Dear Parishioners,

Happy New Year! This Sunday we celebrate the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time.

We invite you to check out the many news items below. We hope that if you were unable to register to attend public mass that you are able to join us for our live streamed mass at 10 AM. **Please be aware that due to COVID-19, Archbishop Gerard has given dispensation for all Sunday obligations. This means you are not obligated to attend mass, and we will continue to live-stream Sunday mass on our Facebook page until the dispensation has been lifted.

Our New Pastoral Theme:
Grace and courage: United in prayer and loving service

How the Parish Pastoral Council created our new pastoral theme.  

Inspired by reading, reflecting and re-reading the Gospel of St. Mark, members of Parish Pastoral Council considered the current needs of our parish with each of us contributing and each of us having an equal voice.  

The recurring theme was how fractured we all feel: We’re lonely, isolated and we want to be together as a parish community. With that desire for togetherness in mind, we continued –during the several weeks it took us to do this — to express our thoughts freely through emails, “homework” assigned by Fr. Remi and through a final virtual meeting.

Building on words we had used to describe our feelings and the needs of our parish, each of us was asked to develop a phrase or slogan that encapsulated where we are now and what we expect the year to bring, again keeping in mind the Gospel of St. Mark and Pope Francis’ declaration of 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph.

Working on a private ballot system we had a nearly unanimous vote for “Grace and Courage.” We were just one vote short. The result of the second ballot was unanimous.

Grace and courage will be our cornerstone as we continue to move through this year “united in prayer and loving service.” For, what keeps us together – whether or not we’re in the same room or the same building – is our faith. We are bound by our faith and mutual prayer.

May each of us be blessed with grace and courage.

Parish Office Closed: January 26th, 2021

Our parish office will be closed this upcoming Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 due to our staff retreat. Our office will remain open Monday & Wednesday-Friday from 8:30AM- 12PM and 1PM-4PM.

Bring Your Old Palms

Ash Wednesday is approaching, time to bring back your old palm branches.  We burn these branches and use the ashes on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday Information:

There will be a pre-recorded Liturgy of the Word with Spiritual Communion. This will be posted on Wednesday, February 17 at 12:01 A.M. We encourage you to watch this before you come to the church for “walk-through” ashes. 

Mass times: The Ash Wednesday mass times will be 9:00 A.M, 12:15 P.M, & 7:00 P.M. Tickets will be available Monday, February 15th at 8:30AM. Due to Covid-19 restrictions our maximum capacity is 180, therefore only registered attendees will be permitted. 

Walk through reception of ashes, please enter through the front doors of the church

• 7:00 A.M. – 8:00 A.M.
• 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
• 1:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
• 8:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Other Lenten Reminders:

Confessions:  During Lent, confessions are every Friday, 1:00 – 3:00 P.M.  You do not need to register ahead, you can drop-in.

Stations of the Cross:

Adoration:  Friday, February 19, Friday. March 19. Adoration begins at 7:00 P.M. and finishes at 7:45 P.M.  There is no need to register ahead, simply drop in at any time.  

Faith Days: Faith Daze will be on Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00 P.M.  This will be by Zoom.  Stay tuned for more details.  

Donation Details for 2021

Donations envelopes are ready for pick up! Please stop by the office during regular office hours (8:30am-12 and 1-4). If you are unable to stop by, please contact the office to arrange for someone to drop them off for you. If you would like to receive Donation Envelopes, please contact the Parish Office.

If you would like to sign up for Pre-authorized Payments for your donation, please click here and complete the attached form and return it with a VOID cheque. If you prefer to donate using a credit card, please click here and complete the Credit Card Monthly Donation form.

New for 2021!!! Sign up for pre-authorized payments or automatic credit card payments of Special Collections – the form is attached. The “Donate Button” on the website will be updated for the coming year to include options for “Building Maintenance Fund” and all “Special Collections”.

All completed forms must be returned to Joanne at the Parish Office. Thank you all for your continued support of the Parish!

Collect your Stamps this Christmas

The Redemptorists will happily collect any stamps leftover from Christmas cards sent in the mail. They are collected and recycled as an annual fundraiser. Simply collect your stamps, put them in an envelope and drop them off at the parish office, or place them in the collection box at mass. The Redemptorists thank you!

Arctic Visions 2020- Calendar Fundraiser

There are still calendars available! Bishop Jon Hansen has put together 13 of my favorite photos from my past year’s travels around the north for Arctic Visions 2021, an 11″ X 17″ Coil bound calendar. All proceeds from the sale of these calendars supports the Roman Catholic Missions of the diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. Calendars are available for $20 each

Welcome New Parishioners!

Since Covid-19 began we have had to make some changes at the masses and because of this we have had temporarily close the Welcome Table that is normally at the back of the church. Even so, we are always so happy to welcome new parishioners!

Are you new to the parish? Please reach out so we can Welcome You! Individuals and families can contact Christina Stang by phone at 780-532-2351 (ext. 230) or by email at SJC-Family@gpcsd.ca