individual or group meetings taking place with Father Steve and will have full view into the room from the hallway. No group or individual appointments will take place in the priest’s house.
The door of the Confessional Room (located in the main foyer of the church) has been adapted to include a large pane of glass. Parents / Grandparents / Guardians are encouraged to stand at the door of the confessional room and observe when their children are celebrating the sacrament. In fact, anyone feeling the need for moral support can ask that a relative or friend stand at the door during the Celebration of Sacrament. Those desiring to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation in a more traditional confessional are invited to do so at one of the four Roman Catholic Churches in Pembroke.
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