Sunday, November 15th, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
This week is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. There are many items in our bulletin this week, so we invite 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.
We are pleased to announce the Mass times for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will have 200 people at each Mass. At present we are recruiting for volunteers for each Mass. If you think you can volunteer please step forward as soon as possible to help us in our planning. We will need to know our volunteers by Friday, November 27. You can begin signing up for Christmas Masses on Monday, December 7 at 2:00 P.M. As we have been doing throughout this time of pandemic, we ask that you sign-up for Mass through Sign-Up Genius, the link is found on our web-page.
On Christmas Eve we will be offering a pre-recorded Christmas Liturgy. This will be recorded at the church. Our music ministry will bless us with Christmas music that you will enjoy from home. This Christmas Liturgy will be available on-line beginning at 7:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve. It will be available the entire evening so you can watch it with your family at whatever time best suits your schedule.
Parish Staff Changes
Over the past few months we have had a number of personnel changes. John Witschen has retired. John has ministered in the parish for many years, especially in the area of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). Those who have been part of RCIA often remark of John’s ability to teach and catechise. On behalf of the parish, we express our thanks to John and wish him a happy retirement! Stepping into RCIA is Allan Forsberg. This is in addition to his responsibility of Ministry to Marriage. For more information about RCIA or Ministry to Marriage please contact Allan at the parish office (780-532-2351).
Also, Darlene Lemay has resigned. For many years Darlene coordinated baptism preparation of infants, sacramental preparation for school children and RCIA adapted for families. Darlene shared her gift of love of Jesus and the Church and inspired our families to be disciples. On behalf of the parish, we express our gratitude for Darlene’s ministry and wish her all the best as she enjoys more time with her family.
Our new person for baptismal preparation, sacramental preparation for school aged children and RCIA adapted for families is Beatriz Fernandez. You can reach Beatriz at the parish office (780-532-2351).
Registering Your School Aged Child To Celebrate a Sacrament This School Year
Ordinarily, children in grade 2 will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession. Children in grade 3 will receive communion for the first time and children in grade 6 will celebrate Confirmation. This year we are asking that you register your child for any of these sacraments on-line.
Beginning Monday, November 23 you will find a link on our web-page for “Sacramental Registration.” You will be invited to watch a short video then you be allowed to register your child. If you are registering your child for reconciliation (or your child celebrated an earlier sacrament in another parish) you will need to upload a copy of your child’s baptismal certificate (scan it or take a photo).
Registration closes on Saturday, November 28 at 6:00 P.M.
For more information please contact Beatriz (SJC-sacraments@gpcsd.ca) at the parish office.
It’s time for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle program again! St. Joseph Church have picked slots for Fridays and Saturdays starting on Friday November 20 to Saturday December 11. This year there will be no candy canes or calendars and volunteers must be masked. They are 2 hour commitments. If you wish to volunteer call Cliff 780 532-1231 (or email cliff.joyce.mitchell@
Cursillo Secretariat (Board) Members Needed
The Cursillo Secretariat requires 3 people to fill the positions of Secretary, Communications Director and treasurer to help with the ongoing work of running the Cursillo Movement in the Peace Country. The Treasurer must be someone living in the Grande Prairie area, but the other 2 can be conducted from anywhere in the diocese. As the Movement serves many cities and towns outside of Grande Prairie, we would like to have representatives from other areas. Members must have attended a Cursillo weekend. Monthly meetings are conducted through Zoom. Please contact Shannon, 780-832-2223.
Arctic Visions 2020- Calendar Fundraiser
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
We would also like to remind you that we are approaching the deadline to request a refund for the purchased 100th Anniversary tickets. If you have purchased tickets and would like to request a refund or would like to donate the cost to the parish and receive a tax receipt, please click here to fill out the “Refund Request Form” and submit both the form AND the purchased tickets to the parish office. Any unclaimed refunds will be donated anonymously to the parish after December 15th.
We are happy to announce that the parish gift shop is now open and available for visitors. Come check out the various Catholic goods, such as rosaries, bibles, medals, books, statues, pictures, and more! It is a hidden gem, right in the Narthex of our church. Hours are Tuesdays after the 7pm mass, and Wednesdays after the 12:15pm mass.
This week’s blog: “Seasons of Life”
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is a season for each of us in our roles throughout our lifetime. After I had my baby, I remember a friend saying the days are long but the years are short. As a child, I remember my mother saying she couldn’t believe how fast time goes the older you got.
Left are dates for Adoration for the next few months. We begin Adoration at 7:00 P.M. and finish at about 7:45 P.M. We no longer have Mass connected with Adoration.
We would like to continue to invite you to join us for Reconciliation from 1-2 pm on Fridays (no-sign-up-necessary).
