OUR LADY OF SORROWS PARISH

Father Steve is on vacation until Saturday July 17, 2021. Naturally, arrangements have been made for Weekend Mass celebration and the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial, should a funeral arise.  The telephone answering system has pertinent information (613) 687-4764. All parish buildings utilize a number of security measures and systems every month of the year.

Ann Marie is in the Parish Office on Tuesday & Wednesday during the summer from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

We are pleased to announce that effective June 30, 2021 churches may expand to 25% of capacity! For our parish church this equals 97 persons.  

All must sign in at the church doors upon arrival on the weekend. Masks are mandatory.

As announced by the Government of Ontario, we enter into Phase 3 of the protocols on Friday, July 16, 2021. Further information to follow this week.

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'.

December 8, 2021 - December 8, 2022

Novena to St. Joseph

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

The ongoing challenges of the pandemic impact our parish life, particularly the desire of parishioners to celebrate the Sacraments.

We must adapt! 

Why? The intent is to significantly limit the face to face contact that we have with each other, to prevent the spread of the virus.  All celebrations of the sacraments involve very close physical contact. 

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! 

We appeal to your good will and understanding. All are invited to make an personal Act of Contrition during this interval.  Numerous sites on the internet have the Act of Contrition available. The Lord is kind and merciful to those who repent of their sins.

Please note:  at any time of the year, a priest cannot meet privately in an unoccupied building, at any time of the day or night, to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance.

We return to our practice of celebrating confession, prior to both weekend masses, at the front of the church near the mosaic of the Resurrection of Christ.  Why are we using this location? We cannot use the Reconciliation room, since it is a small enclosed space.  We cannot use a private room, behind closed doors, for the safety and protection of the penitent and the priest.  This type of wise caution is the norm in all professional settings, as a result of the terrible scourge of sexual abuse.
 

We thank you for your co-operation and understanding!

IMPORTANT NOTICE 

First Communion / Sacrament of Confirmation
 

Following discussions with our Parish Catechetical Team we have decided to delay our plans for catechetical instruction  for First Reconciliation, First Communion (Eucharist) & the Sacrament of Confirmation, until the Fall of 2021.

Registration for these Sacraments continues now and through the next number of months.  We can only accept registration from families of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.  For further information or to raise any questions, please contact: Deacon Dan @ 613-687-4764 ext. 2 or email him:
 

olsreleducation@gmail.com

The changing circumstances during this pandemic, requires us to be flexible and to make adjustments as we plan for our parish programs.  
 

CATHOLIC MARRIAGE PREPARATION: The Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend is best experienced as an in-person weekend.  Since we are on various COVID restrictions, the CEE Weekend is not possible, so please consider attending one of the virtual CEE Weekends listed on the website. For further information and registration please visit: www.ceeeast.org. Any couple contemplating marriage should first speak to a priest or deacon to ensure one’s freedom to marry in the Roman Catholic Church.

The usual 6-12 month planning notice is required before any other arrangements are made and it is very important that a couple fully understand the way in which the Liturgy of the Sacrament of Marriage differs from a wedding that takes place on a beach, private home or another secular location.

 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
 

The Church supports government efforts to control the spread of the virus, since it is for the common good and will enable our hospitals not to become overwhelmed.  The Bishops of Canada and Ontario are carefully monitoring events and the available data, to ensure that all regulations are reasonable and are being applied equitably.
 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Note: Just because some places and people are ignoring health regulations and directives, does not mean it is the virtuous or the moral thing to do! 

People who are doing so, may find themselves in a hospital ER or the I.C.U. at some point! The virus is not a hoax and the government has not planted microchips in the vaccine in order to monitor our lives! Let's be sensible. This is not to say that legitimate questions should not be asked about the policies and approaches enacted during different phases of the pandemic.

The Church and her members are a part of the community, where we live. We will always follow the guidance and directives of our Bishop and work towards the common good, especially in important matters such as a pandemic.

The goal is simple: reduce the number of people who are actively fighting the virus, reduce the strain on our health care system, increasing the number of citizens who have received the vaccine, so that we can return to something of a 'normal life'. Receiving the vaccine is a decision that is made by an individual, in consultation with their doctor.

We persevere with courage and hope: it should be remembered that our ancestors dealt with two world wars and significant sacrifices during the Great Depression. Keeping things in perspective helps us a great deal.  

Daily prayer, exercise, rest and recreation are essential !
 

Pray everyday for our wonderful healthcare professionals who are doing so much for our communities! 

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: