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Pastor's Pen - March 31, 2020
Greetings to all! I hope this message finds you safe and well, and hopefully in good spirits despite the upheaval of our normal routines with the current Corona virus outbreak. It is a strange and unsettling time right now. As you know all public masses throughout the diocese are cancelled until at least April 30. In speaking with a friend the other day, he shared that his grandfather said the only other time he remembers mass being cancelled was during WWII when his town in Holland was under attack! Please know that you are all in our prayers and that mass is still being offered privately daily for you and your intentions.
Mass recordings - Our Sunday masses are now being recorded and are available to be seen on our website (click here), Facebook and You-tube. Though not the same as being physically present, we hope you are able to find spiritual nourishment and comfort from being electronically and spiritually connected with the parish by this means. We have also recorded the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (SEE BELOW) and made it available, and hope to soon have the Stations of the Cross available as well.
Confessions - though our bishop has restricted confessions for this time to only for those in danger of death, Pope Francis and Bishop Fabbro are both reminding us that in our theology, forgiveness comes with perfect contrition. In other words, though for Catholics the ordinary means of receiving God's forgiveness is in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (as Pope John Paul II states in his Apostolic Exhortation on Reconciliation and Penance), God can still forgive sins when we humbly repent and ask his forgiveness directly in prayer. As Cardinal Collins of Toronto would tell us when he taught at St. Peter's Seminary in London, "God works through the sacraments, but He is not limited by them".
Offertory envelopes - A big thank you to those who have been dropping off their offertory envelopes in the rectory mail slot next to the front door (probably the safest place). With no Sunday masses we are facing a big financial challenge to the parish, so we are grateful for your continued support! Direct deposit forms are now available on our website, and we hope to soon have e-transfers possible as another means to support the parish.
Bill Gates has shared a beautiful reflection on this current crisis which you will find here.
Let's do our best to follow the directives of our government and medical officers of health to stay healthy.
As an unknown author wrote in chalk on a Wallaceburg sidewalk, "If you're happy and you know it, wash your hands!"
Remember - keep calm and pray on!
God bless.
Fr. Chris
Pastor -
Message from Fr. Chris Gillespie March 22, 2020
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Chaplet of Divine Mercy Sung
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Stations of the Cross