CHURCH BULLETIN FOR MARCH 13, 2022
ОГОЛОШЕННЯ ANNOUNCEMENTS
According to instructions from the Eparchy of Toronto,
I) the following Covid safety practices are being discontinued:
- Contact tracing has now been discontinued. This means that the Covid screening forms at the church entrance no longer need be completed before entering church.
- There are no more physical distancing requirements in church. We can return to the same capacity we had before Covid.
II) The following Covid safety practices remain:
masks will still be required in church for those over the age of two until further notice. This will continue after the provincial mask mandate expires on March 21. *Update: the Eparchy has announced that wearing masks in church is now optional.- physical distancing is still recommended when approaching the tetrapod to receive holy communion.
- only non-contact veneration of icons and crosses is permitted (no kissing of sacred objects).
- the use of individual spoons for distribution of holy communion will continue.
- using hand sanitizer upon entering church is still encouraged.
III) Online participation in Divine Liturgy is no longer considered a fulfillment of the obligation to attend church on Sundays and Feasts, with the exception of those in poor health, who would be unable to attend church in normal circumstances.
Sorokousty services commemorating the deceased will be celebrated Saturday mornings at 9:30am during Lent. The exception, so far will be March 26 th . If you haven’t already done so, you can submit the names of your deceased relatives and friends to pastor@stjbshrine.ca, or in an envelope in the Sunday collection plate in the vestibule, and we will commemorate them by name The suggested donation is $20, either by cheque or etransfer.
The Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts will subsequently be celebrated at 6pm on the following days:
- Wednesday, March 16
- Friday, March 18
- Wednesday, March 23
- Wednesday, April 6
Please note that if any of the above dates are changed, notification will be sent out a few days ahead of time.
The Next Parish Council Meeting will take place Thursday, March 17, at 7:30pm.
Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete & Life of St. Mary of Egypt, Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 pm
There has been a change in time for the funeral of the late Mitred Rev. Leo Chayka, The funeral divine liturgy will take place on Tuesday, March 15 at noon, not at 1pm as originally planned.
The Ukrainian language Parish Mission will take place April 14 – 16. Details to follow at a later date.
The parish is no longer gathering material to donate to Ukraine. Once refugees start arriving in Ottawa, we will revisit this possibility.
The Fellowship of St. Macrina the Younger is a new parish group being founded at the present time by lay members of our parish to foster spiritual growth through greater observance of the four major fasts of the Eastern Church.
The fellowship would be active during the four major fasts through small groups voluntarily formed and led by lay parishioners who would gather for:
- spiritual study, reflection, and devotion
- where possible, participate in or organize charitable works, pilgrimages, and retreats
- above all be present in the liturgical and sacramental life of the parish.
Participation would involve meeting together in small groups weekly throughout Great Lent & during other fasting periods of the year, and taking on a few personal spiritual disciplines throughout these periods as well.
For more information, email Landon at landonarcoleman@gmail.com or phone 613-890-5299.
CNEWA – the Catholic Near East Welfare Association: an appropriate recipient for humanitarian donations intended for Ukraine:
From the beginning of the war, Basilian monasteries in western Ukraine have accepted many displaced families from the combat zones in eastern Ukraine. The Order also has monasteries in the eastern regions – let us keep our fathers and parishioners in our prayers.
Very Rev. Genesio Viomar, OSBM, the General Superior of the Order of St. Basil the Great, has announced: “The Basilian monasteries (in Ukraine) are ready to accept the refugees from the regions of Ukraine that are engulfed in the war. Although our abilities are limited, the doors of the monasteries are open to you, dear brothers and sisters.”
The Basilian Fathers of Canada also express our deep concern and request prayers for the end of the war in Ukraine. We pray for the innocent victims of war, among whom are many children, women and elderly people.
We call upon the parishioners of Basilian Parishes across Canada, as well as all who are interested, to help the forcibly displaced people in any way possible. As well please accept our heart-felt thanks for your support up to now.
To those who wish to help Ukraine and its people we suggest donating to the Catholic Near East Association
(CNEWA) which works directly with Caritas Ukraine. Please donate to CNEWA through our Basilian Parishes or directly online: https://cnewa.org/ca/campaigns/ukraine/
God is with us!
Fr. Gabriel Haber, OSBM, Provincial Superior